Bound by Blood, Freed by Fury

Chapter 1 – The Fall

"Get up, Selene."

The harsh voice of the Crescent Moon Pack’s training master echoed across the field. Selene groaned, her body aching as she pushed herself up from the dirt. The early morning sun cast long shadows on the training ground, but she barely noticed. All she could focus on was the pain in her ribs and the sharp taste of blood in her mouth.

Across from her, Owen, one of the stronger warriors-in-training, smirked. His knuckles were red from their last exchange. He rolled his shoulders, ready for another attack.

"Too slow," he taunted.

Selene clenched her fists. She wasn’t weak. She had trained for this moment all her life. As the daughter of the Beta, she was expected to be strong, to protect the pack, to serve her Alpha. She had dreamed of becoming an elite warrior, someone her people could be proud of.

She charged at Owen again, twisting at the last second to dodge his strike. Using his momentum against him, she drove her elbow into his ribs. He stumbled, cursing. The other trainees murmured in surprise.

"Enough."

A deep voice silenced the whispers.

Lucian.

The Alpha’s son.

Selene stiffened as he approached. His golden eyes gleamed with amusement, but she knew better than to trust his smile. Lucian was cruel. He enjoyed watching others suffer—especially her.

"Training is over," he announced. His gaze lingered on Selene before he turned away. "The Alpha has called for a gathering. Be there in five minutes."

The trainees scattered, eager to obey. Selene wiped the sweat from her brow, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling creeping up her spine. Something about Lucian’s tone made her stomach twist.

She didn’t know that this was the last time she would stand among them as one of their own.

The entire pack gathered in the clearing near the Alpha’s home. The air was thick with tension. Selene stood near the front, her father beside her. Beta Nathan was a strong man, his dark hair streaked with silver, his face lined with years of loyalty to the pack.

Alpha Gregor stood at the top of the stone steps, his powerful frame radiating authority. Beside him was Lucian, smirking as if he had already won a game only he knew the rules to.

"A crime has been committed against this pack," Alpha Gregor’s voice boomed. "A crime of betrayal."

Murmurs spread through the crowd. Selene’s frown deepened.

"Selene, step forward."

Her breath caught in her throat. Every eye turned to her. Confused, she stepped forward.

"Selene," the Alpha said, his expression unreadable, "you are accused of plotting against the pack. You have been caught conspiring with rogues."

The words hit her like a physical blow. Her chest tightened. "What? No! I would never betray the pack!"

Lucian took a step forward, his eyes gleaming with false sorrow. "Selene, I saw you. You met with a rogue beyond the borders last night. I heard your plan to overthrow the Alpha. You were going to weaken our defenses, let them in."

The crowd erupted in gasps and growls.

Selene’s heart pounded. "That’s a lie! I never left the pack last night! I was in my home!"

But no one listened. The Alpha’s face hardened. "You have broken our laws, Selene. The punishment is exile—or death."

Her father turned to the Alpha, his voice strained. "Alpha, she’s my daughter. I know she would never—"

"Enough," the Alpha snapped. "Do you question my judgment, Beta Nathan?"

Her father’s jaw clenched. "No, Alpha."

Selene turned to her mate, Darius, her last hope. He stood among the warriors, his green eyes locked onto hers.

"Darius, please," she whispered.

He said nothing. He did nothing.

Her heart shattered.

Then, before she could react, warriors grabbed her arms, forcing her to her knees.

"You will pay for your betrayal," Lucian whispered as he passed her.

The next thing she heard was her mother’s scream.

Then the sound of claws ripping through flesh.

Blood splattered onto the ground.

Selene turned her head just in time to see her mother fall, her body lifeless, her eyes empty.

For a moment, the world stopped.

Then the pain came, sharp and unbearable. A scream tore from her throat, but no one cared. The warriors dragged her toward the gates as her mother’s body lay behind her, forgotten.

The cold night air stung her bruised skin as she was thrown onto the hard ground outside the pack’s borders.

"You are no longer one of us," the Alpha’s voice rang in her ears. "If you return, you will die."

The gates slammed shut.

Selene lay there, her body aching, her heart broken. The people she had loved, the pack she had been willing to die for, had cast her out.

She was truly alone.

Selene lay in the dirt, her body trembling from pain and shock. The cold night air wrapped around her like death’s embrace, chilling her to the bone. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, and every breath sent a sharp ache through her ribs. But none of it compared to the hollow, crushing agony in her chest.

