The first thing Kael noticed when he reached the clearing was the unnatural stillness of the forest. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath, and the scent of danger crawled up his spine like icy fingers. Selene's scent was there, unmistakable—but layered beneath it was something alien, metallic, and sharp.
His wolf growled, low and menacing, echoing the tension coiling in his chest. Every instinct screamed at him that this was no ordinary attack. He had felt her presence across miles, but now, seeing her in the Shadow Alpha's grasp, that presence tore through him like a blade.
Kael dismounted without hesitation. His boots hit the ground silently, but his aura announced him anyway. The Shadow guards froze, sensing the Alpha King's dominance. His claws flexed, golden eyes flaring as he stepped into the moonlight.
Selene's wrists were bound in silver chains, her posture tense but defiant. The Shadow Alpha stood close behind her, one hand lightly resting on her shoulder—a predatory claim. The silver mark glinted faintly on the side of her neck opposite Kael's own mark.
Kael's chest tightened. For a heartbeat, the world contracted, narrowing to the curve of her throat, the twin marks glowing like coiled fire. His wolf surged, snapping and growling in protest.
"You…" Kael's voice was low, rough with fury. "What have you done to her?"
The Shadow Alpha's silver eyes glimmered with amusement. "I merely claimed what was already meant for me."
"You touch her," Kael growled, stepping forward. "You lay a mark on my mate, and you call it claim?"
"I call it destiny," the Shadow Alpha said, voice smooth as night. "Do not mistake caution for fear, Kael. You have until the next moon to act—or lose her entirely."
Selene's wolf shivered inside her, restless and anxious. She raised her hands slightly, shaking from both fear and the tug of the bond she did not consent to. "Kael—he—"
"You were forced," Kael interrupted, voice sharper than a blade. "I know."
He lunged forward, tearing the first guard from her side with a single swipe. Teeth and claws flashed in the moonlight as the second guard tried to intervene—and met Kael's full fury. One bite, one snap, and both were incapacitated, leaving him alone with Selene and the Shadow Alpha.
The moment hung like a storm about to break. Kael's golden eyes never left the silver glow on her neck, and Selene felt the heat of his fury even before he spoke again.
"Do you feel it?" he asked her, voice low and trembling with barely-contained rage. "This bond? This pull? It should be only me."
Selene's throat tightened. "I… I feel it," she admitted, voice barely a whisper. "Both of them. I can't… I don't—"
Her wolf growled in frustration. You have to fight it. Fight him.
Kael's claws flexed. His jaw tightened, but he forced himself to control his instincts, knowing that any wrong move could hurt her—or push her further into the Shadow Alpha's influence.
The Shadow Alpha took a step closer, hand lifted slightly as if to touch her again. Kael's wolf roared in warning. "Do not. Touch her."
The air thickened, electricity crackling between the two Alphas. Trees swayed as though the forest itself felt their power. Even the distant river seemed to halt, holding its breath.
"You're mine," Kael growled, each word heavy with ownership and fury. "In every way. You will not be bound by him."
The Shadow Alpha tilted his head, silver eyes glinting like knives. "We shall see, Kael. The bond is stronger than you think. Perhaps she will choose me—willingly, even."
Selene gasped, her wolf snapping and snarling inside her. The magnetic pull between the two Alphas made her head spin. One moment, she wanted Kael, wanted his protection, his warmth, the steady certainty of him. The next, a chill crawled up her spine, and she felt herself drawn toward the Shadow Alpha's dangerous presence.
Kael's gaze softened, just enough for her to feel the weight of his concern. "Selene, look at me," he commanded gently but firmly. She blinked and forced herself to focus. "Listen to me. The bond he left—it's not meant to control you completely. Only I can make it right."
"I don't know if I can fight it," she whispered. "It's like… part of me wants him."
"You are stronger than that," Kael said, his golden eyes burning with unshakable resolve. "You've survived worse. And I will not lose you to him—not ever."
Then, in one swift motion, Kael moved to her side, shredding the remaining chains and pulling her close. Her wolf pressed into his, seeking refuge, trembling with relief and fear all at once.
The Shadow Alpha stepped back, but his smirk never faltered. "This is far from over, Kael. She is only halfway yours. The rest will be mine."
Kael's jaw tightened until it ached. "Come. Now."
They mounted their horses and rode in tense silence, Selene leaning against Kael, feeling the warmth and strength of his presence, even as the other bond throbbed faintly in her veins.
By the time they reached the fortress, the moon had risen high, casting silver light on stone walls and watchful guards. Kael brought her inside, carefully closing the heavy doors behind them.
She sank to the floor, her wolf shivering in exhaustion, in confusion, and in the aching pull of two claims. Kael crouched beside her, one hand brushing the hair from her face.
"You are mine," he whispered, low and dangerous. "I will finish what he started—but in my way, on my terms. You will not belong to him. Never."
Selene's chest tightened, a mixture of fear, longing, and something unnameable stirring deep inside her.
Even in the safety of the fortress, she could feel it—the tug between two worlds, two Alphas, two destinies. And she knew with a sinking certainty that nothing, not even Kael's fury, would make it simple.
The war for her heart, her bond, and her very soul had only just begun.