Selene's POV
She's gone. My voice sounded hollow even to my own ears. Lyra just... disappeared.
Kael's hand was still on my arm, warm and solid. She was never really there to begin with. Changelings aren't real people, Selene. Just magic wearing a face.
But she felt real. My throat burned with unshed tears. She was scared. She tried to warn us. That has to count for something.
What counts is that we now know Morgana's plan. Kael pulled me away from the empty space where Lyra had vanished. Blood Moon rises at midnight. The witch needs your blood and moonlight to transfer your power. Which means we have exactly twelve hours to make sure that spell fails.
By completing the bond, I whispered.
By completing the bond, he confirmed.
I wanted to argue. Wanted more time. Wanted this to be anyone's choice but mine.
But twelve hours wasn't enough time for wanting.
Okay. The word felt like stepping off a cliff. Let's do it.
Kael's expression shifted—surprise, then something darker. Hungrier. Now?
You said we're out of time. So yes. Now.
He studied my face like he was searching for doubt. If you're not ready—
I'll never be ready! My voice cracked. I wasn't ready to discover I'm a queen. Wasn't ready for my wolf to wake up. Wasn't ready for any of this! But it's happening anyway, so let's just—
Pain exploded through my skull.
I gasped, stumbling. Kael caught me before I hit the ground, but the pain didn't stop. It burned through my head like someone had shoved a hot poker through my brain.
Selene! His voice seemed far away. What's wrong?
Don't know, can't— The words wouldn't form properly.
Then the world dissolved.
I was in a forest I didn't recognize. Ancient trees stretched endlessly in every direction, their leaves silver in moonlight that shouldn't exist.
Finally. Eris materialized in front of me, looking annoyed. I've been calling you for ten minutes. Do you know how exhausting it is to drag someone into a vision?
Where am I? I spun around, disoriented. What's happening?
You're unconscious in Kael's arms, bleeding from your nose again. Very dramatic. She waved dismissively. We don't have much time before your body gives out completely, so listen carefully.
I'm dying? My voice pitched high with panic.
Not yet. But you will be if you complete that bond the way you're planning.
That stopped me cold. What do you mean?
The mate bond isn't just a bite, child. Eris's expression turned serious. It's a merging of souls. When you and Kael claim each other, every wall between you falls. Every secret gets exposed. Every fear, every pain, every dark corner of your hearts—you'll feel it all.
I know that. Kael told me
He told you the basics. But did he tell you what happens when a Blood Moon Queen bonds with a cursed wolf? She moved closer, her ghostly face intense. Your power will flood into him. His curse will try to fight it. And the collision of ancient magic and dark curse inside one bond could kill you both.
Horror washed over me. Then what do I do?
You have to want it more than you fear it. Eris grabbed my shoulders—I could actually feel her grip even though she was a ghost. Most mate bonds form gradually. Slowly. You and Kael don't have that luxury. You're trying to force three years of bonding into three seconds. The only way it works is if you both surrender completely. No walls. No fear. Total trust.
But I barely know him!
Your wolf knows him. That's enough. She released me. When the time comes, don't fight it. Don't hold back. Let the bond take everything and trust that you'll both survive.
And if we don't?
Eris's smile was sad. Then Morgana wins. Marcus wins. And every wolf in North America loses the only queen who could have saved them.
No pressure then, I muttered.
None at all. She started fading. Oh, and Selene? One more thing.
What?
Kael is more terrified of this bond than you are. He's spent thirteen years building walls around his heart. You're about to tear them all down. Be gentle with what you find there.
She vanished.
The forest dissolved.
I woke up gasping.
Kael's face hovered inches from mine, his silver eyes wild with worry. You're awake. Thank the gods, you're awake.
How long was I out?
Three minutes. Felt like three hours. His hand cupped my face, thumb brushing my cheekbone. What happened? You just collapsed
Eris. I forced myself to sit up despite the dizziness. She showed me what happens when we bond. Kael, it could kill us.
His expression didn't change. I know.
You know? My voice rose. You knew the bond could kill us and you didn't tell me?
Would it have changed your answer? he asked quietly.
I opened my mouth to say yes. But the word wouldn't come.
Because he was right. We were out of options. Out of time. The bond was still our only chance, even if it killed us.
I hate this, I whispered.
I know. He helped me stand. But we do it anyway.
Ryker appeared in the doorway, his face grim. Boss, Marcus's army just crossed into our territory. They'll be at the gates in two hours.
Two hours. Not twelve. Not four.
Two.
How? I breathed. They were miles away
Dark magic, Ryker spat. The witch is teleporting them in sections. They're surrounding us. His jaw clenched. We're trapped.
Kael's entire body went rigid. How many?
Three thousand. Maybe more. They just keep coming.
The number was impossible. Kael had three hundred warriors. Even at full strength, even with my power, we couldn't fight three thousand wolves.
We're going to die here, Mira whispered from behind Ryker. Her face had gone pale. Aren't we?
No. Kael's voice was absolute. We're going to complete the bond, fight with everything we have, and survive. Those are our options.
That's not three options, I pointed out shakily. That's one option with extra steps.
