Chapter 2: The First Spark

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow across the forest clearing as Leora made her way back to the pack’s camp. T

he crisp night air carried the earthy scent of pine and damp leaves, a comforting backdrop to the storm raging inside her.

Her heart was still racing from the conversation with Kael. He had said they would get through the bond together, but the weight of his words settled uncomfortably in her chest.

What did that really mean?

For so long, Leora had watched Kael from a distance, seen the way his coldness kept everyone at arm's length. He was the alpha, the leader of the pack, and no one dared question him.

He was strong, imposing, and ruled with a quiet authority that demanded respect. But as they had spoken, there had been a flicker of something else in his eyes—a vulnerability, maybe, or just a glimmer of emotion. Leora wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Her thoughts spiraled as she walked, crunching fallen leaves beneath her boots. The pull of the mate bond coursed through her like a living force, coiled tightly around her chest.

It was equal parts intoxicating and suffocating, and every step she took seemed to heighten its intensity.

The truth was, she wasn’t prepared for this. The moment the bond had snapped into place on her seventeenth birthday, her life had shifted irreversibly.

Suddenly, she was tied to someone who was everything she wasn’t—strong, commanding, powerful in ways she could only dream of.

She had spent her entire life feeling small, powerless in a world full of wolves who were faster, stronger, and more capable than she would ever be.

And now she was supposed to be a Luna. The thought felt laughable. As the Luna, she was expected to be the balance to Kael’s power, to strengthen the pack and provide guidance.

Yet all she felt was weakness. She had no wolf to shift into, no gifts like the others. She wasn’t a fighter. She wasn’t a healer. She wasn’t even particularly good at blending into the pack; she had spent most of her life on its fringes, unnoticed and unremarkable.

How could someone like Kael want someone like me?

Her self-doubt whispered relentlessly, weaving through her mind like a venomous thread. She had seen the strength in Kael's eyes, the unyielding resolve that defined him.

She had watched him lead with a calm ruthlessness that made enemies tremble. And yet, as much as the bond tied them together, it also highlighted every insecurity she had about herself.

A sudden rustling behind her made her pause. Instinctively, she turned, her heart leaping into her throat. Standing there was Liam, his easy smile catching the moonlight.

“Leora,” he said warmly, his voice breaking the silence. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost. What’s going on? Did the alpha bite your head off already?”

She exhaled sharply, caught between a laugh and a sigh. “No. Nothing like that.”

“Then why the long face?” he asked, stepping closer. His hands were tucked into his pockets, his stance relaxed, as if he had all the time in the world. “You can talk to me, you know. I might not be as brooding and mysterious as Kael, but I’m a pretty good listener.”

Leora hesitated. Liam had always been kind to her, his charm disarming and genuine. He had a way of making people feel seen, even when they tried to hide in the background. But tonight, her emotions felt too raw, too tangled, to put into words.

“I don’t know what to do,” she admitted softly, the weight of her confession surprising even herself. She looked down at the ground, unable to meet his gaze. “Kael… he’s different. But I don’t know what that means for me. I don’t know what to do with these feelings. I’m not strong like him. I don’t have the power he does. How can I be his mate when I’m nothing like him?”

Liam’s expression softened, and he closed the distance between them, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Leora, you are strong. Maybe not in the same way Kael is, but you have strength. The strength to keep going, even when everything feels like it’s falling apart. That’s more than most wolves can say.”

She shook her head, her throat tightening. “But I’m not him,” she murmured. “I’m not an alpha. I can’t lead the pack. I don’t have his strength.”

“You don’t have to be him,” Liam said firmly. His hand lingered on her shoulder, grounding her. “You’re not meant to be a copy of Kael. You’re meant to be you. The pack doesn’t need another Kael. It needs Leora.”

She glanced up at him, her eyes searching his face. His sincerity was disarming, and for a moment, she allowed herself to believe his words. But the doubts were still there, lurking beneath the surface.

“I just feel so... lost,” she whispered. “This bond—it’s overwhelming. I can’t think straight when I’m near him. It’s like everything I thought I knew about myself is slipping away.”

Liam’s eyes softened even more, and he gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “You don’t have to figure it all out tonight, Leora. Bonds are messy. They take time. But you’re not alone in this, okay? And you don’t have to let it define you.”

She nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to the ground. His words were comforting, but they couldn’t erase the weight of her uncertainty.

The walk back to her cabin was slow. The forest seemed quieter now, the trees swaying gently under the light breeze. The pack’s campfire was still burning in the distance, casting flickering shadows across the clearing.

She could hear faint laughter from the others, their voices a reminder of the unity she felt so detached from.

Her cabin stood at the edge of the pack’s territory, small and unassuming. It wasn’t much, but it was hers. She pushed open the door and stepped inside, the familiar scent of cedarwood and lavender greeting her. The silence within these walls was usually a comfort, but tonight it felt heavy, oppressive.

She sank onto the edge of her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. The pull of the mate bond coursed through her like a heartbeat, steady and relentless.

No matter how much she tried to ignore it, it was always there, a constant reminder of the connection she couldn’t escape.

Why had the Moon Goddess chosen her? What purpose could she possibly serve as Kael’s mate?

Her mind wandered back to the way his eyes had softened earlier, just for a moment. There had been something unguarded in his expression, something that had made her breath catch.

Kael wasn’t just the cold, unyielding alpha she had always seen from afar. There was a depth to him, layers she couldn’t begin to understand.

But he had never given her a reason to believe he cared. Not really.

The howl of a lone wolf broke the stillness of the night, its mournful cry echoing through the forest. Leora shivered, pulling a blanket around her shoulders.

The sound was both haunting and comforting, a reminder of the wildness that bound them all.

Her chest tightened as the weight of her thoughts pressed down on her. She couldn’t escape the bond, couldn’t sever the tie that linked her to Kael. But the idea of stepping into the role of Luna, of standing beside him as his equal, felt impossible.

The firelight outside dimmed as the camp began to settle for the night. Leora remained by the window, staring out into the darkness. She didn’t know what the future held, but one thing was certain: she couldn’t keep running from the truth.

Kael was her mate.

And whether she liked it or not, the bond between them was only growing stronger.