The Night She Was Taken

The streets of Hill Town were quieter than usual that night. Raine Sinclair pulled her jacket tighter around her body as she stepped out of the small office building where she worked. The summer air was warm, but a strange chill followed her every step, like something unseen had decided to walk beside her.

She exhaled slowly.Another late shift. Another exhausting day. All she wanted was her small apartment, a warm shower, and silence.

Raine wasn’t special, not in the way people usually meant it. She had no idea she was being watched. No idea that her entire life was built on a lie older than she was.

As she crossed the empty parking lot, she paused.Something felt wrong. Too quiet. Even the distant sound of cars seemed muted, like the world was holding its breath.

Raine looked over her shoulder.Nothing. Still, the feeling didn’t leave. She quickened her steps. Behind her, in the shadow of a parked van, a man lowered his phone.

“She’s moving,” he said quietly. “Confirm the location.”

A voice crackled back. “Do not lose her.”

Raine reached her apartment building and let out a small sigh of relief. The lobby lights flickered as she stepped inside. She pressed the elevator button, tapping her foot impatiently.

She didn’t notice the man in the dark hoodie entering behind her. Didn’t notice when the elevator doors closed.Didn’t notice until it was too late.

A sharp sting hit her neck.Her breath caught. “What…” she turned, but her vision blurred instantly.

The man caught her before she fell. “Target secured,” he said.

ICE MOON PACK 

The Ice Moon Pack territory stretched endlessly beneath a silver sky. Cold winds swept across ancient trees as warriors trained under the watchful eyes of their Alpha heir.

Klaus Romano stood at the edge of the training grounds, unmoving. Power radiated from him even in silence.

Every wolf in the pack feared and respected him. Every she-wolf desired him. But none were chosen. Because Klaus Romano belonged to fate itself.

And fate had not yet given him permission to become Alpha. A heavy silence fell as the pack elder approached.

“The Moon Goddess has not changed her decree,” the elder said. Klaus’s jaw tightened.

“I don’t care about her decree.”

The elder didn’t flinch. “You must. The throne will not accept you without your mate.”

Klaus turned slowly, eyes glowing faint gold. “I’ve searched every pack.”

“And yet you have not found her,” the elder replied. A bitter silence followed.

Klaus had spent years preparing for leadership. He was stronger than most Alphas, more ruthless than his father, and more strategic than any warrior alive.

But none of it mattered. Not until he found her. His mate. The one the Moon Goddess had hidden from him. That night, Klaus walked alone into Scarlet Forest.

The trees there were older than any pack memory, twisted and sacred. He stopped in the center of the forest and removed a dagger. A forbidden ritual. Blood magic. Something only desperate Alphas used when destiny refused to obey.

Klaus sliced his palm open without hesitation. The blood hit the ground. And the forest reacted. Wind screamed through the trees. The sky darkened.

Klaus whispered, “Show me her.” The ground beneath him lit up with glowing silver symbols. Then….  A vision struck him.

A woman with dark hair and tired eyes her heartbeat was fragile she was surrounded by danger not a wolf and not in his world.

Human.Klaus’s eyes widened slightly. “She’s… not here.”The wind shifted violently. The Moon Goddess had hidden his mate in another world.

And she was in danger.

Hill Town — Later that night

Raine woke up in pain, Her head spun as she slowly opened her eyes. Darkness. Cold air. Chains. Her wrists were tied above her head in an abandoned warehouse. A single light bulb flickered above her, swinging slightly.

Her breath hitched.“What is this…?” Footsteps echoed.Slow. Calm. Controlled.A man stepped into the light. Michael Stone. Raine didn’t know his name yet. But she felt it instantly. Danger. 

“You’re finally awake,” he said calmly. Raine struggled. “Who are you? Why am I here?”

Michael tilted his head slightly. “You don’t know?”

Her heart raced. “I don’t know you!”

A small smile formed on his face, but it held no warmth. “Funny,” he said. “Because your father knew me very well.”

Raine froze. “My… father?”

Michael stepped closer. “Lewis Sinclair.”

The name hit her like a blow she couldn’t understand.

Raine shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. My father is dead.”

Michael crouched in front of her. “Dead men don’t erase debts.”

Raine’s breathing became uneven. “Please… I don’t know anything.”

Michael studied her face for a long moment. Then he stood. “You will suffer for what he did,” he said quietly. “Until I decide otherwise.”

Raine’s eyes widened in fear. “No…. wait!”

But Michael was already walking away.

Scarlet Forest — The same night

Klaus collapsed to one knee. The vision had torn through him violently. Pain is unlike anything physical. Because he had felt her fear. He had felt her suffering. And something inside him snapped.

His mate was in danger.Not just danger in captivity. A threat to her life. Klaus rose slowly, eyes glowing brighter than before.

“Find her,” he ordered his warriors through a mind link. “Now.”

But he already knew no search would be fast enough. He had seen enough. He would go himself. Even if it meant breaking every law of the Moon Goddess. Even if it meant war between worlds.

Klaus raised his hand and activated a second forbidden mark. A portal ritual. The air split open in front of him. Silver lightning tore through space. 

Behind him, Zane Wolfe appeared, alarmed. “Klaus, don’t—” But Klaus stepped forward anyway.

“I found her.” And then he disappeared into the human world.

Raine’s head dropped forward weakly. She was slipping in and out of consciousness. The door suddenly exploded open. A violent crash shook the entire building. Men screamed outside. Gunfire erupted.

 Raine lifted her head slightly, confused. “What… is happening?”Then she saw him.A man stepped through the smoke. Tall. Silent. Dangerous. Golden eyes. The air itself seemed to bend around him.

He looked at her immediately. And something inside him stilled. “There you are,” he said softly.

Raine blinked weakly. “Who… are you?”

Klaus walked toward her without hesitation. “You’re coming with me.”

Raine shook her head weakly. “I don’t understand?”But Klaus had already cut the chains with a single strike.

She collapsed forward. He caught her instantly. The moment their skin touched the bond ignited. Raine gasped.

Klaus froze.The world itself reacted.But there was no time to process it. Gunfire approached.

Klaus lifted her into his arms. And without another word  he opened a portal.

Raine’s last conscious sight was the warehouse collapsing behind them  and a world of silver light swallowing everything. Then darkness.