Chapter 4

Karen’s POV

Flashbacks

The courtyard burned with torches, shadows flickering over accusing faces. My chest heaved as I stumbled into the chaos only to see her.

The previous Luna. Lifeless. Blood staining her pale dress.

“No…” My whisper barely left my lips before a shrill voice cut through the crowd.

“There! She did it!”

I spun. Nelissa my chambermaid, the one who had sworn loyalty to me was pointing at me, tears streaking her face. “I saw her slipping a vial into Luna Rose’s cup! She said the old Luna stood in her way!”

Gasps erupted. Wolves snarled. My knees nearly gave out.

“That’s a lie!” My voice cracked as I tried to move forward. “I would never….”

Another shout came from the Elder. His hand shot up, silencing the crowd. “Enough. You think we accuse you blindly?” His eyes gleamed with cold judgment.

He raised a crystal device, its surface shimmering to life. A projection flickered in the night air. My heart slammed against my ribs as the image came into focus me, cloaked, standing in the forest… speaking to rogues.

The crowd roared. Wolves bared their teeth.

“That’s not me!” I screamed, shaking my head violently. “It’s been altered someone set me up!”

“Lies,” the Elder spat. “The proof is here. You conspired against your pack. This is treason!”

The guards seized me before I could breathe. Iron cut into my wrists, dragging me to the ground. The crowd howled, spitting curses, their faces twisted with rage.

“Luna Karen of Blue Moon,” the Elder’s voice thundered, “you are guilty of the death of the previous Luna and treason against your pack.”

“No!” I screamed, but the sound vanished under their roars.

I searched the Alpha’s face Xavier’s face but found only coldness. Betrayal.

That was the night everything ended. The night my own people chained me, branding me a traitor and a murderer in one breath.

********

When I finished telling him, I tried to read Zaiden’s expression. Was he going to think I did it too? He was my only savior now I had nowhere else to go.

“I wasn’t expecting you to believe me,” I whispered, wiping my eyes as I stood. “I’ll leave right away. I don’t want to cause trouble. I never intended to.”

“Don’t you dare walk away from me.”

He yanked me back, hard enough that I stumbled into his chest. My gasp caught in my throat as his arms locked around me like steel bars. His body radiated heat, his scent wrapping around me, thick and intoxicating.

“Look at me,” he ordered.

I tried to resist, but his fingers slid under my chin, tilting it up until my gaze collided with his. His eyes were molten fire fierce, merciless pinning me in place.

“You think you can just run? After walking into my life like this?” His voice dropped, deep and commanding. “No, Karen.” His lips brushed mine as he growled, “You belong to me now. You are mine.”

My heart skipped at his claim. His words sank into me like claws, sending a shiver down my spine. I opened my mouth to deny it, but no words came only a shaky breath.

Then his mouth crashed against mine. It wasn’t gentle. It was a storm fierce and demanding. His lips moved with punishing force, his teeth grazing my lower lip until a whimper slipped out. The sound only made him tighten his hold, pulling me flush against his chest.

My hands trembled as I clutched his shirt, torn between shoving him away and dragging him closer. My body betrayed me, melting into him even as my mind screamed no.

The kiss deepened, his tongue claiming mine, relentless, leaving no space for doubt. Heat flared between us, raw and consuming.

When he finally tore his mouth from mine, he didn’t move far. His lips hovered against mine, his breath hot and ragged.

“You’re not leaving,” he whispered darkly, his hand sliding possessively to the small of my back, pressing me closer. “Not tonight. Not ever.”

His lips claimed mine again, raw and unyielding. For a heartbeat, I melted my wolf whining with joy, clawing to submit. Heat rushed through me, every nerve on fire.

He’s ours, Sally whispered, desperate. Don’t fight it. Don’t you feel it?

But that’s when it happened. The burn in my chest twisted into something darker. The phantom sting of silver chains seared my wrists. Xavier’s cruel laugh echoed in my ears. My lungs locked up, panic ripping through me.

“No…” I gasped, wrenching against Zaiden’s grip. My body trembled not from desire this time, but from fear.

He leaned in closer, pinning me with his heat, his scent, his power. Too much.

My wolf howled in protest as I shoved hard against his chest, breaking the kiss. My voice cracked. “I can’t don’t touch me!”

I spun toward the door, desperate to escape the pull he had on me but Zaiden was faster. His hand clamped around my wrist, yanking me back until my spine hit the cold wall. My breath caught, my chest heaving against his.

“Let me go,” I snapped, though my voice betrayed me, trembling.

His eyes darkened, wolf burning through them. “No.” His tone was a low growl, vibrating through my bones. “You can fight me, deny me, curse me… but it doesn’t change a damn thing.”

“W-what thing?” I stammered, though I already knew.

He leaned closer, his lips brushing my ear, his scent drowning me. “That you’re mine.”

My heart stuttered. My knees weakened. His hand slid up, pinning mine above my head, while the other cupped my jaw, tilting my face to his. My pulse thundered when his mouth hovered over mine so close I could taste the heat of him.

“You belong to me now, little Luna,” he murmured, voice rough, claiming. “And nothing not your past, not your lies, not even your fear will change that.”

Before I could breathe a protest, his lips crushed against mine. Fierce. Possessive. A kiss that felt like a brand. My wolf whimpered in surr

ender, while my human side screamed at me to resist. But moon goddess help me… I couldn’t.