Her mother was dead and her heart ache as she recalled the scream of her mother.

Her mate had abandoned her.

Her pack had thrown her away like she was nothing.

Tears blurred her vision, but she refused to let them fall. She had cried enough.

A distant howl echoed through the forest. A warning. The night belonged to the wild—rogues, beasts, and creatures that would tear apart anything foolish enough to be alone.

And she was alone.

A rustling came from the trees ahead. Low, guttural growls followed. Glowing eyes flickered between the branches.

Wolves.

But they didn’t look like her pack.

They were Rogues.

Selene tried to push herself up, but her limbs were weak. She had no strength left. The growls grew closer. A dark shape stepped out of the shadows, its yellow eyes locked onto her like she was prey. She would rather die to the rogues than bear the pain of her mother’s death. Her father stood there doing nothing.

As she was deep in her thoughts , the wolf lunged.

And everything went black.

CHAPTER TWO

Chapter 2 – The Awakening

Darkness.

Then pain.

Selene’s body ached, her limbs heavy as if she were sinking into the earth itself. The air smelled of damp wood, blood, and something else—something wild. She tried to move, but sharp pain flared through her ribs, forcing a gasp from her lips.

"She’s waking up."

A voice. Deep, commanding.

Her eyes snapped open.

She wasn’t in the forest anymore. She was inside a cave, the flickering glow of a fire casting long shadows on the stone walls. A heavy fur covered her body, but it did little to chase away the lingering cold.

Footsteps.

Selene turned her head and saw him.

A man stood over her, tall and broad, his dark hair falling past his shoulders. His eyes were piercing—a predator’s gaze. Scars lined his arms, proof of countless battles. Behind him, figures lurked in the shadows, their movements silent, controlled.

Rogues.

She was in a den of rogues.

The man crouched beside her, his sharp features illuminated by the fire.

"You’re lucky we found you first," he said, his voice edged with amusement. "Another minute, and those wolves would’ve torn you apart."

Selene swallowed, her throat dry. She tried to sit up, but her body protested.

"Who…?" Her voice was hoarse, barely a whisper.

"Alaric," he said simply. "Leader of this pack. And you… you’re Crescent Moon."

The air in the cave shifted. The others tensed. Crescent Moon. The name alone was enough to stir hatred among rogues.

Selene braced herself, expecting them to kill her then and there.

But Alaric only studied her.

"You were exiled," he guessed.

Selene clenched her jaw, the memory of that night flashing through her mind. The betrayal. The loss. The cold slam of the gate.

"Yes."

A slow smirk tugged at Alaric’s lips. "Then we have something in common."

He stood, towering over her. "You have two choices, Crescent Moon. You can die here, weak and broken. Or…" His eyes gleamed in the firelight. "You can learn to survive. Become stronger. Become something they fear."

Selene’s fingers curled into the fur beneath her.

Weak.

That’s what she had been. Weak enough to be thrown away. Weak enough to be cast aside like she meant nothing.

Never again.

She lifted her chin, ignoring the pain burning through her body.

"Teach me."

Alaric’s smirk widened. "Good choice."

Training began the moment she could stand.

Alaric was merciless. He forced her to run through the dense forest, faster than she ever had before. He taught her to fight without rules, without hesitation. She learned to move like a ghost, to use the terrain to her advantage.

"You’ve spent your life following orders," he told her one night as she lay panting in the dirt, bruises covering her body. "That’s why you lost. Crescent Moon made you soft."

Selene grit her teeth and pushed herself up. "Not anymore."

And she meant it.

The weak girl she had been—who had begged for mercy, who had pleaded for her mate’s love—was fading. In her place, something sharper, deadlier, was being forged.

She would never beg again.

Months passed. Selene had become faster, stronger. She could fight three rogues at once and win. She could move through the forest unseen.

But then, one night, she heard the rumors.

Crescent Moon was thriving under Lucian’s rule. Her father, once the proud Beta, had lost favor with the Alpha. And Darius…

Darius had taken another mate.

Selene stared into the flames of the campfire, her heart pounding.

She should have felt nothing.

She should have been over it.

But the fire inside her roared to life, hotter than ever.

They had moved on like she had never existed. Like she had never mattered.

Selene flexed her fingers. Her nails had grown sharper, her muscles stronger. The girl they had cast out had died in that forest.

Now, it was time for them to meet the thing they had created.

The Crescent Moon warrior never saw her coming.

