The world went silent after those two words left his lips.
You're mine.
Mira's heart kicked hard against her ribs, panic clawing its way up her throat. The man — this stranger with eyes like silver fire — didn't look like he was joking. His expression was carved from ice, as if fate itself had carved those words into his bones.
Mira stumbled back. "I don't even know you."
He stepped forward. "You will."
"No," she whispered. "No— stay away from me."
He stopped, chest rising and falling with slow control, as if he were fighting an instinct so primal it terrified him. His jaw flexed.
"I'm not your enemy, Mira."
"You just killed a— a monster! You grabbed my wrist like you knew exactly—"
"I did," he cut in softly.
Too softly.
Too intimate
"I know exactly what you are."
Mira's throat tightened. Her wrist throbbed under her jacket like it recognized him.
"Let go of my life," she choked out.
His brow lowered, a dark storm gathering in his expression. "I've let go for eighteen years. I'm done."
Lightning tore across the sky.
Wind whipped her hair into her face.
And then — footsteps. Fast. Lila rushed out of the diner, screaming.
"MIRA! What the hell happened?! Oh my God— are you hurt?"
Mira tried to speak, but the man's voice slipped into her mind again, deep and dangerous.
"Don't tell her. Not here."
Her stomach flipped. She jerked away from him. "Get out of my head!"
He didn't flinch. "Then stop thinking so loudly."
Lila grabbed Mira's hand. "We're leaving. Now."
The stranger's eyes darkened. "You can't go with them."
Mira glared. "Watch me."
Lila tugged her toward the car — but the sky cracked open with thunder, drowning out everything. A low, rumbling growl echoed from somewhere down the street.
Not one.
Several.
Eyes glowed in the shadows behind the buildings.
More of those things.
More wolves.
The man swore under his breath. "They've found you faster than I expected."
"Found me?!" Mira yelled. "What am I, a prize?!"
He looked at her.
And for the first time, she saw it — urgency. Fear. Not for himself.
For her.
"Moonbound blood draws enemies like blood draws sharks," he said. "And these… are only scouts."
Her knees weakened. "Scouts for what?"
He stared into the darkness.
"For a rogue queen who wants you dead before your power fully awakens."
Lila grabbed Mira's arm. "We're leaving right now!"
But the wolves burst from the shadows — six of them — massive, black, snarling. Mira screamed as Lila pulled her back.
The stranger moved faster than lightning.
He stepped in front of them, his voice dropping into a deadly growl.
"Ashmoon territory. You attack her, you die."
The wolves hesitated… then launched.
Chaos exploded.
He fought like a creature born from war — silent, efficient, terrifyingly beautiful in his brutality. Claws slashed the air, teeth snapped inches from Mira's face.
One wolf broke past him — charging straight for her.
Lila screamed.
Mira froze.
In that moment — time shattered.
A roar tore through the air, deep and monstrous. The man blurred, slamming into the wolf before it reached them. He grabbed the creature by the spine and crushed it like brittle glass.
It disintegrated into smoke.
Mira's breath shook violently. Her legs buckled. Lila was crying now, trembling uncontrollably.
This was real. All of it.
When the last wolf dissolved into the air, the man turned toward Mira. Blood spattered his arms. His eyes glowed like molten silver.
He wasn't breathing hard.
He wasn't shaken.
He looked… awakened.
"Mira," he said softly, stepping toward her.
She stepped back.
He swallowed, restraint trembling across his jaw. "We don't have time. More will come. Stronger ones."
"And why should I go with you?" she whispered hoarsely.
His expression shifted — colder, harder. "Because if you stay in this town one more hour, you'll die."
Lila grabbed Mira's hand again. "Come home with me. Please. My parents will call the police—"
"No human police can stop what's coming," he snapped.
Then his eyes softened again — painfully.
"Mira… I need to get you out of here. To somewhere safe. To my territory."
She shook her head. "I'm not leaving with a stranger who thinks he owns me."
He stiffened.
And something like pain flickered in his eyes.
"I don't own you."
A pause.
"I'm bound to you."
Her stomach dropped. "Bound?"
He looked away for a brief moment — a rare crack in his armor.
"I'll explain on the way."
He stepped closer, voice barely above a whisper.
"Please, Mira."
The word please sounded wrong coming from someone like him. Too raw. Too desperate.
Thunder growled above them again.
And then — more eyes opened in the shadows.
Dozens.
Mira gasped. "Oh my God…"
The man's voice sharpened into command.
"Get in the car."
"Wh—"
He grabbed her waist — strong, warm hands — and lifted her into the passenger seat of Lila's old car so fast the world blurred.
Lila backed away in horror. "Mira—?!"
He turned to her, cold and precise. "Go home. Stay inside. Don't open your windows or door for anyone tonight. Anyone."
Lila nodded shakily, tears falling. "Mir— I'll call you—"
"Go!" he shouted.
She ran.
Mira turned to him, breath shaking. "Wait— what about my mom? My life? My—"
His jaw clenched. "I'll protect them from afar. But right now… your survival comes first."
He slid into the driver's seat with unnatural speed. The car vibrated as something slammed into its back bumper.
Mira shrieked.
He grabbed the steering wheel. "Hold on to something. Now."
The car shot forward.
Wolves hurled themselves after them, claws scraping pavement.
Mira clutched the door handle, heart slamming wildly. The man's eyes flashed silver as he swerved toward the forest road.
"Where are you taking me?!"
"Ashmoon Valley."
"What is that?!"
"Home."
Her breath caught.
"Not my home!"
He turned to her — eyes burning, voice low and devastating.
"It's always been your home, Mira."
The car roared into the darkness, wolves howling behind them.
And Mira realized one terrifying truth:
She wasn't being kidnapped.
She was being claimed by fate.