Kael's POV
She's dying in my arms.
Silver light pours from Sera's wolf form like blood from a wound. Too much power. Too fast. Her body convulses violently, and I can feel her slipping away through the bond we're not supposed to have.
Alpha, get back! Raven shouts, fear sharp in her voice. The energy could kill you!
I don't move. Can't move. Every instinct, every fibre of my being screams to protect her. My wolf howls inside my head, frantic and desperate.
Save mate. Save mate. SAVE MATE.
The light explodes outward in a wave. I shield her body as it hits lightning through every nerve, burning and freezing at once. Pain like I've never known. Then, impossibly, quiet.
Sera shifts back to human and collapses. I catch her before she hits the ground, cradling her against my chest.
Is she breathing? Raven rushes over, and there's actual worry in her eyes now.
I press my fingers to Sera's throat. Her pulse is weak but steady. She's alive.
An old woman appears at the edge of the training ground. Elena Grey. The Moon Blessed expert Sera's grandmother mentioned. She moves with purpose, kneeling beside us.
She heard her grandmother's voice, Elena says. Not a question. A statement.
My head snaps up. How did you know?
Amara's spirit was waiting for this moment. The suppression spell broke when Sera was ready to hear the truth. Elena's weathered face darkens. But the Shadow Council felt that surge of power. They know where she is now. They know what she is.
Ice floods my veins. How long do we have?
Days. Maybe less. Elena's eyes are grave. They'll send enforcers to drain her power and kill her. They can't let a Moon Blessed this strong exist outside their control.
I lift Sera carefully, her body limp in my arms. We move her to my room. The wards are strongest there.
You need to stay with her, Elena says, following as I stride toward the compound. There's a bond forming between you. A chosen bond. You're the anchor keeping her power from consuming her completely.
The bond. The impossible, undeniable bond that defies every law I know.
I carry Sera inside. The pack watches silently, parting to let me through. Some look afraid. Others look awed. All of them know things just changed. That we're in danger now.
In my room, I lay her on the bed as gently as I can. Her silver hair spreads across the pillow like moonlight. Even unconscious, even vulnerable, she's beautiful. Fierce.
Mine.
The possessive thought hits me hard, primal. I've never wanted to claim anyone before. Never let my wolf have that kind of control. But with Sera, it's different. Everything about her is different.
Elena enters with herbs and a bowl of water, moving with practiced efficiency. Sit beside her. Hold her hand.
I do as she says without question. The moment our skin touches, warmth spreads through me. The bond pulses, alive and strong and right.
Good. Elena begins mixing the herbs, grinding them with practiced motions. The bond will help stabilize her power. But Kael you need to understand what you're committing to. A chosen bond isn't like a fated bond. It requires constant choice. You have to choose her every day. Choose to protect her. Choose to
Love her, I finish quietly, the truth of it settling into my bones.
Elena nods, approval in her eyes. And she has to choose you back. It only works if both souls agree. If both hearts are willing.
I look at Sera's peaceful face, so different from the broken girl I found in my forest. What if she doesn't choose me? What if she chooses to leave after three months?
Then the bond will fade. And it will hurt more than any fated bond breaking ever could. Elena's voice is gentle but honest. Because losing someone you chose is worse than losing someone fate picked for you. When fate decides, you can blame destiny. When you choose, you only have yourself to blame.
The thought of Sera leaving makes my chest tighten painfully. I barely know her. Just met her two days ago. This is insane.
But my wolf doesn't care about logic. He knows what he wants. Mate. Ours. Keep.
Sera's eyes flutter open suddenly. She gasps, sitting up fast, wild eyed. The Shadow Council my grandmother said they're coming
I know. I squeeze her hand, grounding her. Elena told me. We'll protect you. I promise.
Sera looks around wildly, disoriented. How long was I out?
An hour, Elena says calmly. Your power stabilized faster than expected. The bond helped significantly.
What bond? Sera's eyes meet mine, then she looks down at our joined hands. Understanding dawns slowly. The silver light. When we touched before. That's what it was?
It's a chosen bond, I explain carefully. Not fated. Not decreed by the Moon. We're creating it ourselves. Both of us.
Can we stop it? The question hits harder than it should.
I force myself to ask, Do you want to?
Sera stares at our hands. The silver glow pulses between us, visible proof of what's happening. I don't know. Everything's happening so fast. Yesterday I was getting married. Today I'm She stops, overwhelmed. What am I?
Powerful, Elena says firmly. Moon Blessed. Hunted. And needed.
The Council meeting is tomorrow, Sera says, focusing. Can I control my power by then? Can I prove myself?
Elena and I exchange looks. The truth is uncertain. We can try, Elena says carefully. But it won't be easy. And it will hurt.
Everything hurts already. Sera pulls her hand from mine. The bond protests, making us both wince. But I'm done being weak. I'm done being helpless. Teach me.
Elena nods approvingly. Then we start now. But first She pulls out a small vial of silver liquid that seems to glow from within. Drink this. It will help you connect with your wolf without the power overwhelming you.
Sera takes the vial, suspicious. What is it?
Moon water. Made from melted snow gathered during a blood moon. It's rare. Powerful. Elena's voice drops. And it will show you the truth.
What truth?
Elena's eyes are grave, heavy with knowledge. About who you really are. About your grandmother's sacrifice. About why she had to suppress your power. She pauses. And about the real reason Dominic rejected you.
My jaw clenches. What do you mean, the real reason? Are you saying it wasn't just cruelty?
The rejection wasn't random, Elena says, and each word feels like a stone dropping. Someone told Dominic to do it. Someone who knew what Sera was. Someone working for the Shadow Council.
Sera's hand shakes, the vial trembling. Who?
Drink the moon water. It will show you in a vision. Elena steps back. But be warned the truth will hurt more than the rejection did. Some betrayals cut deeper than others.
Sera uncorks the vial. She looks at me, vulnerable and scared. Will you stay?
Always. The promise is easy because it's true.
She drinks. For a moment, nothing happens. Then her eyes roll back, glowing pure silver. She gasps, body going rigid.
I grab her shoulders. Sera!
She's in the vision, Elena says sharply. Don't interrupt. She needs to see this, no matter how painful.
Sera's lips move, whispering words I can't hear. Tears stream down her face. Whatever she's seeing, it's destroying her piece by piece.
Finally, after what feels like hours but is probably only minutes, her eyes clear. She stares at me, and the horror written across her face makes my blood run cold.
It was him, she breathes, voice breaking. All along, it was him.
Who? But I already know the answer will devastate her.
My brother. Her voice breaks completely. Jason. He's the one working for the Shadow Council. He convinced Dominic to reject me. He's been planning this for years. Planning to break me.
The room goes silent. Even Elena looks shocked.
That's impossible, I say, though I know Moon water doesn't lie. Jason came here to get you. He was fighting for you
It was an act. Tears pour down Sera's cheeks faster now. He needs me broken. Needs me desperate. Needs me vulnerable. She sobs, the sound wrenching. Because the Shadow Council doesn't want to kill me. They want to use me. And Jason... Her voice becomes a whisper. Jason sold me to them.