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Selene stood frozen in the dimly lit study, the air heavy with the scent of leather and alpha musk.
Kael’s piercing emerald eyes bore into her, his gaze a storm of barely restrained fury. Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum and her palms sweated.
The memory of her dance with Kieran at the ball—his possessive grip, the heat of his breath against her ear—still lingered on her skin, a dangerous secret she couldn’t shake.
She gulped, her throat tight, and she darted a nervous glance at the man who was once her fated mate. Never was. But Kael wasn’t hers anymore. He never truly had been.
Not with Lyra, his chosen mate, draped across his lap like a queen claiming her throne.
Lyra’s red lips curved into a smug smile, her fingers tracing lazy circles on Kael’s chest as she stared at Selene with thinly veiled disdain. Lyra always did that whenever kael wanted to see Selene or if they’d ere alone for some political reasons.
Lyra always tried to show Selene her place. To show that she was the queen that selene could never be.
It broke her heart.
It was reminder of her position in Karl’s world. Selene’s heart twisted, but she forced herself to stand taller, even as Kael’s anger crackled like a live wire between them.
She did not want this all to hurt her anymore. It’s been happening for years so why was Selene not over this all yet ? But what could she even do? He was the only one she could look at as a man. He was her mate but ……
“What did you talk with him?” Kael’s voice was low, each word edged with a growl that made her wolf whimper inside her.
Selene gasped. A soft sigh escaping her lips and her lips parted, but no sound came. Her heart raced, torn between the truth and the risk of igniting Kael’s wrath further.
Should she tell him about Kieran’s whispered invitation to dinner, the way his dark eyes had claimed her as if she were already his? Before she could decide what to answer, Kael’s fist slammed onto the oak desk, the sound reverberating through the room like a thunderclap.
“I sent Brian to you,” he snarled, his eyes flashing with betrayal. “Why would you fucking let another man touch you?”
Selene’s breath hitched, a pang of defiance cutting through her fear. Karl’s loud outburst scared her.
Brian, Kael’s loyal beta, had no claim to her. His touch, offered under the guise of protection, had felt like an intrusion. But Kieran… Kieran was different.
Different now.
Whether she wanted it or not, his mark pulsed beneath her skin, a dark tether that named him her mate. He wasn’t just another man—he was her curse, her destiny now.
She opened her mouth to speak, but Kael’s voice wasn’t the one that broke the silence.
“Don’t you think Alpha Kieran is taking an interest in Selene?” Lyra purred, her tone dripping with malice.
She leaned closer to Kael, her crimson nails grazing his jaw.
“The ruthless alpha of Shadow Claw has never danced, never been seen close to anyone in public. Maybe he wants to fuck you, Selene—”
Kael’s fist crashed onto the desk again, the force rattling the crystal decanter nearby.
“Do not fucking let those words out of your mouth again,” he roared, his dominance flooding the room like a tidal wave.
Lyra flinched, her smug facade cracking, and Selene’s eyes widened. Kael’s outburst on Lyra was …… a shock. Kael had never spoken to Lyra like that—never let his control slip in her presence. The air grew thick, charged with his fury, and Selene’s pulse pounded in her ears.
Kael’s gaze snapped back to Selene, pinning her in place. My body trembled slightly as I avoided his fuming gaze.
“Selene,” he said, his voice quieter now but no less dangerous. “Speak.”
Her throat tightened, but she forced the words out, her voice barely above a whisper. “H-he didn’t say anything. He just… invited me for dinner.”
Lyra’s frown was immediate, her eyes narrowing.
“Why would he invite you for dinner alone?” she spat, rising from Kael’s lap to stalk closer. “It’s clear. He wants this bitch—”
“Enough!” Kael’s snarl cut her off, but his eyes never left Selene.
A slow, unsettling smirk curled his lips, and the sight sent a chill down Selene’s spine.
“If he wants a dinner,” he said, his voice deceptively calm, “you’ll have dinner with him. But… it’s going to be a dinner night he never imagined.”
Selene’s stomach twisted, a sense of dread settling over her.
Kael’s words carried a hidden edge, a plan forming behind his calculating gaze. Of course kael would never agree to something which did not benefit him.
His frustration was palpable, etched into the hard lines of his jaw, but why? Why did her dance with Kieran bother him so deeply when Lyra sat in his arms, her scent mingling with his? The questions swirled, unanswered, as Selene excused herself, her heart heavy with unease.
