The water burned Lyra's skin like acid. She jerked her foot back from the red river, heart hammering. The child's laughter echoed through the trees, getting louder and more twisted with each second. "Don't stop now," Kael called from across the water. His gray eyes had turned almost black.
"The river remembers you, Lyra. It's been waiting ten years for your return." "I'm not crossing that thing," Lyra growled, backing away from the bloody water. "It killed my sister." "Your sister jumped in willingly." Kael's voice was ice. "Just like you're about to." The mate bond slammed into her chest like a punch. So strong this time that Lyra doubled over, gasping. Her wolf clawed at her insides, trying to reach the Alpha across the water. Go to him, her wolf begged. We need him. "I don't need anyone," Lyra growled through tight teeth. Kael laughed, and the sound was sharp as breaking bones. "Fighting the mate tie only makes it stronger. You can fight for hours. Days, even. But finally, you'll crawl across that river on your hands and knees, begging me to claim you." "Never." "We'll see." Kael raised his hand. The other wolves behind him began to move, spreading out along the riverbank. Not just five or six anymore. Dozens. All with those bright red eyes and midnight fur. They were hunting order. "You have two choices," Kael said, his voice carrying easily across the water. "Cross the river now, as my mate.
Or I'll send my pack to collect you. And trust me, little rogue—they won't be nice." Lyra spun around, looking for exit routes. Trees surrounded her on three sides. The river stopped the fourth. She was stuck. The mate bond pulsed again, and this time images flooded her thoughts. Not her memories—his. She saw flashes of Kael's life. A young boy watching his parents die. A teenager covered in blood, claiming his first kill. A man standing alone in a castle made of stone and shadows. And through it all, loneliness. Soul-deep, crushing loneliness that made her own ten years in the wild seem like a holiday. "Get out of my head," she gasped. "I'm not in your head," Kael answered. "The link is. And it's getting stronger every second you wait." He was right. Already, Lyra could feel her resolve weakening. Her wolf wanted their mate so badly it hurt to breathe. Her human heart was starting to agree. "What do you want with me?" she called out. "What every Alpha wants with his Luna. Power. Control. An heir to carry on my genes." The cold words hit her like slaps. "That's it? I'm just a baby-making machine to you?" Kael's smile was evil. "What else would a rogue be good for?" Rage burst in Lyra's chest. She'd survived ten years alone. Hunted her own food. Built her own homes. Fought off pack wolves and wild animals and worse things that lived in the deep forest. She was not weak. She was not weak.
And she was definitely not crossing that cursed river for some arrogant Alpha who thought he owned her. "Find another Luna," Lyra growled. She turned and ran. The forest blurred around her as she raced through the trees. Branches tore at her clothes and skin, but she didn't slow down. Behind her, howls emerged from the Bloodmoon Pack. They were coming. The partner bond fought her every step, sending waves of pain through her chest. It felt like her heart was being ripped out through her chest. But she kept running. A huge black wolf crashed through the trees to her left. Another appeared on her right. More emerged from ahead, cutting off her escape. Their red eyes burned like fire in the dim morning light. Lyra skidded to a stop, chest heaving. She was surrounded. One of the wolves stepped forward. Larger than the others, with silver streaks in his midnight hair. When he changed into human form, Lyra saw a man with scars covering half his face. "Beta Garren," he introduced himself with a fake bow. "Alpha Kael sends his regards." "Tell your Alpha he can shove his regards—" Garren moved faster than lightning. His hand closed around Lyra's neck, lifting her off the ground. She clawed at his fingers, but his grip was iron. "Such language from our future Luna," Garren tsked. "We'll have to teach you proper manners." Black spots danced at the edges of Lyra's view. Just as she thought she'd pass out, Garren dropped her. She hit the ground hard, gasping. "Kael wants her unharmed," one of the other wolves said. "For now," Garren agreed. His scarred face split into a smile. "But accidents happen during transport." They grabbed her arms, pulling her to her feet. Lyra struggled, but there were too many of them. The mate bond made it worse—every time one of Kael's pack members touched her, it sent jolts of pain through her body. Stop fighting, her wolf begged. Just go to him. It will hurt less. "No," Lyra whispered. They pulled her back through the forest. The other wolves flanked them, moving silent as shadows between the trees. None of them spoke, but Lyra could feel their eyes on her. Judging. Measuring. Finding her wanting. When they reached the river, Kael was waiting exactly where she'd left him. Except now he stood on her side of the water.
The red had faded back to black, but steam still rose from its surface. "That was remarkably stupid," he said as Garren shoved her forward. "Did you really think you could outrun my entire pack?" "I had to try." "Why?" Kael stepped closer, and the mate bond sang with recognition. "What's so terrible about accepting your fate?" "Because my fate isn't to be your broodmare," Lyra spat. Kael's hand shot out, grabbing her chin. His touch was fire and ice all at once. The mate bond roared with approval, but his eyes stayed cold. "Your fate," he said softly, "is whatever I decide it is. You're mine now, Lyra Blackthorn. My mate. My Luna. My property." "I belong to no one." "We'll see about that." He released her head and stepped back. "Garren, take her to the castle. Put her in the Luna's rooms and post guards. I don't want her leaving until the bonding ritual." "What bonding ceremony?" Lyra wanted. Kael's smile was sharp as a blade. "The one that will tie your soul to mine forever. Tomorrow night, under the new moon. By the time it's over, you won't even remember wanting to run." Horror crawled up Lyra's spine. "You can't force a bonding ritual. Both dogs have to agree—" "Both wolves have to be present," Kael amended. "Consent is... optional." The words hit her like ice water. "That's barbaric." "That's politics." Kael turned away, ignoring her. "Welcome to the Bloodmoon Pack, little rogue. Try not to fail me."
As Garren's pack surrounded her again, Lyra caught sight of something that made her blood freeze. Around Kael's neck hung a silver charm. Small and delicate, with a moon cut into its surface. Elara's ring. The one their mother had given her before she died. "Wait," Lyra called out. "That necklace—where did you get it?" Kael paused, his hand moving automatically to the locket. For a moment, something flickered in his eyes. Pain? Regret? Then his mask slammed back into place. "From a dead girl," he said bluntly. "Just like you'll be if you don't stop asking questions." He walked away, leaving Lyra looking after him. Garren laughed and shoved her forward. "Come along, Luna. Your new home awaits." As they led her toward the dark castle in the distance, Lyra heard something that made her skin crawl. Singing. A child's voice, sweet and high. Elara's voice. "Ring around the rosie, pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes, we all fall down..." But when Lyra turned to look, the forest was empty. Just like always.