Karen POV

My head throbbed as the knock came at the door.

"Come in," I muttered.

The maid entered with a bow. "The Alpha requests your presence in the hall." She flicked her fingers, and other maids swept in with perfumes, silks, and jewels.

Before I could protest, they were on me, scrubbing, combing, dressing me like I was something precious instead of a runaway. Their hands worked fast, but my thoughts raced faster. I wondered if they'll even accept me as part of them

Minutes later, I stepped out. My legs trembled, but the corridor was mercifully short. The hall loomed ahead, filled with pack members watching me with sharp eyes.

Then I saw Zaiden.

Broad shoulders, calm authority. His eyes found mine across the room and refused to let go. My breath hitched; I forced myself to look away, but his presence pressed against me like heat.

"The priestess will arrive soon," he said, suddenly close. Too close.

I swallowed. "Okay." My voice cracked.

"Relax," he murmured, brushing his fingers against the back of my hand. "I don't bite."

My heart stuttered. Xavier never made me feel like this never. I hated it, I hated that my body betrayed me so easily.

The ceremony began. Rules, vows, rituals all a blur. My hands shook as the priestess bound mine with Zaiden's, slicing our palms so our blood mixed. A strange warmth rushed through me. For the first time in weeks, I didn't feel like an outcast. I felt... tethered. Like I belonged.

"You may step down," the priestess said.

I stumbled back to my seat, trying to steady my breathing. The voices, the whispers in my head from the bond it was overwhelming.

The hall erupted into chatter, but I slipped away. My room felt like safety, Or so I thought.

One of the border guards stood outside, the same man who'd nearly dragged me down before. His eyes were cold, unreadable. I forced a smile, waving lightly. He didn't return it. I sighed and shut the door. "Duh. He didn't have to be so mean."

I changed quickly, letting the hot bath wash away the weight of the ceremony. My body still ached, but for a moment, the warmth was almost comforting. By the time I sank into bed, exhaustion was pulling at me until the door opened.

It was Zaiden.

He filled the doorway, face unreadable, eyes sharp. My heart lurched.

"You might want to tell me," he said flatly, stepping in, "why you ran from your pack."

I froze.

"I don't harbor traitors," he continued. "I won't risk my people's lives."

"I..." My voice broke. "I can't. Not now. Please just give me time."

He tilted his head, lips curving in something that wasn't quite a smile. "Maybe you'll want to talk when I tell the Alpha of Blue Moon Pack that his missing Luna is under my roof."

My blood ran cold. "You wouldn't."

"Watch me." He slipped a phone from his pocket, thumb hovering over the screen.

"No!" My voice cracked, panic flooding me. "I'll.."

He paused. "Go on."

"I'll tell you," I whispered, my fists clenching in the sheets. My chest heaved as the memories threatened to break me all over again.

He smirked, sliding the phone back into his pocket. "Good. I'm all ears."

Karen's POV

Flashbacks

The courtyard burned with torches, shadows flickering over accusing faces. My chest heaved as I stumbled into the chaos only to see her.

The previous Luna. Lifeless. Blood staining her pale dress.

"No..." My whisper barely left my lips before a shrill voice cut through the crowd.

"There! She did it!"

I spun. Nelissa my chambermaid, the one who had sworn loyalty to me was pointing at me, tears streaking her face. "I saw her slipping a vial into Luna Rose's cup! She said the old Luna stood in her way!"

Gasps erupted. Wolves snarled. My knees nearly gave out.

"That's a lie!" My voice cracked as I tried to move forward. "I would never...."

Another shout came from the Elder. His hand shot up, silencing the crowd. "Enough. You think we accuse you blindly?" His eyes gleamed with cold judgment.

He raised a crystal device, its surface shimmering to life. A projection flickered in the night air. My heart slammed against my ribs as the image came into focus me, cloaked, standing in the forest... speaking to rogues.

The crowd roared. Wolves bared their teeth.

"That's not me!" I screamed, shaking my head violently. "It's been altered someone set me up!"

"Lies," the Elder spat. "The proof is here. You conspired against your pack. This is treason!"

