Selene

The maids swarmed me the moment I crossed the threshold, a flurry of hands and excited chatter. Mira, the eldest with her silver-streaked braids, grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the dressing chamber. "There you are! We were starting to think you'd run off to hunt forever. The Alpha's been pacing like a caged beast."

I laughed, letting them strip away my muddied tunic and leathers. "Pacing? Kaelen? He'd sooner chew through iron than show impatience in public. What, did he send you to drag me back?"

"Not him," giggled Lira, the youngest, her fingers deft as she unlaced my boots. "But the elders were muttering about traditions and timeliness. As if you haven't kept this pack fed through worse than a late ceremony."

Mira draped a silken gown over my head, the fabric cool and whispering against my skin. It was deep crimson, embroidered with silver wolves along the hem, a nod to our pack's fierce heritage.

"You'll be the perfect Luna," she said, her voice softening as she pinned my hair into loose waves. "Not just because of the bond, but because of this." She tapped my chest, right over my heart. "You've always put us first. The people see it. The Alpha sees it."

I met her eyes in the polished mirror, seeing myself transformed. The wiry hunter faded beneath the elegant lines of the dress, my red hair almost the safe color as the dress. "I hope so," I replied, my voice steady despite the thunder in my chest. "Kaelen and I... we've built something real. Not just by fate's decree, but by our own choices. Every day."

Lira adjusted the necklace at my throat, a simple moonstone pendant Kaelen had given me years ago. "And tonight seals it. The marking and vows. You'll stand beside him, and the pack will roar your name."

Their enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself smiling, the earlier unease forgotten. "Alright, enough fussing. Let's get me out there before the elders decide to marry him off to someone else."

They laughed nervously and scurried aside. I grabbed the cloak they'd forgotten, swung it around my shoulders, and strode out before any more well-meaning words suffocated me.

The corridor smelled of pine oil and candle smoke. My heart drummed. I'd grown up in these halls, carrying baskets of meat to the kitchens, patching leathers for the warriors when my father's debts weighed too heavy. Tonight was supposed to wash that past away. Tonight I was meant to stand beside Kaelen, not as the poor Beta's daughter who hunted rabbits to keep her family alive, but as his Luna.

Kaelen and I weren't perfect in any way, we argued like wildfire meeting wind, but the bond hummed between us like a living thread that pulled me forward.

Just beyond, I could hear voices murmuring, but they weren't the joyous chants I'd expected. No drums, no howls of celebration. My pace slowed as a chill creept up my spine.

Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

I pushed through the archway, the cool night air hitting me like a slap. The garden was full, every member of the pack gathered in neat rows, their faces illuminated by the glow of floating lanterns. Elders at the front, warriors flanking the sides, families clustered together. But no one turned to greet me. No smiles, no nods. Every eye I trued to meet darted away, their shoulders hunched as if in shame.

What in the Goddess's name...

Then my gaze locked on the central dais where the officiator stood with his arms raised, the sacred runes glowing faintly on his robes. And there, beside him, was Kaelen. My Kaelen, tall and commanding in his Alpha regalia, dark blond hair catching the lantern light, green eyes fixed ahead. But he wasn't alone. Clinging to his arm, radiant in a gown of shimmering gold, was a woman I recognized all too well: Princess Lysandra of the Seawolf Pack, her golden hair cascading like a crown.

No. This couldn't be. My mind reeled, refusing to process the scene. The marking circle was already drawn, the air thick with the scent of incense and fresh blood. Kaelen's hand rested on her neck, where a fresh bite mark gleamed.

"The union is sealed," the officiator intoned, his voice carrying over the hush. "Alpha Kaelen Bloodfang and Luna Lysandra, bound before the Moon Goddess and the pack."

A murmur of discomfort rippled through the crowd. I stepped forward, my legs moving on instinct, my bridal gown suddenly feeling like chains.

"Kaelen!" My voice cracked the silence, loud and demanding. Heads turned then, eyes widening in pity or guilt, but still, no one spoke. "What is this?!"

Kaelen turned, his lips still red from the remnants of her lip paint. But his green eyes were unrepentant. "Selene." My name sounded wrong in his mouth. "You shouldn't be here yet."

"Shouldn't be... " My laugh tore from me sharp and ugly. "This is our ceremony, Kaelen. Our marking. What have you done?"