Later that evening, Selene stepped into the pack’s secluded garden, the moonlight casting silver shadows across the roses and ivy.
Kieran had sent Lucas, his stoic beta, to escort her, and she’d followed in silence, her nerves fraying with every step.
Her silver gown shimmered under the moon’s glow, her long hair dancing in the cool breeze, and her blue eyes sparkled with a mix of fear and defiance.
She looked like a vision, a Luna carved from starlight, but inside, her heart pounded like a trapped bird.
Her mind was filled with thoughts of what kael was plotting. Was he gonna hurt Kieran ? The thought made her Chest to clench as she fought with her own overwhelming emotions for him.
The garden opened into a clearing, and there he was—Kieran.
His towering figure stood beneath an ancient oak, his broad back to her, the black fabric of his shirt stretched taut across his shoulders.
Her breath caught, her mind blanking as her wolf stirred, drawn to the raw power radiating from him. As soon as she stepped inside, He turned, and his dark eyes locked onto her instantly, burning with an intensity that made her knees weak.
She froze, unable to look away, yet too afraid to meet his gaze fully.
Lucas bowed slightly. “I’ll take my leave, Luna,” he said, his voice formal, before vanishing into the shadows.
Selene’s heart skipped as Kieran stepped forward, closing the distance with predatory grace. His one step was big enough to reach closer to her in three steps.
She took a hesitant step, then another, her hands trembling at her sides.
The cold wind making her shiver. He moved faster, erasing the space between them in a heartbeat, his presence overwhelming.
She stopped, her breath shallow, and then—without warning—his arm hooked under her hips, lifting her effortlessly off the ground.
A gasp tore from her lips as she clutched his shoulders, her fingers digging into the hard muscle beneath his shirt. Her eyes widened, finally meeting his, and the raw hunger in his gaze stole her breath.
His smirk was slow, dangerous, a wolf savoring his prey.
“Don’t avoid looking at me,” he murmured, his voice a low growl that vibrated through her. “It drives me crazy.”
Her grip tightened, her body pressed against his, and the mark on her chest pulsed, a traitor to her racing heart.
The garden, the moonlight, the world—it all faded, leaving only Kieran’s heat, his scent, and the undeniable pull of the bond she couldn’t escape.
...The moon hung low in the night sky, bathing the pack’s secluded garden in a silver glow. My heart pounded as Kieran held me aloft, his arm firm beneath my hips. My body pressed against his unyielding frame. My fingers gripped his shoulders, the hard planes of muscle grounding me even as my mind spiraled. A few of my hair strands brushing against his cheeks. His dark burning eyes burned into mine, a smirk playing on his lips, and the mark on my chest pulsed, a traitor to my resolve.“P-put me down,” I stammered, my voice low and soft, barely a murmur against the night air. The words felt fragile, swallowed by the weight of his presence. I could not seem to do anything. I wanted to resist but I also did not want to push him away. Kieran’s smirk widened, a glint of mischief dancing in his gaze. “What’s that, little Luna?” he teased, his voice a deep rumble that sent a shiver down my spine. “You’re trembling. Is it me… or something else?” He tilted his head, his breath grazing
...Anger filled Selena’s whole body as she clenched her fists tightly, so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her nails digging in the sole of her palm. Her gorgeous face was filled with mixture of sweat as tears dripped down her cheeks. Disgust plastered on her face as she tightly shut her eyes at the scene in front of her. Her chest heavy with pain and rage and she felt like getting stabbed to death. The pain was unbearable. Hot, loud moans filled the air as a muscular hunky guy fucked a red-head woman while kissing her passionately that made the woman quiver with the intense pleasure. Selene wanted nothing but to just leave and just vanish but she couldn’t dare. She would not. The man pushed the girl down onto the mattress , pushing her head into the soft sheets while thrusting relentlessly. The man looked at Selene whose tears fell like crystals. Pretty beads of water. That man was non other than …… her man. Her mate. The Alpha. And that woman was non other than hi
...A whimper escaped Selene’s lips as she slowly blinked open her eyes. She could not understand the dream she had. A wet dream to be specific. She never had a wet dream. Never ever as she felt it against her own principles. She would never touch alcohol. And now it was the first time she did, she had such a dirty dream. She slowly rubbed her eyes but a sharp throbbing pain in her head made her groan. She held her head and mentally scolded herself to drink when she never did and when she couldn’t handle after the first drink she had. All of a sudden, her eyes flew open and her lips parted in shock as the memories of last night came crashing down. She had drunk to such an extent that she couldn’t control herself and …… she met a stranger and she bit his thumb and then …… made the move- “ don’t regret “The man’s words rung in her ears as she tried to remember what happened last night. “ I wont “She whispered back as he rubbed his face in her bare chest taking in her scent. A
