Marla Blackthorn smiled coldly. She had not only watched Kael from the shadows long before he was born, she had made him a beast. It pleased her now, after so many years of patience, to see the thread that steadied him within reach.
Tasha.
Lucien's grip on Tasha's arm was firm, but his smile was softer, almost regretful, as though he had believed his betrayal had purpose.
"You see," Marla murmured, her white eyes sweeping over Tasha as though cataloging every breath, every trembling shiver. "Kael was never meant to rule. A beast should not wear a crown."
Her heart thundered, her body straining against Lucien's hold. "Why are you doing this? He is your brother!"
"A brother, yes. But he's no Alpha. And the pack deserve more than his madness. The throne belongs to me." Lucien leaned closer, his breath warm at her ear. 'You'll understand, in time."
"You're just jealous!"
"I wouldn't say that in your position, my dear."
Before she could cry out, the witch raised her head. Shadows coiled up from the ground like smoke, winding around her wrists, ankles, and throat. Cold seeped through her veins, stealing her breath, dragging her into darkness. When she woke, the air was damp.
The floor beneath her was stone, rough and wet. Chains bit into her wrists were her hands were bound above her head. The cellar smelled of rot and old iron, the chill sinking deep into her bones. Her gown was torn, her bare feet raw against the cold floor. She pulled against the chains, but the iron held firm.
She was Kael's Luna. His chosen mate.
And she had just become the weapon meant to destroy him.
Kael had forced himself to sleep in another room, away from her. He had felt she wasn't ready. He had sworn he wouldn't lose control again, not with her so close. Not when the smallest brush of her skin against his could drive him to madness.
His heart clenched at the thought of seeing her. His wolf sensed her absence and snarled inside him, pacing, scratching, furious. Something was wrong. There was magic laced in the air, something foul that blocked the bond. A cloaking spell. Before he could move, the door burst open. Rena stumbled inside, her face pale.
"My lord-" she gasped, nearly collapsing. "Forgive me, I left her only for a moment. She's gone."
The silence in the study was suffocating, until his chair scraped violently against the floor as he rose. His eyes glowed gold, fury shaking through him as he strode to the hall. Servants, guards, and council members were summoned at his command. His brother Lucien stood among them.
"Where is she?" he growled, "Who's plotting?"
No one answered. He slammed his fist onto the long table, the crack echoing like thunder. The silence broke into murmurs. His wolf clawed harder, tearing through him, demanding release. His body shifted violently, bones breaking, fur spilling through his skin. His roar echoed in the penthouse. Gasps and screams filled the hall as his massive wolf form rose, eyes burning, fangs bared.
"Calm down, brother." Lucien said walking towards him. "You don't have to rip anyone's head off. I will talk to the council and people around, they'll find her."
It was forbidden to shift in the day. But Kael no longer heard reason. He needed her. She was his air. He lashed out, claws raking across the stone walls, his wolf taking full control and smelling every lie in their breath, splinters of wood and shards of glass scattering as people braced themselves, and some fled. Servants cried out, scrambling from his path.
"You need to restrain him, Lucien." A voice called out. Chains rattled as guards braced themselves to protect him.
"Step aside," Lucien said, "You know what to do. We won't hurt him."
As the guards stepped aside, Lucien raised his hands. "I'm not armed, brother. Just surrender."
A cold presence swept into the hall. Marla's eyes glowed, her lips curling into a smile. Words slipped from her mouth in a language older than time, and chains of shadow coiled over his body, sinking deep into his flesh. Kael howled, writhing, his claws tearing at the invisible bond. The silver chains wrapped tighter, biting into his skin. He collapsed.
The howl tore through the night like a blade, deep and broken, echoing in her bones. Tasha sighed where she lay in the damp cellar, her wrists and arms bound by cruel iron chains.
Kael.
She knew it was him. She forced gaze to the cellar, looking for a way out. The witch's spell had locked her limbs tight, sealing the bonds with something unnatural, something her own strength could not break. But the chains that tethered her to the stone wall were iron. Her eyes fell on a rusted iron half buried in the ground. She crawled weakly towards it, every clink of the chains loud in the silence. Her hands trembled as she gripped the rod, lifting it with effort, sweat beading along her temples. She wedged it between the stones and the meatal loop that kept her shackled to the wall.
Her muscles screamed. Her body shook but she did not stop. At last, with a painful groan of metal, the loop snapped free. The sound made her collapsed with relief. She was still chained, still bound hand and foot, but no longer anchored. Panting, she scrambled to her feet. The chains rattled against the stones as she pushed the iron door open, stumbling into the night and ran, the chains dragging her back, her breath tearing in and out as though her ribs would crack apart.
Someone. Anyone.
Minutes stretched to eternity. She tripped, fell hard, then pushed herself back up. Her gown tore against brambles. Her hair stuck to her damp face. By the time a dim light broke through the forest, her heart almost stopped. A large house, its windows shining with warm light. She staggered toward it. The door opened before she reached it, drawn by the sound of clattering chains. A family stood frozen at the doorway glancing to each other as they saw her.
"Moon bless us," the older man said. "It's the Luna."
They rushed to her, catching her before she fell. Inside, the air smelled of bread and fish, and the warmth almost made her sob.
"What happened?" the older woman asked gently, brushing damp hair from her face. "Are we at war?"
Tasha's throat burned as she tried to speak. "The Alpha's brother," she whispered, "he plotted with a witch. They took me to raise his curse again."
"The Alpha's curse?"
A young woman, a tall, striking beauty folded her arms. "I heard you didn't even like the Alpha. and that you ran the day we were all supposed to see you. So, why not run now? Why the sudden concern?"
She froze. She was right.
The woman lean closer, her lips curving. "No way. You're falling for him." She laughed lightly. "Does he know? Oh, it would be so romantic to finally attend a wedding!"
"Enough, Sera." the young man cut in sharply as his gaze narrowed. "Respect the Luna."
She rolled her eyes but obeyed, turning back to Tasha with a grin. "I'm his mate," she said proudly. "So trust me, I know when a woman's heart is betraying her."
The family pressed a plate of food to her hands, afterward guided her to a small bathroom to wash the dirt and sweat away, lending her fresh clothes. When she returned, they were waiting in the room.
"What now, Luna?" the young man asked. "What's your plan? We need to find a way to break these chains."
She set the empty cup aside, her eyes firm. "I must rescue Kael."
"Finally, some fire." Sera grinned. "But if you're going against that witch, you won't stand a chance alone."
"We'll need help. Allies strong enough to fight her." His gaze settled on her with quiet respect. "And if what you say is true, the Alpha won't last long without you."
Kael's wrist were bound high against the cold stone, heavy chains looped cruelly around his chest and shoulders. His skin blistered where the silver touched, smoke curling faintly from the wounds. Every breath was a battle, his chest heaving with the effort to contain the beast clawing at him.
His beast wanted out. The absent of his mate, the severed thread of their bond, left him hollow and raging. He could smell the cloaking spell thick in the air, smothering every trace of her. Through the haze of pain, voices carried from beyond the chamber doors. The council had gathered. He could hear them, low and anxious.
"My brother is...unfit to rule in his current state," Lucien said, his tone measured but resolute. "He has lost control. For the safety of this household, for the protection of the clans, I will assume the Alpha's role until he regains his senses."