Chapter 2

Faye’s pov

Ever since the mating ceremony, I had been avoiding Killian like a plague. And that as a very difficult task because avoiding him was like trying to run from my own shadow — No matter how fast I moved or how I always tried to stay out of his way, he was always there. 

His presence was a constant reminder to me that the mating bond between us was unbreakable but I refused to accept it. 

I skipped meals when I knew he would be in the dining hall,

I trained at odd hours, hoping to miss him at the pack's training grounds,

I even started sleeping in the Beta's quarters pretending in needed space from the Alpha's Wing. 

I tried all of that and more but…

None of it worked.

Why?

Because tell me why Killian went everywhere I went. 

If I left a room, he would enter seconds later. 

If I avoided his gaze, he made sure to find ays to steal my attention and wors of all, everytime he said my nickname — just my nickname — I felt the bond tug at my soul. 

No matter how much I avoided him, his presence lingered like smoke 

No matter how I fought it, the bond pulled me closer. 

It went on like that for days, weeks even, until one night, everything changed and it started with a party.

I folded my arms over my chest, glasint at him as he leans against my doorframe. “Killian, I'm not going anywhere.” 

“You're going, Faye.” Killian replied, his usual calm masking something much darker. 

“I'm not going!” I raised my voice.

“You are going and that's final!” He said. “I've let you avoid me for weeks but this? This is non-negotiable!”

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “So what?” You're dragging me to party against my will!” 

A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I am not forcing you, but you need to stop running.”

“Why wouldn't I run?! It's not like I asked to be your mate, Killian.”

“I was talking about the party, Faye. You're a part of our pack! It's important you show up.”

I had broken his resolve. He had yelled. Finally.

For a second, something flickered in his eyes – anger and pain. But it was gone before I could utter another word. 

Killian heaved a sigh and pushed off the doorframe.

My breath hitched when he closed the distance between us, stopping few inches from my face. His scent wrapped around me like a curse.

“Look, I get that you're still upset about what happened at the mating ceremony but heaven knows I didn't ask for it either,” he said in a low, dangerous voice. “Did you absolutely think I wanted to look at you and see something I never should have?” 

I swallowed hard, not knowing what to say anymore.

Suddenly, he lifted his hands to my face as if to touch it but curled it into a fist instead. “We're running late.”

He turned on his heels to leave.

“You have to let me go, Killian,” I called behind him. “If I won't be you're mate then leave me alone.” 

“I can't.” He replied without looking at me. 

He couldn't let go?

He tilted his head to look at him and I saw it – the war raging inside of me was the same one raging inside of him. 

“I want you downstairs in 10 minutes.” He said before walking out of my room.

I balled my hands into a fist and let out an angry groan. 

I should've refused. I should've fought harder but I couldn't!

I turned to the mirror instead. “Fine. I'll go to this stupid party!”

And so that night, I went to the party.

Ten minutes into the party and I was already wishing I was home.

The music was unbelievably loud and the air was thick with the smell of alcohol and sweat.

The party was people-ish. That means wolves from different packs were in attendance. They mingled, laughed and had conversations with each other. Everything blended in place, you could almost not tell who was from Crescent Moon pack, HalfMoon pack or even ours, the Silver Frost pack. 

While everyone had a good time, I kept to the edges of the party, avoiding the gaze of one person I'd been avoiding for weeks – Killian. He was talking to a few Alpha's near a bonefire but I felt his gaze on me.

I felt my skin crawl everytime he looked in my direction and told myself I needed to leave. 

I don't know why but instinct told me to stay where I was but I refused. Our instincts aren't always right.

I let my guard down and slipped away before Killian would notice.

As I walked down the corner of the packhouse, I felt someone behind me. 

I whipped around and a scream almost escaped my lips. 

“Oh my goodness.” I gasped in relief when I saw it was a harmless Alpha.

“I'm sorry if I scared you.” He said, beaming me an apologetic smile.

“It's fine.” I returned his smile but my heart was still racing in my chest. 

He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing my face. “You're Alpha Fenrirson’s daughter right? Faye?”

I forced a polite smile. “Yes, I am. I… don't think we've met.”

And indeed we haven't. As an Alpha King’s daughter, I knew everyone in our pack and his face did not ring a bell.

Sure he was unfamiliar but he was very handsome — broad-shouldered, with sharp green eyes and a smirk that'll make maidens blush for days. 

“Oh my apologies. I'm Jake,” he introduced himself. “Son of Alpha Roman from the BloodMoon pack.”

I stiffened. MoonBeam? That was a rival pack. Killian had always warned me to stay away from MoonBeamers.

I cleared my throat and shook his just-extended hand. “N - nice to meet you.” 

It was a lie.

He notice my uneasiness and spoke. “Do you want to go somewhere private? The party's loud isn't it?” 

I took a step back, already terrified. “No. Thanks. I was just leaving.”

Beofe I could turn around, his hand shot out and he grabbed me in a possessive and tight grip.

“What's the matter, princess?” He smirked, pulling me against him, “Leaving so soon?” 

“Let go of me!” I screamed.

His smirk widened. “Oh, come on. You don't want to spend time with me? I'm the richest Alpha around here.”

“Thank but I'll pass.” I hissed.

“Aww.” He pouted his lips, his grip tighter than before. “You're upset. Who made you upset? Is it Killian? Hmm… I heard you're fated to be mates. You're concerned, aren't you?”

“It's none of your business!”

“Oh but it is now. You see, I've set my eyes on you and I want you, Faye. God, even your name sounds perfect on my tongue. Spend time with me.” 

“No! Let go of me!” 

“I'll never do that.” 

He pressed my body against his, his other hand snaking around my waist. 

My stomach twisted in terror when I realized what was about to happen. 

We were away from public eye. The goddamn music was too loud and the crowd was distracted! No one was watching! I was so screwed.

I tried to scream, but Jake's hand covered my mouth.

“Someone's being a bad girl. Don't scream just yet.” He chuckled.

“No —”

I had barely completed my sentence before he shoved me to the ground, pinning both my hands above my head. 

“Hmmm… you smell so good.” He said, burying his face in my neck. 

“Help!!” I let out one last scream. 

“Shut up!” Jake growled, raising his hand to hit me.

I shut my eyes, waiting for the impact to reach my face but it didn't.

Jake was ripped away from me. His body was sent flying across the garden. 

His attacker and my defender turned out to be no other person than Killian.

I let out a sigh of relief when I saw that it was him but it quickly vanished when I caught the glint in his eyes – bloodlust.

“Killian!”

He was on Jake in seconds, moving too fast for me to see. One moment, Jake was scrambling to get away me the next – 

CRACK!

RIP!

Blood splattered on the ground, straining the floors and the grasses. 

A scream tore from my throat but it was quickly drowned out by the party's loud music. 

“Stop! Killian, stop!” I sobbed, trying to get Killian to stop hitting Jake but he was gone. 

His mind had been consumed by something primal,

Something lethal.

He wasn't fighting anymore.

He was killing. 

And by the time he was done, Jake was dead.