Primal Bonds 2 (Tales of Beastkin)

1. Adam

1

Adam

18 Years Ago

T he underground arena thrummed with the electric pulse of primal anticipation, its grandeur hidden beneath the city’s surface. Encircling the caged stage, seats rose in tiers, each row a wave of faces flickering in the harsh industrial light, eyes hungry for the spectacle of power and prowess. In the center stood Adam Sullivan, muscles taut and eyes blazing with intensity.

At seventeen, Adam already cut an imposing figure—tall and powerfully built with a lean, athletic frame hardened by years of brutal training. His toned muscles rippled beneath tanned skin as he shifted his stance, movements lithe and predatory. Though strikingly handsome with chiseled features and tousled dark hair, his face bore a ferocious scowl that warned of the barely leashed fury simmering within.

Across from him was Luka Valentino, also seventeen but with an aura that rivaled Adam’s own. His golden hair caught stray beams of light; his stance held the unyielding surety of mountains. Their eyes locked—a silent challenge between equals.

All around the ring, raucous cheers erupted from the crowds comprised of men from the Sullivan, Valentino, Montgomery, and other minor clans. Farther back up in the private observation lounge, the New York Beastkin Council members and the heads of the three big clans sat in luxurious armchairs before the slanted floor-to-ceiling windows. Their most trusted lieutenants and favored underlings flanked them, fifteen-year-old Nolan included as part of the Sullivan contingent.

Nolan’s eyes scanned the riotous scene below, the thunderous cheers and hoots undoubtedly ear-deafening down on the arena floor. Excitement was palpable in the air. This was, after all, a once-a-year event—a chance for the clans to flaunt their rising protégés and gauge which heir apparent reigned supreme in the beastkin world, where strength, supernatural power, and wealth were inextricably intertwined.

Calum, the current head of the Sullivan Clan, leaned forward in his seat. “What do you think, Nolan?” he asked, his gaze never leaving Adam in the cage fight below. “Will he win?”

Nolan, his hands clasped behind him, said, “I place my bet on them ending in a dead heat again.”

Calum’s lips twitched upward at Nolan’s assessment. “Really now?” Interest flickered across his face like shadow play. “Do elaborate.”

Nolan sighed, theatrically almost, as if weary from a long-held patience tested once more by Calum’s probing nature.

“I sense both supernatural powers are on par with each other and both being alpha wolves, their growth rate is more or less identical, too. At this point anyway. Unless something changes, neither of them is going to beat the other.”

“Unless something changes…” Calum echoed thoughtfully as he stroked his bearded chin.

“Something… drastic,” Nolan said.

Down below, Adam prowled the cage with a hunter’s precision. Muscle and sinew coiled beneath his skin; every fiber of his being had been sculpted by trials that would break lesser men. Luka mirrored him, a reflection across an unspoken divide. His lean, muscular form was a banner of his own arduous journey through blood and shadow.

The air was thick with tension, each spectator holding their breath as the two young alphas tested one another. Adam shifted left, a silent taunt; Luka countered right, an unspoken vow. Their eyes remained locked, twin infernos of wills clashing without a word spoken.

Reputations preceded them both. Adam had heard the whispers, the awestruck tones recounting how Luka had cut a swath of destruction through opponents before he had even turned fifteen. Since then, his body count only grew, his notoriety swelling like a tidal wave crashing over the underground beastkin world.

Yet Adam himself was no stranger to such dark renown. His own path had been marked by the broken bodies and spilled blood of those foolish enough to challenge his ascent. An unmistakable sense of kinship, of visceral understanding thrummed between the two prodigies in that electrified pause before the storm.

“Adam,” Luka’s voice, low and resonant, broke the charged silence.

“Luka,” Adam responded with equal gravity.

Their exchange was a ritual, the prelude to an inevitable clash. The air seemed to shimmer with their mutual respect and unspoken acknowledgment of each other’s prowess.

“I see you’ve grown again. You don’t disappoint,” Luka remarked, his dark smile betraying his eagerness for the coming test of wills. The power radiating from him was unmistakable; it was the aura of one who had faced death and danced away unscathed time and again.

Adam narrowed his eyes, an unspoken challenge passing through his gaze. “Same goes for you,” he replied. “But let’s not beat about the bush. They’re watching.” His nod toward the private observation lounge above them carried a weight of significance.

Luka’s smirk broadened, a flash of white against the dim lighting of the arena. “Let us see who has grown more.”

“Let’s,” Adam agreed, his voice a low growl.

