Kaelen's POV
Three males stood between me and my bonded.
Every instinct I had screamed MINE. Protect. Fight. Kill anything that threatened her. The bond burned hot in my chest, feeding me strength I shouldn't have after nearly dying.
I shifted to human form and stepped in front of Zara, ignoring how my legs shook. "She's not a prize to be claimed."
Draven raised an eyebrow. "Possessive, aren't we? You've had her what—two days? And already acting like she's your mate."
"She's my bonded. That's more permanent than any mate-bond."
The serpent-man slithered closer, his movements fluid and wrong. "I am Soren Viperstrike, Lord of the Southern Serpent Clans. And you, little wolf, are outmatched." His silver eyes fixed on Zara. "A Queen Marked One is too valuable for one bond. She needs multiple protectors. Multiple... connections."
"Over my dead body," I growled.
"That can be arranged," the hawk-warrior said coldly. His amber eyes were sharp, predatory. "I'm Talon Skyhunter. And the Hawk Clans have first rights to any Marked Ones found in our territory."
"This isn't your territory," I shot back. "We're on neutral ground."
"Barely." Draven crossed his arms, flames flickering around him. "But Talon has a point. Historically, Marked Ones bonded with multiple protectors. It's how they survived."
Through the bond, I felt Zara's confusion and fear. She pressed against my back, her hands gripping my shoulders.
"Kaelen," she whispered. "What are they talking about? Multiple bonds?"
"They want to bond with you like I did," I told her quietly. "Share your power. Tie themselves to you forever."
"Do I get a say in this?"
Soren laughed—a cold, hissing sound. "Of course, darling. You can choose who bonds with you. But choose wisely. The wrong allies will get you killed. The right ones..." His smile showed too many teeth. "The right ones will make you unstoppable."
"She doesn't need any of you," I snarled. "I can protect her."
"Can you?" Draven's golden eyes gleamed. "You almost died tonight. If she hadn't saved you with magic she barely understands, you'd be feral food. How long before your luck runs out, wolf?"
The words hit like claws. He was right. I'd failed tonight. Nearly gotten us both killed.
"He's stronger than you think," Zara said suddenly, her voice firm. She stepped around me to face the three males. "Kaelen saved me when I had nothing. Taught me to survive. Bonded with me when everyone else wanted me dead. So before you start talking about claiming me, remember—I already chose him."
Something warm and painful bloomed in my chest. She chose me. This extraordinary human chose me.
Talon tilted his head, studying her with new interest. "You speak well for someone so new to this world. Most humans would be cowering."
"I'm not most humans."
"Clearly." Soren moved closer, circling her like prey. "Tell me, Queen Marked One—do you feel it? The pull toward multiple bonds? The instinct that whispers you need more than one protector?"
Zara hesitated. Through the bond, I felt a flicker of something. Confusion? Recognition?
"I don't know what I feel," she admitted. "Everything's happening too fast."
"Then let us slow it down." Draven's voice turned surprisingly gentle. "We're not your enemies, Zara. We're offering protection. Alliance. Power."
"For a price," I cut in. "What do you really want from her?"
The three males exchanged glances.
"The truth?" Soren said. "The clans are on the edge of war. Have been for decades. A Queen Marked One could unite us—or give one clan enough power to dominate all the others. We each want that advantage."
"So you admit you want to use her."
"We want to survive," Talon corrected. "Just like you. Just like her. The difference is we're honest about it."
Draven stepped forward, holding out his hand. "Here's my offer, Zara. Let me bond with you. I'll teach you to control your fire magic properly—before it kills you. I'll give you dragon clan protection. And I'll answer one question truthfully right now."
Zara bit her lip. "What question?"
"Ask me anything. I'll tell you the truth, and then you decide if you trust me enough to bond."
It was a smart play. Offering knowledge when she desperately needed it. I wanted to refuse for her, but this was her choice. Through the bond, I sent her warmth. Support. Whatever you decide, I'm with you.
"Okay," Zara said slowly. "One question. Why did you really give us a chance to survive the blood moon instead of just killing me immediately?"
Draven smiled. "Because I saw something in you during our fight. When you combined your magic with his wolf essence to create hybrid fire, I realized you're not like the other Marked Ones. They were victims—scared, desperate, easy to manipulate. You fought back. You protected your bonded when you could barely protect yourself. That takes courage." His golden eyes softened slightly. "My mother had that kind of courage. The clans killed her for it when I was twelve. I've regretted not being strong enough to save her every day since."
