KaelKael’s muscles coiled tight as his wolf clawed to break free, but chains of uncertainty held him back. The scent of burning torches mixed with the metallic tang of blood, thick in the air. He couldn’t afford to lose control—not now.Not when Amara was gone.A growl rumbled in his chest, his vision sharpening as he locked onto Magnus. The bastard stood there, arms crossed, amusement playing at the corners of his lips as if this was all some twisted game. And maybe, to him, it was."Where is she?" Kael demanded, his voice raw with rage.Magnus chuckled, shaking his head. "You alphas are all the same—so predictable. Always chasing after a mate you can never truly possess."Kael took a threatening step forward, but the hooded figure beside Magnus shifted slightly, their presence sending a ripple of unease through him. A new player had entered the game, and the power rolling off them sent a warning through his instincts."You feel it, don’t you?" the cloaked figure murmured. Their vo
Amara’s POVThe floor beneath my knees felt ice-cold and unforgiving, much like the life I lived. I crouched low, scrubbing away the grime that had built up overnight. My fingers ached, raw from the coarse bristles of the mop, but I didn’t dare slow down. There was no room for imperfections here, not in Alpha Derrick’s pack.A creak behind me made me freeze mid-scrub. My heart leaped, fearing that my sluggish pace had already caught someone’s attention. When I glanced over my shoulder, it was only Tara, another maid, standing in the doorway.“Alpha’s asking for you,” she said curtly, her tone a mixture of pity and warning.The mop slipped from my hands, clattering to the floor. My stomach churned. Alpha Derrick rarely summoned me unless he had a reason to make my life even more unbearable.“Did he say why?” I stammered, standing on shaky legs.Tara shook her head, avoiding my gaze. “You’d better not keep him waiting.”I didn’t need her reminder. Hastily wiping my hands on my ragged ap
Amara’s POVThe world outside the car blurred as the tires creaked against the uneven road. Trees whipped past, their dark silhouettes a stark contrast against the pale glow of the moon. My fingers twisted into the thin fabric of my dress as I fought the urge to cry.This was it.The ride out of Blue Moon felt surreal, like I was suspended between two nightmares. I couldn’t decide which was worse, being under Alpha Derrick’s control or being traded off like cattle to Alpha Magnus.I clenched my fists tighter and lowered my head, murmuring a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess. “Please,” I begged. “Let this be the beginning of something better. Let me survive.”But survival wasn’t a guarantee.The car came to a jerking halt, nearly sending me tumbling from my seat. My heart leaped into my throat as the driver climbed down and threw the door open. “We’re here,” he grunted.I hesitated, my legs feeling like lead. The towering gates of the mansion loomed ahead, their iron bars twisted into
Kael’s POVThe room was suffocating. My father’s words still echoed in my mind, sharp and cruel as a blade. “Finally, I will have a son who isn’t satisfied with being an ordinary Beta.” His disdain for me had always been clear, but this… This was a new low. My gaze fell on the girl before me, the so-called "breeder" he’d dragged into our home like a prized possession. She was trembling, her wide, frightened eyes fixed on the floor, too scared to meet my gaze. Her vulnerability twisted something deep inside me.I took a deep breath, willing myself to calm down. “Hey,” I said softly, holding out my hand. “Come with me. I won’t hurt you. Trust me.”She didn’t move at first. Her eyes flickered to my hand and then back to the floor, a silent war waging within her. The hesitation was palpable. I couldn’t blame her, after everything she must have been through, trust wouldn’t come easily.“It’s okay,” I said, keeping my voice gentle. “I’m not like him. You are safe with me, trust me please”F
Amara’s POVThe morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, soft and golden, and for the first time in years, I felt… warm. Safe wasn’t the word, not entirely but something about the night before, sleeping in a bed instead of the cold, hard ground, had given me the tiniest semblance of comfort. Here, there were no biting winds, no harsh commands, no chains. It was temporary, I knew that, but for a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to pretend.I ran my fingers over the soft fabric of the blanket before swinging my legs over the side of the bed. My bare feet sank into the plush rug, another luxury I hadn’t known in years. I closed my eyes, trying to steady the whirlwind of emotions inside me. How long could this fragile peace last?The kitchen was eerily quiet as I moved about, gathering ingredients to prepare breakfast. Cooking had always been my solace, the one thing that grounded me amidst chaos. The smell of sizzling eggs filled the room, a small smile tugging at my lips as I st
Kael’s POVI woke to the sound of muffled sobs. Amara’s cries had become a cruel soundtrack to my nights, echoing through the walls and tearing at my soul. I clenched my fists, staring at the ceiling of my room, the faint moonlight casting shadows on the walls. How long could this madness go on?Trina shifted beside me, her bare leg brushing against mine under the duvet. My stomach twisted in disgust. Her presence here was a reminder of everything wrong in my life, a forced engagement to a woman I couldn't stand, my father’s unrelenting cruelty, and Amara’s silent suffering.Her hand slid over my chest, her touch cold and unwelcome. “Kael,” she whispered, her voice sultry. “You’re so distant these days. What’s wrong?”I gritted my teeth and pushed her hand away. “Not now, Trina.”She wasn’t deterred. Instead, she sat up, the dim light accentuating the sharp angles of her face. “Not now?” she repeated, her tone turning sharp. “Kael, it’s been a week since I got here, and you haven’t ev