Lysandra shifted beside him and placed her hand possessive on his arm. "It's done, huntress. The pack has a Luna now. One who brings strength."

I ignored her, my focus on him. The man I'd loved since we were barely more than cubs, the one who'd whispered promises under the stars, the man who'd fathered our son. "Explain yourself," I demanded, striding closer, the crowd parting like water before a storm. "We are fated. The mate bond is sacred. You can't just–"

"I can," he interrupted with a firm voice. "As Alpha, my duty is to Bloodfang first. This here is Princess Lysandra from–"

"I don't give a rat's ass who she is, Kaelen! What is she doing on my stage?!"

He sighed once then, "Lysandra brings alliances we need: ships from the coasts, gold to fill our coffers, spices for trade, armies to bolster our borders. What do you bring, Selene? A Beta's bloodline? Your bow and your charity?"

His words landed like arrows in my chest, but I show it. Inside though, the bond twisted into a sharp ache that mirrored his indifference.

How could he say this? After everything?

"I bring loyalty," I shot back. "I've hunted for this pack when bellies were empty. I've healed the sick. I've given you a son, Kaelen. An heir. You told me you–"

He cut me off. "I told you what I felt. I never lied about that. But feelings won't feed our people, Selene. My duty comes first."

"Duty?" My voice rose, burning through my throat. "Duty is when I stood on the front lines against rogues. Duty is when I carried broken warriors back from the border while you were too busy polishing your father's throne with your shiny ass! So don't you dare speak to me of duty!"

Gasps rippled, but still no one stepped forward. I searched their faces, searching for one ally, one shred of loyalty. Nothing. All of them were cowards.

The warriors I'd trained with, the families I'd shared meals with, the elders who'd watched me grow.

"Tell him," I pleaded, my eyes locking on Thorne, the old hunter who'd taught me my first shot. "Thorne, don't you remember the winter famine when I brought down three elk alone? It fed the village for weeks."

Thorne's gaze dropped to the ground, and his shoulders slumped. No words.

"And Mira," I continued, spotting her pale face near the back. "You said it yourself tonight. I've always put the pack first."

She looked away, her eyes welled up with tears, but her lips stayed sealed.

One by one, they averted their eyes. Warriors I'd bled beside, mothers whose children I'd protected. Loyalty seemed to have a price tonight, and Lysandra's gold outweighed my blood.

Pain lanced through me, but it fueled the fire. I whirled back to Kaelen. "This is betrayal. Not just of me, but of the Goddess herself. The bond doesn't lie. You feel it, same as I do."

He stepped down from the dais, closing the distance between us, his presence as commanding as ever. Up close, I could see the faint lines of tension around his eyes.

"The bond is a gift," he said quietly, for my ears alone. "But it's not the only path. I love you, Selene, you know that. Your fire and your strength have always drawn me. But I won't sacrifice the pack's future for it."

Love. A week ago, I'd have believed him. Now, the word tasted foreign. "Then what now? You mark her, parade her as Luna, and expect me to slink away into some corner of the keep and lick my wounds?"

Lysandra laughed, a tinkling sound that made me want to tear her throat out. "Why not? You're nothing but a hunter's whelp. Slink back to your bow and leave the ruling to those born for it."

"Quiet," Kaelen snapped at her, a flash of irritation crossing his face. Then he turned to me, and his voice softened, almost pleading. "You don't have to leave. Stay as my second wife. The laws allow it for Alphas. You'll have a place here, honor, access to Dorian. We can still share... moments."

My stomach twisted. Second wife. A consolation prize. The pack murmured uneasily, but none protested for me.

"You think that's mercy?" I hissed, my voice low and venomous. "To chain me here, watching you with her? Feeling every touch through the bond while I'm cast aside?"

"It's practical," he replied. "You're Beta-born, Selene. You get one mate. Leave, and you'll be alone forever. No other will claim you. No family, no future. Stay, and you at least keep some of what we had."

I spat at him then. My spit landed against his cheek, gleaming in the torchlight. "I'd rather rot in the dirt."

The sound of gasps and murmurs rose from around the room.

Kaelem wiped it away slowly, and then locked his eyes on mine. For the first time since we were pups, I saw anger there. "Careful, Selene. You speak against your Alpha."