He almost smiled. Almost. Then let's make sure those steps count.
He took my hand, and despite everything, I felt that spark. That recognition. The mate bond pulling us together like magnets.
We need to do the ritual in the throne room, Kael said. Ancient bonding magic works best in places of power.
You have a throne room?
I'm an Alpha King. Of course I have a throne room. He pulled me toward the stairs. Come on. We have, He checked his watch. —ninety minutes before Marcus arrives. We complete the bond, I break free of the curse, you stabilize your power, and we turn this from a massacre into a fight.
You make it sound so simple.
It is simple. We just have to not die.
We descended into the lower levels of the stronghold. The throne room was massive—all stone and shadows, with a raised dais at the far end. Two thrones sat there, side by side. One large and commanding. One smaller but no less powerful.
For the king and queen, Kael explained. Every Alpha King's stronghold has them. Just in case.
In case of what?
In case we found our mates. His eyes met mine. The thrones are built for bonding rituals. They amplify the magic. Make the connection stronger.
I stared at those thrones, ancient, powerful, waiting.
If we do this, I said slowly, and we survive, what happens after?
After?
After the battle. After we defeat Marcus, if we defeat Marcus. I forced myself to look at him. You'll be stuck with me forever, Kael. Is that really what you want?
He was quiet for a long moment. Then:
A year ago, I would have said no. I didn't want a mate. Didn't want to need anyone. His hand tightened around mine. But watching you nearly die twice in the last day? Feeling your pain through this incomplete bond? I realized something.
What?
I'd rather be stuck with you forever than spend one more day watching you hurt alone. His voice dropped lower. So yes, Selene. That's what I want. The question is—is that what you want?
My heart hammered against my ribs. This was it. The moment of truth. Say yes, and I'd be bound to him forever. Say no, and we'd both die when Morgana's spell hit.
I opened my mouth to answer
The entire stronghold shook.
Explosions thundered above us. Screams echoed through the halls. Alarms shrieked.
They're here! Ryker's voice boomed through a speaker. Marcus is attacking! He's not waiting for the Blood Moon—he's attacking NOW!
That's impossible, Kael snarled. We had two hours
The witch changed the timeline! Ryker shouted over sounds of battle. She's starting the spell early! Boss, she's on the roof with some kind of ritual circle, and it's glowing
The connection cut off.
Kael and I stared at each other in horror.
She's not waiting for midnight, I whispered. She's doing it now.
Then so are we. Kael dragged me toward the thrones. Sit. Now.
But the battle
Will be over in minutes if we don't complete this bond! He shoved me into the smaller throne, then dropped into the larger one beside me. Give me your hand.
I gave it to him. His fingers laced with mine, and power sparked between our palms.
Bite me here. He tilted his head, exposing his throat. Then I'll bite you. The bond will snap into place and
And we might die, I finished.
And we might die, he agreed. But we'll die together. That's more than most people get.
It was possibly the least romantic thing anyone had ever said before a bonding.
I almost laughed.
Instead, I leaned forward. My fangs extended for the first time, sharp, deadly, ready. I pressed them against his throat, feeling his pulse jump beneath my lips.
Selene, he breathed. If this kills us
Don't. I cut him off. Don't say goodbye. Say you'll see me on the other side.
His hand cupped the back of my head. I'll see you on the other side.
I bit down.
Power exploded.
Not like before—not a wave or a blast. This was a detonation. Silver and crimson light erupted from both our bodies, flooding the throne room, climbing the walls, shooting up through the ceiling.
Kael's hands locked on my shoulders as he bit me back, his fangs sinking deep into my throat.
The pain was incredible.
The pleasure was worse.
Our souls slammed together like continents colliding. I felt everything—his fear, his rage, his desperate hope. Felt thirteen years of loneliness crash into twenty-two years of abuse. Felt his wolf howl in triumph as it finally, finally found its mate.
And I felt the curse.
It wrapped around us both, chains of dark magic trying to strangle the bond before it could form. Fighting. Burning. Killing.
No, my wolf snarled. He's OURS. You don't get to take him.
Power flooded from me into Kael, not destroying the curse, but overwhelming it. Drowning it in silver light until the chains cracked, shattered, dissolved.
Kael screamed against my throat.
I screamed against his.
And the bond snapped into place with a force that shook the entire stronghold.
We collapsed together, gasping, bleeding, alive.
Did it work? I managed.
Kael lifted his head. His eyes blazed pure silver. The chains that had wrapped around his chest for eight years were gone. Just... gone.
It worked, he breathed.
Then his face changed. His expression shifted to horror.
Selene. The witch. She felt it. She felt the bond complete. His grip on me tightened. She's coming. Right now. And she's not alone.
The throne room doors exploded inward.
Morgana stood there, power crackling around her hands. Behind her, wolves poured in—dozens of them, eyes glowing red with dark magic.
And in the center of them all, smiling like a predator who'd just cornered his prey, stood my father.
Alpha Marcus Ashford.
Hello, daughter, he purred. Did you really think a simple mate bond would save you?
He raised his hand.
The wolves charged.
And I realized with absolute, terrifying clarity:
We'd just survived the bond.
Now we had to survive the war.