Kael's POVI felt weighed down and suffocated by darkness. Every breath felt like dragging knives through my lungs, and my chest burned. Like echoes in a cavern, faint murmurs tempted my ears, far away and distorted. A warm, flowery scent—Amara—pierced the mist. It held on to me and dragged me up to the surface.Slowly, I opened my eyes and blinked against the faint light. Her face, the wooden beams above, and the dim crackle of a fire in the corner came into sharp focus. With her hands firmly clutched in her lap, Amara sat next to me. Her eyes were rimmed in red as if she had been crying for hours, and her hair was unkempt. Her face was dancing in the fire's glow, highlighting the tiny bruise on her face."Amara?" My voice was raspy, barely audible.Her head snapped up, and relief washed across her expression. "Kael! "You're awake," she said softly, her voice shaking.The way she pronounced my name caused an ache in my chest, not from anguish, but from something deeper, something I w
Amara’s breath hitched as Kael’s words hung in the tense air between them. His confession wasn’t just a crack in his armor; it was a glimpse of vulnerability she hadn’t expected. But before she could process it fully, the sharp howl of a wolf echoed through the forest, sending a shiver down her spine.Kael’s expression darkened instantly, his Alpha instincts kicking in. “We’re not alone,” he murmured, his voice low and protective. He moved closer to her, his eyes scanning the shadows that danced under the moonlight. The night felt heavier now, the air thick with an unspoken threat.Amara’s heart pounded in her chest as she followed his gaze, her fingers curling into fists to stop their trembling. “Who could it be? Are we in danger?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rustling leaves.Kael didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he tilted his head, his sharp ears picking up sounds she couldn’t. A low growl rumbled from deep within his chest, and he stepped forward, shielding
KaelKael’s muscles coiled tight as his wolf clawed to break free, but chains of uncertainty held him back. The scent of burning torches mixed with the metallic tang of blood, thick in the air. He couldn’t afford to lose control—not now.Not when Amara was gone.A growl rumbled in his chest, his vision sharpening as he locked onto Magnus. The bastard stood there, arms crossed, amusement playing at the corners of his lips as if this was all some twisted game. And maybe, to him, it was."Where is she?" Kael demanded, his voice raw with rage.Magnus chuckled, shaking his head. "You alphas are all the same—so predictable. Always chasing after a mate you can never truly possess."Kael took a threatening step forward, but the hooded figure beside Magnus shifted slightly, their presence sending a ripple of unease through him. A new player had entered the game, and the power rolling off them sent a warning through his instincts."You feel it, don’t you?" the cloaked figure murmured. Their vo
Darkness stretched in every direction. Cold air wrapped around Amara like unseen hands, sending a chill down her spine. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as she forced herself to move. But every step felt like walking through thick fog, her body weighed down by something unseen."Where am I?" she whispered.A voice answered, low and sharp. "You are home."Amara spun around, her breath catching in her throat. A figure emerged from the swirling shadows. Tall, cloaked in black, with glowing red eyes that burned like embers."Who are you?" she demanded, taking a step back.The figure tilted its head. "I am the beginning. And I am the end."Fear clawed at her chest, but she pushed it down. "Let me go."The figure laughed, the sound like crackling fire. "You do not command here, child. You were never meant to be free. You were meant to rule."Amara's stomach twisted. "Rule what?"The figure lifted a hand, and suddenly, images crashed into her mind. Battles. Fire. Wolves bowing before her fe
Kael let out a roar that shook the room as he charged at Magnus. Anger boiled inside him. His claws were out, and his fangs were ready. But just as he reached Magnus, something slammed into him. He was thrown back hard against the stone wall. Pain shot through his ribs, but he pushed himself up.Amara was gone.A silver circle where she had stood glowed faintly with the last remnants of its eerie light. Shadows danced around the room, twisting like something was moving in them unnaturally. Then, a voice echoed.“She’s awake.”A chill swept over the hall as the shadows formed a shape. The air felt heavy, thick with an ancient power. From the darkness, a tall figure appeared in black robes, his face hidden under a deep hood. The torches flickered and dimmed in his presence.Magnus froze, his smirk fading for the first time. “You,” he said, voice tight.The figure chuckled, a deep sound that made Kael shiver. “Surprised, Magnus? Did you think you could wake her without me?”Magnus straig
