Chapter 2 – The Alpha's Claim
Kael hadn't expected it. For years, he'd ignored the whispers of fate, convinced the Moon Goddess had denied him. But the moment his gaze found hers, he knew. His mate. Silent, fragile-looking, yet holding a fire in her eyes that matched his own.
He pulled her closer, and her breath hitched. She tried to twist away, but his grip was firm, his dominance curling around her like heat.
"What's your name, little one?" he asked.
Her throat worked, but no answer came. Confusion flickered in his eyes before realization dawned. His jaw tightened. "You can't speak."
Her lashes lowered, shame brushing her cheeks red. But instead of disgust, he felt his chest clench. Protective. Possessive.
Around them, whispers spread. The Alpha has found his mate. Shock, curiosity, envy—all buzzing in the night. Kael ignored them all. He tipped her chin up, forcing her to look at him.
"You will not hide from me," he said, his voice firm but husky. "Mute or not, you are mine."
Her body trembled, not from fear but from the undeniable pull. When his thumb brushed the corner of her mouth, her lips tingled as though they had been set aflame. The bond sparked between them, burning hotter, demanding more.
Kael's wolf raged within him, urging him to mark her, to claim her here under the moon. But she wasn't ready—not yet. Her wide eyes, her fragile silence, her shivering shoulders… she was his mate, but he would not break her.
Instead, he leaned down, his breath ghosting against her ear. "Run if you want to. But know this, little mate—your scent is in my blood. I will always find you."
Her chest rose and fell too quickly, every nerve ending singing for him. The heat of his body pressed so close, she could feel the hard lines of muscle beneath his shirt. She knew what he was capable of, what his dominance meant. A shiver ran through her, not from fear but anticipation—something primal whispering that when he finally touched her fully, it would consume her completely.