The raw honesty in his voice shocked me. Through the bond, I felt Zara's walls crack just a little.
"I'm sorry about your mother," she said quietly.
"Don't be sorry. Be strong. Be the Queen Marked One who doesn't let the clans destroy her." He kept his hand extended. "Bond with me. Let me help you survive."
"Zara, no," I warned. "You don't know him. He could be lying—"
"He's not lying." She touched my arm. "I can feel it somehow. The marks are reacting to him."
My blood ran cold. "What?"
She looked down at her glowing marks. "They're pulling toward him. Like they recognize him as a potential bond."
Soren laughed. "The marks know what she needs before she does. How delightful."
"If she bonds with him, she becomes part dragon," Talon pointed out. "That shifts the power balance dangerously."
"Then offer your own bond," Draven said smoothly. "Let her choose."
This was spiraling out of control. I'd gone from having my bonded safe with me to watching three powerful males compete for her. The territorial part of me wanted to fight them all.
But the part that loved her—and I was starting to realize I did love her—knew she needed more protection than I could give alone.
"Kaelen." Zara turned to face me fully. "What should I do?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "Multiple bonds are dangerous. They could overwhelm you, change you completely. But they also might keep you alive when I can't."
"You'll always keep me alive." She touched my face gently. "You're my first bond. My pack. Nothing changes that."
Through our connection, I felt her certainty. It steadied something wild in me.
"If you bond with them," I said carefully, "we stay together. You don't get separated from me. Ever."
"Deal." She looked at the three waiting males. "I'm not bonding with anyone tonight. I'm exhausted, confused, and I need time to think."
"Fair enough," Draven said. "We'll give you until dawn."
"And then?" Zara challenged.
"And then the Bear Clan arrives." Talon's voice was grim. "Thorne knows you're here. He's bringing an army to kill you before you can bond with any of the major clans. If you want to survive, you'll need more than a lone wolf protecting you."
My heart sank. Thorne. The most brutal chief in the territories. If he was coming...
"How many warriors?" I asked.
"Fifty. Maybe more." Soren's smile was sharp. "Even a Queen Marked One can't fight those numbers unbonded and untrained."
Zara's face went pale. Through the bond, I felt her fear spike.
"So I either bond with you three or die?" she whispered.
"Not quite." A new voice echoed through the cave—female, ancient, crackling with power.
We all spun around.
The ghost woman from the Deadwood stood at the cave entrance, but she looked different. More solid. More real. Her black teeth gleamed as she smiled.
"There is a third option, little Queen." Her dead eyes fixed on Zara. "You could bond with me."
"That's impossible," Draven breathed. "You're a spirit. You can't form bonds."
"Can't I?" The ghost drifted closer, her form flickering. "I was the First Marked One, child. I died here three hundred years ago, but my power remained. Waiting. Watching. And now..." She reached out a translucent hand toward Zara. "Now I can finally live again. Through you."
Zara stumbled backward into me. "What does that mean?"
The ghost's smile widened horribly. "It means if you bond with me, I get your body. And you get my three centuries of power and knowledge." Her voice turned seductive. "Think about it. Instant mastery of all Marked One abilities. The strength to crush your enemies. The wisdom to unite the clans."
"And Zara?" I demanded. "What happens to her?"
"She sleeps. Forever. A small price for saving this world from war."
"That's not bonding," Soren hissed. "That's possession."
"Call it what you like." The ghost's eyes glowed brighter. "But dawn is coming. The Bear Clan is coming. And little Zara must choose." She began circling us, her voice echoing strangely. "Bond with the living and maybe survive. Bond with me and definitely win. Or bond with no one..." She leaned close to Zara's ear. "And die screaming as Thorne tears you apart."
The cave fell silent.
Zara's hand found mine, gripping tight. Through the bond, I felt her terror warring with desperate hope. She was actually considering it.
"Zara, no," I said urgently. "Don't listen to her. We'll find another way—"
"What other way?" Her voice cracked. "She's right. Fifty warriors are coming to kill me. I can't fight that many. Even with you, I can't—"
"You can with us," Draven interrupted. "Bond with the three of us right now. Combined, we can hold off Thorne's army until—"
"Until what?" Zara laughed bitterly. "Until more enemies come? Until someone stronger shows up? I'm so tired of running."
"Then don't run." The ghost's smile was triumphant. "Take my offer. Take my power. End this."
Zara looked at me, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry, Kaelen. I'm so sorry."
She stepped toward the ghost.
And reached out her hand to accept the bond.