The Scent of the King

Kael did not sleep.

He remained beside the window long after the strange howl disappeared into the forest.

His knife was still in his hand.

His heartbeat had finally slowed, but his wolf had not.

It paced.

Restlessly.

Almost impatiently.

Mate.

Kael clenched his jaw.

"Stop saying that."

His wolf growled.

He is coming.

"I don't care."

You do.

Kael frowned.

"I don't."

His wolf went silent.

That silence somehow felt worse.

Kael pulled his shirt over the glowing Moon Seal and stepped away from the window.

He had spent eighteen years avoiding the very thing his wolf was now demanding.

A mate.

Growing up, Kael had heard countless stories about mating bonds.

Some were beautiful.

Others were horrifying.

A true mate bond was supposed to be a connection recognized by both wolves. Their scents became familiar. Their instincts pulled them toward each other. In some cases, the bond could eventually allow them to sense one another's emotions.

But a bond was not supposed to mean ownership.

At least, that was what Rowan had taught him.

Yet Kael had seen what happened to Omegas in kingdoms where that principle was ignored.

He had heard stories of powerful Alphas forcing Omegas into mating arrangements.

He had heard of Omegas being traded between noble families.

He had heard of young Omegas being locked away because their scents attracted influential Alphas.

Kael had sworn that would never happen to him.

He would rather die free than live as someone's possession.

A sudden noise interrupted his thoughts.

Tap.

Kael turned.

Nothing.

Tap.

The sound came again.

From the window.

He approached slowly.

The curtains moved in the wind.

Kael pushed them aside.

A black feather lay on the windowsill.

His stomach dropped.

He knew that symbol.

Rowan had shown it to him once when he was younger.

Shadow Hunters.

Kael immediately grabbed his cloak and rushed from the room.

Rowan was awake before Kael reached the main hall.

The older Alpha stood near the fireplace, sword already strapped to his waist.

His expression told Kael everything.

"You saw it."

Rowan looked at him.

"The feather?"

Kael nodded.

"How long have you known?"

"Minutes."

"Who are they?"

Rowan didn't answer.

Kael stepped closer.

"Who are the Shadow Hunters?"

"People who should never have found us."

"That's not what I asked."

Rowan looked toward the door.

"We need to leave."

Kael stared at him.

"Again?"

"Yes."

"I'm tired of running."

"So am I."

The honesty in Rowan's voice stopped him.

Kael had never heard Rowan sound afraid.

Not even when Kael had been a child.

"Then tell me the truth."

Rowan's eyes met his.

"You'll get it."

"When?"

"When we're somewhere safe."

Kael almost laughed.

"You've been saying that for eighteen years."

"And I've kept you alive for eighteen years."

Silence.

Then Rowan walked toward him.

"Kael, listen carefully."

His voice was unusually serious.

"Whatever happens tonight, you stay behind me."

"I can fight."

"I know."

"I've trained for years."

"I know."

"Then"

"Because the people coming aren't looking for an ordinary Omega."

Kael froze.

"What does that mean?"

Before Rowan could answer

A howl echoed through the settlement.

Then another.

The villagers began shouting.

Rowan drew his sword.

"They're here."

Hundreds of miles away, Lucien rode through the darkness.

His horse thundered along the mountain trail.

Darius rode beside him.

"My King, we should stop before the border."

"No."

"It's dangerous to enter Moonwood at night."

"I know."

"Then why are we continuing?"

Lucien didn't answer.

He didn't need to.

The scent was stronger now.

Moonflowers.

Wild honey.

Fresh rain.

It drifted through the cold night air.

His wolf surged beneath his skin.

Closer.

Lucien tightened his grip on the reins.

For years, he'd believed that he controlled his wolf.

Tonight, he was beginning to realize that perhaps the wolf had been waiting for this moment longer than he had.

Darius glanced at him.

"You're feeling it."

Lucien looked at him.

"Feeling what?"

"The bond."

Lucien's expression hardened.

Darius sighed.

"I may be a Beta, but I'm not blind."

Lucien looked ahead.

"I haven't met him."

"But your wolf knows him."

"Apparently."

Darius was quiet for a moment.

"What if he doesn't want the bond?"

Lucien's eyes remained on the path.

"Then I won't force him."

Darius studied him.

"Even if he's the Moon-Chosen?"

"Especially then."

The first arrow struck the wooden wall.

Kael ducked.

Another arrow flew past his head.

