Rosari’e

Chapter 7:mate

Kieran’s POV

I tried to push myself up, every muscle screaming in protest. My hands slid against the cold stone floor, scraping skin, blood mingling with frost.

“Don’t try anything stupid,” a voice snapped.

I froze. She stepped closer. Her skin was tanned, arms corded with muscle, abs carved like stone—someone who had spent every waking hour training, honing, perfecting herself. Her face was fierce: high cheekbones, sharp jaw, dark eyes that drilled into me with accusation, lips pressed tight in a line of command.

“You’re already on the death toll,” she said, voice low, dangerous. “So don’t try anything dumb, spy.”

Spy? My heart slammed in my chest. A spy?

I blinked at her. “No… no, there must be a mistake. I’m… I’m not—”

My wolf whimpered faintly, shrinking back, embarrassed, hiding under my consciousness as all the women circled me. Their gazes were cold, assessing, like I was an artifact under a microscope.

Questions came fast and sharp: Who do you work for? What were you planning? Are you a scout, a traitor, an assassin? Every word was a knife, and my answers stumbled out, half-formed, useless against their scrutiny.

Then the older one stepped forward. I could tell she was their leader—or at least the most dangerous. Her grip closed around my throat like iron.

“Speak up, disgusting spy,” she hissed, her claws pressing into my collarbone. “Or die here. Right. Now.”

Panic clawed at my mind. My wolf thrashed, scratching at the cage of my consciousness. I’m not a spy! Let me out!

Before I could even form a proper answer, the door burst open.

And then I saw her.

White hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall of ice. Her eyes—icy blue, cutting like frozen blades—landed on me, and everything else fell away. Silence claimed the room.

“Everybody… leave!” Her voice rang out, full of authority, command, absolute dominance. Every word shook the stone floor beneath my feet.

Her face was flawless, beautiful and firm, untouched by fear or doubt. It was a warrior’s face, a queen’s face, and yet… somehow it made my wolf stir violently beneath my skin, claws scraping, teeth bared in anticipation.

Her.

I wanted to rise, to speak, to move, but my body refused. My wolf clawed at me, desperate, roaring inside my skull: This one… she is ours. We obey her. Now!

And for the first time since I had collapsed into their fortress, I realized: I wasn’t just a stranger anymore.

I was at the mercy of something far stronger than me