...Kieran sat on the couch dressed in a black suit. It only had been a few hours since with that blue eyed goddess but he was already losing his mind. He ruffled his perfectly styled dark hair and let out a deep annoyed growl. He had never been with a woman. Never touched a woman because he knew they craved his body, his power. They wanted to rule him but what he did last night, it was something different. He had let that girl come close and not just that, he himself walked to her. “ fuck! “He remembered how gorgeous she looked in a floral white dress when she walked inside the bar. She was beautiful and his eyes were fixated on her. He watched as she cried sitting near the counter, drinking even though she could not handle a single shot. He couldn’t shake off the softness of her cheek when he had grazed her for the first time. When she bit his thumb like a ferocious kitten. She was not marked and that excited him. Excited to claim her, own her, break her. He wanted to be the
...Selene’s eyes widened and her breath catching as a deep, velvet voice slithered into her mind. “Again.”The single word echoed, dark and possessive, sending a shiver racing down her spine. She could not believe it. Her heart pounded, a wild drumbeat in her chest, as the realization hit her like a tidal wave. Kieran—Alpha of the Shadow Claw pack—was mind-linking with her. That sacred connection was meant for mates… or those bound by pack and proximity. But she wasn’t his mate. She wasn’t part of his cursed pack. So how…? Her blue orbs quivered. They showed fear, panic. Kieran’s eyes ferociously scanned her state and something erupted inside his chest. She swallowed the lump in her throat and her pulse roaring in her ears. She could not come to a conclusion of whatever this was happening. The grand hall of the packhouse buzzed with tension, the air thick with the scent of pine and alpha pheromones. Everyone present, had eyes on them now specifically on Kieran who was the cen
...Selene was in the corner of the grand hall, her back was pressed against the cool stone wall, as if it could anchor her racing thoughts. The party was going on perfectly but she could not seem to enjoy it at all even though it was rare to have such grand functions in the pack. The air was thick with the scent of pine, wine, and the musky undertones of the gathered werewolf packs, their voices a low hum of power and tension. Her heart pounded, a relentless beat echoing in her chest. She could not seem to focus on anything. Her mind was a whirlpool of unfamiliar emotions. She had always wanted a mate. To be marked so she would not be looked down in the pack and now She was marked—finally claimed—but the truth twisted like a knife: it wasn’t Kael’s mark burning on her skin. It was Kieran’s. Alpha Kieran, the cursed beast. The realization sent a shiver through her, equal parts thrill and dread. She was …… trapped …… in her own guilt and happiness. She would not be called mate
...The moon hung low in the night sky, bathing the pack’s secluded garden in a silver glow. My heart pounded as Kieran held me aloft, his arm firm beneath my hips. My body pressed against his unyielding frame. My fingers gripped his shoulders, the hard planes of muscle grounding me even as my mind spiraled. A few of my hair strands brushing against his cheeks. His dark burning eyes burned into mine, a smirk playing on his lips, and the mark on my chest pulsed, a traitor to my resolve.“P-put me down,” I stammered, my voice low and soft, barely a murmur against the night air. The words felt fragile, swallowed by the weight of his presence. I could not seem to do anything. I wanted to resist but I also did not want to push him away. Kieran’s smirk widened, a glint of mischief dancing in his gaze. “What’s that, little Luna?” he teased, his voice a deep rumble that sent a shiver down my spine. “You’re trembling. Is it me… or something else?” He tilted his head, his breath grazing
...Selene stood frozen in the dimly lit study, the air heavy with the scent of leather and alpha musk. Kael’s piercing emerald eyes bore into her, his gaze a storm of barely restrained fury. Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum and her palms sweated. The memory of her dance with Kieran at the ball—his possessive grip, the heat of his breath against her ear—still lingered on her skin, a dangerous secret she couldn’t shake. She gulped, her throat tight, and she darted a nervous glance at the man who was once her fated mate. Never was. But Kael wasn’t hers anymore. He never truly had been. Not with Lyra, his chosen mate, draped across his lap like a queen claiming her throne.Lyra’s red lips curved into a smug smile, her fingers tracing lazy circles on Kael’s chest as she stared at Selene with thinly veiled disdain. Lyra always did that whenever kael wanted to see Selene or if they’d ere alone for some political reasons. Lyra always tried to show Selene her place. To show t
