Marked By Midnight; Fated To Fall

CHAPTER ONE

The forest breathed with danger

Wind howled between the trees, sharp and cold like fate itself. Branches clawed at Eira's arms as she sprinted, her wolf blood burning, her heart pounding like a war drum. Ronan was beside her-blood on his shirt, fire in his eyes, and love in every desperate step.

They weren't just running. They were defying the Moon Goddess.

Because Eira wasn't just anyone. She was the fated mate of Alpha Kael.

And she had chosen someone else.

The clearing opened before them-and the moment her paws hit the earth, she knew.

Too late.

Wolves.

Glowing eyes in the dark. Fangs gleaming like daggers. A deadly circle closing in fast.

And then, he emerged.

Kael.

Alpha of the Blackthorn Pack.

Draped in shadow and silence, Kael stepped forward like a storm just before it broke. His golden eyes locked onto Eira, ancient and unreadable. His presence swallowed the night. He didn't need to shift to be a threat-he was one in every breath.

"You ran," he said, voice soft, deadly.

Eira raised her chin. "We're leaving."

Kael's jaw twitched. "You don't choose. The bond does."

"No. I belong to no one."

Kael moved closer, his voice a whisper edged with steel. "You're mine by fate. That means your heart. Your blood. Your soul. Even your defiance... belongs to me."

His eyes flicked to Ronan, narrow and glowing.

"Leave her," Kael growled, his fangs flashing, "or I will rip you into pieces."

Ronan bared his teeth, his wolf trembling just beneath his skin. "Over my dead body."

Kael tilted his head, cold and calm. "That can be arranged."

The pack lunged.

The clearing exploded-howls, fangs, fur, blood.

Eira shifted mid-leap, claws slashing, fangs tearing. She was a blur of silver and fury, carving down two wolves in seconds. Ronan followed, his wolf pure white, his movements wild and desperate. They fought as one-love and rage in motion.

But the pack was too many

Ronan took a bite to the shoulder, snarling, still fighting. Then his foot caught a root-he stumbled, and a jagged branch stabbed into his side.

"Ronan!" Eira cried, tearing through enemies toward him.

But jaws clamped onto her limbs-three wolves at once. She snarled, fought, bit-but they dragged her down.

Kael didn't move. He watched.

"Take her to Gravenia," he said coldly. "If she resists-bind her in silver."

"No!" Eira thrashed, her claws raking the earth

Ronan, bloodied and staggering, tore the branch from his side with a snarl. His eyes locked on Eira-and he surged forward. Even broken, even bleeding, he was still trying to reach her.

Until the gunshot.

The forest cracked.

Ronan's body jerked-blood spilled from his chest.

Not a wolf. Not Kael.

Someone else.

Kael turned, his face twisting. "Who fired?"

Eira broke free for a second-just enough to crawl toward Ronan.

"I love you," she whispered.

Ronan's lips parted. "I love y-"

He collapsed.

Her scream shook the trees.

Kael was there in an instant. He caught her by the wrist as she lunged for Ronan's body.

"Let me go!" she cried, tears streaking her bloodied face.

Kael's voice was low. "You'll forget him."

She hissed, "You're a monster."

He paused.

Then, softer-hurt barely hidden behind the ice-he said, "If I were truly a monster, you'd already be dead."

His grip tightened just slightly, as if afraid she'd vanish if he let go.

"I never wanted to hurt you, Eira," he murmured, golden eyes locked on hers. "But I won't let you belong to anyone else."

Eira's voice cracked. "I'm already hurt. You've taken everything."

Kael's jaw clenched, and for the first time, something broke in him.

He pulled her close, not in rage-but something like desperation. "Then let me fix it. Let me keep what's left.

She looked away. "You can't fix what you've shattered."

But he didn't release her.

And she didn't stop fighting-not until the pack had her fully restrained.

Her body bruised. Her heart broken.

They moved fast through the forest-wolves could cover miles in minutes. Eira clawed and bit and writhed the entire way, but they were too many. Kael walked beside her in silence, every step unreadable. He didn't touch her again, but his eyes never left her.

When they reached Gravenia, the territory was cloaked in shadow. Cold stone towers. Silver gates. The air itself felt heavy with power.

The moment they passed through the gates, Eira whispered under her breath:

"I'll love you forever, Ronan. I promise."

Kael's eyes flicked toward her-but he said nothing.

The forest behind them swallowed Ronan's blood, and the moon, heartless and full, watched in silence.

Gravenia's stone walls loomed, shrouded in mist. Thunder rumbled above, disapproving of Eira's capture.

Kael walked ahead, silent yet turbulent. His clenched fists betrayed his turmoil.

Inside the stronghold, torches cast eerie shadows. Guards pushed Eira forward; she snarled, snapping.

Kael turned, his voice icy. "Enough!"

Eira trembled with rage and grief. "You killed him."

Kael's jaw tightened. "I didn't. That bullet wasn't mine."

Eira met his eyes, breathing hard. "You hurt me."

Kael's face shifted, revealing the man behind the Alpha. "I love you," he said quietly. "Even if it makes me a monster."

The guards led Eira to a windowless room. Wolves patrolled outside, their eyes glowing.

Eira's anger and grief simmered. She plotted her rebellion, determination growing with each passing moment. She would escape, and she would make Kael pay.

Eira blinked.

Kael's voice lowered. "You think I didn't feel it when he touched you? When you kissed him? You think I didn't feel it burning through the bond?"

She said nothing.

"I don't want to hurt you, Eira. But I'll never let you go."

She met his eyes, breathing hard. "You already hurt me. You are hurting me."

Kael's face shifted. For a flicker of a moment, the Alpha was gone-and the man who had once watched her from afar, who had waited for the bond to awaken, stood in his place.

"I love you in ways you don't understand," he said quietly. "Even if it makes me a monster."

Eira's voice cracked. "You don't have to be one."

But the moment ended. Guards stepped forward again.

Kael turned away, and with a nod, Eira was pulled toward a cell lined with silver.

"I won't stay in your cage," she growled.

Kael didn't look back. "It's not the cage that keeps you. It's the bond."

The door slammed shut behind her.

But Eira wasn't done. And she would never forget Ronan.

Not while her heart still beat.