Amara felt nothing but darkness and pain. Cold crept into her bones, and her arms and legs felt heavy. She tried to break free from the overwhelming weight in her mind. The last thing she remembered was Kael reaching for her. His hand was bloody, and his eyes showed desperation before everything went dark. Now, she was awake—but barely—and not alone.A low murmur echoed around her. She heard boots scraping against the stone floor. The smell of damp earth and blood made her stomach turn. Somewhere far off, chains rattled, reminding her she was trapped.Then she heard a voice.“You’re awake.”Amara opened her eyes. Her vision adjusted to the dim light from the torches on the walls. Shadows flickered and danced across the cold space. A man stood in front of her. His shape was sharp, and his presence felt heavy.Magnus.He stepped closer, a slow, creepy smile on his face. “You put up quite the fight,” he said, amusement dripping from his voice. “I expected that.”Amara's throat hurt, and
Darkness pressed against Amara’s senses like a heavy blanket. The ground felt unsteady beneath her, and her body felt weightless, trapped in an abyss between consciousness and oblivion. Faint sounds floated around her—the distant clash of steel, the guttural growls of wolves, and the unmistakable voice of Kael, raw with fury.“WHERE IS SHE?”A shadow moved above her, thick with malice. It was Magnus. His smell—leather, blood, and something ancient—felt like a predator closing in on its prey. “She’s right where she belongs,” he said, his voice a sickening caress against the void swallowing her mind.A cold air danced along her skin, and suddenly, Amara was falling—She was yanked from the darkness into a harsh reality.Pain shot through her as she hit the cold stone floor. She gasped, trying to catch her breath. Chains held her tight, the silver burning her skin. Her head ached, still reeling from whatever poison Magnus had used.A pair of boots entered her vision. Slowly, she forced
A dull throb pulsed in Amara’s skull, dragging her toward consciousness. Her limbs felt like lead, weighed down by something unseen, and an icy numbness spread through her veins. Voices swam in the fog around her, muffled and distorted, like echoes from a dream. The scent of damp stone and iron filled her nose, mingling with the faint metallic tang of blood.Then she remembered.Kael’s bloodied hand reached for her. The dagger sank into his side. The betrayal. The darkness swallowed her whole.Her breath hitched, panic clawing at her chest. She forced her eyes open, blinking against the dim torchlight flickering overhead. Chains rattled as she tried to move, and cold steel bit into her wrists. Shackles. She was bound.A cruel laugh slithered through the shadows. “Ah, you’re finally awake.”Amara’s heart clenched at the voice. Magnus.She turned her head, vision still blurred, but the silhouette of his towering figure was unmistakable. He leaned against the stone wall, arms crossed, wa
The world faded in and out around Amara. Darkness enveloped her mind, but even in unconsciousness, she could feel it—the sinister grip of Magnus holding her captive. Cold steel pressed against her throat, the sharp edge a silent promise of pain. Distantly, she could hear the chaos unfolding, shouts and growls blending into a symphony of war. Kael's voice cut through it all, raw with fury and desperation."Let her go, Magnus!"A chuckle slithered against her ear, sending chills down her spine. "Oh, but why would I? She’s far too precious."Amara fought against the haze clouding her thoughts, her instincts screaming at her to move. But Magnus’s grip tightened, his fingers like iron shackles around her arm."You take one step, Kael, and I swear I'll slit her throat." His voice was laced with amusement, but there was a deadly promise beneath it.Kael stood rigid, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he shifted back into his human form, his eyes burning with barely contained rage. Blood
The air inside the cabin felt suffocating, thick with tension and unspoken words. Amara stood motionless, her breath shallow as Kael paced before her, his frustration palpable. The flickering candlelight cast elongated shadows against the wooden walls, the steady creak of the floorboards beneath Kael’s restless movements the only sound punctuating the heavy silence.“What are you saying, Trina?” Kael asked, his voice low but angry. He glared at Trina, who just smirked back. “I’m saying you have a traitor in your midst, dear Alpha.” Trina’s voice was silky, her emerald eyes flickering with amusement. “Someone close to you has been feeding Magnus information. And if you don’t figure out who soon…” She trailed off, her smile turning predatory. “Well, let’s just say the consequences will be dire.”Amara felt her stomach drop. Betrayal was hanging in the air. The word curled around her like a noose, tightening with every second of silence. Magnus had already taken so much from her, and n
As the battlefield lay strangely calm, Kael's breath came quickly and forcefully, his body tightly coiled with anxiety and stress. Like the last of a once-consuming fire, the golden energy that had burst from Amara crackled softly in the air. With eyes full of devotion, something far more frightening than fear, the Bloodbound riders who had survived crawled onward.Amara stood in the center of the chaos, her golden irises still glowing, her entire being trembling with exhaustion deeper than physical fatigue. Her hands clenched and unclenched at her sides, as though unsure whether to reach for salvation or surrender to destruction.Kael was approaching her very slowly. "Amara, would you speak to me, please speak."Her gaze locked onto his—tormented, lost. “I don’t know what’s happening to me, Kael.” Her voice was barely a whisper, yet it carried the weight of an impending storm.Selene, still standing despite the devastation around her, let out a soft laugh. “You’re awakening, child. T