In that moment, Adam surrendered to his inner beast, unleashing his life force in a cascade of blue flame that licked at his skin and enveloped him in its otherworldly glow. With a surge of exhilaration, he embraced his alpha form—wolf ears sharp and alert, tail swaying with barely contained aggression, eyes alight with supernatural intensity.

The Sullivans erupted in fervent cheers, their cries rang out, “Adam! Go, Adam! Get him! Get him good. Make the Sullivans proud.”

Luka followed suit, exuding an aura of lethal beauty as he transformed. Golden flame glowed like spun sunbeams; fangs gleamed with promise of pain or glory.

“Let’s entertain everyone,” Luka declared with deadly allure. “And give me everything you’ve got.”

Adam snorted dismissively, though inwardly he relished the prospect. “With pleasure.”

They charged, two alphas destined for collision—a maelstrom of power and pride about to unfold as their forms blurred into motion amid the deafening roar of the crowd.

Adam burst forward, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. His right fist lanced out, only to smash against the steel cage where Luka had been standing a heartbeat before. The Valentino heir whirled behind him, hands weaving intricate patterns as he countered with a flurry of kicks and strikes.

The two alphas collided in a furious exchange of blows, titans of brute force meeting in an earth-shattering clash of wills. The ring shook from the thunderous impacts, spectators howling their approval as the two alphas raged in a whirlwind of violence.

Adam’s blood roared in his ears, his heart thundering like the frenzied drums of war as he traded blow for blow with Luka. In turn, Luka’s fists, knees, and feet lanced out in a lethal barrage that forced Adam to push his preternatural speed and reflexes to their limits.

Sweat slicked their bodies, muscles burning from the exertion of their clash. With a feral growl, Adam launched himself forward again, aiming a vicious kick at Luka’s midsection. His opponent sidestepped the strike, retaliating with a sweeping low kick that Adam leaped over with the grace of a striking viper.

The arena shook from their explosive impacts, the caged ring reverberating with the raw power of their supernatural battle. All around them, the spectators were a riot of cheers and jeers, voices blending into a discordant roar that fueled the primal fury coursing through Adam’s veins.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Luka taunted through gritted teeth, his eyes blazing with challenge.

Adam answered with a rumbling snarl, calling upon his alpha abilities as tendrils of blue flame licked along his arms. He unleashed a torrent of energy blasts, the concussive waves of force slamming into Luka and driving him back against the cage wall with bone-jarring impact.

Not wasting a moment, Adam pressed his advantage, closing the distance with blinding speed to rain down a hailstorm of punches and kicks upon his opponent. Luka weathered the onslaught, his own golden aura flaring to life as he met Adam’s ferocity with equal intensity.

Their forms became a blur of motion, afterimages trailing in their wake as they traded strikes too fast for the naked eye to follow. The arena seemed to hold its collective breath, the roar of the crowd fading into a dull buzz as the two young alphas poured their all into an earth-shattering collision of wills.

Adam could taste the metallic tang of blood mingling with the salt of his sweat, could feel the fiery ache of exertion burning through his muscles. Yet he refused to yield, refused to surrender even an inch to his rival. This was their battlefield, their crucible to prove their worth.

With a resounding crash, their bodies slammed together—Luka’s fist meeting Adam’s rock-hard abdomen even as Adam’s knee drove upward into Luka’s ribs. They grappled, straining against one another’s immense strength as swirling arcs of energy crackled around them.

For a breathless eternity, they remained in a deadlock, their bestial growls rumbling from deep within their chests. Finally, with an explosive burst, they broke apart, skidding backward in mirrored stances of defensive readiness.

Chests heaving, muscles quivering from exertion, Adam and Luka fixed one another with smoldering glares laden with unspoken respect. The two clashed again, fangs bared and claws extended. Their bodies collided with an impact that resonated through the cage, sending vibrations up Adam’s arms as he blocked a bone-crushing blow. Luka growled, a deep rumble that vibrated through the air between them.

Adam felt his heart pounding against his rib cage, each beat a drum call to battle. His own growl matched Luka’s as he parried another strike, their movements painting streaks of motion across the onlookers’ vision.

They broke apart for a fleeting moment—two panting, sweat-glistened warriors sizing each other up before lunging back into combat. Adam could feel his beastkin nature thrumming beneath his skin, an anthem to the fight. His limbs moved with a mind of their own, instincts honed by years of conflict driving him forward.

He summoned his strength for one final assault. Energy crackled around him like static charge before he released it in a shock wave aimed directly at Luka. The Valentino heir countered with an equally powerful burst, golden energy meeting blue in a spectacular explosion that lit up the entire arena.

