The beginning

KAZIMIR

The study smelled of aged whiskey and cigarettes. I poured myself a drink, the crystal glass cold against my fingers, and stared into the amber liquid like it held answers.

Nikolai slouched in one of the leather chairs, spinning a knife between his fingers. "So. What's the plan, brother?"

Lev leaned against the fireplace, his pale eyes calculating. "She's not just some stray, Kaz. You must have realized that by now. You know what she means to you."

I took a slow sip, letting the burn steady me. "It's impossible. But I know she's a problem. One that I need to get rid of. One way or another."

Nikolai snorted. "A very pretty problem."

I shot him a glare. "This isn't a joke."

"Never said it was." He flipped the knife, catching it by the blade. "But let's not pretend you dragged her here just for revenge. Your wolf's been pacing since you caught her scent. You know she’s your mate. Your wolf won't let you let her go that easily."

My grip tightened on the glass.

Lev pushed off the mantel, his voice clinical. "I could smell her, she's just like us, but different. Her bloodline is rare. Possibly extinct, except for her. She's a Blondeau. Her touch is lethal to most Alphas, yet we can handle her without any consequences. That's not a coincidence. You don’t discard such things easily."

Nikolai grinned. "Maybe fate's got a sense of humor."

I set the glass down hard. "Fate doesn't erase the past. Her father slaughtered our own family. Cut them down like animals in their own bed. How could she be my mate?!" The memory twisted in my chest, sharp as a blade. "Our mother was pregnant when he killed her. Did you forget that?"

The room went quiet.

Nikolai's smirk faded. Lev's fingers stilled on his medical tablet.

"I haven't forgotten," Nikolai said quietly. "But that girl didn't wield the knife. She was a child when it happened, why should she take the blame for that?”

"No. She just lived while our own sister didn't." I turned to the window, watching the moon rise over the estate. "I’m rejecting her. I won't keep her. I don't want to be associated with her or her family."

Lev adjusted his glasses. "At least wait until Dimitri returns. He should have a say."

Nikolai rolled his eyes. "Since when does the Silent Shadow care about pack politics? Dimitri comes and goes as he pleases. Besides, I doubt he'll care about something like this."

“You really think he’d be interested in the fact that Kaz has a mate?”

"No, he won't. But he cares about our survival," Lev countered. "And if she is as valuable as I suspect, letting her go could be…”

The door burst open.

Dimitri stood in the threshold, his black combat gear streaked with blood. His ice blue eyes locked onto mine, and for the first time in almost two years, I saw urgency in his gaze.

"We have incoming," he said, voice rough. "The Malhorn pack. Twenty of their strongest. They'll be here in at least ten minutes."

Nikolai was on his feet in an instant. "An attack?! What the hell do they want?"

Dimitri's jaw clenched. "They were tailing you since you left the club, because of the woman you brought here this afternoon."

His sentence hung in the air like smoke.

I stepped forward. "Explain."

Dimitri pulled a bloodstained file from his jacket and tossed it onto the desk. "I looked into her. They've been tracking her for at least two years. They were supposed to catch her in the club using Maddox, but you intercepted and ruined their mission. They will fight anyone and anything for her.”

“She's not just some Omega, she's a Blood Moon Bride. The only one for this century."

Lev snatched up the file, his eyes scanning the pages rapidly. "This can't be right..."

Nikolai peered over his shoulder. "Now what the fuck is a Blood Moon Bride?"

"They are rarest of werewolves," Lev murmured. "They’re only female. Appearing once in a few centuries to strengthen bloodlines. Her blood can awaken dormant powers in Alphas. Strengthen packs. Cure curses." His gaze flicked to me. "No wonder she doesn't burn us. Our bond with her, it's not just fate. It's survival."

Dimitri crossed his arms. “Malhorn must already know. You should know her blood is just as valuable too. He’ll probably want to slit her throat and bleed her dry.”

A snarl ripped from my chest before I could stop it.

Nikolai whistled. "Well, shit. Guess we're keeping her after all."

I rounded the desk. "Are you sure about this Dimitri? You know she's a Blondeau right? Her father killed our family."

"I never lie Kaz. I know who she is and I did my research."

Lev snapped the file shut. "If Malhorn gets his hands on her, you know he’ll never let her go. We need to move her. Now."

Dimitri nodded. "Safe house in the mountains? She could hide out there for a few months till all of this blows over."

"No." The word left my lips before I could think. "She stays with me."

Nikolai raised an eyebrow. "Thought you didn't want her? Few minutes ago you were planning on rejecting her as your mate.”

"I don't want her." I met his gaze squarely. "But I won't let her die by someone else’s hand. I should be doing her that favour.”

A slow smile spread across Nikolai's face. "How noble of you."

Lev sighed. "This is a terrible idea."

Dimitri simply nodded and turned for the door. "I'll secure the perimeter."

As he left, Nikolai clapped me on the shoulder. "Cheer up, brother. Maybe she'll stab you in your sleep."

I grabbed his wrist, squeezing hard enough to make him wince. "Stay away from her."

His grin never faltered. "Make me."

Lev pinched the bridge of his nose. "Children, please. We have assassins to kill."

I released Nikolai with a shove. "Ready yourselves. We move in five."

As they filed out, I turned back to the window, my reflection fractured in the glass.

Somewhere in this house, a woman who should be dead waited.

And I was about to fight a war to keep her alive.