"Inside!" Rowan shouted.

People scattered through the settlement.

Alphas shifted into their wolf forms.

Betas grabbed weapons.

Even the Omegas who lived in Moonwood knew how to defend themselves.

Moonwood had survived precisely because its people refused to become helpless.

Kael stepped into the clearing.

His heart raced.

"How many?"

"Too many," Rowan said.

A masked figure emerged from the trees.

Then another.

Then another.

Their black armor carried no kingdom's insignia.

Only a silver fang symbol.

Kael frowned.

"Those aren't Shadow Hunters."

Rowan's face changed.

"No."

"Who are they?"

Rowan stared at the symbol.

"Silver Fang."

The name seemed to carry weight.

"What does that mean?"

"They were supposed to be extinct."

A masked warrior lifted his sword.

"Take the Omega alive."

Kael's blood ran cold.

Rowan stepped in front of him.

"You'll have to go through me."

The warriors charged.

Rowan shifted.

Bones cracked.

Fur erupted across his body.

Within seconds, a massive dark-gray wolf stood between Kael and the attackers.

Kael had seen Rowan shift countless times.

But tonight was different.

His Alpha aura exploded through the clearing.

Several attackers staggered.

Kael felt his own wolf rise in response.

His body began changing.

His fingers lengthened.

His senses sharpened.

His wolf pushed forward.

Run.

Kael refused.

Fight.

He shifted.

A dark silver wolf emerged beneath the moonlight.

The attackers froze.

One whispered:

"The prophecy."

Kael lunged.

He collided with an enemy wolf, sending both of them rolling through the dirt.

His teeth caught the warrior's shoulder.

The wolf screamed.

Kael released him and spun.

Another attacker charged.

Kael dodged.

A blade cut his side.

Pain flashed through him.

He growled.

Then something happened.

The Moon Seal beneath his fur burned.

A pulse of silver energy erupted from his body.

The attacking wolf was thrown backward.

Everyone stopped.

Kael stared at his own paws.

What was that?

Rowan stared too.

His expression was one of pure shock.

"Kael..."

A distant roar answered.

Every wolf in the clearing turned toward the forest.

Something powerful was approaching.

The attackers seemed frightened.

One of them whispered:

"The Alpha King."

Lucien entered the clearing on horseback.

He didn't need to announce himself.

His presence did it for him.

The moment his boots touched the ground, his Alpha aura spread across the clearing.

Every wolf felt it.

Some lowered their heads.

Others backed away.

Lucien's crimson eyes scanned the battlefield.

Then

He smelled it.

The scent that had haunted him for days.

Moonflowers.

Wild honey.

Fresh rain.

His wolf exploded inside him.

Mate.

Lucien stopped breathing.

Across the clearing stood a dark silver wolf.

Their eyes met.

Amber.

Beautiful.

Defiant.

Lucien felt something inside him break open.

The world seemed to disappear.

The warriors.

The trees.

The blood.

Everything faded.

There was only him.

Only the Omega standing across the clearing.

Kael shifted back first.

His chest rose and fell rapidly.

Lucien couldn't look away.

Kael stared at him.

He knew immediately.

This was the Alpha from the scent.

The one his wolf had called mate.

Lucien took one step forward.

Kael immediately stepped back.

Lucien stopped.

That single movement told him everything.

Kael was afraid of being claimed.

And Lucien understood why.

He lowered his aura.

Then, deliberately, he took another step backward.

"I won't hurt you."

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"Who are you?"

Lucien held his gaze.

"Lucien."

He paused.

"King of Blackfang."

Kael's expression changed.

"You're the Alpha King?"

"Yes."

Kael glanced at Rowan.

Then back at Lucien.

"And you're here for me."

Lucien didn't lie.

"Yes."

Kael's jaw tightened.

"To claim me?"

Lucien's wolf growled at the question.

But Lucien forced it down.

"No."

The clearing went silent.

Kael looked genuinely surprised.

Lucien continued.

"I came because my wolf led me here."

He looked directly into Kael's eyes.

"But whatever this bond is..."

His voice softened.

"...you still have a choice."

Kael's Moon Seal suddenly began glowing.

So did something beneath Lucien's skin.

Silver light spread across his wrist.

Both wolves reacted.

The air seemed to tremble.

Somewhere in the forest, an ancient howl answered them.

And deep beneath Moonwood

something that had been sleeping for centuries opened its eyes.

The Moon Bond had awakened.