The night the moon turned red, Aria knew something terrible was coming.
She stood barefoot at the edge of the forest, the cold earth biting into her skin, while the wind tore through her dark hair like invisible claws. The village behind her was quiet—too quiet. Even the usual barking of the hunting wolves had gone silent.
That silence was never a good sign.
Aria tightened her shawl around her shoulders and stared into the forest where the Blackfang territory began. No one from her pack ever crossed that line. Not unless they were either brave… or suicidal.
She was neither.
Yet tonight, she had no choice.
A wooden lantern flickered in her trembling hand, casting shaky light over the trees. Her mother's words echoed in her mind like a curse.
"If they come for you, don't run. Running only makes them hunt harder."
Aria swallowed hard.
"They" always meant one thing in their world.
The Blackfang Pack.
And worse… their Alpha.
A low howl shattered the silence.
Aria flinched.
It wasn't far.
Another howl answered it—closer this time.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
"No… no, no, no…" she whispered, stepping backward instinctively.
But her foot snapped a dry branch.
CRACK.
The forest went still again.
Then—
Eyes opened in the darkness.
Dozens of them.
Glowing gold.
Surrounding her.
Aria's breath stopped.
She tried to move, but her body betrayed her. Her legs refused to obey.
From the shadows, massive wolves stepped forward. Black fur like ink under moonlight. Muscles coiled like weapons. Teeth glinting like death itself.
They circled her slowly.
Hunting her.
One of them shifted first.
Bones cracked. Flesh reshaped.
Then another.
And another.
Until wolves were no longer wolves.
They were men.
Tall. Barefoot. Shirtless. Scarred. Dangerous.
And they all stepped aside as one final figure walked through them.
Aria felt it before she saw him.
Power.
Dominance.
A pressure in the air so heavy it felt like the world itself bowed.
Then he appeared.
The Alpha.
He didn't rush. He didn't need to.
Every step he took was calm… deliberate… like he already owned everything he walked on.
His eyes locked onto hers.
Gold—brighter than the others. Sharper. Colder.
Aria couldn't breathe.
This was him.
The Ruthless Alpha of Blackfang.
Kael Draven.
She had heard stories whispered in fear across her village.
He does not negotiate. He does not forgive. He does not lose.
And now… he was staring at her like she was already his possession.
"You're late," he said.
His voice was deep. Calm. Dangerous in a way that didn't need shouting.
Aria frowned despite her fear. "I'm not yours."
A flicker of amusement crossed his face.
That was worse than anger.
"You were chosen," Kael replied simply.
"I wasn't chosen by anyone!"
He took one step closer.
The air thickened.
Aria instinctively stepped back—but the wolves behind her growled softly, warning her.
Trapped.
Kael noticed everything.
Even her fear.
Especially her defiance.
"You smell like moonblood," he said quietly.
Aria froze.
No one was supposed to know that.
Her mother had sworn it was a secret.
A dangerous one.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she lied.
Kael tilted his head slightly.
Like she amused him.
"You will."
Something in his tone made her stomach twist.
"Let me go," she demanded, forcing her voice not to shake. "I did nothing to you."
Kael studied her face like she was a puzzle he had already solved.
Then he said something that shattered her world completely.
"You are the sacrifice bride."
Silence.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Aria stared at him.
Then she laughed.
It came out broken.
"Sacrifice… what? Are you insane?"
Kael didn't react.
That was answer enough.
"No," she whispered. "No, that's just old pack superstition. That's not real anymore."
"It is real," he said.
And then he moved.
One second he was standing in front of her.
The next, he was behind her.
Aria gasped as something cold touched the back of her neck.
A mark.
A burning sensation exploded through her skin.
She screamed.
The forest exploded with energy.
The wolves dropped to one knee instantly.
Even Kael's presence shifted slightly—just slightly—but enough to show that something ancient had just awakened.
Aria fell to her knees, clutching her neck.
"What did you do to me?!" she cried.
Kael crouched in front of her.
Close.
Too close.
"You were dying in your pack," he said calmly. "We saved you."
"I DIDN'T ASK YOU TO SAVE ME!"
His gaze darkened slightly.
For the first time, something almost like irritation flickered in his eyes.
"You didn't have a choice."
The mark on her neck pulsed.
Hot.
Alive.
Connected.
Aria suddenly felt something else.
A pull.
Invisible.
Strong.
Tying her to him.
She gasped. "What is this?!"
Kael watched her carefully.
"The bond has been accepted."
"I DIDN'T ACCEPT ANYTHING!"
"You don't need to."
That was when panic truly set in.
Aria tried to crawl backward, but her body felt weak—like something inside her was draining her resistance.
Kael stood.
"Bring her," he ordered.
Two wolves stepped forward immediately.
"No!" Aria shouted, scrambling back. "Don't touch me!"
But they didn't hesitate.
One grabbed her arm.
The moment skin touched skin—
A violent shock ripped through both of them.
The wolf staggered back in pain.
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
Interesting.
Aria stared at her own hand in shock.
"What… what am I?"
Kael turned away.
"Mine."
That single word broke something inside her.
"I am NOT yours!" she screamed.
But her voice was swallowed by the forest as she was lifted off the ground.
She kicked. She fought. She bit.
It didn't matter.
They carried her through the trees like she weighed nothing.
Behind her, Kael followed silently.
Watching.
Always watching.
The Blackfang territory was nothing like her village.
It was not a home.
It was a kingdom built on fear.
Massive stone structures rose between towering black trees. Torches burned with blue flame. Wolves moved everywhere—shifting between human and beast like it was nothing.
Aria was dragged through gates carved with ancient symbols she didn't recognize.
As soon as she entered, silence spread.
Every wolf stopped.
Every head turned.
And every gaze landed on her.
Confusion.
Shock.
Disgust.
And something worse.
Recognition.
"She's the one…" "It can't be her…" "The sacrifice bride… she actually exists?"
Aria's heart pounded harder.
Sacrifice bride.
The words followed her like a curse.
She was taken into a hall carved from black stone. At the end stood a throne.
And Kael.
He had already returned.
Sitting like he had never left.
Waiting for her.
Aria was thrown to the ground in front of him.
She looked up, breathing hard.
"I hate you," she spat.
A ripple went through the room.
No one spoke to the Alpha like that.
Kael rose slowly from his throne.
And walked down the steps toward her.
Each step echoed like judgment.
He stopped right in front of her.
Crouched slightly.
And tilted her chin up with two fingers.
His touch burned.
"You will learn," he said softly, "that hate is still a form of belonging."
Aria slapped his hand away.
"I will never belong to you."
For the first time… something darker flickered in Kael's gaze.
Not anger.
Something far more dangerous.
Interest.
He stood again.
And turned to his warriors.
"Prepare the marking ceremony."
Aria's blood ran cold.
"No…" she whispered. "No, no, no—what ceremony?"
Kael looked at her over his shoulder.
"The one that makes you mine forever."
And that was when Aria realized—
This wasn't a kidnapping.
This was a claim.
A destiny she never agreed to.
And a bond she might never escape.