Chapter 2 The Bite That Changed Everything

Knox

The hum of the car engine grated against my nerves as I leaned back in the leather seat, my fingers drumming an anxious rhythm against it. The car war dark colored but not nearly as dark as the storm brewing inside me. I couldn't shake the images-the memories of that cursed full moon, when my control had slipped, leaving destruction in its wake.

"You can't ignore this forever, Knox."

Fenris, my wolf, growled in the back of my mind, his voice a low vibration that sent a dull ache through my skull. "We're bound to face the consequences eventually."

I clenched my jaw. "Shut up, Fenris," I bit out, though the words felt hollow.

He was relentless, as he had been for weeks now. Ever since that night, he'd been riding me harder than ever. His frustration echoed my own, but unlike me, Fenris wanted to confront what happened head-on. He wanted resolution. I wanted nothing more than to bury it deep.

"You think you're in control, but you're not," Fenris snarled. "We both know what's at stake. We need her-our mate."

Mate. The word alone was enough to send a surge of anger coursing through me.

"I don't need anyone," I snapped, my voice low but firm. "Not now. Not after what happened."

Fenris's growl turned into a snarl, sharp and accusing. "You're a fool if you think you can keep running from this. The more you fight it, the worse it'll get. Do you even realize what's happening? That human you bit-"

"Enough!" I cut him off, the volume of my voice startling even me.

The car fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by the subtle crackle of tension in the air. Mason, my beta and driver, didn't dare speak. He'd been with me long enough to know when to keep his thoughts to himself. But I saw his eyes dart up to the rearview mirror, concern etched in their depths.

"I know you heard that," I muttered, my voice icy.

"Yes, Alpha," Mason replied cautiously.

I sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "Last full moon," I admitted, though the words tasted bitter in my mouth. "I lost control. I... bit someone."

Mason's hands tightened briefly on the steering wheel. His calm exterior didn't falter, but I knew him well enough to see the subtle shift in his posture.

"A human," he said quietly.

I nodded, my gaze fixed out the window at the blur of city lights. "Yes. A female."

"Then we need to find her before she turns," Mason said, his tone measured but firm.

I shot him a sharp look through the mirror. "You think I don't know that?"

"I'm just saying-"

"I don't need you to state the obvious," I snapped, cutting him off.

But Mason, ever the loyal beta, wasn't deterred.

"Alpha, the hunters are already too close. If she recalls the bite and what she saw, she could expose us. She doesn't have to be a threat now, but a single word from her could bring the hunters right to our door."

I hated that he was right. Her memory of that night was dangerous, not just for me, but for the pack. "We'll have to deal with it before she talks" Mason said.

His words, though unwelcome, were true. And I hated that.

"Find her," I said finally, my voice as cold as the steel towers of the city skyline. "Track her down. I don't care how. Just do it."

Mason nodded, his gaze briefly meeting mine in the mirror. "Understood."

The car descended into silence again, and I let my thoughts spiral. That night replayed in my mind with vivid clarity and blurred recollection at the same time. The pull of the moon, the way it had stripped me of the control I prided myself on. I remembered the terror in her eyes as I lunged at her, the sharp taste of her blood on my tongue. As for how she looked, it remained a blurred puzzle for me to solve.

"Knox."

Fenris's voice was softer now, almost mournful.

"What?" I muttered.

"You know this isn't just about the bite. We would keep losing control if we don't find our mate. We need our..."

"Shut it," I growled, silencing him before he could go any further.

The car slowed to a stop outside the towering glass facade of Grey Enterprises. My empire. My sanctuary. But tonight, even the sight of it didn't bring me peace.

The door opened, and I stepped out, my shoulders tense and my mind already running through a dozen contingency plans. I had built this empire with my own hands, clawed my way to the top, and made a name for myself in the human world. Everything I had was at risk now.

I strode into the lobby, the polished marble floors reflecting the harsh lines of my face. The security guard nodded respectfully, but I barely acknowledged him. My mind was elsewhere, consumed by the growing list of problems I needed to solve.

As I rode the elevator to my office, I couldn't help but feel the weight of everything pressing down on me. The pack relied on me. My business demanded my attention. And now, this woman-this stranger I had bitten-was a loose thread threatening to unravel everything.

Fenris was silent now, but his presence lingered, a constant reminder of the bond we shared and the responsibilities I couldn't ignore.

Once inside my office, I poured myself a glass of whiskey and downed it in one go, the burn grounding me, if only for a moment.

"You better hope I don't regret this, Fenris," I muttered, setting the glass down with a sharp clink.

But deep down, I knew there was no escaping it.

The full moon was coming again.

And with it, the consequences of my actions would finally catch up to me.