Chapter 2

A Stranger in the Shadows

The forest was silent, save for the rustle of leaves and the distant call of a night owl. A thin mist curled around the trees, clinging to the earth like a shroud. The moon hung high above, pale and watchful, bathing everything in a cold silver glow.

And there, in the middle of a clearing, lay Aria Mooncrest.

Her silver gown was torn, streaked with dirt, her pale skin scratched by brambles. Her hair, once flowing like liquid moonlight, now fanned across the ground in disarray. Her body trembled with shallow breaths, every inhale a struggle as the rejection clawed at her chest.

Her lips moved soundlessly, whispering words the wind carried away. Tears stained her cheeks, glittering like crystals in the moonlight. She was barely conscious, slipping further into darkness with each passing moment.

---

From the shadows, golden eyes watched.

Kael Duskbane stood at the edge of the clearing, his tall frame cloaked in black. His long dark hair was tied loosely at the nape of his neck, strands falling across his sharp features. He had the look of a predator—lean, muscular, dangerous. A rogue Alpha, an outcast to most.

But something about the broken figure before him made him hesitate.

He had smelled the blood first. Then the pain—the scent of a severed bond was unmistakable. It lingered in the air, heavy and raw, a stench of betrayal. He should have turned away. It wasn’t his concern. He had enough enemies without meddling in another pack’s affairs.

And yet… his golden eyes softened as they fell upon her face. She looked fragile, yes, but there was something beneath that fragility. Something untamed.

Kael’s jaw tightened. “Damn it,” he muttered under his breath.

He stepped into the clearing.

---

Aria stirred weakly at the sound of approaching footsteps. Her body screamed for her to move, to defend herself, but she could only lift her head slightly.

A tall figure emerged from the shadows, and her heart stuttered. Not Rion. Not anyone from Blackthorn. This man was different. His presence was commanding, yet strangely calm, like the stillness before a storm.

“Who… who are you?” Her voice was faint, hoarse.

Kael crouched beside her, his golden eyes studying her face. “You’re dying,” he said bluntly, his voice low and smooth. “Rejected. Your bond’s been severed too brutally. If you stay here, you won’t last the night.”

Aria’s lips trembled. She wanted to protest, to deny, but the truth was written in every agonizing beat of her heart. She closed her eyes, a tear slipping free.

“Maybe that’s better,” she whispered.

Kael’s brows furrowed. He had heard many wolves curse their fate, but there was something different about the way she said it. Resigned. Heart-shattered.

He leaned closer. “You want to die here? In the dirt? Forgotten?”

His words cut through her fog, igniting something faint inside her. She forced her eyes open, staring at him. His golden gaze burned like fire, as though he could see straight through her soul.

“No,” she whispered. Her voice was small, but firm. “I don’t.”

Kael smirked faintly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Good. Then hold on.”

Before she could respond, he slid one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back, lifting her effortlessly into his arms. She gasped at the sudden movement, but her body was too weak to resist.

The warmth of his chest seeped into her chilled skin, and for the first time since the rejection, she felt… safe.

---

Kael carried her through the forest, moving with the grace of a hunter. His senses were sharp, scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. Rogues often prowled these woods, and Alpha patrols from Blackthorn Pack sometimes strayed further than their borders.

But no one dared approach him.

Aria drifted in and out of consciousness, her head resting against his shoulder. Each step jarred her broken body, but she clung to his warmth, to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

She whispered once, barely audible. “Why… are you helping me?”

Kael didn’t answer immediately. His jaw clenched, and for a moment, he looked away. “Because I know what it feels like to be left for dead,” he said finally, his tone quiet but heavy with unspoken memories.

Her lashes fluttered shut, and she slipped into unconsciousness.

---

When Aria awoke again, it was to the crackle of firelight.

She blinked slowly, her vision adjusting to the dim glow of a hearth. She was lying on a soft bed, wrapped in blankets that smelled faintly of pine and smoke. The air was warm, tinged with herbs.

Her gaze wandered across the small cabin. Wooden walls, shelves lined with jars and books, weapons hung neatly on the far side. It was simple, but safe.

“You’re awake.”

She turned her head. Kael sat in a chair by the fire, his golden eyes reflecting the flames. He leaned back casually, though there was a sharpness in his posture, a constant readiness.

Aria swallowed, her throat dry. “Where… where am I?”

“My territory,” Kael replied simply. “Far from Blackthorn borders. You’re safe here.”

She tried to sit up, but her body protested. Pain shot through her chest, and she winced. Kael was beside her in an instant, pressing a firm hand against her shoulder to keep her still.

“Don’t push yourself,” he warned. “Your bond was torn apart. It’ll take time to heal.”

Her eyes burned with unshed tears. The memory of Rion’s voice—his rejection, his cold eyes—flashed in her mind, stabbing her anew. She turned her face away, ashamed of her weakness.

Kael studied her in silence. He saw the pain etched into her features, but he also saw something else—something flickering beneath the surface, like an ember refusing to die.

“What’s your name?” he asked finally.

She hesitated before answering, her voice soft. “Aria.”

“Aria…” He repeated it slowly, testing the sound. “I’m Kael.”

Their eyes met briefly, and for a moment, the silence between them was thick with unspoken questions.

---

Hours passed. The fire burned low.

Aria couldn’t sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Rion’s face, heard his voice rejecting her. The bond’s echo throbbed painfully in her chest, as if her heart itself was rebelling against the truth.

She sat up slowly, ignoring the ache, and whispered, “Why did he do it? Why wasn’t I enough?”

Kael looked at her, his golden eyes steady. “Sometimes rejection says more about the one rejecting than the one rejected.”

His words struck her deeply. She stared at him, searching for any hint of mockery, but found none. Only raw honesty.

She lowered her gaze, clutching the blanket tighter. “I thought the mate bond was unbreakable. Sacred. I thought he was my forever.”

Kael’s jaw tightened. He looked into the fire, his expression unreadable. “Bonds can be broken. But power… destiny… that’s not so easily destroyed.”

Aria frowned, confused. “Destiny?”

He glanced at her, and for the briefest moment, his eyes glowed faintly brighter. “You’ll understand soon enough.”

Before she could question him, exhaustion swept over her. Her body sank back into the bed, and her eyes closed despite her efforts.

Kael remained by the fire, watching her.

There was something different about this girl. Something he hadn’t seen in years. The scent of her blood carried a strange note, ancient and powerful. He didn’t know who she truly was yet, but he knew one thing: fate had not brought her to him by accident.

As the flames flickered and the night deepened, Kael whispered to himself, “Moon’s chosen… perhaps you are the one.”

And for the first time in days, Aria slept without nightmares.