KAEL’S POVDonika accepting me wholeheartedly as her mate wasn’t something I expected to happen immediately, but seeing her constantly pushing me away made me and Fenris down. Fenris in particular would sulk at every chance and would have torn Verya’s throat in two if I hadn’t stopped him on time. “I told you to stay away from Verya, but you left your ears next to your dick, and see where it landed our mate!” He had yelled when he saw Donika unconscious. He had never liked Verya one bit, but I still fucked her anyways, knowing fully well she was trying to weasel her way into the Luna, and in return for turning her away, she tries to kill my mate.Classic!Just as I thought about Donika, I remembered the words of the healer: “There’s power in her… but it seems to be trapped.”Even now, pacing in my private study, I could still hear the weight of that revelation echoing in my head. Donika might not be a cursed and wolfless girl. And if that power belonged to her wolf… then maybe fate h
Donika’s POV I woke up feeling heavy, and my skull was throbbing really hard as if someone had cracked it open and poured fire inside. It took much effort to peel my eyes open, and when I did, I wished I hadn’t because the light shone straight into my eyes.I blinked slowly, trying to adjust my eyes to my surroundings, and that’s when I saw him.Kael.He was slouched in the armchair by my bed, his long legs awkwardly bent, his broad shoulders spilling over the edges of the chair. His head was tilted back, and though his eyes were closed, his expression was calm, like a newborn who couldn’t hurt a fly. Unfortunately, he could kill an entire colony of flies.Beside me, Elena had curled up against the mattress, her hand still clinging to mine. Her soft breathing told me she’d only just slipped into sleep.The sight of them both watching over me, refusing to leave me alone, made something ache inside my chest. I wasn’t used to being worth anyone’s worry.I shifted slightly, and Elena sti
Kael’s POV“Pass me the towel,” the healer murmured, his hands moving swiftly over Donika’s head. The room smelled of herbs and incense.I knelt at Donika’s side, gripping her limp hand like it was the only thing holding me to this world. Blood matted her dark hair and streaked her pale skin. She looked still and fragile.Not again. Goddess, not again.“Don’t you dare leave me,” I whispered, my voice breaking in ways I hated. “Not you too.”Her lashes fluttered slightly, but she didn’t wake.The healer pressed a cloth soaked in salve to the wound. A faint glow pulsed beneath his palms, his power knitting flesh together, slowing the blood. “She’s strong,” he muttered, more to himself than me. “This one’s stronger than she looks.”I leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Her skin was cold and clammy. My chest tightened until I felt like I couldn't breathe. Seeing her on the floor covered in blood triggered my memories of how SHE had died and made me feel like my life wo
Donika’s POVThe way she said my name made it sound like filth.Elena stepped forward as if to block her path. “You have no reason to—”“It’s fine,” I heard myself say, though my chest was tight. I wanted to know what this woman wanted. Verya smiled maliciously, looking at Elena up and down before letting out a loud hiss. She walked in, hips swaying, her presence filling the room until it felt smaller. She looked around my room, eyeing each corner weirdly.Then her eyes cut back to me, raking over me slowly. From head to toe.“So… you’re the one.” Her voice was mocking. “The Moon Goddess’s little gift to Kael. Little Miss Second Chance Mate.” She spelled it out like it was an insult.I said nothing. My jaw ached from clenching too tightly.Her gaze slid down to my frame. “I have to admit, I’m… surprised. You don’t have a wolf. Your presence is almost nonexistent. And this body…” she gestured lazily at me with a flick of her hand, “like a stick that might snap in the wind. Do you real
Donika’s POVThe walk back to my room felt longer than it should have.Kael had told me to go with Elena while he “handled something.” That “something” being the gorgeous, furious woman who had barged into his office the second we left. Whoever she was, she was really bold for raising her voice at a Lycan.I kept my head down as we passed through the road leading back to Kael’s, but I couldn’t block out the whispers. They didn’t whisper very quietly; it was as if they wanted me to hear them.“…from ThornClaw, can you believe it?”“…and she’s wolfless? The Moon Goddess must be joking with our Alpha.”“She doesn’t look like Luna material at all. She looks like a scared little thing Kael picked up out of pity.”Each remark hit like a pebble thrown at glass, not hard enough to shatter me completely, but enough to crack the surface.Then came one that lodged in my chest like a blade:“She won’t last here. She’ll be eaten alive.”My jaw tightened, but I kept walking. I’d heard these things
Kael’s POVThe second Donika stepped out with Elena, I turned to face Verya. “Are you going to abandon me just like that?” she snapped, planting herself in front of me with her arms folded. “Do you think I wouldn’t hear? That I wouldn’t find out?”“Find out what exactly, Verya?” There and then I realized that I gave her so much of my attention that she felt she could waltz in here and cause a scene. Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t play stupid with me. You’ve got yourself a mate.”“Her name,” I said slowly, “is Donika. And yes, she’s my mate. She’s my Luna and YOUR Luna. I do not appreciate you using that condescending tone when talking about her. You will respect her whether you like it or not.”She scoffed and let out a rough laugh, a brittle and ugly sound. “Respect? After everything I’ve done for you? After all the nights I’ve been there when you couldn’t sleep? All the times I—”“All the times you willingly offered yourself to my bed,” I cut in, my tone sharp enough to make her flinch