As the dust settled and the echoes faded, both alphas stood their ground—neither yielding an inch. Their chests heaved from exertion as sweat dripped onto the floor beneath them, their eyes still burning with unrelenting fire.

They had reached an impasse once more—a dead heat that neither could surpass. The crowd fell silent for a moment before erupting into cheers and applause at the spectacle they had just witnessed: two young alphas whose rivalry was destined to become legend.

Present Day

A dam splashed cold water on his face, letting the icy droplets shock his senses. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, taking in the chiseled planes of his jaw, the straight line of his nose, and his eyes, stormy gray and often unreadable, held a flicker of something wild and untamed—a reflection of the beast within. Water glistened on his dark hair, trailing rivulets down his muscular form.

He exhaled sharply, a sound more of frustration than relief. The unwelcome ardor he felt was an insistent pulse in his blood, an echo of desire that refused to be silenced. Adam knew it was Shiro’s omega presence that summoned this hunger so acutely—a hunger that had been satiated under the cover of night but now returned with an intensity that bordered on pain.

The memory of their union flashed in his mind, an intoxicating blend of sweet surrender and fierce claiming. It was their first time together; it had been everything and more—passionate, all-consuming—but Adam hadn’t expected the aftermath to be so… relentless.

He splashed more cold water on his face, hoping to cool the burning need within. Raising his head, he gazed at his own reflection, searching for answers. Something about him seemed different, though not in a physical sense. It was as if their passionate session had altered him on a fundamental level.

He felt different, too. Stronger. More powerful. An unknown force was growing inside him, expanding with each passing moment. What this meant, Adam couldn’t say. But one thing was certain—his bond with Shiro had unleashed something primal and potent within his very being.

Adam’s chest heaved as he inhaled a deep breath, seeking calm in the midst of the storm raging within him. The penthouse bathroom, a haven of marble and chrome, resonated with his heavy breathing. His eyes fluttered shut, his senses sharpening to the life essence gathering inside him.

It was there, unmistakable and overwhelming. The essence flowed, thick and hot like molten lava, igniting every nerve in his body. A powerful surge crackled to life at his fingertips, sending jolts of electricity down his spine.

His eyelids snapped open, revealing eyes that blazed with a feral intensity. In the mirror before him stood his alpha form—two wolf ears perched atop his head and fangs peeking from behind full lips. A fluffy tail swished impatiently from the waist of his trousers. The transformation had torn his sleek shirt to shreds, revealing a torso that was now even more muscular and toned than before—a physique radiating with supernatural power.

He ran a hand through his tousled hair, taking another deep breath to steady himself. This metamorphosis was new territory—uncharted waters for any alpha. He wondered if this change within him was due to being an alpha and mating with Shiro, an omega. He didn’t know.

His gaze drifted to his hands as he curled and uncurled his fingers. They were surrounded by an aura that shimmered with a blue hue, alive with tiny sparks dancing between his digits like miniature bolts of lightning.

Adam’s curiosity piqued; this manifestation of power was unlike anything he had experienced before. Tentatively, he reached out toward the mirror, his reflection an amalgam of man and beast, and pressed his palm against the cool surface.

The heat surged within him, seeking an outlet, pulsing through his palm into the glass. And then it happened, the smooth surface splintered with a sharp crack that spider-webbed outward from where his skin made contact.

Adam pulled back swiftly, eyes wide with a mixture of shock and wonder at the raw force he had just unleashed. The crack in the mirror served as evidence of the untamed power at his command, a power born from the bond he now shared with Shiro.

Adam’s gaze lingered on the fragmented reflection a moment longer before Shiro’s voice beckoned him back to the present.

“Adam?”

He turned, the residual power from his display ebbing away like the tide retreating from the shore. “Hmm?” he responded, his voice low and steady despite the tumultuous revelations of his newfound strength.

“I’m nearly done packing,” Shiro said, his voice tinged with an undercurrent of excitement and a whisper of trepidation.

It was a significant transition, not just of location but of life chapters for both of them. Adam considered the importance of this move, his mind churning with strategic calculations even in personal matters. Shiro’s safety was paramount; the Sullivan Mansion would become his sanctuary.

“There’s no need to rush,” Adam assured him, his tone gentle. “Take your time.”

“Okay,” Shiro said.

Closing his eyes, Adam willed his body to shift back to its human form, the potent energy within him subsiding for now. He removed what remained of his torn shirt, the tattered fabric clinging to his sculpted torso.

Stepping into the walk-in closet, he donned a crisp white shirt that strained against the swell of his muscular chest and broad shoulders. A dark suit jacket followed, the fine fabric molding to the contours of his powerful frame.

