CHAPTER 2

Katherine

The council room was silent. Every eye was on me, but I didn’t care. My heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

“You think dragging me here makes you the hero?” I said, my voice echoing off the walls. “You think the world forgot what you did to my family?”

Some of the council members shifted uncomfortably. Stephen’s jaw clenched, but his face stayed cold.

“You’re standing in front of the council of the royal capital,” he said. “Watch your words.”

“My words?” I stepped closer, glaring at him. “You burned everything I had, and you want me to pretend it’s fine because this is your precious capital?”

Gasps filled the room, but I didn’t stop. “You talk about laws, about the Moon’s will, about peace offerings,” I said, my voice shaking with rage. “You killed my father, Stephen. You destroyed my pack, and now you want me to call you Alpha?”

He stared at me for a moment, his expression unreadable. “You don’t know everything that happened,” he said finally.

“I know enough.”

His tone hardened. “You were chosen by fate, Katherine. The Moon decides the bond. You can’t run from it.”

I laughed, but it came out harsh. “You think I care about fate? Fate didn’t protect my family. Fate didn’t stop you when you slaughtered them.”

The room grew tense again. I saw some of the guards exchange glances, waiting for his command, but he didn’t move. He just stood there, eyes locked on me.

“You can scream all you want,” he said, voice low. “It won’t change who you are to me.”

“Then I pity you,” I snapped.

He took a step forward, closing the space between us. “You think rejecting me will change the laws? You’re bound to me whether you like it or not. You’ll learn to accept it.”

“Never.” I met his eyes without blinking. “You might control the council, the guards, everyone in this damn city, but you’ll never control me.”

His eyes darkened slightly. “You’re walking a dangerous line, Katherine.”

“I’ve been on that line since the day you destroyed my home,” I said. “So if you want me to bow, you’ll have to kill me first.”

No one spoke. The tension was heavy enough to crush the air. I could see the pain flash in his eyes for a second, but he hid it quickly, standing straighter. His silence told me I’d hit something real, something he didn’t want anyone to see.

For a brief moment, the bond pulsed between us, strong and suffocating. My chest tightened, and I saw him flinch ever so slightly. We both felt it. The pain. But I refused to show it.

I forced a smirk, though my hands were shaking. “You feel that?” I asked quietly. “Good. You want this? Then I’ll make sure you feel every miserable pain I’ve ever felt.”

“I’m used to pain,” I said. “You’re not. And I’ll make sure you learn what it means to live with it.”

The room stayed silent. No one dared interrupt. Stephen didn’t move, but I knew he was holding himself back. His jaw tightened, and he gave the council a small nod.

“This meeting is over,” he said.

If fate wanted to tie me to him, then fate would burn with us both.

Stephen’s eyes didn’t leave me even after the council dismissed us. I could feel it, the way he looked at me like he was trying to read every piece of me. There was something strange in his stare, like he recognized me in a way he couldn’t explain. He tried to hide it behind his usual cold expression, but I saw it. A flicker of something he didn’t want to admit.

I hated it. I hated that he could even look at me like that.

He gave an order to one of the guards. “Take her to the Palace. Make sure she’s guarded at all times.”

I rolled my eyes. “What, afraid I’ll run away again?”

His voice was low. “You already tried once.”

“And I’ll try again,” I said, brushing past him.

His jaw tightened but he didn’t reply. I walked ahead without waiting for permission. The guard led me out.

Finally we got to the Eldermoon Kingdom, it was filled with golden designs and royal banners that made my skin crawl. Everything screamed of Stephen’s rule — his control, his power, his pride.

When we reached the pack quarters, I stopped. Wolves were everywhere, talking, training, watching me like I was some kind of intruder. Maybe I was. I didn’t belong here, and I didn’t plan to stay long.

Then a young man walked towards me.

“Katherine?” he said carefully, like he wasn’t sure I was real.

Before I could respond, Stephen appeared behind me. His voice was firm. “Rowan.”

Rowan immediately straightened. “Alpha.”

Stephen’s gaze flicked between us, his expression unreadable. “You can go.”

Rowan hesitated, then gave me a small nod before walking away. I could feel Stephen’s eyes on me again.

“What?” I asked.

“Stay away from him.”

“Why? You afraid I might talk to someone who isn’t under your command?”

He stepped closer. “You don’t know what kind of man Rowan is.”

“And you do?” I snapped. “Because from where I stand, you’re all the same.”

He didn’t reply, just stared for a second before turning away. “Dinner is at seven. You’ll be informed when to come down.”

“I’ll pass,” I muttered, but he was already gone.

That evening, I stayed in the room they gave me. It was large, clean, and empty. I could hear laughter echoing faintly from somewhere below, the kind that reminded me how out of place I was. I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling until I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed air.

When I opened the door, two guards stood outside. They looked nervous when I told them I wanted to take a walk, but they didn’t stop me. I walked through the long corridors, past windows that showed the moon high above the courtyard. For a moment, it almost felt peaceful, until I heard footsteps behind me.

Three women came down the hall, dressed elegantly, their smiles too polished to be real.

“You must be Katherine,” one of them said with a grin.

I didn’t answer.

Another one stepped forward. “We saw you earlier at the council. You were brave. Not many would talk to Alpha Stephen like that.”

“Yeah, brave or stupid,” I muttered.

They laughed softly, exchanging looks. “We like you,” the first one said. “You’re bold. That’s rare around here.”

I crossed my arms. “What do you want?”

They smiled again, fake but curious. “There’s a small party tonight. Just some of us from the higher ranks. You should come. It might help you… settle in.”

I stared at them, unsure whether to laugh or slam the door in their faces.

“Think about it,” one said as they turned to leave. “We’ll be waiting.”

When they were gone, I stood there for a while, the corridor quiet again. Something about them felt off, too smooth, too rehearsed. But a part of me didn’t care. Maybe I needed to see what kind of game they were playing.