Chapter 3 – The First Night
Elvis sat up with a gasp, the scent of smoke and pine thick in her lungs.
It was still dark, but the fire Alexander had built burned low, casting flickering shadows across the forest floor. Her eyes adjusted slowly to the dim glow, and the memory of his bite, the bond, the truth—it all came rushing back.
Not a dream. Not a nightmare. Reality.
She looked around.
Alexander was still there, seated on a fallen log nearby, his arms folded and eyes fixed on her with unsettling intensity.
He'd been watching her sleep.
Of course he had.
"How long was I out?" she asked, voice dry.
"About two hours." His voice was low, tired. "You were tossing in your sleep. Bad dreams?"
"I dreamed… I was drowning in moonlight."
He didn't smile. "That's how the curse pulls when it's breaking. You'll feel it for a few nights. Then it will fade."
Elvis shivered. "I wish it would take everything with it."
Alexander stood, his tall frame silhouetted against the trees. "Come. There's a stream nearby. You need water."
She hesitated but followed. The clearing gave way to a narrow path, mossy and damp beneath her bare feet. The night was quiet but watchful, like the forest itself had ears.
At the stream, Elvis dropped to her knees and splashed cool water onto her face. It soothed the throb in her temple and cleared her thoughts.
But as she looked at her reflection, she saw it.
A mark.
Faint, silvery, glowing just beneath her collarbone—a crescent moon surrounded by thorns.
She recoiled. "What the hell is that?"
Alexander knelt beside her. "The bond seal. It's the mark of your soul tie to me."
"I didn't agree to this," she snapped.
"No," he said quietly. "But you didn't get a choice. None of us did."
She looked at him sharply. "Why me? Why not someone who actually wants this?"
He held her gaze. "Because the bond doesn't want obedience. It wants truth. Power. Balance. And for whatever reason… it chose you."
Tears burned in her eyes. "I don't want to be part of your prophecy or your damn cure."
He stood. "Want it or not, the world won't stop turning for you, Elvis."
She slapped the water. "Then maybe I'll find a way to break it."
Alexander's face darkened. "Don't even think about it."
"Why? Afraid I might actually find a way?"
"No," he said, stepping closer, "because if the bond breaks, it takes both of us with it."
The words sank deep.
"You mean… we die?"
He nodded. "Our souls are merged now. One shatters, the other follows."
She stumbled back, horrified.
"I didn't ask for this," she whispered.
"I know."
A long silence stretched between them, filled only by the sound of running water and their heavy breathing.
Then he said, "You deserve answers. And safety. I'll give you both—if you come with me."
"Where?"
"My territory. The Blackthorn packlands. You'll be protected there. We'll have time to figure this out."
Elvis looked at him, doubt warring with exhaustion. "And if I say no?"
He hesitated. "Then you'll be hunted. And I won't be able to stop what's coming."
A branch snapped in the distance.
Both their heads turned.
Alexander's posture shifted instantly—eyes glowing, muscles tensing.
"What is it?" Elvis asked.
He stepped in front of her. "Stay behind me."
Another snap. Closer this time. Followed by a low, growling snarl.
From the shadows, a figure emerged.
A wolf.
But not just any wolf.
It was massive, at least twice the size of any she'd seen in books. Its fur was jet black with streaks of crimson across its chest like blood. Its eyes glowed green.
Alexander cursed under his breath. "Bloodhound."
Elvis froze. "What's a bloodhound?"
"A rogue bound by dark magic. It feeds on broken bonds."
The creature lunged.
Alexander met it head-on, shifting mid-leap. Bones cracked, fur exploded, and in a flash, a huge silver wolf stood where the man had been—regal, powerful, radiating Alpha energy.
They collided in the air, teeth snapping, claws raking.
Elvis stumbled back, heart racing. Her wolf stirred again, wild and afraid, begging to rise.
Shift, something inside her urged.
But she didn't know how.
The fight was brutal. Blood sprayed the trees. Alexander's silver form twisted with practiced fury, but the bloodhound was relentless.
Elvis scanned the ground. A fallen branch caught her eye—thick and sharp.
She grabbed it and ran forward.
"Get away from him!" she screamed.
The bloodhound turned—and in that second of distraction, Alexander struck.
His jaws closed around its throat, and with a sickening crunch, the rogue collapsed in a heap of fur and shadow.
Elvis dropped to her knees, trembling.
Alexander shifted back, covered in blood and breathing hard. A claw mark stretched down his chest, but he didn't seem to notice the pain.
"Are you hurt?" she asked.
He shook his head. "I've had worse."
She looked at the dead creature. "Why was it here?"
"You lit a beacon when the bond formed. Bloodhounds can smell it. They'll keep coming."
"So I'm basically cursed bait now."
He didn't deny it.
"Come on," he said, offering his hand. "We need to get to the border before dawn."
She hesitated—then took it.
His hand was warm. Steady. Too steady for someone who'd just ripped out a throat.
---
They traveled for hours, weaving through narrow forest paths. The terrain grew steeper, colder. Dawn painted the sky with soft pinks and greys.
As the first rays of sunlight filtered through the trees, Elvis saw it.
A wall of stone rising from the forest floor. Tall wooden gates marked with runes and ancient symbols. Guards stood on either side, their eyes glowing faintly with wolf energy.
Alexander gave a nod, and the gates opened.
They stepped into another world.
Fields stretched beyond the wall—wild and beautiful. Wolves ran free in the distance. Cottages with ivy-covered walls dotted the land, and a massive stone lodge stood in the center like a castle.
Elvis gaped. "This is… yours?"
Alexander nodded. "The Blackthorn stronghold."
She followed him down a path toward the main lodge, every nerve tingling.
People stopped to stare—pack members with wide eyes and curious whispers.
"She's the one."
"The marked mate…"
"I didn't think it was real."
Elvis shrank under the attention. "They're staring."
"They've never seen a bond like this," he said quietly. "You're not just a mate. You're legend."
That did not help.
Inside the lodge, warmth enveloped her. A large fireplace crackled. The scent of herbs and woodsmoke filled the air. Wolves in human form bowed slightly as Alexander passed.
"You're safe here," he said, guiding her to a private room.
She walked in, still stunned.
It was beautiful—warm brown walls, thick rugs, a bed big enough for three people. A window overlooked the valley.
"This is yours now," he said.
She turned to him. "I don't want to be yours."
He looked away. "I know."
"Then why are you doing all this?"
He hesitated. "Because I already failed one mate. I won't fail again."
She stared.
Then he added, "Rest. There's more I need to tell you. But not today."
As he turned to leave, Elvis asked, "What happened to her? The first one?"
Alexander paused in the doorway. His voice was flat.
"She died. The bond didn't hold."
And then he was gone.
Leaving Elvis standing in a stranger's room, with a stranger's mark on her skin, wondering if she was next.