The attic was colder than ever that night. The winter wind howled through cracks in the roof, and snow piled against the Sebastian mansion in heavy drifts. Amanda huddled under her thin blanket, her breath forming clouds in the freezing air. Sleep did not come.

Her mind kept replaying the words she had overheard from Mrs. Sebastian's lips the day before. The merchant has offered gold for her hand.

They were going to sell her.

Amanda pressed her fists to her chest as if to keep her heart from breaking. She wanted to scream, to run, to fight, but where could she go? Beyond the walls of the mansion stretched miles of forest, dark and unforgiving. She had been told all her life that rogues prowled those woods, waiting to tear apart anyone foolish enough to wander.

But as she stared at the cracked ceiling above her bed, she thought bitterly that even rogues could not be crueler than the family she lived with.

Morning came with no warmth. Angela's voice was the first sound Amanda heard. The attic door burst open, and Angela strode in, her silk gown brushing against the dusty floor.

"Get up, slave," she sneered. "Mother says the house must shine today. We have important guests."

Amanda's stomach tightened. "Guests?" she asked softly.

Angela smirked, her eyes glinting with malice. "Yes. Men. Wealthy ones. And you had better make yourself useful. Who knows? Maybe they will take you away."

Her laughter rang out like a cruel melody as she turned on her heel and slammed the door.

Amanda sat still for a long moment, her heart thudding painfully. So it was true. She was nothing but a bargain to be traded for gold.

She washed her face in a cracked basin, the water icy against her skin. With her fingers, she combed through her tangled curls, trying to tame them, though no matter how hard she tried, she still looked pale and weary.

When she caught her reflection in the small shard of mirror leaning against the wall, her heart clenched. She saw her mother's amber eyes staring back at her. The memory gave her a thin thread of courage.

"I will survive," she whispered.

The mansion transformed as the day stretched forward. Chandeliers blazed with light, and carpets were beaten until they gleamed. Amanda scrubbed and polished, her small body moving through endless tasks under Mrs. Sebastian's sharp commands. By evening, her arms ached, and her back throbbed.

Then the guests arrived.

Amanda balanced a tray of wine goblets when the heavy doors opened. The merchant entered first. His belly pushed against his fine coat, and sweat beaded on his brow. His greedy eyes swept the room before landing squarely on Amanda. A slow, sickening smile spread across his face.

Amanda's skin crawled.

Behind him came two associates, equally well-fed, equally smug. Their laughter filled the hall, echoing against the golden walls.

"Ah, Mrs. Sebastian," the merchant boomed, his voice full of self-importance. "You promised me something rare. Something untouched."

Amanda's blood ran cold.

Mrs. Sebastian stepped forward, her smile sharp and false. She gestured toward Amanda as though presenting a fine piece of furniture. "There she is. Young, obedient, hardworking. She will make a fine bride."

Amanda's grip faltered, and the tray nearly slipped from her hands. Her knees trembled, but Mrs. Sebastian's cutting glare forced her still.

The merchant waddled closer, his hand reaching for her chin. Amanda instinctively flinched back, but Mrs. Sebastian snapped, "Stand still, girl."

Amanda obeyed, though her entire body shook. The merchant's thick fingers lifted her face, his touch lingering. His grin widened, revealing yellow teeth.

"Yes," he murmured. "Perfect. How soon can she be mine?"

Amanda's stomach churned.

The evening dragged into torment. Amanda moved like a shadow, serving food and wine, while the merchant's eyes followed her every step. She felt trapped in his gaze, like a rabbit cornered by a wolf.

When the last guest left, Amanda's fragile hope that the nightmare was over shattered.

Mrs. Sebastian cornered her in the kitchen, her jeweled hand striking across Amanda's face so hard her lip split.

"You will not embarrass us," she hissed, her breath reeking of wine. "Tomorrow you will be prepared. Do you understand?"

Amanda's head bowed, tears stinging her eyes, but she nodded quickly. She had learned long ago that resistance only brought worse punishment.

Angela appeared in the doorway, her grin sharp as a blade. "I will help dress her. I want to see her dragged away."

Mother and daughter laughed together, their cruelty echoing in the empty room.

When they left, Amanda crumpled against the counter, silent sobs shaking her small frame. She touched her swollen lip, whispering, "Mama... Papa... please help me."

