Kael
I knew the moment I saw her.
That silver hair.
Those storm-tossed eyes.
The scent that drove my wolf mad with hunger.
Mine.
I'd tasted her lips, felt her tremble against me, and it still wasn't enough. It would never be enough. Because the craving didn't start with the kiss.
It started years ago.
When I first dreamed her.
Before I knew her name. Before she even crossed into my territory. I saw her in flashes—silver hair like moonlight, fingers stained in blood, eyes that begged and defied in the same breath.
A prophecy. A warning. A mate.
The Council told me she was a myth.
The Elders said she was a threat.
I say she's mine.
And if that means war? Then let the kingdoms burn.
"Alpha," came a voice from the shadows—Rael, my Beta, eyes narrowed and fists clenched. He didn't see her yet, not clearly. Thank the gods. If he had, he'd know. And if he knew, he'd report it. Straight to the Elders.
I turned slightly, shielding Seraphina behind me like instinct demanded. She was still dazed, lips swollen from my kiss, the scent of arousal thick in the air.
If Rael smelled it, he'd ask questions.
Too many.
"Go back to the border," I ordered, voice cold. "Now."
Rael's brow furrowed. "I thought I caught a scent—"
"You thought wrong."
I didn't let him argue. My power surged, thick and sharp like smoke and steel. It slammed into him hard enough to make his knees bend. He growled under his breath, eyes flashing gold, but bowed.
"As you command, Alpha."
As soon as he was gone, I turned to her.
Seraphina.
She was still catching her breath, still visibly shaken. Her lips parted, her body soft—but her gaze burned. Fierce. Defiant.
Gods help me, I liked that.
"You shouldn't have kissed me," she whispered, voice raw.
"I'll do it again," I said, stepping closer. "Unless you tell me to stop."
She didn't. Not right away.
Instead, she asked, "What are you?"
I paused. Then took her hand and pressed it to my chest. Let her feel the way my heart thundered like war drums beneath her fingers. She gasped.
"You already know."
"No. I don't. I just feel… hot. Wrong. Right. Everything hurts but also—" She broke off, flustered. "It started weeks ago. Every full moon. I feel like something is breaking open inside me."
"Because it is."
Her eyes widened. "Tell me."
I leaned in, lips brushing hers again—barely. Teasing. A warning and a promise.
"You're not human, little lamb. Not fully."
Her lips trembled. "That's impossible."
"Is it?" I tilted my head. "Your silver hair. Your heat. That fire beneath your skin. You came here because your wolf is waking up."
She staggered back. "No. No, I can't be—"
"Mine?" I cut in smoothly. "Too late. You already are."
She shook her head, but not convincingly. "I didn't ask for this."
"Neither did I. But here we are."
She looked like she wanted to scream. Or run. Or claw at my chest. "You don't know me. You don't get to decide my fate."
I stepped forward, gaze hardening. "I don't need to decide it. It was written before either of us were born."
She blinked fast. "What are you going to do with me?"
Everything.
I didn't say it aloud. Not yet.
Instead, I said, "You'll come with me. To my fortress."
Her jaw dropped. "You're kidnapping me?"
"You wandered into my territory. I'm keeping you safe."
"From what?"
Me.
"From everyone who'd use you," I said instead. "They'd scent your blood and rip you apart to see what's inside. But I won't let them."
She shivered, and I knew it wasn't from fear.
She wanted me. Even if she hated that she did.
"I'm not your prisoner," she said, chin lifted.
"No," I agreed. "You're my obsession."
She didn't answer. She couldn't.
Because something inside her was already bound to me.
Even if she didn't understand it yet.
Even if she'd been sent here to destroy me.
Yes. I knew.
I'd read the scrolls.
I'd seen the signs.
She was the girl with silver hair. The one meant to kill the Alpha King before the blood moon rises.
But fate made a mistake.
Because I'm not dying for destiny.
I'm going to bend it until it screams.