4- 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱

I tried to run, but my feet felt heavy, as if rooted to the spot. Kaidën's eyes, now a piercing gold, locked onto mine, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. His body was almost fully transformed, his muscles bulging beneath his skin as he took a step closer to me.

I managed to break free from my paralysis and turned to run, but Kaidën was too fast. He caught me harshly, pinning me to a nearby pillar. His grip was like a vice, and I could feel his hot breath on my skin.

I was scared, very scared. Kaidën's eyes seemed to bore into my soul, and I could sense the wildness of his wolf emanating from him. I tried to struggle, but he held me firm, his fingers digging deep into my skin.

"Astrid," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "You shouldn't have come here."

I tried to speak, but my voice was caught in my throat. Kaidën's face was inches from mine, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. I felt like I was staring into the abyss, with no escape in sight.

And then, just as suddenly as he had grabbed me, Kaidën's grip relaxed, and he took a step back. His chest was heaving, and his eyes were still wild, but he seemed to be struggling to regain control.

I took advantage of the reprieve to make a run for it, dashing away from Kaidën as fast as I could. I didn't dare look back, fearing what I might see. I just kept running, my heart pounding in my chest, until I was sure I was safe.

I burst through the door of my room, slamming it shut behind me and leaning against it to catch my breath. My heart was still racing from my encounter with Kaidën, and my mind was reeling with questions.

What had just happened? Why had Kaidën lost control of his wolf like that? Wasn't he the Alpha?

I pushed myself away from the door and began to pace back and forth across my room, trying to process my thoughts. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong, and that Kaidën's loss of control was just the tip of the iceberg.

Eventually, I exhausted myself and collapsed onto my bed, my mind still racing with questions and fears. I didn't sleep much that night, my dreams haunted by visions of Kaidën's wild eyes and razor-sharp claws.

The next morning, I woke up feeling groggy and uneasy. I knew I had to face the day ahead, though, and so I dragged myself out of bed and began to get ready for breakfast.

As I made my way to the dining hall, I couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. I knew that Kaidën and Xylara would be there, and I wasn't sure how I would react to seeing them after what had happened the night before.

When I arrived at the dining hall, I was relieved to see that my father was already there, chatting with Kaidën and Xylara. They all smiled and greeted me as I took my seat, and for a moment, everything seemed normal.

My eyes fell on Kaiden، he seemed off. His eyes were darker and his face carried a neutral expression. Xylara, on the other hand, was chatting away with my father, laughing and smiling as if nothing was wrong.

I took my seat, trying to make sense of the tension in the air. Kaidën's demeanor was unsettling, and I couldn't help but wonder if Xylara knew about his loss of control the night before.

As we sat down to eat, my father cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.

"I think we should get down to business," he said, his eyes scanning the table. "We have a lot to discuss, and not a lot of time to waste."

I nodded, trying to focus on the conversation ahead. But my eyes kept drifting back to Kaidën, trying to read his expression.

As the breakfast meeting drew to a close, my father pushed his chair back and stood up.

"I think that's all for now," he said, his eyes scanning the table. "We'll reconvene later to discuss the finer details."

As the others began to stand up and file out of the dining hall, Kaidën suddenly spoke up.

"Actually, I think it would be best if you all left first," he said, his eyes fixed on me. "I have something I need to discuss with Astrid."

My father raised an eyebrow, but nodded and began to herd the others out of the hall. Xylara, however, lingered behind, a sweet smile plastered on her face. Her eyes flashed with a hint of jealousy, but she quickly covered it up with a sugary smile.

"Fine, you talk to her and I'll just go ahead and take care of some... Luna business," she said, her voice dripping with condescension.

"You two can... discuss whatever it is you need to discuss."

With that, she turned and flounced out of the hall, leaving Kaidën and me alone. The air was thick with tension as Kaidën's eyes locked onto mine, his expression unreadable, making me gulp.

As soon as Xylara was gone, Kaidën's demeanor changed, his eyes fixed intently on me, and suddenly pulled my chair close to him. I startled, my heart racing, as I felt his warm breath on my skin.

"What...what are you doing?"

I stuttered, trying to push my chair back, but Kaidën's grip on the armrest was like a vice.

"I want to talk to you about last night," he said, his voice low and menacing. "About what you saw." I felt a surge of fear as I realized what he was referring to.

"I...I didn't see anything," I lied, trying to play it cool. Kaidën's eyes narrowed, his grip on my chair tightening.

"Don't lie to me, Astrid," he growled. "I know you saw me. I know you saw what happened."

I swallowed hard, my heart racing.

"What do you want from me?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. Kaidën's eyes seemed to bore into my soul.

"I want you to promise me that you won't tell anyone what you saw," he said, his voice dripping with menace. "If you do, I'll make sure that you regret it."