The guards seized me before I could breathe. Iron cut into my wrists, dragging me to the ground. The crowd howled, spitting curses, their faces twisted with rage.

"Luna Karen of Blue Moon," the Elder's voice thundered, "you are guilty of the death of the previous Luna and treason against your pack."

"No!" I screamed, but the sound vanished under their roars.

I searched the Alpha's face Xavier's face but found only coldness. Betrayal.

That was the night everything ended. The night my own people chained me, branding me a traitor and a murderer in one breath.

********

When I finished telling him, I tried to read Zaiden's expression. Was he going to think I did it too? He was my only savior now I had nowhere else to go.

"I wasn't expecting you to believe me," I whispered, wiping my eyes as I stood. "I'll leave right away. I don't want to cause trouble. I never intended to."

"Don't you dare walk away from me."

He yanked me back, hard enough that I stumbled into his chest. My gasp caught in my throat as his arms locked around me like steel bars. His body radiated heat, his scent wrapping around me, thick and intoxicating.

"Look at me," he ordered.

I tried to resist, but his fingers slid under my chin, tilting it up until my gaze collided with his. His eyes were molten fire fierce, merciless pinning me in place.

"You think you can just run? After walking into my life like this?" His voice dropped, deep and commanding. "No, Karen." His lips brushed mine as he growled, "You belong to me now. You are mine."

My heart skipped at his claim. His words sank into me like claws, sending a shiver down my spine. I opened my mouth to deny it, but no words came only a shaky breath.

Then his mouth crashed against mine. It wasn't gentle. It was a storm fierce and demanding. His lips moved with punishing force, his teeth grazing my lower lip until a whimper slipped out. The sound only made him tighten his hold, pulling me flush against his chest.

My hands trembled as I clutched his shirt, torn between shoving him away and dragging him closer. My body betrayed me, melting into him even as my mind screamed no.

The kiss deepened, his tongue claiming mine, relentless, leaving no space for doubt. Heat flared between us, raw and consuming.

When he finally tore his mouth from mine, he didn't move far. His lips hovered against mine, his breath hot and ragged.

"You're not leaving," he whispered darkly, his hand sliding possessively to the small of my back, pressing me closer. "Not tonight. Not ever."

His lips claimed mine again, raw and unyielding. For a heartbeat, I melted my wolf whining with joy, clawing to submit. Heat rushed through me, every nerve on fire.

He's ours, Sally whispered, desperate. Don't fight it. Don't you feel it?

But that's when it happened. The burn in my chest twisted into something darker. The phantom sting of silver chains seared my wrists. Xavier's cruel laugh echoed in my ears. My lungs locked up, panic ripping through me.

"No..." I gasped, wrenching against Zaiden's grip. My body trembled not from desire this time, but from fear.

He leaned in closer, pinning me with his heat, his scent, his power. Too much.

My wolf howled in protest as I shoved hard against his chest, breaking the kiss. My voice cracked. "I can't don't touch me!"

I spun toward the door, desperate to escape the pull he had on me but Zaiden was faster. His hand clamped around my wrist, yanking me back until my spine hit the cold wall. My breath caught, my chest heaving against his.

"Let me go," I snapped, though my voice betrayed me, trembling.

His eyes darkened, wolf burning through them. "No." His tone was a low growl, vibrating through my bones. "You can fight me, deny me, curse me... but it doesn't change a damn thing."

"W-what thing?" I stammered, though I already knew.

He leaned closer, his lips brushing my ear, his scent drowning me. "That you're mine."

My heart stuttered. My knees weakened. His hand slid up, pinning mine above my head, while the other cupped my jaw, tilting my face to his. My pulse thundered when his mouth hovered over mine so close I could taste the heat of him.

"You belong to me now, little Luna," he murmured, voice rough, claiming. "And nothing not your past, not your lies, not even your fear will change that."

Before I could breathe a protest, his lips crushed against mine. Fierce. Possessive. A kiss that felt like a brand. My wolf whimpered in surrender, while my human side screamed at me to resist. But moon goddess help me... I couldn't.

