Marked by the Moon

Kendrick sat alone in the training yard, tossing a stone between his hands. The moonlight touched his face, but his thoughts were heavy.

Rowland hadn’t spoken to him for days.

Since that night outside the shed, things had changed. There were more guards around Rina now. She was given more work. Less food. And she had been moved to the room right opposite Rowland's

Kendrick knew his brother was angry. But he didn’t care. He also knew his brother was being unnecessarily wicked to Rina and he didn't understand why.

He couldn’t stop thinking about her.

Inside the Alpha’s hall, their father, Alpha Simon sat at the long table, watching his two sons in silence.

Rowland spoke with the warriors. Kendrick stayed quiet.

Simon leaned toward his Beta. “Something is wrong between them,” he said in a low voice.

The Beta nodded. “It’s about the ginger head girl, I believe.”

Simon didn’t reply. His eyes narrowed slightly.

The next morning, Rina walked through the halls, her basket full of laundry.

She kept her head down. She barely felt her feet. The pain in her back had returned after she’d been forced to carry wood in the rain the night before. Somehow, they were making her do more work here than she used to do back at the Sauna pack.

Suddenly, Maggie blocked her path.

“Oh, if it isn’t the royal rat,” Maggie said loudly.

Rina stayed quiet.

Maggie’s voice rose. “What did you give them, hmm? The quiet prince and the cruel one both keep looking at you.”

“That’s not true,” Rina whispered.

Maggie laughed. “I hear things. I know you have eyes on them both. You pretend to be weak and helpless to draw Kendrick to you.”

“I never asked for anything.”

“Liar. You enjoy the attention. But you’re just a breeding tool, nothing more.”

Rina tried to move past her, but Maggie shoved her basket to the ground. The clothes spilled.

“Pick them up, fast,” Maggie sneered. “Or I’ll tell the guards you threatened me.”

Rina bent down, picking up the laundry with shaky hands. Her eyes burned, but she didn’t speak.

By noon, the lie had spread.

“She’s seducing both princes. Alpha Kendrick has started noticing her.”

“Maybe she wants to be Luna. She might be playing a subtle game. She’s aiming for the impossible.”

“She’s cursed, and now she’s cursed them too.”

Every whisper hit Rina like a slap. Her face was red. Her chest hurt. She wanted to hide.

Later that evening, as she swept the hall, a vase broke near the stairs. She didn’t touch it, but she was the only one nearby.

“You!” a guard yelled. “Did you break this?”

“No—no, I swear I didn’t!”

Rowland appeared at the top of the stairs. He looked down, saw the broken vase, and then saw her face.

“I warned you to be more careful now that you're in the royal house,” he said coldly.

“Please, I didn’t do it—”

“Take her to the post,” he ordered the guard. “Ten lashes.”

“No!” Rina begged. “Please, I didn’t do anything!”

But no one listened. She was taken there and whipped.

At night, Rina lay behind the stables, her dress soaked in blood. Her back was raw. She couldn’t move.

The cold air bit into her skin. Her tears had dried on her cheeks.

Her body shook. Her lips trembled.

She whispered, “Mel… I’m dying.”

“You’re not dying,” her wolf said. “But we are close to breaking.”

She heard footsteps. Fast ones.

Kendrick’s voice was tight with anger. “Who did this?”

No answer came.

He knelt beside her.

“Rina—Rina, talk to me.”

She couldn’t speak.

He gently lifted her. She cried out in pain.

“Shh,” he said. “I’ve got you.”

He carried her up the back steps, through the halls, into his room.

He laid her gently on his bed.

“Stay still,” he said.

She closed her eyes, tears leaking out again.

He returned with warm water and soft cloths. He knelt beside the bed and began to clean her wounds.

She flinched, but he was gentle.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I should’ve protected you.”

“I didn’t break the vase,” she whispered.

“I know. Maggie set you up.”

“Why are you helping me?”

“Because I care.”

She turned her head slowly. Their eyes met.

“You’ll get in trouble,” she said.

“I don’t care.”

He wiped the last of the blood, then handed her clean clothes from his wardrobe.

“They’ll be big,” he said. “But better than your rags.”

She changed slowly behind, her hands shaking.

When she came out, he was still sitting by the bed.

“You can sleep here,” he said. “No one will come in.”

“I’m afraid,” she said.

He walked to her, touched her face gently.

“You’re safe here.”

Her lips quivered.

“You don’t understand,” she whispered. “I’ve never felt safe. Not once.”

He took her hand.

“You are now.”

Tears fell again.

This time, he held her.

Their faces were close.

She looked up. He looked down.

Their lips touched, soft and unsure.

Rina pulled back.

“No,” she said. “This isn’t right.”

“I’m sorry.” He whispered.

“I’m nothing. I’m not worthy of you.”

He cupped her cheek. “You’re not nothing.”

Their foreheads touched.

“From now on, Rowland will not come near you. If it means fighting him with my life, I will.”

Inside Rina, something shifted.

Mel’s voice was suddenly loud.

“Kendrick is our mate.”

Rina froze.

“No,” she whispered.

“Yes.”

She looked at Kendrick again. She knew.

He was her true mate.

But he wasn’t hers.

He belonged to the royal line. She was just a slave.

Still, his hand stayed on her cheek.

And for the first time, she didn’t feel dirty. She felt… warm.

He guided her to lie down. He laid beside her on top of the covers, holding her close.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you again,” he said. It was a promise.

She closed her eyes, heart pounding.

Soon, the morning light slipped through the windows.

Rina stirred.

Her face rested against Kendrick’s chest. His arm was around her. Their legs tangled under the blanket.

She sat up fast.

His eyes opened slowly. “Rina?”

Her hand touched her chest.

A strange warmth pulsed through her body.

Mel’s voice filled her head.

“The bond is awakening.”

Rina gasped.

“Kendrick…” she whispered.

Something inside her was changing.