He was alone, patrolling the northern border, a smug look on his face as he sniffed the air.

Selene struck like a shadow, silent, ruthless. She moved behind him, her blade flashing in the moonlight. A clean cut across the throat. Quick. Efficient.

He dropped to the ground, gasping, choking on his own blood.

She watched him die, waiting for the guilt to come.

It never did.

The warrior twitched on the ground, blood pooling beneath him, soaking into the earth. His eyes were wide with shock, his hands grasping at the deep gash across his throat, as if he could hold in the life slipping away.

Selene crouched beside him, watching. Not with pity. Not with regret.

With certainty.

The girl they had thrown away was dead.

This was who she was now.

The warrior made a final, strangled sound before his body stilled. The only noise left was the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Selene wiped her blade on his tunic and rose to her feet. The night stretched before her, endless and dark, but she felt no fear. Only purpose.

She turned and disappeared into the forest, leaving behind the first of many bodies.

Back at the Rogue Camp

The scent of blood still clung to her as she stepped into the clearing where the rogues gathered. Alaric stood near the fire, sharpening his blade. He glanced up as she approached.

"You’re back early," he remarked.

Selene tossed something onto the ground between them.

A Crescent Moon warrior’s insignia. Stained with blood.

The rogues watching let out low whistles and approving murmurs. Some looked surprised. Others looked at her with newfound respect.

Alaric smirked. "I take it he didn’t put up much of a fight?"

Selene met his gaze, her voice steady. "He never had the chance."

Alaric chuckled, a deep, satisfied sound. He sheathed his knife and crossed his arms. "You’re learning."

She didn’t respond. She didn’t need to.

She had taken her first life. And she had done it without hesitation.

The weak girl Crescent Moon had exiled no longer existed.

She was something new now.

The next morning, Selene sat sharpening her knife when a rogue scout rushed into the camp. His face was pale, his breathing ragged.

"They found the body," he announced.

The air shifted. Selene felt it immediately—the way the rogues leaned in, the way Alaric’s eyes gleamed with interest.

"Crescent Moon?" Alaric asked.

The scout nodded. "They know one of their warriors is dead. And they don’t know who did it."

Selene’s lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile.

Perfect.

Let them wonder. Let them search.

Because she wasn’t done. Not even close.

Tonight, she would strike again.

CHAPTER THREE

Chapter 3 – The Breaking Point

Selene went to the forest with Alaric’s warrior and the stench of blood filled the air. She decided to use her wolf senses to trace the blood smell so she can feed on it with the other warriors

“What’s that smell”

Selene stood frozen, her breath caught in her throat, her body trembling as she stared at the gruesome sight before her.

“ Beta Nathan”

Her father’s lifeless body lay sprawled in the dirt, his throat torn open, his chest caved in as if something had stomped down on it repeatedly. His Beta insignia, once worn with pride, was ripped from his uniform and tossed carelessly beside him, stained with his own blood.

And above it all, carved into his flesh like a twisted message—was a name.

Darius.

Selene’s vision blurred, not with tears but with rage.

Darius had done this.

Her mate. The man who had once held her, who had whispered promises of love. The man who had stood by and watched as she was cast out.

He hadn’t just abandoned her.

He had destroyed what was left of her family.

A deep, guttural growl built in her chest, her claws digging into her palms as she trembled with the force of her fury. Her breath came in short, rapid bursts, her heart pounding against her ribs like a drum of war.

A trap.

This was meant to send a message.

To the rogues. To her.

Selene knew how it worked—Crescent Moon had always treated rogues as nothing more than animals. And now, Darius had left her father’s body here like a piece of rotting meat, expecting them to tear him apart.

Her father was nothing to them.

Nothing but a carcass to be feasted on.

Something inside her snapped.

With a scream that ripped from the depths of her soul, Selene shifted.

Her bones cracked, her body contorting, her muscles stretching as fur sprouted across her skin. Her pain, her grief, her fury—it all fueled the transformation, driving her wolf forward like an unstoppable force.

By the time she landed on all fours, her claws digging into the blood-soaked ground, she was no longer Selene.

She was a beast.

And she was out for blood.

The forest blurred around her as she bolted forward, her vision tunneling, locked onto one thought: kill.

She didn’t know where she was running, didn’t care who stood in her way.

But then—

A massive force slammed into her side, knocking her off balance.

Selene tumbled, snarling, and skidded to a stop just before she could charge deeper into the trees.

