Chapter 2 Blood and Bond

Luna wasn't sure what to expect when Kael said he would train her. All she knew was that the wolf inside her had been clawing at the edges of her mind ever since she'd shifted for the first time. The wildness, the hunger, the need to run and howl under the full moon-it was overwhelming. But Kael promised she could learn to control it, to tame the wolf rather than let it tear her apart.On a chilly morning, just as the sun began to peek over the trees, Kael met her at the clearing behind the pack's den.

He was already dressed in his usual dark leather gear, muscles tense and ready, eyes sharp like a hawk's. Luna swallowed her nerves and stepped forward."Today, you learn control," Kael said, voice steady but low. "The wolf is strong, but you are stronger. You have to be."Luna nodded, feeling a strange mixture of fear and excitement twist in her chest.He gestured toward the open space. "Start by focusing on your breathing. The wolf feeds off your emotions. If you panic, if you lose yourself, the wolf takes over. That's dangerous-for you and for everyone around you."Luna closed her eyes and tried to slow her breathing, counting in and out like he told her. But her heart hammered like a drum. The wolf was so loud in her head, howling for freedom, wanting to break loose."Good," Kael said, watching her closely. "Now, I want you to run. But don't let the wolf control your legs. You control the legs."It sounded impossible, but Luna forced herself to run across the clearing. She could feel the wolf's wild energy surging through her veins-wild and free and terrifying. But she kept her mind focused on Kael's voice, on the steady rhythm of her feet hitting the ground.When she stopped, sweat dripped down her face. Kael was waiting, eyes calm but intense."You're learning fast," he said. "But it's not just about physical control. It's about the bond-between you and me, between your human side and your wolf side."Luna didn't understand at first. How could she have a bond with Kael? She barely knew him. But as the days passed, something shifted.Kael was patient but firm. He pushed her, challenged her, but he never gave up. Slowly, Luna felt herself becoming stronger, not just in body but in mind. The wolf was still there, but it was less like a wild beast threatening to tear her apart, and more like a fierce protector waiting for her command.And then, there was Kael.She found herself watching him more and more. The way his dark eyes held secrets and sadness she didn't understand. The way his voice softened when he gave instructions, as if he was talking to something fragile but precious. The way his hand would brush against hers accidentally-or maybe not so accidentally-and send a shiver straight to her heart.Luna didn't want to admit it, not even to herself, but she was drawn to him. It was more than the wolf's instinct, more than pack loyalty. It was something deep and strange-a pull she couldn't explain.One evening, after a long day of training, Kael sat beside her by the fire. The other wolves were nearby, talking and laughing, but Luna barely noticed them. All she could see was Kael's face, lit by the flickering flames."I didn't think you'd last this long," he said quietly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.Luna blinked. "Why not?""Most humans don't have the strength to hold the wolf back. They let it take over, and then they're lost."She looked down at her hands. "I want to be stronger. I want to protect the pack."Kael's eyes softened. "You already do."That simple phrase made Luna's chest tighten. She wanted to tell him how she felt, but the words stuck in her throat.But not everyone in the pack was happy about Luna's growing closeness to Kael. A few of the other she-wolves started to look at her with narrowed eyes and cold smiles. Whispers followed her wherever she went."Who does she think she is?" one said under her breath. "Training with Kael like she's one of us.""She's just a human," another sneered. "He's the alpha. She should know her place."Luna tried to ignore the murmurs, but they stung. She could feel their jealousy like a weight pressing down on her. Maybe it was because she was an outsider, or maybe because Kael's attention was shifting toward her. Either way, the tension in the pack grew thicker by the day.One night, as Luna lay alone in her tent, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The wolf inside her was restless, restless in a way it had never been before.Suddenly, a strange vision slammed into her mind.Kael. Bloodied and broken. Lying in her arms. His dark eyes looking up at her, filled with pain and fear."No," Luna whispered, clutching her head as the image burned through her.She sat up, gasping for breath. The tent around her felt too tight, too silent. Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst.Was it just a dream? Or was it a warning?The next morning, she went to find Kael. He was training alone near the river, muscles rippling as he moved. Luna hesitated but then stepped forward."Kael, I... I had a vision," she said, voice trembling. "You were hurt-badly. In my arms."He stopped and looked at her, something unreadable flickering across his face."Visions are dangerous," he said slowly. "They can be tricks-illusions the wolf plays on your mind.""But it felt so real."Kael's gaze darkened. "I'll protect you. I promise."Luna nodded, but deep down, she knew the danger was real. Not just for Kael, but for all of them.That night, the pack gathered around the fire, sharing stories and laughter. But Luna felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for the ground to fall out beneath her.Kael caught her eye across the flames, a silent understanding passing between them.The bond between them was growing-stronger, deeper, and more complicated than either of them expected.And the wolf inside Luna was howling louder than ever.