That night, she could not bear the suffocating attic. She slipped outside barefoot into the snow. The cold stung her skin, but it felt strangely cleansing after the filth of the day.

She wandered into the garden, her eyes fixed on the sky. Above, the moon shone full and bright, bathing the world in silver light.

Amanda clasped her hands together, her breath misting in the icy air. "Please," she whispered to the heavens. "Do not let them take me. I cannot live like this anymore. Someone, please hear me."

For a moment, the wind stirred, rustling the trees as though answering. Amanda closed her eyes and imagined her parents beyond the stars, watching.

But when she returned inside, she was still alone.

Morning came with cruelty sharper than the cold. Angela stormed into the attic, yanking Amanda from her thin mattress. "Come on, little prize," she mocked. "It is time to make you pretty for your fat husband."

Amanda's heart pounded. "No... please..."

Angela slapped her hard. "Silence. You should be grateful. No one else would ever want you."

She forced Amanda into a gown, one of her own old dresses. It was too tight, the seams biting into Amanda's ribs. Angela yanked Amanda's curls into a painful knot and smeared rouge across her cheeks until she hardly recognized herself.

"There," Angela sneered, shoving Amanda toward the mirror. "Almost decent."

Amanda stared at her reflection. The frightened girl staring back looked like a stranger.

Downstairs, the merchant was waiting at the long table. A contract lay spread before him, and beside it a chest of gold gleamed in the light. Mr. Sebastian stood proudly at his side, already imagining the wealth.

Mrs. Sebastian motioned toward Amanda. "Bring her forward."

Amanda's feet felt like stone. Each step toward that table felt like walking deeper into a grave.

The merchant licked his lips, his hand reaching out as though to claim her.

Amanda's soul screamed.

Her eyes darted to the tall windows. Beyond them, the forest loomed dark and endless. A place of danger, yes, but also of freedom.

In that moment, she made her choice.

The merchant's hand hovered too close to Amanda's arm, his greedy eyes glittering with possession. His laughter boomed as he reached for her, but in that heartbeat Amanda's fear transformed into fire.

She could not do this. She would not let them take her life away.

Amanda jerked backward, knocking the contract off the table. Papers scattered across the polished floor. The merchant let out a startled curse, and Mrs. Sebastian gasped in outrage.

Before anyone could grab her, Amanda turned and ran.

Her bare feet pounded against the cold marble of the hall as shouts erupted behind her. Angela's shrill voice rose above them all, screaming, "Catch her! Do not let her get away!"

Amanda's breath came in sharp bursts. She darted through the corridors she knew so well from years of chores, weaving around servants and furniture, her heart thundering in her chest.

The front doors loomed ahead. She shoved them open, and the freezing night air rushed against her skin. Without hesitation, she plunged into the snow.

The forest was a vast shadow waiting at the edge of the estate. Amanda sprinted toward it, her lungs burning, her thin gown snagging against the icy wind. Behind her, the furious cries of the Sebastians and their guards grew fainter, but she knew they would not give up easily.

Branches scraped her arms as she pushed into the trees. The snow crunched beneath her feet, slowing her down, but still she pressed forward. Her teeth chattered, her body trembled, but the thought of returning to that house was worse than death itself.

"I will not go back," she whispered fiercely, her voice breaking. "I will never go back."

The deeper she went, the quieter the world became. Only the wind and the distant howl of wolves filled the night. The sound sent a shiver through her, yet she did not stop. She remembered the warnings of rogues that the Sebastians had drilled into her since childhood, but even the threat of savage wolves was not enough to make her turn back.

Better to face the unknown than to be sold like a piece of property.

Hours seemed to blur together as Amanda stumbled through the forest. Her feet bled from stones hidden under the snow, and her legs ached with exhaustion. The trees grew taller and denser, their branches reaching like skeletal arms above her.

At last, her body betrayed her. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed against the trunk of an old oak, gasping for air.

The night was eerily still. Her breath came ragged, and she wrapped her arms around herself, shivering violently.

Tears slid down her cheeks, freezing against her skin. "Mama... Papa... if you can hear me, please... I cannot do this alone."

For a long moment, there was only silence. Then, in the distance, a howl rose. Low, powerful, and commanding. It was not the savage cry of a rogue but something deeper, something that stirred the very air around her.

