Chapter 2 Arrows And Choices

Selene shoved against Ronan, her heart pounding as his grip loosened just enough for her to stumble back. The sudden movement sent her tumbling onto the damp forest floor, but she barely had time to react before a whistling sound sliced through the air.

Arrows.

Ronan lunged, grabbing her just as the first arrow struck the ground where she had been standing. They hit the dirt hard, rolling as more projectiles rained down, embedding themselves into the surrounding trees with deadly precision.

A pack was hunting them.

This was not just any pack. It was Bloodfang.

Selene's stomach twisted as dark figures emerged from the shadows. At least a dozen warriors, their eyes glowing a deep crimson, encircled them like wolves closing in on wounded prey. The air grew thick with the metallic scent of blood, but it wasn't until the crowd parted that she felt true fear sink into her bones.

Alpha Magnus Kane.

Tall and imposing, Magnus walked forward at a leisurely pace, his dark crimson eyes locked onto her as if she were prey already caught in his trap. His long silver hair, tied back, reflected the moonlight, making him look otherworldly. He wore dark, intricately designed armor, the symbol of the Bloodfang Pack-a black wolf with red eyes-etched into the leather.

"There you are," Magnus said smoothly, his voice dripping with amusement. "The rare little wolf I've been searching for."

Selene barely suppressed a shiver. The way he looked at her-like she was a prize, a possession, made her want to run. But she knew him well enough from the stories she had heard-Magnus never let his prey escape.

Ronan let out a low growl and stepped in front of her, his body coiled with tension. "You're not taking her, Magnus."

Magnus tilted his head, pretending to think. "Hmm, you seem to be under the impression that you have a choice." He flicked his gaze back to Selene, a slow smirk curving his lips. "She belongs to me, Vale. Her blood is the key to power beyond your comprehension."

Selene's breath caught. What did he mean?

Her blood?

She had always known there was something different about her. Her wolf was stronger than most. Her healing abilities were faster. But she had never understood why. And now Magnus, one of the most feared Alphas in existence, was saying her blood held power.

Ronan stiffened. "I don't care what lies you tell yourself, Kane. Selene is my mate. And she's not going anywhere with you."

I could see his veins pop on his skin in anger.

Magnus let out a soft chuckle. "Oh, Ronan." He sighed. "You think this is about the mate bond?" His eyes darkened, and his smirk turned cruel. "This is about something far older."

Magnus's gaze flickered between them, his smirk widening. "Interesting. I can see it now. The bond is eating at you, isn't it, Vale?"

Ronan stiffened but didn't respond.

Magnus sighed, as if this amused him. "You must be in agony," he mused. "The pull, the need to claim her, to mark her." He tilted his head. "But you can't, can you? Because she won't let you."

Selene felt Ronan's body go rigid.

Magnus smirked. "That must be-excruciating." He watched Ronan's face as he kept teasing.

Ronan snarled, his canines elongating at this point, and this made Selene's pulse quicken. Something about Magnus's tone sent a chill racing down her spine.

Magnus spread his arms. "You don't get to decide, little wolf. Fate already has."

Then he moved.

Faster than she could track, Magnus lunged straight for Ronan. The battle exploded.

Ronan shifted mid-air, his massive black wolf colliding with Magnus with a bone-crushing force. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, and the two Alphas rolled, snapping and clawing at each other with deadly precision.

Selene barely had time to react before one of Magnus's warriors grabbed her from behind. She fought hard, elbowing the wolf in the ribs before twisting out of his grip. But more hands caught her, dragging her back.

"No!" she snarled, thrashing wildly.

Another Bloodfang warrior clamped a hand around her throat, cutting off her air. She gasped, her vision blurring. Through the haze, she saw Ronan fighting like a demon, tearing through wolves, but he was outnumbered.

A sharp whisper filled her ear. "You're coming with us, Princess."

Selene saw red.

Her wolf surged forward, and she slammed her head backward, smashing into the warrior's nose with a sickening crunch. He howled, releasing her just long enough for her to spin and drive her claws into his chest. He staggered back, shocked, before collapsing.

She turned, chest heaving, only to find Magnus standing right in front of her.

She barely had time to react before his hand wrapped around her throat, yanking her off the ground as if she weighed nothing. He held her effortlessly, watching her struggle with eerie fascination.

"You have two choices," Magnus murmured, tightening his grip just enough to make her gasp. "Come with me willingly... or watch your precious mate die."

Selene's entire body went cold.

Ronan was still fighting, but the curse-the one she had tried to deny existed-was beginning to take hold. Even from a distance, she could see the shift in his movements, the way his muscles trembled unnaturally. His golden eyes flickered, black creeping into them like an infection.

"No," she whispered.

Magnus grinned. "Yes."

Selene knew Magnus was playing a game. He could have killed Ronan already, but he was toying with her, waiting to see if she would break.

And she was breaking.

Her wolf whimpered, torn between self-preservation and the agonizing truth.

If she didn't do something, she would lose Ronan forever-but to her absolute horror, Ronan did the unthinkable.

He shifted back.

Blood dripping from his body, wounds healing slower than they should, he fell to his knees.

Selene felt it-something inside him snapping, unraveling.

The curse was taking hold.

His golden eyes flickered black.

His breathing turned ragged.

His wolf was losing control, and Selene watched in fear, hoping...

She knew, in that moment, what she had to do.

So she turned her gaze back to Magnus, ignoring the way her pulse pounded in terror.

Then she spat in his face.

"I choose him."

And before Magnus could react, before she could second-guess herself, she ran to Ronan and sank her teeth into his neck.

The mating bond ignited.

A violent shockwave burst through the air, throwing Magnus and his warriors back as power exploded between Selene and Ronan.

She watched as Ronan jerked, his body convulsing as the bond took root, pulling him back from the abyss.

Magnus's furious snarl echoed through the trees, but Selene didn't care.

She had made her choice.

And no one was taking him from her.