The road twisted like a serpent through the forest, swallowed by shadows and storm. The car rattled violently as the stranger — the man who claimed to know her, claimed to own nothing but fate — sped deeper into darkness.
Mira clutched the door handle so hard her knuckles turned white.
"Slow down!" she yelled.
"No."
"Are you trying to kill us?!"
"If I wanted you dead," he said, voice dangerously calm, "I wouldn't be driving."
The casual tone sent a chill up her spine. She didn't know what terrified her more — the monsters chasing them… or the quiet certainty in his voice.
Wind slammed against the car, rocking it. Behind them, distant howls echoed through the trees, but Mira refused to look back. Her heart was already beating too fast.
The man glanced at her — a quick, assessing look that felt like a hand closing around her pulse.
"You're scared," he said softly.
"No," she snapped.
He almost smiled. "You should be."
Lightning cracked overhead, illuminating his profile — strong jaw, tense mouth, silver eyes glowing like molten steel. He wasn't human. She knew that now. No human moved that fast, fought like that… smelled like that.
Mira shivered, hugging herself.
He noticed.
Without thinking, he unzipped his jacket — a dark, heavy leather coat — and draped it over her shoulders.
She stiffened. "Don't touch me."
He didn't take the jacket back.
Instead, he leaned one elbow against the steering wheel, gaze fixed on the road, voice low.
"I won't touch you again unless you ask."
Her breath caught painfully.
Why did that sound more dangerous than a threat?
"Stop," she whispered. "Stop talking like you know me."
"But I do."
His voice dipped into something that made her stomach twist.
"I've known you longer than you've known yourself."
She swallowed hard. "Tell me your name."
His grip on the wheel tightened. For a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer.
"Aiden."
The name fit him — sharp, dark, ancient.
"Aiden what?"
He hesitated, jaw clenching. "Blackthorn."
The name felt heavy in the air. Old. Powerful. Like something from a myth.
"And what exactly are you?" Mira whispered.
He breathed out slowly — like he'd been waiting for her to ask.
"A werewolf," he said.
The word hung between them like a blade.
Mira's heart jolted. "You're— serious?"
His lips curved slightly. Not a smile. Something darker. "You saw what I did to those rogues."
She couldn't argue.
"And me?" she whispered. "What am I?"
He didn't look at her when he spoke.
"You," he said softly, "are Moonbound."
Silence filled the car, suffocating.
Mira stared at him. "Explain."
Aiden inhaled deeply, as though preparing himself.
"Long ago, there were thirteen royal bloodlines," he began. "Old families blessed by the Moon Goddess. Strong. Sacred. Untouchable."
"And… Moonbound is one of them?"
"It was," he corrected. "Until it was slaughtered."
Lightning flashed again. She could see the tightness in his jaw, the storm in his expression.
"Slaughtered by who?"
"Rogues." Aiden's voice grew dark. "A queen who wanted the Moonbound throne. She murdered your family eighteen years ago."
Mira shook her head. "No… I don't have a family like that. I was adopted—"
"You were hidden," Aiden said sharply. "To protect you. Because the queen believed she wiped your bloodline from existence."
"So why am I only… changing now?"
"Because," he said quietly, "your eighteenth birthday awakened your mark. Your power. Your wolf. And now every rogue in the region can feel you. Smell you."
Her skin prickled in fear.
He lowered his voice, almost to a whisper.
"They can sense the Moonbound heir rising."
She sank back in her seat, trembling. Her entire life — every normal day, every stupid human problem — suddenly felt like a lie.
"And you?" she whispered painfully. "What do you want with me?"
Aiden didn't answer immediately. Thunder rumbled in the sky.
When he spoke, his voice was softer than she expected.
"I want to keep you alive."
The words hit her like a fist, heavy and honest.
She stared at him, unable to breathe for a moment. "Why?"
This time, he did look at her.
And what she saw in his eyes terrified her more than anything else — something raw, desperate, primal.
"You're my mate."
Her breath broke.
"No," she said. "That's impossible. I'm human."
His eyes glowed. "You're not."
"A mate means—"
"A bond," Aiden said quietly. "A pull. A connection between souls."
Her pulse fluttered wildly, traitorously.
"That's why your mark burns when I touch it," he said. "That's why you feel me before you see me."
She blinked rapidly. "I don't feel— anything."
He leaned closer, slow, careful, as though afraid she would run. His scent wrapped around her — warm smoke, pine, danger.
"Mira," he whispered, "your heart is racing."
She jerked back, cheeks burning. "Because you're insane!"
He chuckled softly.
Then suddenly — the car swerved sharply.
Mira screamed.
Aiden cursed under his breath and slammed the brakes. The car skidded to a stop on the rain-soaked road.
Ahead of them stood a massive wolf. Larger than any they'd seen. Its fur white as bone, its eyes glowing red.
Aiden's whole body tensed. "Damn it."
Mira clutched her seat.
"What is that?"
"Not a rogue," he said grimly. "A hunter."
The creature growled, low and chilling.
Aiden cracked his neck slowly. "Stay in the car. Don't move."
Mira grabbed his arm. "You can't fight that alone!"
He leaned close — too close — until his forehead nearly touched hers.
His voice vibrated through her chest.
"I'd fight a kingdom alone for you."
Her lips parted, a soft sound escaping her throat.
Then he pulled away, stepped out into the storm…
…and shifted.
Right in front of her.
His bones snapped. His muscles expanded. Fur burst from his skin. His body twisted, reshaped, transformed into something massive, powerful, terrifying —
A wolf bigger than the hunter blocking their path.
Silver fur.
Eyes like moonfire.
Aiden.
Mira pressed a shaking hand to the window.
And as the two monstrous wolves collided with earth-shattering force, Mira realized something horrifying:
This was only the beginning.