Karen POV

When Zaiden finally tore his mouth from mine, I was shaking half from breathlessness, half from the storm inside me. His thumb lingered at my jaw, his gaze heavy, unreadable.

I pushed weakly at his chest, whispering, "I... I can't do this."

His eyes narrowed, but instead of arguing, he stepped back, his grip loosening only enough to guide me toward his room. "Then don't fight," he said simply. "Rest."

I blinked at him, stunned, as he opened the heavy wooden door that led to his chambers. The scent of cedarwood and smoke wrapped around me too strong, too him. My pulse jumped when I saw the enormous bed dominating the space.

"I'm not..." I started, panic clawing up my throat.

"You're not leaving." His tone was final, like carved stone. "Not tonight."

My wolf purred at the command, but my human side shrank, torn between fear and... safety. Moon goddess, I hated how safe his presence felt even as my body trembled.

"I'll take the couch," I muttered, trying to sidestep.

A growl rumbled from his chest, quiet but dangerous. "No couch." His eyes pinned me in place. "You'll sleep here. With me."

Heat flared in my face. My mouth opened to argue, but exhaustion struck the weight of the day, the kiss, the bond clawing at my soul. My body betrayed me, sagging.

Zaiden caught the flicker of fear in my eyes. His expression softened, just barely. He brushed a strand of hair from my cheek and said, low, "Sleep. I won't touch you."

I did believe him. Not entirely. But when he lay back on the bed and tugged me down beside him, his arm a heavy barrier keeping me there, something inside me unclenched.

I curled stiffly at the edge, heart racing. His warmth pressed against my back, steady and immovable. My wolf sighed, content. I closed my eyes, praying sleep would come praying my heart would stop betraying me every time he whispered through the bond.

And just before sleep dragged me under, I swore I heard him murmur, voice rough with a promise and a threat all at once

"You'll run in your dreams, little Luna. But when you wake... you'll still be mine."

*******

The Next Morning

A heavy, solid weight wrapped around me, cocooning me in a way that made it impossible to move. For a blissful moment, I thought I was safe... until the deep rumble of breathing at my neck shattered the illusion.

My eyes flew open.

Zaiden's arm was draped across my waist, his hand splayed possessively over my stomach, pulling me firmly against the hard wall of his chest. His legs tangled with mine, anchoring me in place. Even in sleep, he was claiming me.

My pulse hammered, every nerve alight where his skin brushed mine.

Carefully, I shifted, testing the iron grip around me. His hold tightened instantly. A low growl vibrated against my back.

"Don't," he muttered, still half-asleep. His voice was gravelly, raw, and far too dangerous to my resolve.

"I... I wasn't...." My whisper died when his nose brushed against my hair, inhaling deeply.

"You smell like mine," he murmured, and gods help me, my traitorous wolf purred at the sound.

Heat burned in my cheeks. My body screamed to melt into him, to let the bond take over, but my mind... my mind wanted to escape.

Summoning every ounce of courage, I pushed lightly at his arm. "Zaiden... let me go."

His eyes cracked open stormy, dark, piercing right through me. For a heartbeat, he only stared, lips brushing the curve of my neck. The bond surged instantly, sending a shiver racing down my spine. My breath hitched. Then he smirked, lazy and possessive.

"You woke up in my arms," he said, voice thick with satisfaction. "You'll get used to it."

My heart stuttered violently. "Never."

He leaned closer, his lips grazing the shell of my ear as he whispered, "We'll see."

********

Zaiden's POV

"Alpha," Cole said, his tone clipped in the mindlink. "There's a problem."

I glanced at Karen, who was still tangled in the sheets, eyes wide and wary.

"It's urgent, Alpha," Cole pressed.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice low.

Karen's soft voice cut in, interrupting the mindlink. "Who's that?"

I climbed off the bed, dragging on a shirt. "He's my Beta."

Her brows knitted, but I didn't give her a chance to question further. I leaned down, brushing a quick kiss against her cheek. "Stay here. Don't leave this room. The maids will bring your breakfast."