A Night Stained With Chains

Julia barely felt her legs as she walked back to the small servant’s room. Alan’s words echoed in her skull like a curse she couldn’t escape.

From tomorrow, you will warm my bed.

She had known he could be harsh. She had known grief could twist a heart. But she had never imagined the man chosen by the Moon Goddess would use their bond like a weapon.

How did everything go so wrong? How did love turn into this nightmare?

Inside her mind, Elara whimpered softly.

I can’t feel him the way we used to… the warmth is gone. All I feel is hurt.

Julia collapsed onto the narrow bed, pulling her knees to her chest.

“We can’t survive this,” she whispered into the empty room.

We have to, Elara replied weakly. We have no one left.

Her parents were locked in the dungeon. Her clan was gone. Mary lay in a coma. Alan had become a stranger consumed by hatred. Olivia watched her like a predator waiting for collapse.

Julia’s world had already ended.

Morning came too soon.

A sharp knock broke the silence.

Before Julia could react, Olivia entered without permission, eyes scanning her with disgust.

“Get up,” she said coldly. “The Alpha wants you in the training grounds.”

Julia blinked slowly. “Training grounds? Why would he—”

Olivia smirked. “Punishment.”

Her stomach dropped. “What now?”

Olivia leaned closer, voice dripping with satisfaction. “Alan wants to see how far you can be pushed before you break.”

Julia’s breath trembled. “He knows I’m still injured…”

“Oh, he knows.” Olivia’s smile widened. “That’s the point.”

The training grounds were already filled with warriors when Julia arrived.

Sparring. Shifting. Training.

But the moment she stepped onto the earth, silence spread like fire.

Hundreds of eyes turned toward her.

Whispers followed.

The traitor mate.

The one who hurt Mary.

The disgraced Luna.

Julia kept her head low, heart pounding.

Alan stood at the center.

Waiting.

Watching.

Cold as death.

“Julia will train today,” he announced.

Confusion rippled through the warriors.

Julia stepped forward hesitantly. “Alpha, I—”

“Silence.”

Her voice died instantly.

Alan walked slowly around her, his gaze unreadable.

“You are a wolf,” he said. “Act like one.”

“I can’t fight today,” she whispered. “I’m still hurt. I haven’t eaten. I—”

“I gave you an order.”

A warrior stepped forward—Markus, massive and silent.

A murmur spread through the crowd.

Julia’s breath caught. “Alan… he’ll kill me.”

“The rogues didn’t die when you attacked my sister,” Alan said flatly. “So you will survive this.”

The words struck harder than any blow.

“Alpha, please—”

“Begin.”

Markus hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward.

He didn’t want to hurt her.

But he obeyed.

The first strike hit her ribs.

Air left her lungs instantly.

The second hit her thigh, sending pain shooting through her body.

The third dropped her to her knees.

Gasps spread through the crowd.

Julia coughed, tasting blood.

Alan didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

“Get up,” he ordered.

She tried.

Failed.

Tried again.

Finally forcing herself upright, shaking violently.

Markus stepped back, horrified. “Julia, stop. I don’t want—”

“Finish it,” Alan said.

Markus froze.

Julia’s breath shook.

Then he lunged again.

She dodged once.

Twice.

Barely.

Then his fist struck her arm, sending her crashing into the dirt.

Pain exploded through her body.

Her vision blurred.

Elara whimpered inside her.

We can’t keep going…

We have to, Julia thought weakly.

Alan stepped closer.

“Sparring is over.”

Relief flickered through her broken body.

Until he said the next word.

“Shift.”

Julia froze. “No… I can’t. I’m injured. My wolf—”

“SHIFT.”

His Alpha aura slammed into her like a storm.

Her body shattered into transformation mid-resistance.

Bones cracked. Skin tore. Fur emerged painfully.

Elara cried out inside her, trying to protect them both.

Julia collapsed halfway through the shift, her wolf form trembling weakly on the ground.

The entire training field watched in silence.

Alan stared down at her.

Something flickered in his eyes.

For half a second.

Recognition.

Pain.

Connection.

Then it vanished.

“Pathetic,” he said.

Julia lifted her wolf eyes toward him—golden, trembling, broken.

Alan held her gaze.

“This,” he said coldly, “is the price of touching Mary.”

Something inside her cracked beyond repair.

Lucien stepped forward reluctantly.

“Take her back,” Alan ordered. “She will continue her duties tonight.”

Lucien clenched his jaw but obeyed.

As Julia was lifted from the ground, her wolf weak and trembling, Elara whispered faintly inside her mind.

He hates us…

Julia closed her eyes.

One day he’ll know the truth.

But as darkness crept into her vision, she whispered something she didn’t want to believe.

It might already be too late.