Tasha flinched as Kael's heavy footsteps echoed through the penthouse halls. He didn't speak. He was furious. His aura was heavier than before, darker somehow. It wasn't the rage she feared. It was the control he barely clung to.
He didn't wait before pushing the door to the bathroom, a space as luxurious and elegant. Stone walls, steel fixtures, and a tub so large it looked pool carved from onyx.
"Strip," he ordered, his tone flat.
She spurned around, her back hitting the wall. "What?"
"I'm bathing you," he said as though it were the normal thing in the world. "You're covered in sweat, blood and my mark."
"No, please," she gasped, folding her arms across her chest. "I'll do as I'm told now."
Kael's jaw clenched.
"Do you want me to do it for you?" he asked, stepping forward.
"Please, don't!"
His eyes closed for a moment as if pulling himself from the edge of something. "You don't understand what you've done tonight."
"I ran. That's all I did."
"You ran from a bond older than blood," he growled. "And you nearly died. Again."
"I didn't ask for any of this! I came to work." she snapped. "I didn't ask for a mate, or a mark-"
"You belong with me," he said darkly. "I feel every step you take. When you ache, breathe, and bleed."
He clenched his fists.
"You will follow three rules. And if you break any of them again, you'll face the consequences."
She stood stiff, her hands still gripping her fabric of the borrowed clothes.
"One," he said. "Don't venture out at night."
She bit her tongue.
"Two. Don't ask too many questions."
Her brows knit. "What does that mean?"
"Don't push it."
"And three," his gaze turned dangerous. "Never enter the top floor of the house."
He groaned suddenly, a sharp sound of struggle as his body stiffened. His hand flew to the wall to steady himself.
"What's happening?"
"My wolf," he hissed through gritted teeth. "He wants you. He taking everything not to tear this space apart."
"W...hat should we do? Beg him to stop?"
He grabbed his phone, and his fingers flew over the screen. Three minutes later, someone stepped in. Elegant. Tall. Silken white hair falling over her shoulders. Her face was smooth and ageless. She bowed slightly.
"Take care of her."
"Yes my lord."
Then, he was gone.
"I'm Rena," She said in a gentle voice. "I'll be looking after you now."
Rena helped her wordlessly into the enormous bath filled with rose petals, soft steam curling up into the air like a lullaby. The older woman moved with quiet elegance, never asking intrusive questions or speaking unless necessary. She helped Tasha out of her torn clothes, letting them fall silently to the floor. She flinched as she stepped into the water, the heat stinging her skin in places she never realized her bruised.
Still, it felt good.
"Lean forward." Rena said softly.
She obeyed, eyes fluttering closed as Rena washed her hair, her hands sure and practiced. She worked carefully, rinsing away every trace of blood, sweat and dirt. She stared at the flickering lights above, her limbs were too heavy to argue, her mind too full to resist. It was as though her body needed this moment of stillness, even if her thoughts didn't. By the time she was neat and dry, she smelled like rose oil and mint. Rena helped her into a light red silk that clung softly to her skin.
"You should rest," Rena said calmly. "Tomorrow will be long."
"What's tomorrow?"
The woman didn't answer. She walked Tasha back to the bedroom. "You'll be safe here."
She sat at the edge of the bed when the woman left. The silence in the room was loud. There were no clocks ticking, no wind howling. Just her pulse echoing in her ears. She stared at the door, heart tight, stomach tense.
At some point, her chin fell to her chest and her eyes drifted shut.
The scent of eggs frying and coffee brewing filled her nose. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear Nina's voice humming along with music. Her small apartment kitchen was sunny and warm. Light poured through the cracked window blinds.
"Tasha," Nina called with a grin, flipping pancakes in a worn-out slippers. "If you don't get out of bed, I'll take all the cakes back to my apartment."
She laughed, stretching out on her lumpy couch-bed, the blanket tangled around her legs.
Home. So clear and bright. So real-
"Tasha, your credit card is gone!"
The dream shattered like glass. She jerked upright, breath catching. Her heart pounded. Gone was the cramped, cluttered apartment. Gone was Nina's voice. Instead, a towering canopy above her and the unforgiving brightness of morning sun streaming in through the tall windows. Rena smiled, unfolding one of several delicate, expensive looking dresses and placing them in the wardrobe.
"Apologies," Rena said not looking at her. "I tried not to disturb you."
Tasha blinked against the light. "No worries, I'm up anyway."
Rena chuckled softly, unbothered. She opened the curtains wider, letting golden light flood the room. It washed over the polished stone floors, gleaming off the carved details in the furniture.
"Stop. Don't make this place look normal. It's not."
Rena turned slightly. "You're right. Sunlight always helps. And besides..." she turned back to the dresses and lifted one from the hanger. A soft ivory gown with fluttering sleeves and glittering neckline.
"The Alpha has requested your presence at the family breakfast."
She froze, half risen from the bed. "What?"
"He wants you to meet the house properly as his Luna."
"Great," she scoffed. "Royal lunacy with eggs and toast."
But Rena had already moved toward the bath. "Up, my lady. You need to be bathed, dressed and presentable. You don't want to keep the Alpha waiting."
Reluctantly, Tasha dragged herself from the bed. She bathed under Rena's supervision, again. Her skin was scrubbed clean, her hair brushed until it gleamed, and her body clothed in a fine gown she hadn't asked for. A small golden pendant was placed around her neck. It's surface engraved with some kind of ancient rune.
"Please, don't run again."
The air changed before she stepped into the room. As Rena guided her through the last hall, she could hear voices. Low, murmuring and urgent. Not the familiar voices of servants and workers. These were strangers. And they were talking about her.
"...she the one?"
"Impossible. She's human."
Rena stopped at the final door. Two guards stood at attention, their eyes flicking to her as they bowed.
The doors opened. The dinning hall stretched long and wide, glowing with morning light pouring through arched windows. Twenty people filled the room. Men and women dressed in fine clothes, many wearing cloths of fur and beautiful dresses. Strangers. And yet, none of them looked surprised to see her. Whispers rippled like wind through tall grass as she walked in. Sideways glances and murmured words.
They already know.
At the far end of the table, Kael stood. His dark suit coiled around his chest. His golden eyes locked with hers the moment she entered, and in that moment, Tasha felt air leave her lungs.
His stare was a pull. Like he hadn't seen her in months. He stepped forward slowly, his footsteps echoed through the stone hall as every other voice dropped to a silence. When he reached her, he didn't speak. His eyes searched her face as if to see her troubles. Then, he raised a hand and gestured her to sit beside him.
His Luna's place.
Tasha hesitated at first. She could feel the eyes on her, waiting and judging.
"You're safe." he murmured under his breath, so low only she could hear.