"You stopped being my Alpha the moment you betrayed me."

Kaelen's jaw tightened, his Alpha aura flaring, pressing against me like a warning. "Think carefully. This isn't just about us. Dorian needs his mother."

Using our son was low, even for him. "Dorian needs a father who honors his word," I retorted. "Not one who sells his soul for gold."

Kaelen stepped closer, lowering his voice just enough for me to hear. "Think carefully. If you walk away now, you'll never see your son again."

"Monster," I whispered.

"Alpha," he corrected.

Lysandra stepped forward then, her golden gown catching the light. "Enough of this drama. The ceremony is over. Guards, escort her out."

Two warriors moved toward me with slight hesitation in their steps. I knew them... Bram and Kael, men I'd sparred with. "Don't touch me," I warned, my voice steady. They paused, then glancing at Kaelen.

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Selene, please. For the pack's sake."

"For the pack?" I laughed, bitter and sharp. "The pack that won't even look at me now? Fine. But remember this, Kaelen: you've broken more than a bond tonight. You've created an enemy."

I turned on my heel, head high, refusing to let them see the tears burning in my eyes. The crowd parted again, whispers finally breaking the silence with pitying murmurs and regrets too late.

Kaelen's voice followed me. "Selene, wait. I know you're emotional right now, and it's understandable. But my offer still stands. Be my second wife and we shall continue just as we were."

The pack held its breath. Even the torches seemed to flicker, waiting.

I bared my teeth into the most twisted smile I could manage. "You'll regret this. You'll all regret it. I'll make damn sure of it."

Then I turned on my heel and walked away, every step echoing in the suffocating silence, every coward's averted gaze searing into my back. My heart thundered, but my spine stayed straight. If they thought I'd break here, they didn't know me at all.

But they would.

Selene

I didn't wait for dawn. My shoes slapped the stones, echoing sharp in the corridors as I stormed toward Kaelen's wing. The guards I passed straightened but didn't move to stop me. They'd obviously heard the scene in the hall and knew better than to get in my way when fire still smoked in my veins.

The bond hit me before I reached the doors. A pulse of heat low in my belly, sharp and foreign, not my own. My steps faltered and I braced myself against the wall, teeth clenched as the sensation of lust rolled through me.

It was Kaelen's.

Goddess damn him. He was buried inside her, and the bond made sure I felt every thrust, every flicker of his hunger, every ounce of pleasure that should have been mine but never would be again.

I gagged as bile scorched my throat. My nails clawed against stone until the tips split. No. I would not let this break me. I shoved the bond's current into a box inside my chest, slammed the lid, and locked it down tight. If I had to feel it, then I'd carry it like a brand, not a chain. But I would not let him see me stagger under it.

Dorian. Focus on Dorian.

My son's sweet laugh. His tiny hands tugging at my braids. The way he pressed his face to my neck when he fell asleep. He was the reason I kept moving. The reason I didn't fall apart right there on the flagstones while Kaelen's rutting burned through me.

Every step I took was for my boy with eyes too big for his face and hair soft as crow feathers. Kaelen could marry ten princesses and then crown himself a god if he wanted, but he would never take my child.

When I reached the Alpha's chambers, two warriors crossed their halberds before the doors. Their eyes glanced to me, then away just as quickly.

"Move," I ordered.

They shifted uneasily but didn't budge. One cleared his throat. "The Alpha gave orders, Lady Selene."

"Don't you dare call me that." I stepped closer, close enough to smell the iron polish on their armor. "Open these doors, or I'll tear them down myself."

They shifted uncontrollably but still didn't move. My nails bit crescents into my palms as I shoved against the wood. The doors didn't budge. They'd been barred from inside.

Then I heard it. A soft sickening moan. Laughter muffled through walls. The bed creaking. The sound of Kaelen rutting his new princess like a wolf in heat while my son sat locked inside that chamber.

My stomach turned to stone. Fury licked up my throat until I could barely breathe.

I pounded the door with both fists, each strike cracking the silence of the corridor. "Kaelen!" My voice ricocheted down the hall. "Bring me my son!"

No answer. Just more muffled laughter and more bedframe groans, mocking me with every thud.

The guards kept their eyes straight ahead. Useless bastards.

