The first subtle stirrings came quietly, unnoticed by anyone but me. It was not the pull of a wolf, not the hint of scent that hinted at bond, it was something older, older than memory, older than the bloodline itself. It coiled in the air around Selene and me, gentle yet insistent, as though the Goddess herself was breathing between us.
I had felt it once, the night she was born, a whisper too faint to name. Now, years later, it hummed like a chord struck in the deepest part of my soul. Kaen's presence rumbled beneath my skin, restless and knowing.
She is yours.
I stiffened, turning my gaze from the horizon. She was laughing, chasing a butterfly through the palace gardens, unaware of the gaze that followed her every move. She had grown into a creature both fragile and fierce, her strong-willed determination already shining through her delicate frame. I could see the faint curves of her shoulders, the long sweep of her hair, the way she moved with the grace and confidence of someone who would one day command the attention of everyone she met.
But she was still a child to me. Still Lucan's daughter. Still under my protection, and nothing more.
I walked closer, letting my hand hover near her shoulder. She turned, eyes bright with recognition and trust. "Uncle Darian!" she exclaimed, running into my arms. My wolf stirred, warning me of the fire I could not name, the hunger I had yet to claim.
I caught her, holding her close, letting the warmth of her small body anchor me. My heart thundered against my ribs, and I whispered, "Always remember… you are mine to protect."
Not as a lover. Not yet. Only as her guardian.
And yet, even as the words left my lips, I felt the first true pull of destiny. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, a tremor beneath my skin, a whisper in my bones. The Moon Goddess had begun her work, planting the seed of a bond that could not be broken.
Kaen growled softly. Soon, Alpha. Soon, you will see her as she truly is.
I did not respond. I only held her tighter, masking the storm that roared beneath my calm exterior. For now, she was still a child. For now, I could still pretend that my aching for a mate had no name. But I knew, deep in the marrow of my bones, that the moment she turned eighteen, everything would change. The bond would awaken. The Goddess would claim her. And I, Darian Vexen, Alpha King of Veylor, would finally face the mate I had been longing for my entire life.
And I would not be able to resist.