Chapter 2

ELARA

I had always wondered what it would feel like to meet my mate. People said it was beautiful, like finding the other half of your soul.

That your heart would know them before your mind could catch up. That everything would suddenly make sense. 

But when I looked into Lucius Blackthorne’s eyes and felt that pull, that spark deep in my chest, it didn’t feel like magic. It felt like a curse. The kind that wraps around your throat slowly and doesn’t let go.

After he walked away from me in the village, I stayed frozen in place for a long time. I didn’t even realize I had dropped the mop until Jorin came outside to ask if I was okay.  

"You're sure everything is fine?" He asked again.

"I am fine Jorin. I'm just tired." Of course I lied.

The next day, I didn’t see him. 

Or the day after that. 

But I could feel him. 

Watching. 

Pulling at me. Like a string tied to my chest, getting tighter and tighter. 

Then on the third night, he came. I had just laid down when I heard the door creak open.

I sat up fast, my heart pounding, and there he was. Lucius. Standing in the shadows of the shed like he belonged there. Like he belonged with me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice was shaking uncontrollably.

He stepped forward slowly, and locked his eyes with mine, “I came to see what kind of girl the Moon Goddess gave me.”

“You already said you didn’t want me.”

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t use you. I didn't even say the rejection words." 

Those words hit harder than a slap. My chest burned with shame and anger. I stood up, hugging myself. “I’m not a toy.”

He smiled, cold and cruel. “Then what are you, little wolf? You’re not in a pack. You don’t have your wolf. You’re nothing. But you’re still mine.”

I hated how my body reacted to his voice. How the bond pulled at me even now. He stepped closer, and I backed away until my back hit the wall. 

“I won’t go with you.” I looked up at him, forcing my voice to stay strong. 

He leaned down, his breath warm on my face. “You don’t get to decide that.”

Then everything happened so fast. He grabbed me, threw me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing, and walked out of the shed. I screamed. I kicked. I begged. No one helped me. No one ever did.

The ride to his pack was a blur. The guards at his gates didn’t even blink when he dragged me in. 

They looked at me like I was nothing. Like I didn’t matter. I was thrown into a room with stone walls and a soft bed. No windows. No voice to cry out with. That night, I cried until I couldn’t feel my face.

The next day someone came into the room and introduced herself as Lucius lover.

She was tall, graceful, and cruel. Everything about her screamed power. She smiled at me like she already owned me. Like she already won.

“You’re the cursed mate?” she said with a fake smile. “I expected someone prettier. He has a strange taste.”

I didn’t answer.

She stepped closer. “Did you think he’d leave me for you? He uses you because he can. You’re just a break from routine. Nothing more.”

I looked up at her, forcing my voice to come out steadily. “He rejected me. Why are you so scared of me then?”

Her smile faltered, just for a second. She grabbed my chin with her sharp nails, digging them into my skin. “Because he still looks at you. And I don’t share.”

From that day on, she made it her mission to make my life hell. She tripped me in the halls. Spit in my food. Called me names. And worst of all, she reminded me daily that no one would come for me. That I didn’t matter.

Lucius visited my room again the next night. This time, he wasn’t drunk. He was angry.

He stormed in, slammed the door shut behind him, and glared at me like I had done something wrong. “Why do you haunt my thoughts?” he snapped.

I stood up slowly, heart racing. “I don’t want to be here.”

“Then run,” he said, walking closer. “But know this—no matter where you go, I’ll find you. Because we’re bound. Even if I rejected you, I still feel it.”

“You want to break me,” I whispered. “But I’m already broken.”

Something shifted in his face then. His eyes softened. He reached out, fingers brushing my cheek. And just for a moment, his touch wasn’t cruel. It was gentle. Like he didn’t know what to do with me. Like he hated how much he wanted me.

But then, just as quickly, he shoved me back.

“You make me weak,” he hissed. “I should kill you.”

I stared at him, chest rising fast. “Then do it.”

He looked like he might. Then he turned and left without another word.

The next morning, I was having tea at the courtyard when Lilith found me again.

“You slept with him, didn’t you?”

“No.”

She slapped the tea cup from my hand and grabbed my wrist. “Liar.”

“I’d rather die than let him touch me.”

“Then why is he protecting you?” she hissed. “Why hasn’t he let me destroy you yet?”

I stared at her. “Ask him.”

Her eyes narrowed. Then with one flick of her wrist, she used her magic to slam me against the wall. I cried out, gasping for breath. She raised her hand to strike again—

“Enough.”

Lucius’ voice rang through the courtyard. He walked toward us slowly, his eyes locked on Lilith.

“She provoked me,” she said.

“She’s mine to break,” he said coldly. “Not yours.”

Lilith looked stunned. Then hurt. Then furious. She stormed off, her heels echoing on the stones.

Lucius didn’t speak to me. He didn’t check if I was okay. He just looked at me for a long moment, then turned and walked away.

That night, I didn’t cry.

But I didn’t sleep either.

Because something told me that this wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.

And if I wanted to survive, I had to stop hoping someone would save me.

Because no one was coming.

Not the Moon Goddess.

Not fate.

Not even my mate.