Another wolf stood in front of her, blocking her path.

Alaric.

His dark fur bristled, his massive frame nearly double her size. His golden eyes burned with warning.

But Selene didn’t care.

She lunged.

Claws slashed. Teeth snapped. The air was filled with the sounds of growls and the clash of bodies.

Alaric fought to restrain her, but she was relentless. Wild. Uncontrolled.

Selene clawed deep into his side, ripping flesh. Blood sprayed across the ground. Alaric snarled in pain but didn’t strike back. He only dodged, countered, and pushed her back with brute force.

"Enough Selene,this is not who you are”

His voice rang through the air, breaking through the haze of her fury.

Selene panted, her wolf form trembling, blood dripping from her claws.

She wanted to run. To find Darius. To rip him apart.

But Alaric stood firm. Unmoving.

His chest heaved from the effort of holding her back, but his eyes remained steady, unwavering.

Selene let out a low, furious growl.

Then, as quickly as it had come, the rage faded.

Her legs buckled, her body shifting painfully back into its human form. The cool night air bit at her skin, her breaths ragged as she collapsed to her knees.

Her father was gone.

Darius had taken everything from her.

And she had been powerless to stop it.

Tears burned in her eyes as she lifted her face to Alaric, shame and grief twisting inside her like a knife. She had injured him already

"Please…" her voice cracked, raw from the shift.

She had attacked him. Wounded him. But still, he had held her back instead of killing her.

Selene dropped her head, pressing her forehead to the dirt.

"I’m sorry."

Silence.

Alaric said nothing.

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

She had never begged before. Not like this. Not in true surrender.

But Alaric remained silent.

Selene lifted her head, searching his face for something—anger, disappointment, understanding.

But he had already turned away.

“ Die here just like your father stupid” he said Before turning away

Selene’s breath came in short, ragged gasps. The dirt beneath her knees was damp with blood—some of it Alaric’s, most of it her father’s. The world around her blurred, the trees swaying, the stars above flickering in and out of focus.

But none of it mattered.

Only him.

Alaric.

The man who had pulled her from the brink of death. The man who had made her strong. The only one who had ever believed she could be more than the broken girl Crescent Moon had cast aside.

And now, he wouldn’t even look at her.

"Alaric," her voice cracked as she reached for him, fingers trembling, desperation lacing every syllable.

He didn’t stop.

Didn’t flinch.

Didn’t even turn his head.

"Alaric, please!" she screamed, the sound ripping from her throat with a rawness that burned.

Still, nothing.

Her chest heaved, a sob tearing through her as she crawled forward, dragging herself across the dirt toward him. She barely felt the sting of the rocks scraping against her skin. Barely noticed the blood smearing her hands.

All she could see was his back.

Broad. Unmoving. Cold.

"Say something!" she begged. "Anything! Yell at me! Hurt me! Just… just don’t turn away from me!"

But Alaric kept walking.

Selene’s nails dug into the earth, her entire body trembling.

She had wounded him. She had lost control. And now… she was losing him, too.

"I’m sorry," she whispered, her forehead pressing into the ground.

The silence that followed was worse than any punishment. Worse than any pain.

And then, without a word, Alaric disappeared into the shadows.

Leaving her alone.

CHAPTER FOUR

Chapter 4 – The Chosen One

The fire burned low, casting shadows across the warriors gathered around. The scent of blood was thick in the air—his blood.

Alaric sat still, his wounds fresh, his muscles tense. The rogues surrounded him, their eyes sharp, their voices low with unease.

No one had ever injured him before.

Until Selene.

Jarek, his second-in-command, stepped closer. His face was unreadable, but his voice was edged with disbelief. “She drew blood from you.”

Alaric didn’t respond.

Jarek’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve fought Alphas and never bled. You’ve crushed warriors without breaking a sweat. But that girl—” He pointed toward the trees. “She almost ripped you apart.”

Alaric exhaled slowly. The fire flickered, reflecting in his golden eyes.

"She is stronger than she knows."

The warriors exchanged uneasy glances.

Kai, the youngest of them, frowned. “She lost control.”

Alaric smirked. “Good.”

Kai blinked. “Good?”

Alaric’s voice was firm. “She is not weak. Not broken. She is chosen.”

The camp went silent.

Jarek crossed his arms. “Chosen by who?”

Alaric met his stare. “The Moon Goddess.”

A sharp breath. A shift in the air. The warriors stiffened.