...Selene was in the corner of the grand hall, her back was pressed against the cool stone wall, as if it could anchor her racing thoughts. The party was going on perfectly but she could not seem to enjoy it at all even though it was rare to have such grand functions in the pack. The air was thick with the scent of pine, wine, and the musky undertones of the gathered werewolf packs, their voices a low hum of power and tension. Her heart pounded, a relentless beat echoing in her chest. She could not seem to focus on anything. Her mind was a whirlpool of unfamiliar emotions. She had always wanted a mate. To be marked so she would not be looked down in the pack and now She was marked—finally claimed—but the truth twisted like a knife: it wasn’t Kael’s mark burning on her skin. It was Kieran’s. Alpha Kieran, the cursed beast. The realization sent a shiver through her, equal parts thrill and dread. She was …… trapped …… in her own guilt and happiness. She would not be called mate
...Selene’s eyes widened and her breath catching as a deep, velvet voice slithered into her mind. “Again.”The single word echoed, dark and possessive, sending a shiver racing down her spine. She could not believe it. Her heart pounded, a wild drumbeat in her chest, as the realization hit her like a tidal wave. Kieran—Alpha of the Shadow Claw pack—was mind-linking with her. That sacred connection was meant for mates… or those bound by pack and proximity. But she wasn’t his mate. She wasn’t part of his cursed pack. So how…? Her blue orbs quivered. They showed fear, panic. Kieran’s eyes ferociously scanned her state and something erupted inside his chest. She swallowed the lump in her throat and her pulse roaring in her ears. She could not come to a conclusion of whatever this was happening. The grand hall of the packhouse buzzed with tension, the air thick with the scent of pine and alpha pheromones. Everyone present, had eyes on them now specifically on Kieran who was the cen
...Kieran sat on the couch dressed in a black suit. It only had been a few hours since with that blue eyed goddess but he was already losing his mind. He ruffled his perfectly styled dark hair and let out a deep annoyed growl. He had never been with a woman. Never touched a woman because he knew they craved his body, his power. They wanted to rule him but what he did last night, it was something different. He had let that girl come close and not just that, he himself walked to her. “ fuck! “He remembered how gorgeous she looked in a floral white dress when she walked inside the bar. She was beautiful and his eyes were fixated on her. He watched as she cried sitting near the counter, drinking even though she could not handle a single shot. He couldn’t shake off the softness of her cheek when he had grazed her for the first time. When she bit his thumb like a ferocious kitten. She was not marked and that excited him. Excited to claim her, own her, break her. He wanted to be the
...A whimper escaped Selene’s lips as she slowly blinked open her eyes. She could not understand the dream she had. A wet dream to be specific. She never had a wet dream. Never ever as she felt it against her own principles. She would never touch alcohol. And now it was the first time she did, she had such a dirty dream. She slowly rubbed her eyes but a sharp throbbing pain in her head made her groan. She held her head and mentally scolded herself to drink when she never did and when she couldn’t handle after the first drink she had. All of a sudden, her eyes flew open and her lips parted in shock as the memories of last night came crashing down. She had drunk to such an extent that she couldn’t control herself and …… she met a stranger and she bit his thumb and then …… made the move- “ don’t regret “The man’s words rung in her ears as she tried to remember what happened last night. “ I wont “She whispered back as he rubbed his face in her bare chest taking in her scent. A
...Anger filled Selena’s whole body as she clenched her fists tightly, so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her nails digging in the sole of her palm. Her gorgeous face was filled with mixture of sweat as tears dripped down her cheeks. Disgust plastered on her face as she tightly shut her eyes at the scene in front of her. Her chest heavy with pain and rage and she felt like getting stabbed to death. The pain was unbearable. Hot, loud moans filled the air as a muscular hunky guy fucked a red-head woman while kissing her passionately that made the woman quiver with the intense pleasure. Selene wanted nothing but to just leave and just vanish but she couldn’t dare. She would not. The man pushed the girl down onto the mattress , pushing her head into the soft sheets while thrusting relentlessly. The man looked at Selene whose tears fell like crystals. Pretty beads of water. That man was non other than …… her man. Her mate. The Alpha. And that woman was non other than hi