I kept pounding the door until finally, silence fell inside. The bed stopped and the cursed bond steadied. The door creaked open slowly, and there Kaelen stood, sweat-slicked and hair mussed with his tunic gaping open..

My eyes darted past him. Dorian's cradle sat by the fire. He stirred in his sleep, innocent, safe for the moment.

"Selene," Kaelen drawled, leaning against the doorframe as if nothing was wrong. "You should learn patience. Interrupting your Alpha's wedding night is beneath you."

I ignored the obvious taunt. "I've come for my son."

Dorian woke up just then, and made his way to me. "Papa? What's happening?" he asked Kaelen even though his tiny frame clung to my leg.

Kaelen's eyes softened for a moment, but it passed. "Go back to bed, Dorian. This is between your mother and me."

"No," I snapped, my tone protective. "You don't get to dismiss him like that. Or me."

He took a step closer and the guards shifted, hovering but not advancing. "You're making this harder than it needs to be. Dorian is my heir, the next Alpha of Bloodfang. He stays here with me. That is nonnegotiable."

"With you?" I laughed bitterly. "While you parade your new Luna and her gold? He needs his mother, not your politics."

Kaelen's jaw tightened, his Alpha aura pressing against me, commanding submission. But I stood tall, fearless. I'd faced down rogues, storms, starvation. His aura wouldn't break me.

"You're not thinking clearly," he said. "You can't raise him alone. The bond ties you to me, Selene. You leave, and you'll feel every moment of my life with Lysandra. Every touch, every night. It'll drive you mad."

The bond pulsed again, reminding me of the truth in his words. "I'd rather go mad than live under your mercy," I retorted. "And Dorian comes with me."

"No, he doesn't." His voice was final. "He's Bloodfang's future. You're not taking him."

I glanced at Dorian, his wide eyes were darting between us in confusion.

Don't scare him, Selene. Keep it together.

I took a deep, calming breath and said, "Kaelen, think about what you're doing. He's five years old. He needs his mother. You can't rip him away just to spite me."

"It's not spite," he said, stepping closer, lowering his voice. "It's duty. The pack needs a strong heir raised here, not in some wilderness with a scorned woman."

"Scorned?" I could barely believe the words. "You scorned me, Kaelen. You stood on that dais, marked her, and threw our bond in the dirt. And now you think you can dictate my son's life?"

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "I don't want this fight, Selene. I meant what I said in the garden. Stay. Be my second wife. You'll have a place and honor. And you'll get to see Dorian every day."

"Honor?" I spat the word. "You call that honor? Living as your concubine while she wears the title I earned? Feeling you with her through this cursed bond? I'd rather chew glass."

Lysandra's voice came from the hall. "Let her go, Kaelen. She's embarrassing herself."

I whirled, spotting her leaning against the doorway, her golden hair loose, her silk robe barely concealing her curves. The bond flared again, a sickening confirmation of their intimacy, and I had to clench my fists to keep from lunging at her.

"Stay out of this," I told her, my voice low and lethal. "This is between me and him."

She smirked, unfazed. "Oh, but it involves me, huntress. I'm Luna now. And that boy is my stepson."

"Oh, is he now?" I asked, stepping in front of Dorian. "Come claim him then. Come on. I dare you."

Kaelen raised a hand, silencing her. "Lysandra, enough. Go back to our chambers."

Our chambers. I tried not to flinch at the words no matter how much they cut. She pouted but obeyed, her robe swishing as she retreated.

I faced Kaelen again, trying to keep my voice steady. "Let me take him. You've taken everything else from me... my place, my pack, my bond. Don't take my son. Please I beg you, Kaelen."

For the briefest moment, there was a flash of emotion across his face. But it passed just as fast as it came and he shook his head. "Dorian is the heir to Bloodfang. I can't let you take him."

The words landed like a blow, but I didn't waver. My mind raced... thinking of tunnels, distractions, anything. "You think you can keep him from me? I'm his mother. I'll burn this stronghold down before I let you."

He narrowed his eyes then. "You'd risk war for him?"

"For him, I'd risk everything," I shot back, my voice fierce. "You know that."

Dorian whimpered behind me, and I knelt, pulling him close. "It's okay, love. Mama's here."