The scent of Shiro’s alluring fragrance beckoned him, and Adam followed it into the next room to find the boy busily packing his meager belongings, all of which Adam had purchased for him. The disorder on the bed caught Adam’s eye, the contents of Shiro’s life haphazardly thrown together in duffel bags that seemed ready to burst at the seams. A soft laugh escaped him as he took in the chaotic arrangement of clothes and personal items.

“Is that how you pack?” he teased, his deep voice laced with fond amusement.

Shiro glanced up, and a rosy hue bloomed across his cheeks. His eyes, as blue as the summer sky, sparkled with a mix of embarrassment and innocence. “I’ve… never packed before,” he admitted, a sheepish smile tugging at his soft lips.

Adam knew it was true—the boy had never experienced such simple freedoms before they met and hadn’t owned more than a few pieces of clothing before their paths had crossed. His heart clenched with a strange mixture of protectiveness and tenderness as he moved closer.

Standing behind Shiro, Adam enveloped him with his arms, feeling the lean lines of the boy’s body press against his own. The sensation of Shiro encased in his embrace felt as natural as breathing— perfect —like two puzzle pieces fitting seamlessly together.

“You didn’t need to pack,” he murmured into the soft white tufts of Shiro’s hair. “I’ll buy you new ones.”

“But it’ll be a waste to not take these with me,” Shiro protested. “I like all the clothes you bought for me.”

Adam’s wolf senses were overwhelmed by the sweet, intoxicating scent that clung to Shiro’s hair and skin. He breathed it in deeply, allowing the delicate aroma to envelop him, stir him, until his body hummed with a familiar, smoldering hunger. This must be Shiro’s omega scent, the type designed by nature itself to lure and tantalize an alpha like himself.

“Adam?” Shiro’s voice was a soft whisper against the silence.

“Hmm?” Adam rumbled, tightening his embrace possessively.

With a gentle turn of his head, Shiro craned his neck to look up at him with those alluring eyes, tilting his face in that adorably curious way that tugged at something deep within Adam’s chest.

That face never failed to captivate him; the ethereal beauty etched into every fine line and angle of Shiro’s features was mesmerizing. And each time Adam gazed upon him, his heart clenched tighter, as if seized by an invisible hand, rendering him momentarily breathless.

“What’s the Sullivan Mansion like? Is it something like this penthouse? And are there lots of, you know, the Sullivan men around? I mean, do they live there, too?” Shiro asked, his voice tinged with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Adam’s lips as he considered his response. The Sullivan headquarters was a sacred place, its innermost secrets known only to those within the clan’s highest ranks. Revealing too much could potentially put Shiro at risk.

“Yes and no,” he replied enigmatically, not wanting to divulge details prematurely. It would be better for Shiro to experience the Sullivan estate firsthand.

Because that sweet, innocent face with those large inquisitive eyes was just too damn irresistible, Adam couldn’t help but cup Shiro’s chin with one hand and lean down to capture those soft, plush lips in a searing kiss.

The moment their mouths met, a jolt of pure desire lanced through Adam’s body. Shiro’s warm, silken flesh against his own was pure ecstasy, igniting a ravenous hunger within him. He ached to deepen the kiss, to plunge his tongue past those yielding lips and taste every addictive inch of Shiro’s mouth.

But he reined in his lustful impulses, reluctantly breaking the passionate lip-lock. There would be ample time for such indulgences later, when Shiro had settled into his new home and felt at ease in his surroundings. Tonight, Adam vowed, he would worship every delectable curve and crevice of Shiro’s body, drinking in that nectar until he was utterly drunk on the boy’s exquisite essence.

For now, however, he could sense the boy’s underlying anxiety, a perfectly natural reaction to such a monumental transition. Adam exhaled a slow breath, forcing himself to be patient as he released Shiro from his embrace.

“You’ll see when you get there,” he assured, his voice a low, sultry rumble. “I need to make a few phone calls. When you’re done packing, we’ll leave.”

Shiro nodded obediently, those azure gems still sparkling with a hint of trepidation over the unknown that awaited him. But Adam would be there to guide him, to keep him safe and secure within the clan’s stronghold.

Half an hour later, Shiro padded into the living room, the duffel packs weighing down his slender arms. The fabric strained against the zippers, bulging with the neatness of a newly learned skill. The sight was endearing, Shiro’s slender frame dwarfed by the bulky luggage, his face set in an expression of determined concentration.

“Are you done?” Adam’s voice carried a note of mild amusement.