Amanda's heart lurched. She did not know why, but the sound sent warmth flooding through her, chasing away the despair that had nearly consumed her.

Her reprieve did not last.

From the shadows of the trees, glowing eyes appeared. Yellow, unblinking, hungry. A group of wolves emerged, their teeth bared, their growls echoing in the dark. Rogues.

Amanda froze, terror rooting her to the spot. Her back pressed against the oak, and her hands trembled as the wolves closed in. She could smell their musk, feel the hunger rolling off them in waves.

One stepped closer, saliva dripping from its jaws.

Amanda's mind screamed. She had escaped one nightmare only to fall into another.

"Please," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Not like this."

The lead wolf crouched, ready to pounce. Amanda shut her eyes, bracing for the end.

But then the forest shook with a sound that made even the rogues hesitate.

A roar, deep and furious, filled the night.

From the shadows burst a wolf unlike any Amanda had ever seen. Massive, towering, with fur as dark as midnight and eyes that blazed like silver fire. He landed between Amanda and the rogues, his snarl shaking the ground.

The rogues hesitated, their hackles rising, but the power rolling off this wolf was undeniable. He was not like them. He was a true alpha.

The dark wolf lunged, his claws slashing, his fangs sinking deep. The rogues scattered under his fury, some fleeing, others falling under his strength. Snow churned red as the battle raged.

Amanda watched, wide-eyed, her body frozen not with fear but with awe. She had never seen such power, such grace, such terrifying beauty.

At last, the rogues fled, their howls fading into the distance. The clearing fell silent except for the sound of heavy breathing.

The great wolf stood tall, his body heaving, his silver eyes glowing in the moonlight. Slowly, he turned to face Amanda.

Her breath caught.

Those eyes... they were not just wild. They were intelligent, piercing, as though they could see into the deepest parts of her soul.

Amanda pressed back against the tree, her heart racing. "W... who are you?" she whispered, though she knew he could not answer.

The wolf stepped closer, his massive paws sinking into the snow. Amanda should have been terrified, but strangely, she was not. Something in his presence felt... safe. Familiar, even.

When he lowered his head, his breath warm against her trembling hands, Amanda felt a strange pull deep inside her chest. It was as if a thread connected them, invisible yet unbreakable.

Her eyes widened. She had heard whispers of this bond, of destiny that tied two souls together. Could it be?

The wolf's nose brushed against her skin, and Amanda felt fire ignite within her veins. Her heart raced, her vision blurred, and she could swear she heard a voice in her mind.

Mine.

Amanda gasped, her knees giving way. The world spun, the snow rising up to meet her.

The last thing she saw before darkness claimed her was the silver glow of his eyes.

Cold. That was the first sensation Amanda felt when consciousness crept back to her. Not the biting frost of the forest, but the cool touch of fresh linen against her skin. She stirred, blinking against a soft glow that filtered through a set of tall windows.

The scent of pine and smoke filled the air. Her eyes adjusted, and she realized she was lying in a bed unlike any she had known-large, warm, covered with blankets far softer than the rough rags she was used to.

Panic surged through her. She pushed herself upright, her heart racing, her gaze darting across the unfamiliar room. It was built of stone and wood, sturdy and elegant, with a fire burning in the hearth. This was no cottage. This was a chamber fit for nobility.

And then she saw him.

The man from the forest.

Andrew.

He sat in a chair by the fire, his posture tense, his silver eyes glowing faintly even in human form. His broad shoulders leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, as if he had been sitting there for hours watching her breathe.

Amanda froze. Something deep inside her stirred again, that same pull she had felt before the darkness claimed her. It was stronger now, like an invisible thread tugging at her heart.

Andrew rose slowly when he saw she was awake. His presence filled the room, commanding and powerful, yet his expression softened as his gaze met hers.

"You are safe," he said, his voice deep and steady. "No one will hurt you here."

Amanda swallowed hard, her throat dry. She should have been terrified, but instead her chest fluttered with warmth she could not explain. "Where... where am I?"

"You are in my pack's territory," Andrew replied. "You collapsed in the forest. I brought you here."

Her mind swirled with questions, but before she could form them, the bond pulsed again. His nearness made her blood sing, her skin tingle. She pulled the blanket closer around herself, trying to steady her breathing.