Kaelen watched for a while, then tightened his jaw. "Guards, escort her out."

They moved, but I stood, placing myself between them and Dorian. "Touch me, and I'll break off your arms and feed them to the dogs."

Bram hesitated, his hand still on his sword. "Selene, don't make us."

"Make you?" I let out a bitter laugh. "You're choosing to follow a coward who breaks sacred bonds. Bram, you owe me. Step aside."

He looked to Kaelen, torn, but the Alpha nodded. "Do it."

They grabbed my arms, their grips bruising. I fought and twisted, but they were stronger, dragging me toward the door.

Dorian cried out, "Mama!" and I nearly broke free, desperation fueling me.

"Kaelen, stop this!" I shouted, my voice raw. "You'll destroy him!"

"He'll be stronger for it," he replied, standing over Dorian now, his hand on the boy's shoulder. "He's Bloodfang."

I kicked at the guards, landing a solid hit on one's shin, but they held firm, pulling me into the hall.

Just before we got to the door, I shouted, "I'll come back for you, Dorian. I swear it." And then the door slammed shut and Dorian's cries muffled behind it.

"Let me go!" I snarled, thrashing. They didn't answer, just dragged me toward the main gates.

My mind screamed but the bond burned strong. He was with Lysandra again, I could feel it, the echo of their closeness twisting in my chest.

The guards shoved me into the great hall, where more pack members lingered, their eyes avoiding mine. "Cowards," I hissed as I passed. "You let this happen."

No one responded. The gates loomed ahead, iron and unyielding. I needed my bow, my pack, but there was no time. The guards pushed me forward, and I stumbled onto the cold earth outside.

"Stay out," one said, not meeting my eyes.

Then the gates slammed shut on the only life I knew.

I stood there, alone in the night, the stronghold's walls towering behind me. My son was inside, trapped by his father's greed and my own pack had turned their backs on me.

But I wasn't broken yet.

I'd get Dorian back. I'd make Kaelen pay. And the pack would see what their silence cost.

My thoughts churned in circles.

Where do I go now? The neutral lands to find allies?

I looked ahead and saw the wilderness stretched before me. It looked dark and unforgiving, but I'd survived it before. I'd survive it now.

I took one step, then another, and another, fury fueling me. Kaelen thought he'd won, but he'd only lit the spark.

He'd said Dorian was Bloodfang's heir and that I'd never take him.

He was very wrong.

I'd take my son back, and when I did, Kaelen would kneel.

Selene

The wilderness swallowed me whole, its dark embrace both a comfort and a threat. I had hunted these very woods since I was a child, so it wasn't too hard to find my way around. My boots sank into the damp earth, as I navigated my way through the forest floor littered with pine needles in the dark.

My body ached from bruises from their rough hands and cuts from thorns I'd stumbled through in my blind flight. But the real pain wasn't physical. It was that cursed thread tying me to Kaelen, pulsing with his every breath and his every touch with Lysandra. And my son, trapped in that stone prison, stolen by his father's greed.

I would see Dorian again. I would cut through steel and bone and fate itself if I had to. But I would get my son back.

The night was cold, the moon hidden behind clouds, leaving only starlight to guide me. My leathers were torn, the crimson gown long abandoned in a ditch, replaced by the hunting gear I'd grabbed before the guards caught me.

No bow, though. They'd taken that too, the damn bastards. My hands itched for its familiar weight, for the certainty of an arrow's flight. Without it, I felt naked and defenseless.

I moved deeper into the neutral lands, the no man's stretch between Bloodfang and Shadowfang territories. No pack ruled here, just rogues and outcasts, wolves too wild or too broken to kneel to any Alpha. It was dangerous, yes, but it was my only path. My plan was half formed at best: find shelter, regroup, figure out how to infiltrate the stronghold. Every step away from Dorian felt like a betrayal to my son, but I needed time... allies... anything to tilt the odds and give me a fighting chance.

The bond flared again, a sharp twist in my chest. Kaelen was with her. I gritted my teeth, forcing the sensation down.

Damn him, not now. Focus.

The forest was far too quiet and my instincts immediately screamed danger, but I kept moving, one hand on the dagger strapped to my thigh. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.

A twig snapped to my left and I froze, my ears straining. Another snap sounded, then a low growl, not wolf but something baser, and much hungrier.

