C3

STEVENS POV

"Stand up straight, Stevens," my mother Jana Nielsen says.

She walks down the big stairs and looks at me with sharp eyes.

"If you want to keep Alpha Magnus interested, you must act like a proper Moonbound Mate. You act too wild and crazy."

"Yes, Mother," I say.

I walk into the big living room.

My father Tronte Nielsen looks at me from his big chair. "Are you finally done playing those little songs?"

"It was not a little song, Father," I say. My hands ball into tight fists. "The Moonsong Arena was completely full. My music is number one in the pack territories right now."

My father snorts loudly. The sound makes my stomach drop. "You delay your sacred mate bond for music. This is what happens when young male wolves get too much freedom. You completely forget your place in this world."

My face gets very hot. I look across the room. My brothers Magnus Nielsen and Torben Nielsen sit near the wall. They talk about pack warriors and ignore me completely. They treat me like a piece of meat.

"Maybe you will finally listen after the mating ceremony," my father says. He drinks his dark liquid. "No more traveling around. No more silly dreams. Alpha Magnus will fix you good."

My chest hurts so much. I want to scream at him.

"I am going to my room," I say.

Nobody stops me. They never do.

I walk into my bedroom and fall on my bed. My phone rings loudly. I look at the screen. Noah Tiedemann sent a message.

Noah: I saw the pictures from tonight. You look like a beautiful young wolf. I bet Alpha Magnus did not tell you that. I would tell you.

My stomach flips over. I bite my lip hard. Alpha Magnus protects me. He pays for my guild. But he never looks at me like Noah does.

Me: You are drinking alcohol.

Noah: Maybe. But I tell the truth. You deserve real care, Stevens. You deserve a wolf who touches every part of you. You deserve nights where you are the only thing that matters.

My legs squeeze together. My face turns red. I look at the heavy moonstone ring on my finger. It feels cold and heavy.

Noah: Let me give you one real night. Before you give yourself to the Silverclaw Royal Pack forever.

My heart beats very fast. My father hates me. My brothers do not care about me. Alpha Magnus does not touch me.

Me: Maybe.

I hate feeling stuck in the Nielsen Moonfang Pack. I will have less freedom as a mate to the Future Alpha King. I am still single until the sacred mate bond happens. Our packs used to fight all the time over territory. Ulrich Andersen took over the Silverclaw Royal Pack and made it huge. My father traded me to stop the fighting. I am just a tool to them.

I remember asking Alpha Magnus a question a long time ago.

"What if I like someone else before the mating ceremony?" I asked him.

Alpha Magnus looked at me with cold grey eyes. "You can have little crushes. You can look at other wolves. But when you wear my mark in the Sacred Lunar Shrine, your body belongs to me. Every single part of you belongs to me."

My phone buzzes again on the blanket.

Noah: Does maybe mean I have a chance?

Me: Yes.

Noah: Thursday night. Crimson Moon Lodge. Eight in the evening.

Me: I do not just want to do adult things, Noah. I want to talk. I want to feel like a real male wolf, not a trophy or a toy.

Noah: I want to make your sad face go away. Just you, me, and good food. No pressure at all.

Me: I will be there.

Noah: Wear something nice for me.

I hug my pillow tight. I like having this power. I like knowing a male wolf wants me.

My phone buzzes one more time.

Alpha Magnus: Are you safe at home?

My chest feels tight.

Me: Yes.

Alpha Magnus: Did you eat food?

Me: No. I was busy. The Moonkeep Chef made a lot of food though.

Alpha Magnus: Go eat right now. Message me when you finish.

Me: I will. I promise.

Alpha Magnus: Sleep well, young wolf. I will see you Tuesday at the Moonstone Relic House. Noon sharp.

Me: Okay. Goodnight, Alpha.

He cares about me in his own cold way. But I need more. I want to feel wanted. On Thursday, I will choose myself.

MAGNUS POV

"The Moonstone Relic House opens at ten," Bartosz Andersen says.

He walks into the big kitchen without a shirt. He smiles a very big smile.

"You are up early, brother," Bartosz says. "Are you trying to beat the other soft mates?"

I do not smile. I button my dark suit jacket.

"Keep talking, Bartosz," I say. "I will break your jaw and you will eat your food like a baby."

Bartosz laughs out loud. "You want him so bad. You used to fight rogue wolves. Now you shop for moonstone relics."

Bartosz is the youngest wolf in our family. He drinks a lot and plays around. He will go to a strict training camp next week.

Ulrich Andersen walks into the room next. He wears all black. He is the Supreme Alpha King of our pack. He is huge and very quiet. His blue eyes see everything.

Egon Andersen walks in behind him. He is our Beta War Commander. He is taller than me and has big muscles. He protects our Silverclaw Kingdom. He kills anyone who crosses us. He spends his free time with Katharina Nielsen, his mate.

Mads Andersen sits at the big table with his computer. He is the Moon Treasury Keeper. He counts all our gold.

"The Moonstone Relic House opens in one hour," Mads says. He does not look up.

"I am not shopping," I say. I grab my keys. "I am claiming my territory."

Ulrich crosses his big arms. "Are you doing this for the pack or for the young wolf?"

I do not answer him. Stevens is my duty and my biggest weakness. I want to touch him. I want to bite his neck. But I stay away because he is young. When we bond, he will never escape me.

"The gold for the Moonsong Bard Guild went up after his concert," Mads says. "You should buy him two big rings."

"Buy him three," Egon says. He drinks a huge glass of water. "Keep him busy so he does not see he is marrying a cold monster."

My chest hurts when Egon says that.

"You will bring him to the pack feast on Saturday," Ulrich says.

"I know," I say.

"And I expect you to act like you have a heart," Mads says.

"I can act," I say. "I act all the time."

The room goes totally quiet.

I remember Helge Andersen. He was my pack brother. He died because of me. We trusted the wrong wolf.

I rub the thick scar on my hand. Feelings make an Alpha stupid. Feelings get your pack killed.

Helge has been dead for eight years, but my heart still bleeds every single day.

I look at the door, my wolf pacing inside my chest. My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and read a message from one of my Elite Wolf Sentinels watching the Moonfang Manor.

Sentinel: Alpha, Stevens just sneaked out of the back gate alone, and a strange car picked him up.

My blood turns to pure ice. I look at my brothers, and my claws slide out of my fingers.

I do not know what I am going to do when I catch him.