Chapter 2 Marked By The Moon

She lay in his bed.

Not by choice.

Unconscious, pale as moonlight, the glowing pulse beneath her skin had dimmed to a soft shimmer-but it was still there. Kael sat on the edge of the bed, head bowed, his hands clenching the sheets to stop them from reaching for her again.

Selene.

Her name haunted him.

Her scent was in his lungs, thick and heady, like wild roses after a storm. She should have been in the dungeon still. But something in him-something feral, sacred, Alpha-refused to leave her there.

She was his.

His mate.

His wolf paced in his chest, restless and snarling.

Mark her. Bind her. Make her yours.

"I can't," Kael whispered. "Not like this."

But Selene stirred then. A small movement. Her fingers twitched. Her breathing changed.

Kael leaned in, watching.

Her eyes opened.

Silver fire.

He barely had time to inhale before her body arched, and a blast of invisible force shoved him across the room. He hit the wall with a grunt, pain flashing through his ribs.

She was sitting up, glowing again-eyes wild, mouth open in a scream he couldn't hear.

No sound.

Still mute.

Still screaming.

Kael rose slowly, palms out. "Selene. It's me. You're safe."

Her eyes focused on him-and narrowed.

The glow faded, her body trembling. She clutched her chest, gasping like she was suffocating. Kael crossed the room and sat on the bed, cautious but determined.

"I brought you here. You passed out. You... you said 'run.'"

She closed her eyes. Her jaw clenched. No answer.

"Selene." His voice lowered. "I know you can't-or won't-speak. But I need answers. Who are you? Why did you come here?"

She didn't respond.

Instead, she reached for the edge of the bed-and tried to stand.

Kael grabbed her wrist. "No."

Selene glared at him.

"You're not going anywhere until I know what you are." His grip tightened. "You're my mate. My wolf knows it. And whatever you're hiding-it's tied to me now."

Her nails raked his forearm. Not deep, not truly meant to hurt-but a challenge.

Kael growled low in his throat. "Don't push me."

She stared at him, defiant even without words.

Something inside Kael snapped.

Not with rage. Not with hate.

With need.

His wolf surged forward, snarling, clawing, demanding to take control.

Kael caught her by the throat-firm, not cruel-and pushed her back onto the bed. She gasped again, and this time, her legs parted slightly, betraying her. Her scent exploded in the air between them-raw, intoxicating.

"You want to deny it?" Kael hissed against her skin. "Deny me? Then feel what you do to me."

He pinned her wrists above her head, straddling her thighs. His lips found her neck-biting, tasting, claiming.

She writhed beneath him.

Silent.

Burning.

She tried to turn her face away, but Kael's grip forced her gaze back to his. Their eyes locked, silver to gold.

"I'm done waiting," he growled. "You're mine. Chosen or not. Speak or not. The Moon gave you to me, and I'm takingyou."

His mouth crashed over hers. She bit his lip-but didn't push him away.

His hand slid down, tearing open the thin shift she wore. Her body arched. Skin like silk, scars like stories. She trembled beneath him.

Still not resisting.

Kael growled deep in his chest, his control slipping as his wolf clawed forward.

"This bond-" he said, teeth bared, "-you can fight it all you want. But once I mark you, there's no going back."

She froze.

And then-slowly-Selene turned her head to the side.

Exposing her neck.

Offering it.

Not surrendering.

Allowing.

Kael's breath caught. His fangs descended, the shift taking hold, and his vision blurred with heat.

"You'll hate me for this," he whispered.

And then he sank his fangs into her throat.

Selene arched with a silent scream, body convulsing as the bond locked into place.

Power erupted between them-pure, primal, violent. Kael's eyes glowed gold, her skin blazed silver, and the entire room shook as the mating bond sealed.

Kael tore himself away, panting, licking her blood from his lips. It tasted like moonlight and madness. She stared up at him, tears in her eyes, but not from pain.

From knowing.

From feeling everything.

The bond was complete.

Selene passed out.

Kael sat beside her, his body still humming with power. The mark on her neck pulsed softly, syncing with the rhythm of his own heartbeat.

He had claimed her.

And yet-he felt hollow.

What the hell have I done?

Her skin was warm beneath his touch, but she looked so... fragile. Her breathing shallow, her body curled into itself. Kael clenched his fists.

He had acted like an animal.

His wolf was still smug, curled inside his chest with satisfaction. But Kael, the man, the Alpha, felt sick.

"She trusted me enough to offer her throat," he murmured, staring at the mark. "And I... forced fate on her."

His head dropped to his hands. The last time he'd lost control this badly, blood had been spilled. But this-this was worse.

He hadn't drawn blood from a foe.

He'd drawn it from his mate.

Selene was not dreaming.

Not really.

She floated somewhere between pain and power, surrounded by silver mist. And in the distance, she heard whispers-familiar voices she hadn't heard in years.

"Run, Selene. Run and never look back."

Her mother.

Dead in the Witch Wars.

"The Moon will guide you. But never trust the wolves."

Aunt Elira.

Burned at the stake.

Selene reached toward the voices, but something held her down. Something hot. Heavy. Male.

Kael.

She felt him.

Felt everything.

The bond sang through her like wildfire, tearing open every wall she'd ever built. He knew her now. Her power. Her scent. Her scars.

But he didn't know the curse.

Didn't know the truth.

She tried to scream it. To warn him. But no sound came.

Just the sensation of burning-starting from his mark and spreading like poison through her veins.

Kael flinched when she stirred again. Her breath hitched. Her hands twitched. He leaned forward.

"Selene..."

Her eyes shot open.

And this time, she didn't just wake.

She exploded.

A surge of silver light engulfed her body, and Kael was thrown backward once again. The bed burst into flames-white-hot, magical fire. Her eyes glowed pure silver, her mouth open in that same silent scream.

But now, Kael could hear something.

In his mind.

A voice like wind, like rage.

"You were warned."

Selene sat bolt upright.

Still glowing.

Still screaming silently.

Tears streamed down her face.

And then the walls cracked.

From the east wing, a howl echoed-not from Kael's pack.

Another wolf had sensed the bond.

A rival Alpha.

Kael's blood went cold.

"She's unshielded," he breathed. "They know."

Selene collapsed once more, glowing brighter than ever.

Outside, a second howl rose.

Then a third.

And a fourth.

Kael stood slowly, fists clenched, heart racing.

The mating bond hadn't just bound them.

It had awakened her power.

And now-they were coming for her.