Jarek scoffed. “You think that exile is special?”

Alaric tilted his head. “I don’t think. I know.” His voice was low, firm. “And I will mark her.”

Gasps. Some disbelief. Some fear.

Kai stepped forward. “Then let us go after her. She’s alone. She’s weak.”

Alaric’s gaze turned cold.

"No."

Kai froze. "But—"

"She will survive."

His voice was final. Ruthless.

Jarek clenched his jaw. "She could die."

Alaric’s lips curled into a cold smirk. "Then she was never worthy to begin with."

Silence. No one dared to argue.

Alaric stood, his golden eyes burning.

"She is stronger than she thinks she is."

Then, without another word, he walked into the darkness, leaving them behind.

The wind howled through the trees, cold and sharp like a blade against Selene’s skin. She stood in the heart of the dark forest, her body trembling from exhaustion. Her legs ached, her muscles burned, and her throat was raw from thirst.

For three days, she had wandered.

For three days, she had survived.

The hunger clawed at her stomach, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart.

Her father’s face—lifeless, broken, abandoned.

Darius’s smirk as he left his corpse for the rogues to feast on.

The betrayal burned inside her, hotter than any fire.

She should have died out here.

She should have given up.

But she didn’t.

Because Alaric was right.

She was stronger than she thought.

The weak girl who had begged for her mate’s love, who had pleaded for mercy from her pack, was dead.

Now, there was only her.

And vengeance.

Selene took a deep breath, pushing past the pain, the hunger, the grief. She turned, forcing her feet forward, step by agonizing step.

Back to the only place that had ever made her strong.

Back to Alaric.

The rogue camp was alive with the glow of firelight, the scent of burning wood thick in the air. Warriors sharpened their blades, their laughter low and rough, the sounds of a life that did not know weakness.

Then—silence.

A ripple passed through the camp as Selene stepped into the clearing.

The rogues turned, their eyes wide, their expressions unreadable. Some looked impressed. Others looked wary.

She was barely standing. Dirt and dried blood streaked her skin. Her once-beautiful hair was tangled, her clothes torn.

But she was here.

And Alaric—

Alaric smiled.

Not just any smile.

A slow, wicked smirk.

He did not rush to her. Did not reach out to steady her. Did not offer pity.

Because she didn’t need it.

She had survived.

Alaric rose to his full height, golden eyes gleaming under the moonlight. Then, in a voice that sent chills down the spines of even the hardest warriors, he turned his gaze to the full moon and spoke.

"I, Alaric, ruler of rogues, take Selene as my mate."

The weight of his words crashed over the camp like a storm. The warriors shifted, glancing at one another in shock. Some inhaled sharply. Others remained frozen, waiting.

"I accept her into my wolf, into my blood, into my pack."

The power in his voice made the night tremble.

Selene’s breath hitched. Her heart pounded so hard it hurt.

She had fought. She had bled. She had suffered.

And now, she was being claimed.

The rogues turned to her.

Waiting.

Alaric’s golden eyes never left her.

Waiting.

Selene’s fingers curled into fists at her sides.

This was insane. This was impossible. This was—

Right.

The pack that had abandoned her was nothing to her now.

This was her new beginning.

She lifted her chin, ignoring the pain in her body, forcing her voice to be strong.

"I, Selene, accept Alaric ruler of the rogues to be my mate"

The camp erupted.

Cheers, howls, voices rising in a deafening roar.

And as the sound swallowed her, Selene felt something shift deep inside her.

Something powerful.

Something dangerous.

She was no longer just an exile.

She was one of them.

CHAPTER FIVE

Chapter 5 – Marked by the Moon

The night was heavy with power. The air thickened as the moon reached its peak, bathing the rogue camp in silver light.

Selene stood in the center of the circle, her heart pounding. Warriors surrounded her and Alaric, their faces shadowed by the flickering firelight. The ritual had begun.

This was no ordinary mating ceremony.

For the Moon Goddess to accept their bond, the old ways had to be honored. Blood, fire, and willpower—only the strong could claim a mate among the rogues.

Selene could feel the weight of their stares, the unspoken challenge in their eyes.

Was she worthy?

Would she survive?

Alaric stepped forward, his golden eyes locking onto hers. He stood tall, strong, and completely fearless.

"Do you accept this bond, Selene?" His voice was deep, commanding.

Selene swallowed hard. There was no hesitation.

"I do."

