Chapter 1 The Race

Selene Cross ran for her life as the cold night air burned her lungs as she pushed herself harder, darting between towering trees. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest, but she couldn't stop.

Not now.

Not when he was closing in. A low, guttural growl vibrated through the trees, deep and unmistakable.

Ronan.

The thought of his name alone sent shivers through her spine, the Alpha's presence pressed against her like a weight, his power a shadow creeping through the forest. The mate bond between them throbbed, urging her to turn back, to submit.

She gritted her teeth. Never.

She had spent years avoiding this moment,she had to groom herself in the forest running from this fate. She refused to be bound, to become just another Luna in his pack.

A sharp snap of a twig to her right sent a fresh wave of fear coursing through her.

He was too close, so Selene surged forward, her legs burning as she headed for the river. If she could make it across, she might have a chance, a sliver of hope to mask her scent and vanish into the night.

But fate was cruel.

A massive shadow leapt from the darkness and before she could react, a heavy force slammed into her back, She crashed to the ground, rolling violently through the dirt before slamming into a tree, small Pain exploded through her ribs, but she had no time to recover.

Ronan was on her.

She barely had time to move before his strong hands pinned her wrists against the earth, his body looming over her.

Selene snarled, thrashing beneath him. "Get off me!"

His golden eyes burned, filled with something raw, unrelenting.

"You've run long enough," he murmured, his voice gravelly, thick with restraint.

Selene's wolf whimpered, but she refused to surrender.

"This bond," she spat, struggling. "It's a curse."

Ronan's jaw ticked, his grip tightening. "Or it could be our salvation." She hated the way her body reacted to him the way the mate bond made her crave the very thing she was trying to escape.

His breath ghosted over her skin, his warmth seeping into her.

"Don't fight this," he said softly.

She hated that his voice almost made her believe him. With force Selene lashed out, twisting violently beneath him.

She managed to free one hand, striking him across the face.

Ronan barely flinched as his golden eyes darkened.

Selene barely had time to react before he flipped her over, her face pressed into the dirt as he pinned her down once more.

"Enough." His voice was thick, commanding. Alpha.

Her breath hitched but She refused to give up. Summoning every ounce of strength, she threw her weight sideways, knocking him off balance.

She barely managed to scramble to her feet before he was on her again.

This time, she didn't fight.

She ran with heavy strides, her hearts was thumping loudly that it could even wake a sleeping log.

But Ronan was faster, In a blur of motion, he lunged, tackling her to the ground once more but this time, when he spoke, his voice was different. Rough. Strained.

"You don't understand, Selene. This is killing me."

She stilled. Breathless.

The mate bond burned, stronger than before. Unrelenting.

Ronan's face was inches from hers. His golden eyes flickered with something broken.

He was fighting it, too.

A tremor ran through his body as his fingers dug into the earth beside her, his breath ragged.

"If you keep running," he said, voice raw, "I'll lose myself."

Selene's heart clenched.

This was worse than she thought.

The stories were true.

The longer she resisted the bond, the more unstable he became.She could feel it his wolf fraying at the edges, barely contained and the thought terrified her.

She wanted to believe it wasn't her problem.

That she could still escape.

But now, for the first time, she wasn't so sure.

Ronan's eyes searched hers, filled with a desperation that nearly shattered her.

"I don't want to hurt you," he whispered.

Her throat tightened.

Then why won't you let me go?

Selene didn't say it.

Because deep down, she already knew the answer.

The bond had already decided.

And no matter how hard she ran, she was never getting away. But what if there was another way to end this, just as she stood thinking of how to escape.

Then the forest went quiet. A howl shattered the night

Selene froze.

The air changed and The forest went silent.

Ronan's entire body tensed.His head snapped toward the trees, his breathing sharpening.

"We're not alone," he muttered.

Selene's blood ran cold.

She should have known. She should have sensed them.

The shadows moved.

And then, from the darkness, they emerged.

Blood-red eyes. Silver fur. Bloodfang warriors.

At the center of them, stepping out into the glow of the moonlight, stood a man she had prayed never to see again.

Magnus Kane.

The Bloodfang Alpha

She wasn't going to run.