All Chapters of Bound by blood and moonlight : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Von's povThey took our shoes first.I watched as the guards moved down the line, yanking worn leather from calloused feet, tossing them into a pile that would be burned before dawn. The stones beneath my bare feet were already cold, and the forest ahead would be worse—roots and thorns and God knew what else waiting to tear our flesh."It's tradition," one of the guards said with a smirk. "Can't have you running too fast, now can we?"The woman beside me—Sara, I think her name was—started crying. Quiet, hitching sobs that shook her thin shoulders. I wanted to tell her to stop, that tears wouldn't help, but my throat was too tight to speak.Oh heavens. I thought I had already known what fear felt like but this, this was far worse.Twenty of us stood at the forest's edge, stripped down to our basic clothing, barefoot and trembling. Some I recognized from the kitchens or the stables. Others were strangers, faces I'd seen in passing but never learned the names of. We were all going to die

Von's povI ran until my lungs burned and my legs turned to water.The forest was a black maze of reaching branches and hidden roots. My bare feet screamed with every step, torn and bleeding, but I didn't stop. The king's words echoed in my head—three seconds to run—and I'd used every one of them.But why? Why had he interfered? Why had he saved me?I burst through a bush and stumbled down an slope, nearly falling forward into rushing water. The river. I'd found the boundary river—the edge of the hunting grounds. Dawn couldn't be more than a few hours away. If I could just hide, just survive a little longer...A howl split the night, close enough to make my heart stutter.They'd found my trail again.I walked into the shallow, the icy water shocking against my shredded feet. Maybe I could wade downstream, find somewhere to hide among the rocks. Maybe—Three shapes materialized from the darkness ahead, blocking my path.Wolves. But they were still in human form, but their eyes glowed

Elara's povI stood outside his chambers for a full minute before I found the courage to knock.My hand trembled as I raised it to the dark wood, the carved wolves seeming to watch me with knowing eyes. This time I knocked properly and formally, like I should have done before."Enter."His voice was quieter than I expected. He sounded almost tired.I pushed the door open and stepped inside, closing it softly behind me. The chamber was dim, lit only by the dying fire and a few scattered candles. Kaelen stood at the window, his back to me, hands clasped behind him as he stared out at the darkness.He didn't turn around."You summoned me, Your Majesty," I said, hating how small my voice sounded."Your friend lives."The words were flat and emotionless. I couldn't read anything from his posture nor could i see his face."Yes." My throat tightened. "Thank you. I—""Don't." He cut me off firmly. "Don't thank me."A heavy silence fell between us.The fire crackled. Somewhere in the castle, a

Elara's POVThree days after Clara's deadline passed I was summoned to the throne room.Not for punishment or service but to stand beside the king's throne like some kind of decoration. I thought we had moved past this phase but I guess not. The king was back to his bipolar self.Clara helped me into clean clothes and tried to fix my hair but there was only so much she could do with what I had."Why does he want me there?" I asked as she worked."I don't know. Just orders from the Beta Commander. All the king's personal servants are to attend." She paused with the comb halfway through a tangle. "There are visitors coming. Important ones."The throne room was already full when we arrived. Wolves in formal dress lined the walls and the air hummed with tension. I took my place near the throne and tried to make myself invisible.Kaelen entered moments later. He wore full ceremonial armor and his eyes were hard as he surveyed the room. His gaze passed over me without acknowledgment but I

Kaelen's POVThe attack came without warning.One moment the hunting party rode through familiar territory and the next the forest exploded with movement. Figures materialized from shadows that should not have held them. Vampires. Dozens of them wearing the black and silver of Nocturna's elite forces.Nightblades."Ambush!" Beta Commander Marcus roared as he shifted mid leap. His wolf form crashed into the nearest vampire and they went down in a tangle of fur and fangs.Chaos erupted around me. My nobles shifted and engaged while servants screamed and scattered. I stayed human long enough to draw my blade and scan for Elara. She had been right behind me on the horse but the animal reared in panic and she slid off."Elara!"I caught a glimpse of her scrambling away from the fighting. Good. She was smart enough to run. I shifted partially allowing my claws and enhanced speed while maintaining enough control to wield a weapon. A vampire came at me from the left and I opened his throat