Chapter 4

KAELAN’S POV

She's my mate. My fated mate. The bond snapped in place the moment she bumped into me.

I was looking at her as she closed her eyes and pouted her lips slightly. Was she expecting me to kiss her? I smiled despite myself and leaned in, whispering into her ear, my breath brushing against her skin. “Because you’re my mate.”

She opened her eyes quickly, surprise flashing across her face. Her  eyes were still a little red from crying earlier, but they held a spark that intrigued me. She cleared her throat, shifting in the seat beside me. “W… what do you mean? We’ve only just met.”

I kept my expression calm, though the bond was already pulling at me. “You don’t feel it? The mate bond?”

Seris’s eyes widened, her hair falling slightly over one shoulder as she stared at me. “Wait! Like… we’re fated mates?”

I nodded once, keeping my voice low and steady. “The Moon Goddess doesn’t make mistakes. When you crashed into me, everything locked into place.

She looked genuinely shocked, her body tensing beside me. I could smell the faint scent of chocolate still on her, mixed with her own warm, inviting aroma that made my wolf stir dangerously close to the surface. I gripped the edge of the seat to stay in control. The curse made moments like this risky. One loss of restraint and I could bleed out or worse, hurt her.

“I… I don’t understand,” Seris whispered, looking out the window. “Cassian just rejected me tonight. Publicly. He called me weak, human, useless. And now you’re saying I’m your fated mate? This has to be some kind of joke.”

“It’s not a joke.” My tone came out rougher than I intended. I turned to face her fully, my eyes meeting hers. The bond hummed stronger, letting me sense her. The way she was looking at me tugged at the parts of me I kept buried. “He doesn’t deserve you. No one in that pack does.”

Seris bit her lip, her fingers twisting in her lap. I fought the urge to reach out and stop her. Touching her would only make the pull worse, especially with the full moon approaching soon. But I wouldn’t mark her. Not yet.

We drove in silence for a while. I looked at her. She was beautiful. She acted nothing like the polished women who usually circled me. Lira included. The thought of Lira made my jaw clench. She wouldn’t take this well.

“Why me, really?” Seris asked again, turning back to me. Her voice had an edge now. “You could have chosen any strong omega from Silvermare. Vyctor was practically throwing them at you.”

I gave a small smile. “Because the bond chose you. And I trust it more than pack politics. But I won’t lie to you, Seris. My life isn’t easy. I carry a… burden. It makes my wolf hard to control sometimes. I won’t force anything on you. You’ll have your own space in the mansion. But the bond will make proximity… intense.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and I felt a wave of her unwanted attraction echo back through the bond. Good.

The car finally passed through the grand gates of Moonsfang Pack territory. Mansions rose up among deep forests. This was my world. Filled with power, wealth, and constant threats. The car pulled up to the main mansion.

As we stepped out, I offered her my hand. She took it hesitantly, that familiar jolt shooting through both of us. I led her inside, the grand foyer with its polished floors and high ceilings making her eyes widen. Servants moved quietly, but I sensed the curiosity in the air. News of the new arrival would spread fast.

“Welcome to your new home,” I said quietly, watching her take it all in. She touched a vase on a side table lightly, like she was afraid to break something expensive.

Before I could show her to a room, heels clicked across the floor. Lira appeared from the hallway, tall and elegant with her red hair cascading down her back. Her curvy figure was wrapped in a silk dress that left little to the imagination. She had been waiting. Her jealous energy hit me immediately.

“Kaelan, darling,” she purred, gliding over and placing a hand on my arm possessively. Her eyes flicked to Seris with clear disdain. “Who is this? Another stray from the alliance meeting? You really brought a… human home?”

Seris stiffened beside me, but she didn’t shrink back. Good girl.

“This is Seris Varyes,” I said, my voice cold. I stepped slightly in front of her, shielding her from Lira’s glare. “My fated mate. She’ll be staying here. Permanently.”

Lira’s smile faltered, her eyes narrowing. “Fated mate? You can’t be serious.  She looks like she can barely handle pack life, let alone you and your… condition.”

The words stung more than they should. “Enough, Lira. Show respect. Or leave.”

Seris looked between us. I could sense her piecing things together.

I guided Seris away from Lira, toward the wing with private rooms. “Ignore her for now. She’s… complicated. My advisor’s daughter.”

As we walked down the hallway, the bond pulled tighter. Her scent wrapped around me, making my wolf pace. I stopped at the door to a spacious room overlooking the forest. “This is yours. Rest. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

Seris hesitated at the threshold, looking up at me. Her lips parted slightly, and that same pull from the car returned. I crowded her space just a little, my hand brushing her arm. The air thickened between us. I wanted to kiss her. To claim her. But the fear of hurting her stopped me.

She didn’t pull away. “Ser—”

Footsteps sounded down the hall cutting me off. Ryke appeared, his face serious. “Alpha, Ryan Grelff wants a word.”

Ryan. Willow’s father. My cunning advisor. Something in his timing felt off, but I pushed it down for now. I turned back to Seris, my eyes locking on hers. “Sleep. The bond will make things… clearer soon. Whether you want it or not.”