Vanessa wanted

I woke to the sound of thunder.But when I opened my eyes, I realized it wasn’t thunder at all. It was breathing, heavy, rhythmic, surrounding me like the heartbeat of a beast.The air smelled of smoke and metal. My head throbbed. I blinked, and a ceiling carved with black stone came into focus, lined with silver veins that pulsed faintly like living roots.I was lying on a bed far too large for one person, covered in dark pelts. Chains shimmered faintly near my wrists, not binding me, but close enough to make a point. My torn dress had been replaced with a thin silk robe, soft but foreign. My heartbeat quickened.Where… am I?The last thing I remembered was fire. Wings. Golden eyes that looked like they’d seen centuries.The Hybrid Alpha.I sat up too quickly, and pain lanced through my shoulder. The silver blood that had spilled from it earlier was gone, not even a scar remained. My fingers brushed smooth skin. Healed.The door creaked open.I froze.A man stepped in, tall, broad, a

The fortress didn’t sleep that night.Wolves in black armor patrolled the courtyards. Dragons circled the skies, their roars splitting the silence. The torches burned blue instead of gold, a sign of war readiness, Kael had told me earlier.And somewhere at the heart of it all, the Hybrid Alpha prepared to summon his enemies into his home.I sat by the narrow window, watching the horizon bleed crimson. Every instinct screamed that I should run, that I didn’t belong here, that I never would. But where would I go? The other packs wanted me too. I wasn’t safe anywhere.My reflection glowed faintly in the glass — silver veins pulsing under my skin like lightning trapped beneath flesh.The Healer of the Eclipse.My fate had never been my own. Not since that night under the moon.The door opened with a low creak. Kael stepped inside, his armor half-fastened, expression sharp. “They’re here.”I stood quickly. “Who?”“The emissaries from the three packs. Silverclaw, Moonveil, and Nightbane.” H

The throne hall emptied one Alpha at a time, their shadows stretching long against the torches as they left. Yet each pair of eyes lingered on Vanessa, some with hunger, some with fear, and some with worship.She hated every one of them.Draven’s hand stayed at the small of her back, guiding her forward, but not with force. His touch was steady, grounding… dangerous. The moment they stepped into the corridor, the doors closed, shutting out the world.The castle seemed quieter now. Too quiet.Vanessa exhaled.“You should have let them leave without humiliating them,” she muttered.Draven’s jaw flexed. “They disrespected you.”“They feared me. That’s not the same.”He turned, caging her against the stone wall with his body. Not touching, just standing close enough that her breath caught.“They will learn,” he said softly, voice a growl. “You are not prey. You are power.”There it was again. That possessive fire. That dangerous certainty.And the worst part? Her wolf stirred at his words

The night was as heavy as a looming storm. Vanessa sat by the window, staring out at the distant silhouette of the mountains, her mind spinning with the events of the past hours. The words that had been spoken, the dangers that had been uncovered, and most of all, the bond. The bond between her and Draven.She could feel it now, pulsing beneath her skin, twisting and turning with every breath she took. It wasn’t just her wolf anymore. It was her, too. And as much as she tried to push it away, to fight it, there was no denying the truth anymore. She was bound to him. To his fire. To his curse.The knock at her door startled her, pulling her from her thoughts. She straightened up quickly, heart racing for no reason she could name. "Come in," she called, her voice steadier than she felt.Kael stepped inside, his usual cool demeanor replaced with something more serious. His eyes were darker than usual, the familiar smile nowhere to be found. Vanessa didn't need to ask. She knew whatever h