Andrew's jaw tightened. He felt it too. The connection. The mate bond that no force in the world could ignore. His wolf stirred restlessly inside him, demanding he reach for her, claim her, mark her.

But he held himself back. Not yet. Not when everything around them was tangled in duty and lies.

Far across the estate, Angela Sebastian paced furiously in the grand hall of the Alpha's house. Her father and mother had been summoned, and the tension in the room was thick with ambition.

"This is unacceptable," Angela snapped, her painted lips curling. "Andrew was meant to meet me today. Instead he disappears into the forest and returns with... with some stray girl?"

Mrs. Sebastian placed a calming hand on her daughter's arm, though her own eyes glittered with anger. "Do not worry, Angela. He is only fulfilling his role as Alpha, rescuing those in need. Soon, he will be bound to you. The alliance will be sealed."

Angela's father nodded in agreement. "The contract between our families is clear. Andrew must marry you. It is the only way to secure peace between the territories. He has no choice."

Angela smirked, confidence returning to her posture. "Then let us hurry the ceremony. I want him marked before anyone else tries to take what is mine."

---

That evening, Andrew stood before the council chamber. His Beta and elders had gathered, along with the Sebastians. Angela was dressed in a silken gown, her lips painted red, her smile sharp as a blade.

She reached for Andrew's arm, curling her fingers possessively around him. He did not pull away, but every muscle in his body went rigid. His wolf growled within, restless, defiant.

"Tonight we will finalize the bond," Angela declared proudly, glancing at the council. "Our packs will be united."

The elders murmured approval, and Mrs. Sebastian's smile widened.

Andrew said nothing. He could feel Amanda's presence even though she was hidden away in the guest chambers. Her scent lingered in his mind, sweet and intoxicating. Every breath he took reminded him of her, not Angela.

Still, he tried to push the feeling aside. Duty demanded he go through with this. His pack's safety depended on the alliance.

The ritual began. Angela bared her neck, tilting her head with a smug smile. "Mark me, Andrew," she whispered. "Make me your Luna."

Andrew's wolf surged, teeth sharpening in anticipation, but as he leaned closer to Angela's skin... nothing happened.

No fire. No bond. No spark of destiny.

His wolf snarled in frustration, recoiling as if burned. A cold emptiness spread through him, rejecting her.

Angela stiffened, her eyes flicking in confusion. "What are you waiting for? Do it!"

Andrew tried again, but it was useless. His wolf refused. His body refused. His very soul rejected the bond.

Gasps rose around the chamber. The Sebastians exchanged panicked glances. Angela's smile faltered, twisting into rage.

Andrew stepped back, his chest heaving, his silver eyes flashing with fury and confusion. His wolf clawed inside him, howling one word over and over.

Amanda.

He understood now. It had never been Angela. The bond had chosen another. The girl he had rescued. The one with eyes full of pain and fire. Amanda was his true mate. His true Luna.

And nothing could change that.

Angela's shriek shattered the silence. "This is impossible! You are mine!" She lunged toward him, her nails digging into his arm, but Andrew shoved her away, his control slipping.

The council erupted in shocked whispers. The Sebastians shouted in protest, but Andrew's gaze was already fixed on the doorway at the back of the hall.

Amanda stood there, pale and trembling, drawn by the commotion. Their eyes met across the chamber, and the bond roared to life between them, undeniable and fierce.

Andrew's wolf surged forward, his voice echoing inside Andrew's mind with raw certainty.

She is the one. Claim her.

Amanda gasped as the force of it washed over her. Her hands shook, her heart pounding, as if some hidden truth within her had finally been unlocked.

Angela followed Andrew's gaze and saw Amanda. Her face twisted with fury. "Her? That worthless girl? No! I will not allow it!"

She lunged for Amanda, but Andrew's snarl split the air. In one swift motion, he placed himself between them, his body shielding Amanda completely. His silver eyes burned with lethal promise as he growled.

"Touch her, and you will regret it."

The room froze. No one dared move.

Amanda clutched the frame of the doorway, her heart racing, caught between terror and the overwhelming fire of the bond.

And in that suspended moment, Amanda realized the truth. Whatever Andrew was, whatever destiny was pulling her toward, she could not run from it anymore.