Chapter 1: Stolen Moon

The warehouse smelled like rust and old blood. I moved quickly through the shadows, hood low, heart hammering steady. This job had to work. The artifact was my last shot at breaking the curse that ate my family alive. I pictured their faces every night. Tonight, I must steal back from the bastards who took them.

Glass case dead ahead. I smashed it with the crowbar I carried. Alarms exploded everywhere. Red lights flashed. I grabbed the artifact. It was heavier than I expected, warm like living skin. No time to stare. I ran.

Shouts echoed behind me. “Intruder! Stop him!”

I burst out the back door and shifted on the fly. Bones snapped, fur ripped across my skin, and I hit the dirt as a wolf. The artifact stayed clenched tight in my jaws. Trees flew past in a black blur. The full moon hung heavy overhead, pulling at me, feeding the rage.

Headlights cut through the woods. They were already on me. I veered left, paws pounding dirt. My breath came hot. Adrenaline tasted like metal on my tongue.

A black SUV crashed through bushes ahead and blocked the path. Doors flew open. Four guys jumped out, guns drawn, eyes already glowing. The leader stepped forward. Tall bastard. Shoulders like he could carry a truck. Dark hair, sharper jaw. He moved like the night belonged to him.

“Drop the artifact, rogue,” he called out. Voice deep, used to being obeyed.

I skidded to a stop and set the relic down carefully. Then I charged at him.

We collided hard. He shifted fast, bigger wolf than me, silver-gray coat. We rolled across the ground, teeth snapping. I got my claws into his flank. He roared and slammed me sideways into a thick pine. Pain burst across my ribs. I tasted blood.

“You picked the wrong pack to rob,” he growled between snaps.

I twisted free and lunged again. “Your pack took everything from me first.”

Our bodies crashed together. Claws raked. Fur tore. He was strong, trained. I was desperate. I bit down on his shoulder. He yelped, then drove me into the dirt. His weight pinned me. Blood ran hot where our wounds touched. Mine and his, mixing.

That’s when the world cracked open.

Fire shot through my veins. Every nerve lit up. His scent slammed into me. Smoke, pine, something darker. Mate. The word hit like a truck. My body wanted him. My mind screamed no. I thrashed under him.

He froze too. Golden eyes wide. “What the fuck is this?”

“Get off me!” I snarled, shifting back to a human. Naked, bleeding, chest heaving. He shifted with me. Tall, muscled, blood streaking his side. We stared at each other on the ground.

“You feel it too,” I said, voice rough.

He grabbed my arm. Grip like iron. “Doesn’t matter. You’re coming with me.”

I swung at his face. He dodged, caught my wrist, and twisted. Pain flared up my arm. “Let go, asshole!”

“Name’s Eli. And you just stole from Shadowfang.” His eyes flicked to the artifact. “Hunters are already coming. You brought them right to us.”

Engine roars grew louder. More lights swept the trees. Gunshots cracked in the distance. Eli hauled me up. I headbutted him. Blood trickled from his nose.

“Son of a bitch,” he muttered, but he didn’t release me. Instead he dragged me toward the SUV. His driver leaned out. “Boss, we gotta move!”

I dug my heels in. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

Eli spun me around, slammed my back against the vehicle. Our faces were inches apart. The bond burned between us. Heat pooled low in my stomach. I hated how much I noticed his mouth, the line of his throat.

“You don’t have a choice,” he said, voice low. His breath brushed my skin.

Another gunshot. Closer this time. A bullet hit the SUV door. Eli cursed and shoved me inside. He climbed in after, body pressing me down on the seat as the driver floored it. Tires spun. We shot forward through the trees.

“Get the hell off,” I growled, elbowing him.

He stayed put, gun in hand, watching the rear. “Hunters don’t care who they kill. Stay down.”

The SUV bounced hard over the roots. I tasted blood in my mouth. “Why the fuck does it look like I want you? Is this some trick?”

Eli glanced down at me. Something raw crossed his face. “ Your blood’s mixed with mine. It’s the bond. Fated mates. Never asked for it either.”

I laughed, bitter. “Great. My mate’s the enemy.”

More vehicles joined the chase. Headlights filled the mirrors. Bullets pinged off metal. The driver swerved sharp. Eli’s weight shifted over me. His bare thigh pressed against mine. Skin on skin. The bond flared hotter.

“Faster!” Eli barked at the driver.

I bucked, trying to throw him off. “Let me out. I’ll take my chances.”

“No.” His hand gripped my shoulder. Not gentle. “You’re mine now. Whether we like it or not.”

I hated the way that word landed. Mine. Part of me wanted to bite him again. Different reason this time.

We tore through the forest. Branches scraped the sides. Another SUV rammed us from behind. Metal screamed. The impact threw us. Eli braced, arms caging me. For a second his face buried in my neck. I felt his heartbeat. Fast, like mine.

“Hold on,” he said against my skin.

I didn’t answer. Couldn’t. The bond pulled tighter with every second. Hate and need twisted together until I couldn’t tell them apart.

The chase stretched on. We broke out onto an old logging road. Moonlight poured down. Hunters gained. Eli rolled down the window and fired back. The shots cracked loud in the night.

One hunter vehicle flipped after he hit the tire. Cheers from the front seat. I twisted enough to see. Eli’s eyes met mine again.

“You fight dirty,” I said.

He smirked, quick and sharp. “You have no idea.”

Another ram. Our SUV skidded. The driver fought the wheel. Eli kept me pinned safe. His blood, still mixed with mine on our skin. The bond hummed louder.

We weren’t getting away clean. And whatever came next, this Alpha and I were stuck together. Whether it killed us or not.

I just hoped I survived long enough to figure out why my enemy felt like home.