Chapter 3: Claimed by Instinct

The word echoed through the ruined apartment.

"Princess."

Lila stared at the scarred man in horror.

"I... I think you have the wrong person."

The man laughed—a deep, chilling sound that sent goosebumps racing across her skin.

"No."

His crimson eyes gleamed.

"I've searched for you for nineteen years."

"You are the last Moon-Blood Princess."

Lila shook her head.

"No! I'm just a college student!"

"Then why," he sneered, "does your scent make every Alpha on the continent lose control?"

Elias stepped in front of her, both silver daggers raised.

"Don't listen to him, Lila."

The scarred man smirked.

"Elias... still playing the loyal guardian?"

"I promised her mother I would keep her safe."

"You failed once."

"I won't fail again."

Without another word, the scarred man lunged.

Steel clashed. Sparks flew.

Elias blocked the first strike, twisted, and slashed his attacker's shoulder. The man barely flinched.

Instead, his bones cracked violently.

Lila stumbled backward.

His fingers became claws. His jaw stretched. Dark fur burst across his skin.

Within seconds, a massive black wolf stood where the man had been. Its crimson eyes locked onto Lila.

She screamed.

The wolf charged.

Elias shoved her aside just as the beast crashed into him, sending both men through the coffee table. Wood exploded everywhere.

"Lila!" Elias shouted. "Run!"

She couldn't move. Her legs refused to obey.

The monstrous wolf pinned Elias to the floor, jaws inches from his throat.

Then...

A deafening howl split the night.

The black wolf froze.

Another howl answered—deeper, stronger, commanding.

The windows shattered.

A blur of silver shot through the broken wall.

CRASH!

A huge gray wolf slammed into the black beast with enough force to send it flying across the apartment. The two wolves rolled across the floor, snarling and snapping.

Lila gasped.

The silver-gray wolf was enormous. Powerful.

Its icy-blue eyes...

She recognized them instantly.

"Kai..."

The wolf turned toward her for the briefest second. Those familiar blue eyes softened. Then they flashed brilliant gold.

A growl rumbled from his chest.

*Mine.*

The word echoed inside Lila's mind.

She clutched her head. "What... what was that?"

Kai's wolf stiffened. She heard him. Impossible. Humans couldn't hear a wolf's possessive instincts.

The black wolf seized the distraction and slammed Kai into the wall. Concrete cracked.

Kai roared. His body shifted mid-fight. Bones cracked as he transformed back into his human form—shirt torn, chest bare, muscles tense.

He stood between Lila and the attackers like a shield.

"Stay behind me."

Lila blinked. "You... you're..."

"A werewolf," he finished.

Her mouth fell open. "This has to be a dream."

"I wish it were."

The scarred man rose, laughing as he shifted back into human form.

"So... The great Alpha of Blackridge finally arrives."

Kai narrowed his eyes. "Damien."

"You know each other?" Lila whispered.

Damien spread his arms dramatically. "Oh, we've crossed paths."

He looked at Kai with open amusement. "Tell me, Alpha... Does she know that once the mating bond awakens... you'll eventually lose control and claim her?"

Lila looked from Damien to Kai. "What is he talking about?"

Kai remained silent. That silence terrified her more than any answer could have.

Damien chuckled. "I thought not."

He took one slow step backward. "This isn't over."

He pointed directly at Lila. "The Blood Moon rises in three weeks. When it does... Every Alpha Pack in the world will hunt you. And only one man will be allowed to keep you."

With that, he whistled. The remaining wolves retreated into the darkness. Within seconds, they were gone.

Silence filled the apartment.

Kai slowly turned toward Lila. She took an instinctive step back.

"You lied to me."

"I never had the chance to tell you."

"You followed me."

"Yes."

"You knew who I was."

"No." He hesitated. "I only knew you were my mate."

The word hung between them. *Mate.*

Lila shook her head violently. "I'm not anyone's mate."

"You don't get to decide that." The words escaped Kai before he could stop them. The moment they did, regret flashed across his face.

Lila's eyes filled with anger. "Oh, I don't?"

She grabbed the nearest thing she could find—a heavy biology textbook—and hurled it at him. Kai caught it effortlessly.

"You are unbelievable!"

She stormed toward the broken doorway. "I'm leaving."

"You can't."

She spun around. "And who's going to stop me?"

Kai's expression darkened. "I will."

Before either of them could say another word...

A glowing silver crescent moon suddenly appeared on the inside of Lila's wrist. She cried out as it burned like fire.

At the exact same moment... The identical mark appeared on Kai's chest.

Both of them froze.

Elias's face turned deathly pale. "No..." "It awakened far too early."

The apartment began to shake.

Outside, every wolf within miles lifted its head toward the moon...

...and howled.