The sound of wolves running through the forest grew louder.
Branches snapped.
Leaves rustled violently.
Fia's heart pounded in panic.
"They're coming," she whispered.
Lucian stood beside her, completely calm.
His golden eyes glowed faintly in the darkness as he listened to the approaching wolves.
Within seconds, several figures burst out of the trees.
Darius led them.
Behind him were three pack warriors and,
Hazel.
Fia's stomach twisted the moment she saw her half-sister.
Hazel looked furious.
The moment Darius spotted Fia standing beside Lucian, his expression darkened.
"Fia!" he barked angrily. "What do you think you're doing here?"
Fia froze.
Before she could answer, Hazel stepped forward with a dramatic gasp.
"Oh my… look at this," she said loudly. "Running away to meet another Alpha already?"
The warriors exchanged uneasy glances.
Everyone could feel the overwhelming aura coming from Lucian.
Even Darius hesitated slightly.
Then his eyes narrowed.
"And who are you?" Darius demanded.
Lucian didn't respond immediately.
He simply looked at them with cold indifference.
The silence made the tension even worse.
Finally, one of the warriors whispered nervously.
"Alpha… that's…"
His voice trembled.
"That's Lucian Blackthorn."
The moment the name was spoken, the entire group stiffened.
Darius' face turned pale.
Even Hazel looked shocked.
The Alpha King himself stood in front of them.
Lucian slowly stepped forward.
His presence alone made the air feel heavy.
"You crossed into my territory," he said calmly.
His voice was quiet, yet it carried absolute authority.
Darius forced himself to stand tall.
"We were searching for a runaway pack member."
Lucian's eyes flicked toward Fia.
"Is that so?"
Hazel quickly moved closer to Darius.
"That girl is my sister," she said sharply. "She ran away after causing trouble at my wedding."
Fia clenched her fists.
Hazel continued speaking sweetly.
"She tried to steal my mate earlier. Now it seems she ran here to seduce another Alpha."
The accusation hung in the air.
Fia felt her chest tighten with anger.
"That's not true!"
But Hazel only laughed.
"Oh really? Then why are you standing so close to him?"
Darius' gaze moved between Fia and Lucian.
His jaw tightened.
"You rejected the mate bond," he reminded her coldly. "But that doesn't mean you can shame the pack by behaving like this."
Fia stared at him in disbelief.
"You're the one who humiliated me in front of everyone!"
Darius looked away dismissively.
Lucian watched the entire exchange silently.
Then suddenly.
He stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Fia's waist.
The movement was so unexpected that everyone froze.
Fia's eyes widened.
His grip was firm and possessive.
Lucian's golden eyes turned toward Darius.
"You rejected her," he said calmly.
Darius frowned.
"Yes."
Lucian's lips curved slightly.
"Then you no longer have the right to question what she does."
The warriors shifted nervously.
Hazel's face twisted with jealousy.
"She's still part of our pack!"
Lucian's gaze turned icy.
"No."
His voice dropped dangerously low.
"She belongs to me now."
Silence crashed over the forest.
Darius stared at him.
"What are you talking about?"
Lucian looked down at Fia briefly before speaking again.
"The Moon Goddess has made her decision."
His hand tightened slightly around her waist.
"She is my mate."
The words echoed through the trees.
Hazel's mouth fell open.
Darius' eyes widened in shock.
And Fia's heart nearly stopped.
The Alpha King had just claimed her…
In front of her entire pack.