I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized the threat implicit in his words. I nodded hastily, trying to placate him.

"I won't tell anyone, I swear."

Kaidën's grip on my chair relaxed, and he leaned back in his seat, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Good," he said, his voice still low and menacing. "I'm glad we understand each other.”

Kaidën stood up, his movements fluid and powerful. I was still processing the threat he had just made, my mind reeling with the implications. As he towered over me, his eyes seemed to bore into my soul. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that I was completely at his mercy.

Without another word, Kaidën turned and walked away, leaving me sitting there, feeling stunned and shaken. I watched him go, my mind still reeling with the events of the past few minutes. As the door closed behind him, I let out a shaky breath. What had just happened? And what did Kaidën's threat mean for me? I was still trying to process everything when I heard the sound of the door opening again.

I turned to see Evelyn, my attendant, standing in the doorway.

"Astrid, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I tried to shake off the feeling of unease that had settled over me.

"I'm fine, just feeling a little tired from last night" She nodded before patting my shoulder as she made her way out of the dining hall.

I spent the rest of the morning attending to my duties. I met with some of the pack's younger members, discussing their training and progress. I also reviewed some of the pack's financial records, making sure everything was in order.

As the morning wore on, I decided to take a walk in the pack's gardens. The fresh air and sunshine would do me some good, and I needed a break from the confines of the pack house.

As I strolled through the gardens, I saw something I never noticed before. In the center of the clearing stood a large, ancient-looking tree. And carved into the trunk of the tree was a symbol I recognized — the symbol of the Lunar Curse.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I stared at the symbol. The Lunar Curse was a legendary affliction that caused werewolves to lose control of their wolves during full moons. It was said to be a rare and terrifying condition, one that could lead to destruction and chaos.

And now, I was staring at the symbol of the Lunar Curse, carved into the trunk of an ancient tree. I couldn't help but wonder — If this was somehow connected to Kaidën's behavior last night.

I was lost in thought, staring at the symbol of the Lunar Curse, when I heard a rustling in the bushes behind me. I turned to see my father, Beta Ryker, emerging from the underbrush.

"Astrid, what are you doing out here?" he asked, his voice firm but concerned. I hesitated, unsure of how to explain my discovery.

"Just...just taking a walk, Father," I said finally. My father's eyes narrowed, but he didn't press the issue.

"Come on, Astrid," he said instead. "We have a meeting with the Alpha of the Sylpher Pack. He's arrived to discuss the terms of your mating."

I felt a jolt of surprise, followed by a wave of anxiety. I had almost forgotten about my arranged mating. My father took my arm and led me back through the gardens, towards the pack house. As we walked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. What would my fated mate be like? Would I be able to tolerate him, or would our mating be a disaster?

When we arrived at the pack house, I saw a tall, dark-haired man standing in the foyer. He was ok looking, I supposed, but he had an unusual aura around him.

"Astrid, this is Alpha Eric of the Sylpher Pack," my father said, with a formal tone. I nodded, trying to smile.

"It's nice to meet you, Alpha Eric," I said looking away from him.

As Alpha Eric smiled at me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of discomfort. There was something about him that didn't quite sit right with me.

"Why don't we take a walk?" he suggested, his eyes roaming over my body in a way that made my skin crawl.

I nodded reluctantly, feeling a sense of unease. As we walked, Alpha Eric couldn't seem to stop staring at me.

"You're even more beautiful than I imagined," he said, his voice dripping with sleaze.

"I can see why you're considered one of the most eligible females in the pack."

I felt a surge of disgust at his words. Who did he think he was, talking to me like that?

"I'm more than just my physical appearance," I said coolly, trying to keep my temper in check. Alpha Eric chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"Oh, I'm sure you are, but let's be real, Astrid. You're a stunning female, and I'm a lucky man to have you as my mate."

I felt a wave of revulsion wash over me. This was the man I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with? A man who seemed to value me only for my physical appearance? I couldn't wait to get away from him.

As we continued to walk, Alpha Eric's gaze never left my body. He seemed to be devouring me with his eyes, and I felt like I was going to be sick. I felt disgusted by him and his presence only, how was I supposed to spend the rest of my life with him? He's such a pain.

"So, Astrid," he said, his voice low and husky. "Tell me, what do you like to do for fun?"

I shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant. "I like to read, go for walks...the usual stuff." His eyes lit up with excitement.

"Oh, I love to read too," he said. "Although, I have to admit, I prefer books with...more visual content."

He winked at me, and I felt a surge of disgust. What a pervert! I don't think this behavior is suitable for an Alpha. Kaidën is not like that, no he can never be like that. We walked in silence for a few minutes, His eyes were all over me, I felt like I was trapped in a nightmare, and I couldn't wake up.

Finally, we arrived at a small clearing. He stopped in front of me, eyes burning with intensity.

