Chapter 6: The Luna's Claim

The walk back to the Blackwood packhouse was nothing like the first time.

Before, I had been a bleeding, broken omega draped over Kael’s arms, surrounded by hostile stares. Now, I walked on my own two feet, wrapped in Kael’s leather jacket, with the Alpha himself holding my hand.

The pack gathered in the main hall. Vera was standing near the front, her face a mask of complicated emotions. As I passed her, she didn't sneer. She didn't even look at me with hatred. Instead, she lowered her head, baring her neck in a gesture of absolute submission.

The rest of the pack followed. One by one, they dropped their gazes, bowing as we walked toward the staircase.

"Do you see that, Elara?" Kael murmured, his thumb tracing circles on the back of my hand. "They aren't bowing to me. They are bowing to you. You saved them from a war tonight."

"They were terrified of me," I whispered back.

"Good," Kael said, his voice hardening. "A Luna should be respected. Fear is a good starting point. Loyalty will come next."

He didn't stop at the guest room where I had woken up. He led me up another flight of stairs, down a long, quiet hallway, and pushed open a set of heavy oak double doors.

Kael’s bedroom was massive. A huge bed dominated the center of the room, draped in dark furs. A fire roared in the hearth, casting dancing shadows on the stone walls.

"It's late," he said, closing the door behind us. The click of the lock sounded deafening in the quiet room. "You need to rest. Your body is still healing from the awakening."

I stood by the fire, suddenly hyper-aware of the fact that I was wearing nothing but his shirt and his jacket. The mate bond, which had been a dull hum in the background, was now pulling tight, demanding my attention.

"Where will you sleep?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Kael walked toward me, his steps slow and deliberate. He stopped right in front of me, the heat from his body washing over me.

"Here," he said. "With you."

My breath caught. I looked up at him, meeting those piercing gold eyes. "I just got out of a bond, Kael. I'm not ready to—"

"I'm not asking for that," he interrupted softly. He reached up, his fingers gently brushing the hair away from my face. "I told you, Elara. I waited ten years for you. I can wait a little longer for you to trust me. But I will not let you out of my sight. Jason is stupid enough to try something desperate, and I won't risk your safety."

He leaned down, his face inches from mine. The scent of pine and snow filled my senses, making my wolf whine with pleasure.

"I just want to hold you," he murmured, his lips ghosting over mine. "I want to feel your heartbeat against my chest. I want to know that you are finally mine."

I should have pushed him away. I should have demanded my own space. But the pull of the mate bond was too strong, and the truth was, I didn't want to be alone. For the first time in my life, I felt safe.

I closed the distance between us, pressing my lips to his.

It wasn't a gentle kiss. It was a claiming. Kael growled low in his chest, his hands tangling in my hair as he deepened the kiss, plundering my mouth with a possessive, desperate hunger. I melted into him, my fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt. The bond between us flared to life, a golden thread tying our souls together.

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing hard.

"Sleep," Kael said, his voice rough with restraint.

He led me to the massive bed and pulled back the furs. I climbed in, and he slid in beside me, pulling me against his chest. His arms wrapped around me like a cage, but it was the safest cage I had ever known.

Just as my eyes closed, a sharp knock echoed through the room.

Kael stiffened, a low, dangerous growl vibrating in his chest. "What?"

The door cracked open, and Vera's voice filtered through, tight with urgency.

"Alpha. A messenger just arrived from the High Council. Alpha Jason has already filed a formal complaint. The Council is demanding an emergency summit in three days. They want to see the 'Silver Creek Abomination' for themselves. If she doesn't show, they will declare her a rogue and put a bounty on her head."

Kael's arms tightened around me, his body turning to solid stone.

"Let them try," he whispered.