Chapter five

Kaidon’s POV

I have faced beasts, rogues, and rival alphas.

None of them have ever unsettled me the way that filthy human girl did.

I stood by the tall window in my chamber, staring at the fading moon in the sky.

My fingers tightened against the stone wall.

For years, the beast inside me had been nothing but a raging storm.

Every full moon, it clawed its way out of my body like a demon breaking free from hell.

Nothing could calm it.

Not chains.

Not silver.

Not the strongest sedatives the priestess had prepared for me.

Yet last night… it stopped.

Kanan had stopped.

The memory replayed in my mind like a haunting echo.

The moment that girl stepped into the underground chamber.

The moment her scent touched my nose.

The beast had paused.

Not growled.

Not lurched.

Paused.

I clenched my jaw so hard my teeth nearly cracked.

“How is that possible?” I muttered to myself.

“A human.”

My lips curled in disgust.

A weak, dirty, trembling human.

That girl looked like she could barely lift a bucket of water, yet somehow she had calmed a monster that had terrorized me for twenty years.

My fists slammed against the wall.

The stone cracked slightly.

“I don't believe it.”

Kanan stirred faintly in my mind.

Even he sounded confused.

*She freed us.*

I scoffed.

“She was stupid.”

*She was brave.*

I ignored him.

That girl had insulted me in my own dungeon.

Called me a piece of shit.

My eyes darkened at the memory.

Normally, I would have snapped her neck without hesitation.

But something had stopped me.

Curiosity.

And that was exactly why the priestess was here again.

The chamber doors opened and I walked inside the council room.

The moon priestess sat across the round stone table.

Her dark veil covered half her face, but her glowing eyes watched everything.

And on the floor between us…

Kneeling.

Was the human.

Bella.

Her thin shoulders were stiff.

Her messy hair fell around her face.

Even from where I stood, I could see dirt smeared across her cheek.

Pathetic.

The matron shoved her down harder.

“Kneel properly before the Alpha.”

Bella winced but stayed silent.

Good.

At least she was learning.

I sat down slowly across from the priestess.

My eyes never left the human.

“This creature,” I said coldly, pointing at her, “managed to calm the beast last night.”

Bella's head snapped up in surprise.

“I didn't,”

“Silence.”

My voice cut through the air like a blade.

She shut her mouth instantly.

The priestess leaned forward slightly.

“Interesting.”

My fingers tapped against the table.

“I want to know why.”

The priestess nodded once.

“Bring her closer.”

The matron grabbed Bella's arm and dragged her forward.

Bella stumbled to her knees right beside the table.

Her wide eyes darted between us.

She looked like a trapped rabbit surrounded by wolves.

Pathetic.

The priestess slowly reached into her robe and pulled out a small silver blade.

Bella stiffened.

“Wait, what are you doing?”

The priestess grabbed Bella's right hand.

Before the girl could react.

Slice.

The blade cut straight across the middle of her palm.

Bella gasped.

A thin line of crimson blood appeared instantly.

“What the hell!” she cried.

Blood dripped onto the stone floor.

The priestess caught a drop with her finger.

Then she lifted her hand over the crystal globe resting on the table.

The room grew silent.

Even the torches flickered strangely.

The priestess closed her eyes.

Her lips began whispering ancient words.

The globe slowly filled with a pale silver mist.

Bella looked terrified.

She tried to pull her hand away.

The matron held her still.

Minutes passed.

The mist inside the globe twisted and swirled like living smoke.

The priestess's breathing became heavier.

Suddenly, Her eyes snapped open.

She stared straight at me.

“The threads of fate are clear.”

I leaned forward slightly.

“Well?”

Her voice echoed through the chamber.

“This human girl.”

Her gaze shifted to Bella.

“She is tied to your destiny.”

Bella blinked.

“I beg your pardon?”

The priestess continued.

“She is the one you have been searching for all these years.”

The room went dead silent.

Then I laughed.

A cold, harsh sound.

“You must be joking.”

My eyes burned with irritation.

“A human?” I scoffed.

“That filthy creature is supposed to be my salvation?”

Bella glared at me.

“Excuse me?”

“Silence,” I snapped again.

The priestess remained calm.

“The vision is clear.”

I slammed my palm against the table.

The globe rattled.

“I reject that nonsense.”

My voice dropped into a dangerous growl.

“I would rather die than bind myself to a human.”

Bella muttered under her breath.

“Trust me, the feeling is mutual.”

My head turned slowly toward her.

She froze instantly.

Smart girl.

I turned back to the priestess.

“There must be more.”

My eyes narrowed.

“You saw something else.”

The priestess studied the swirling mist again.

For a long moment, she said nothing.

Then she shook her head.

“For now.”

Her glowing eyes lifted to meet mine.

“There is nothing more.”

Frustration burned through my chest like wildfire.

Twenty years of suffering.

Twenty years of searching.

And the answer the goddess sends me.

Is a starving human girl who looks like she might faint from hunger.

Ridiculous.

I stood abruptly from my chair.

“This is a waste of my time.”

Bella suddenly swayed on her knees.

The matron frowned.

“She looks pale.”

I glanced down at her.

Her face had lost all color.

Her breathing had become uneven.

Bella clutched her bleeding palm weakly.

“I, I, don't feel so good.”

Her body trembled, 

Then suddenly, her eyes rolled back.

And she collapsed onto the floor, the moment her body hit the ground,

Kanan roared inside my mind.

Louder than I had ever heard him before.

MATE.