"I think we've talked enough for now, don't you, Astrid?" he said, his voice low and husky.

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief. Maybe this meeting would be over soon, and I could get away from this creep. But as I turned to leave, his hand shot out and grasped my arm. His grip was like a vice, and I felt a surge of fear.

"I'm not done with you yet, Astrid,"

He said, his eyes glinting with amusement. I tried to pull my arm free, but Alpha Eric's grip only tightened. I was trapped, and I didn't know how to escape. His grip was so tight that I started to feel my hand getting cold due to the unbearable force. Just as his grip on my arm was starting to hurt, a sudden movement caught my attention.

With a swift motion, a hand reached out and grasped Alpha Eric's wrist, twisting it until he was forced to release his grip on my arm. I felt a surge of relief as I was freed from Alpha Eric's grasp.

My eyes quickly shot up and when I saw his emerald eyes, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. His eyes burned with fire as he took a step close to Alpha Eric. Eric's face turned red with anger as he turned to face Kaidën.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice dripping with disdain. Kaidën's eyes locked onto Alpha Eric's, his gaze burning with intensity.

"I'm the one who's going to make sure you never lay a hand on her again," he said, his voice low and deadly.

My heart skipped a beat as I stared at Kaidën, his words sending a shiver down my spine. Who was this person, and how could he make me melt with just his words?

Alpha Eric's face turned even redder with rage, but Kaidën just stood there, his eyes never leaving Alpha Eric's face. With a snarl, Alpha Eric turned and stormed off, leaving Kaidën and me standing alone in the clearing. I turned to Kaidën, my heart still racing from the sudden confrontation.

"Thank you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Kaidën's eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I felt like I was drowning in their depths.

"You don't have to thank me, who was that anyways?” I swallowed hard, still feeling a bit shaken from the encounter.

"That was Alpha Eric of the Sylpher Pack, he's...he's supposed to be my mate."

Kaidën's expression darkened. He muttered something under his breath, and I strained to hear what he was saying.

"He doesn't deserve her,"

Kaidën murmured to himself, the words barely audible.I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that Kaidën had meant for me to hear those words. He was telling me that he didn't think Alpha Eric was good enough for me.

I looked up at Kaidën, my eyes searching for answers. Why did he care who I was supposed to mate with? And why did he seem so fiercely protective of me?

Kaidën's eyes met mine, and for a moment, we just stared at each other. I felt like I was drowning in the depths of his gaze, like he could see right through to my soul. Then, without a word, Kaidën turned and started walking away. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. But then I followed him, my feet carrying me after him without conscious thought.

As we walked, the silence between us grew thicker, like a palpable thing. I couldn't help but wonder what Kaidën was thinking, what was going through his mind. I quickened my pace to catch up to Kaidën, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Kaidën, wait," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. He stopped and turned to face me, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at me.

"What is it, Astrid?" he asked, his voice low and rough. I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts.

"Why did you do that?" I asked, my eyes locked on him. "Why did you stand up to Alpha Eric like that?" Kaidën's expression didn't change, but I saw a flicker of something in his eyes.

"I didn't do it for you, I did it because no one deserves to be treated like that."

I felt a surge of anger at his words, but I pushed it down. I knew that Kaidën was trying to push me away, to make me think that he didn't care about me. But I saw something in his eyes that told me otherwise.

"You're not a very good liar, Kaidën," I said, my voice soft.

Kaidën's eyes flashed with surprise, before he scoffed, shaking his head. But then his expression hardened, and he turned away from me.

"Let's just get back to the pack house, okay?" he said, his voice rough. I nodded, feeling a pang of disappointment. But I knew that I wasn't going to give up on Kaidën that easily, not at least now that I have thousands of reasons to love him. He cares for me although he doesn't show it.

I walked through the dimly lit hallway, my footsteps echoing off the walls. It was late, and the pack house was quiet, most of the members having retired to their rooms for the night. I was on a mission to find some papers that my father had left in the library. I had been meaning to go through them all day, but with the meeting with Alpha Eric and the subsequent discussion with the pack members, I hadn't had a chance.

As I turned a corner, I heard a faint noise behind me. I spun around, my heart racing, and that's when I saw him. Kaidën was standing behind me, his eyes fixed intently on me. I let out a startled yelp, my hand flying to my chest.

"Kaidën, you scared me!"

But before I could say anything else, Kaidën bent down to my level, his face inches from mine. His warm breath caressed my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

"Can I bite you, Astrid?" he whispered, his voice low as his lips brushed against my earlobe. "Please?"

My heart skipped a beat as I felt a rush of nervousness. I gulped, my mouth dry, and my eyes locked onto Kaidën's. I couldn't speak, couldn't breathe. All I could do was stare at him, my mind racing with the implications of his words.