A warrior stepped forward, holding out a dagger. It gleamed under the moonlight, the blade sharp and deadly.

Selene knew what came next.

She did not flinch.

She extended her hand as Alaric took the blade. Without breaking eye contact, he sliced his palm, dark blood dripping onto the ground.

Then he held the dagger out to her.

A test.

Selene took it, pressing the cold steel to her own palm. A sharp sting. Warm blood spilled, joining his.

A bond forged in pain. In strength.

The warriors began to chant, their voices low and ancient. The flames of the fire pit roared higher, as if the Moon Goddess herself watched.

Alaric reached for her bleeding hand, pressing it against his own. Their mingled blood burned where it touched.

Something deep inside Selene shifted.

Power.

Heat.

A pull unlike anything she had ever felt before.

Alaric leaned closer, his breath warm against her skin. "From this moment, we are bound. By blood. By will. By fate."

Selene’s vision blurred as the energy crackled around them. Her wolf stirred, restless, hungry.

The Moon Goddess had accepted them.

The chant faded. The fire calmed. And then—

Heat.

It struck like lightning, burning through Selene’s veins. Her breath caught as an uncontrollable fire surged beneath her skin.

The mating heat.

Alaric’s grip tightened on her hand. His golden eyes darkened, his muscles tensed. He felt it too.

Selene gasped, her knees almost giving out. The hunger inside her was overwhelming. Every fiber of her being screamed for him.

Alaric didn’t hesitate.

He moved, fast and unrelenting, pulling her against him. His scent—wild, dominant, intoxicating—wrapped around her like a spell.

"Mine," he growled, his voice thick with possession.

His fangs extended, his wolf demanding what was his.

Selene tilted her head, exposing her neck, surrendering to the bond.

A sharp bite.

Pain.

Then—pleasure.

A connection so deep it stole her breath.

Alaric’s mark burned into her skin, sealing their fate forever.

Selene was no longer just a rogue.

She was his.

Alaric’s grip tightened as he pulled back slightly, his tongue sweeping over the fresh mark on her neck, soothing the wound he had created. His golden eyes burned with raw possession as he whispered against her skin.

"Now, you are mine."

The rogue warriors erupted into cheers, howling into the night in approval. The ceremony was complete. The Moon Goddess had accepted their bond.

But the heat between them had not faded.

Selene’s entire body pulsed with unbearable need, her wolf howling inside her, demanding more.

Alaric felt it too.

His jaw clenched, his hands gripping her hips with barely restrained control.

"Come," he said, his voice rough and commanding.

Selene didn’t hesitate.

Alaric led her away from the firelit clearing, past the watching eyes of the warriors, into the darkness of his den.

The moment they were alone, the tension exploded.

Selene barely had time to breathe before Alaric grabbed her, pressing her against the rough stone wall of the den.

His lips crashed against hers—hot, fierce, claiming.

The need burned between them, stronger than anything she had ever felt. It wasn’t just the mating heat. It was the hunger of two warriors, two predators, finally colliding.

Alaric growled low in his throat as he lifted her, his strength effortless.

Selene gasped, her hands gripping his shoulders as his body covered hers, his heat surrounding her.

The moment their bond fully snapped into place, Selene felt something she never had before—completeness.

There was no more loneliness. No more fear.

Only this.

Only him.

Alaric was not gentle, and she did not want him to be.

They were wolves.

They took what was theirs.

And in the depths of that night, beneath the glow of the full moon, Selene gave herself to him completely.

By the time it was over, the air in the den was thick with the scent of their bond.

Selene lay in Alaric’s arms, her body exhausted but satisfied. Every part of her ached, but she had never felt more alive.

Alaric’s fingers traced slow patterns against her bare skin. He was quiet for a long time, as if lost in thought.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"We will take our revenge together."

Selene’s breath hitched. She turned her head to look at him, meeting his piercing golden gaze.

"Darius," she whispered, her voice raw with hatred.

Alaric nodded.

"He took everything from you. He betrayed you. He left your father’s body to rot in the wild."

Selene’s chest tightened. The memory of her father’s lifeless form, discarded like trash, burned in her mind.

Alaric’s grip on her waist tightened slightly. "But he made a mistake, Selene."

She swallowed hard. "What mistake?"

His lips curled into a slow, dangerous smirk.

"He didn’t kill you when he had the chance."

A shiver ran down Selene’s spine.

Alaric leaned closer, his voice a dark promise.

"And now, we will make him regret it."