My pulse quickened, but I kept my breathing steady as I crouched behind a gnarled oak, peering into the darkness. Shapes moved–three, maybe four, their eyes glinting yellow in the faint light. They were wolves, but not pack wolves; their movements were too erratic and undisciplined.

Rogues.

"Well, well," a raspy male voice called. "What's a pretty thing like you doing out here all alone?"

I stayed silent but my grip tightened on the dagger at my side. Let them think I was easy prey. It'd make their mistake that much sweeter.

Another voice came again, but female this time. "Smells like Bloodfang. Bet she's running from something. Or someone."

They were closer now, circling the tree. My heart pounded, but my mind was clear and calculating. Three confirmed, possibly a fourth. No bows, just claws and blades. I could take them if I moved fast and used the terrain. The dagger was small, but I'd trained for close combat, and these rogues didn't look disciplined.

"Come out, little wolf," the first voice taunted. "We don't bite... much."

I smirked despite myself. Idiots.

"You sure about that?" I called back. "Last wolf who tried biting me ended up with an arrow through his throat."

"Oh, but we just want to have a little chat. No arrows now, girl. Just you and us."

They lunged before I could respond, shadows bursting from the trees. I rolled to the side, the dagger flashing as I slashed at the nearest rogue- a lanky male with matted hair and a rusted blade. He yelped as my dagger caught his arm, blood spraying, but the others were on me fast.

The woman, wiry and quick, swung a club at my head. I ducked, kicking her knee, and sent her sprawling. The third, a hulking brute, grabbed for my arm, but I twisted, driving my blade into his thigh. He roared and stumbled back.

Three down, but not out. Where's the fourth?

My eyes darted around, scanning the trees. The bond pulsed again. Kaelen's presence was a distraction I couldn't afford right now.

Damn you, Kaelen. Get your mangled butt out of my head.

The woman was up, snarling, as she raised her club. "You'll pay for that, bitch."

"Original," I shot back, dodging her swing. "Got anything better?"

She growled and charged, but I sidestepped, letting her momentum carry her into a tree. The lanky male was back, blood dripping from his arm, yet swinging his blade wildly. I parried with my dagger, and kicked him in the gut. He doubled over, gasping.

The brute was slower, but his size was a problem. He swung a massive fist, and I barely ducked, the air whistling past my ear. My dagger wasn't enough for him. I needed a weapon.

My eyes caught a thick fallen branch nearby. I dove for it, rolling as the brute's fist slammed into the ground where I'd been.

"Too slow," I taunted, grabbing the branch and swinging it hard against his knee. He bellowed, then collapsed, but the woman was back, tackling me from behind. We hit the ground, her claws raking my face. Pain flared, but I twisted, jamming my elbow into her ribs. She gasped, loosening her grip, and I rolled free, scrambling to my feet.

"Where's your pack now, Bloodfang?" the lanky one sneered, circling with his blade. "It seems no one's coming for you."

"Good," I said, my voice fierce. "Means I don't have to share the fun."

But I was tiring, and they knew it. Blood trickled from a cut on my cheek and my arms burned from the fight. The brute was up again, limping now but dangerous.

I need to end this fast.

Suddenly, a new sound cut through the night, jerking all our attention towards it. It was a low, commanding growl, not rogue but pack, laced with authority. The rogues stopped, their eyes darting to the trees. I tightened my grip on the branch, ready for anything.

From the shadows a massive wolf emerged, his fur black as midnight with silver streaks, his golden eyes burning with authority. Scars crisscrossed his muzzle, his presence radiating raw power. Alpha power. I knew instantly who it was.

Draven Nightbane, Shadowfang's alpha, and Kaelen's sworn enemy.

The rogues backed away. "Shadowfang," the woman hissed with fear in her voice.

His gaze landed on me for a moment but neither of us spoke. My blood dripped to the dirt from my cheek and my thigh ached from where it'd been slashed but still, no one moved an inch.

Draven didn't look at them. His gaze stayed on me, head tilted slightly, studying me like a curiosity. Then when his voice came, it was deep and carrying the weight of command no one dared to defy. "Leave. Now."

Then taking slow but measured steps towards me, he added, "I've claimed this one. She's mine."