Chapter 8

Nyra’s POV

Mate!

The word echoed violently inside my head.

My wolf surged so suddenly I nearly staggered backwards. Warmth rushed through my veins, spreading into every corner of my body like fire after years of endless cold.

For seven years, my wolf had been weak and silent now she felt alive.

My breath caught in my throat as I stared at the man walking toward me.

It was him. The man who carried me out of the Blood Moon explosion. The man whose arms felt safer than anything I had known in two lifetimes.

The closer he came, the stronger the pull became. His smoky scent wrapped around me completely until all I could smell was him.

My pulse pounded violently. No… This wasn’t possible. I already had a mate. Or perhaps I used to.

Around us, the whispers had completely died. Everyone was staring.

The man stopped a few feet away from me, his dark eyes locked onto mine with terrifying intensity.

He looked the same as I remembered from that night. Tall, broad shoulders, dark hair falling slightly over cold unreadable eyes.

There was something dangerous about him, something sharp and untamed that made him stand out even among powerful Alphas.

My wolf whimpered softly inside me.

Mine.

I sucked in a shaky breath as Cassian suddenly stepped in front of me.

The movement broke whatever invisible tension had wrapped itself around us.

“What are you doing here, Kaelen?” Cassian asked coldly.

The atmosphere shifted instantly. His voice was calm but I knew him well enough to hear the possessiveness hidden beneath it.

Kaelen’s gaze finally moved away from me and settled lazily on Cassian.

“Nice to see you too, Cassian. I was invited.”

His deep voice sent another strange warmth through my chest.

Cassian’s jaw tightened. “You shouldn’t be here. I don't recall inviting you.”

Kaelen arched his brow slightly. “Interesting. I don’t remember needing your permission to attend council gatherings.”

Murmurs immediately spread through the crowd.

Council gathering? I frowned slightly.

Then I noticed the elders standing near the ceremonial platform watching everything carefully.

Cassian stepped closer to Kaelen, his Alpha aura pressing heavily against the surroundings.

“You’re an exiled rogue Alpha,” he said sharply. “This pack is not your territory.”

The whispers around us grew louder instantly.

“Rogue Alpha?”

“Wait… that’s Kaelen Blackthorne?”

“I thought he was banished years ago because he's the illegitimate Blackthorne?”

I stiffened. Illegitimate Blackthorne?

My eyes snapped toward Kaelen again. He carried the Blackthorne surname too?

Kaelen didn’t react to the whispers around him. Instead, his gaze drifted back to me calmly.

“Careful, Cassian,” he said lazily. “You sent out an invite inviting all and sundry to witness your mate-bonding ceremony. You invited me.”

A dangerous silence fell.

I saw Cassian’s expression darken immediately. Beside him, Isolde tightened her grip around his arm possessively.

“Cassian…” she whispered.

But his eyes never left Kaelen.

“You have no business near Nyra,” Cassian said coldly.

This time Kaelen laughed quietly. The sound was low and mocking.

“Interesting,” he murmured. “I thought you made it very clear you didn’t want her. You even left her in the explosion to die.”

Cassian went still. A muscle ticked sharply in his jaw. For some reason, seeing him angry no longer hurt me. If anything, it felt strangely satisfying.

People started whispering and Cassian cleared his throat eager to defend himself.

“I had to—”

But Isolde interrupted once again, “Blame me, I was the one who fainted so Cassian had to save me first.”

I scoffed, rolling my eyes, “Forever the drama queen, Isolde.”

“I’m sorry, sister, Cassian didn't mean to leave you in the fire, it's my fault,” Isolde said, suddenly pulling my hand.

“Get away from my daughter, you lunatic!” my mother snapped, shoving her away.

“That’s enough, Mary, today is Isolde’s day let's not make her unhappy,” my father snapped.

Cassian wrapped a protective hand around Isolde but he didn't stop staring at Kaelen or me.

Kaelen’s gaze slid toward me again and just like before, my wolf stirred restlessly, alive and awake.

The feeling was overwhelming. I pressed my fingers lightly against my chest trying to steady my breathing.

Kaelen noticed immediately and his expression shifted slightly, concern flickered briefly across his face before disappearing again.

“You’re pale,” he said quietly.

Cassian’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Nyra,” he said sharply.

I turned toward him slowly.

“What do you want?” I scowled.

“You should stay away from him,” Cassian said coldly. “Men like Kaelen are dangerous.”

“Careful,” Kaelen scoffed. “You’re embarrassing yourself in front of your guests.”

“Cassian…” Isolde whispered nervously, tugging at his arm again.

But Cassian ignored her completely. His eyes were fixed on me now and for the first time in two lifetimes, I saw fear in them as if he could feel me slipping completely beyond his reach.

Then suddenly Kaelen stepped forward. Before I could react, he reached for my hand slowly, giving me enough time to pull away if I wanted to.

I didn’t.

His large hand closed around mine gently as warmth exploded through the mate bond instantly.

My wolf practically purred while the crowd erupted into chaos.

“Impossible…”

“A second chance mate?”

“The Moon Goddess rejected Alpha Cassian?”

Kaelen lifted my hand calmly toward his lips then his dark gaze settled directly on Cassian.

“Looks like the Moon Goddess disagrees with your rejection, Alpha Cassian.”

His fingers tightened slightly around mine.

“I’m claiming Nyra Ashford as my mate.”