Shiro chuckled, a melodic sound that seemed to dance through the air. “Yeah. It took a while. I had to redo everything and pack properly because I don’t want to leave anything behind. What about you? Are you done with your phone calls?”

Adam offered a single nod, confirming his readiness.

They reached the foyer when Shiro’s gaze fell upon the scant items Adam chose to bring—a working trifecta of technology that comprised his mobile command center. “What about your other stuff?”

“I don’t need them,” Adam stated, hand resting on the door handle.

“Oh,” Shiro said softly. He carefully lifted his mask, which bore the image of a sleeping fox, and secured it over his mouth and nose.

The car ride was silent except for the hum of the engine—a purring beast beneath them as they navigated through the cityscape. Adam watched from the corner of his eye as Shiro’s hands twisted together in his lap, a ballet of nerves playing out in those small movements.

“Relax,” Adam’s chuckle was light but not without empathy. “You’re moving into a new home, not being taken in to The Institute.”

Shiro’s response was barely audible over the road’s murmur. “I’m working on it,” he said. “I’m just a little nervous, is all.” The boy turned then, cheeks aflame. “We’ve lived together for over a month already, and that’s awesome, but now, we’ll be living together as… a… a couple and…” His voice trailed off as he moistened his lips, a quick dart of tongue that caught Adam’s attention. “And there’ll be Lan and Aka and… It’s going to be so much fun…” Shiro’s smile blossomed like spring after winter’s chill. “It’s going to be like… a family…”

Family. The word resonated within Adam’s chest like a sacred vow whispered in the dark.

Adam reached over and tousled Shiro’s hair, a mane as white as winter snows, and watched as it settled back into soft disarray. The boy’s smile widened at the gesture, igniting something warm in Adam’s heart.

“It will be,” Adam affirmed. “You’ll have a family again with Aka and Lan there. And Kuro, too, when he’s found.” He studied the delicate features of the boy’s face, from those azure eyes that seemed to glimpse into his very soul to the soft pout of those plush lips that drove him to distraction with want. “I’ll be part of your family too, if you’ll have me,” Adam said, the words seeming to tumble from his lips unbidden.

Shiro’s eyes widened. He leaned his cheek into Adam’s touch, letting out a contented sigh. “Of course I want you,” he whispered, his voice laced with raw emotion.

Those simple words shattered something deep within Adam’s core, cracking the icy veneer he had worn for so long. Shiro’s earnest acceptance and pure, unconditional affection threatened to overwhelm him. All the barriers Adam had erected, all his self-imposed isolation and brooding alpha persona… it all melted away in the radiant warmth of Shiro’s love.

The car wove through the dense thicket of woods, a tangle of shadows and whispers where sunlight dared only in slender beams. The foliage receded, yielding to open fields where the earth seemed to breathe beneath waves of undulating grass. Adam felt Shiro’s gaze drawn to the world unfurling outside the window, an expanse far removed from the confines of their city dwelling.

And there it loomed in the distance, the Sullivan Mansion—an imposing structure rooted in the earth like an ancient tree. With its towers piercing the sky at each corner, the manor, grandiose and stately, commanded the landscape, its presence as much a declaration of power as it was a home.

Adam stole a sidelong glance at Shiro, drinking in the rapturous expression on his beautiful face. The boy’s eyes were wide with awe, shimmering like sunlight on crystalline waters as he took in the breathtaking sight before him.

“Is that… the Sullivan Mansion?” Shiro asked in a hushed, almost breathless tone, as if afraid speaking too loudly might somehow shatter the enchanting vision.

A faint smirk curved Adam’s lips. “Mm-hmm,” he affirmed with a rumbling chuckle. “What do you think?”

Shiro seemed to struggle for words, his gaze roving over every facet of the grand manor. “It’s so big and… very beautiful…” he finally managed. “It looks like one of those fancy castles in a magazine.”

Adam smiled, his chest tightening with pride. “Just wait until you see inside.”

Shiro chuckled beside him, his laughter light and full of promise. “Yeah, I can’t wait.”

Adam couldn’t help but feel a surge of masculine pride at Shiro’s awestruck reaction. The Sullivan ancestral home was indeed an imposing structure that inspired both reverence and respect. Yet its true magnificence lay not in its architectural grandeur, but in the labyrinthine secrets lurking within its ancient walls.

As they neared, the manor revealed itself further—a collage of ivy and stone, windows like watchful eyes glistening in the afternoon light, each tower stood as a guardian over the estate. Adam guided the car along the curve of the road, each turn revealing more of the mansion’s grandeur.