Blood Moon
1833 Words
The storm finally broke two days later.
Sunlight spilled across the mountains for the first time in nearly a week, turning the endless snowfields into silver fire beneath the pale winter sky. Wolves moved through the Silver Fang estate once more, but the tension hadn’t faded with the storm.
If anything…
It had grown worse.
Lyra noticed it everywhere.
The whispered conversations stopping when she entered rooms.
The hostile stares.
The uneasy silence among warriors.
The pack was dividing itself apart piece by piece.
And everyone knew why.
She stood quietly near the training yard balcony wrapped in a thick cream-colored cloak, crystal-blue eyes watching wolves spar below in the snow.
The sounds of combat echoed sharply through the cold air.
Growls.
Shouting.
Bones hitting frozen ground.
Strength.
Everything Silver Fang respected.
Her gaze drifted downward.
She would never belong in a place like this.
“You’re thinking too loudly again.”
Lyra startled softly.
Kael leaned against the balcony entrance behind her, arms crossed over a black long-sleeve shirt stretched tightly across his chest and shoulders. Dark hair fell slightly into his eyes after training, and sunlight caught faint silver tones hidden beneath the black strands.
Beautiful.
Dangerous.
Entirely too distracting.
The bond purred warmly the moment she looked at him.
Mine.
Heat climbed into her cheeks immediately.
Kael noticed.
His mouth twitched faintly.
“You blush every time you stare at me.”
Lyra nearly choked.
“I do not.”
“You absolutely do.”
She turned away quickly, embarrassed.
Kael stepped closer.
The size difference between them still startled her every single time. His body radiated heat in the freezing air while her head barely reached the center of his chest.
Massive.
Safe.
The thought slipped into her mind before she could stop it.
Kael’s expression softened instantly.
“You felt that.”
The bond.
Of course he did.
Lyra groaned quietly.
“This thing is humiliating.”
His low laugh wrapped warmly around her chest.
“No,” he murmured. “It’s entertaining.”
She glared weakly up at him.
Kael looked entirely too pleased with himself.
Then his expression shifted slightly.
Serious again.
“The Crimson Claw Pack arrives tomorrow.”
Her stomach dropped immediately.
The Blood Moon Gathering.
She’d spent the last two days trying not to think about it.
Failed miserably.
Every major northern alpha would attend the gathering. Alliances would be discussed. Territory disputes handled. Pack politics negotiated.
And now Kael planned to walk into that gathering holding hands with the runt omega everyone already whispered about.
Humiliation waited for him there.
Public humiliation.
“You still shouldn’t take me.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed instantly.
“We’ve discussed this.”
“And I still think you’re wrong.”
“And you’re still coming.”
Frustration flashed through her chest.
“You can’t just decide everything for me.”
“No,” he said calmly. “Only the important things.”
Lyra stared at him in disbelief.
“You’re impossible.”
“I’m alpha.”
“That isn’t an excuse.”
“It has worked well so far.”
Despite herself, a small laugh escaped her.
Kael’s entire attention sharpened instantly at the sound.
Like hearing her laugh mattered.
Like everything about her mattered.
The terrifying thing was…
He acted like it did.
Kael stepped beside her at the balcony railing, towering over the snowy training grounds below.
“They’ll challenge me.”
Lyra looked up at him quickly.
“At the gathering?”
“Yes.”
His calmness somehow made it worse.
She swallowed hard.
“Because of me.”
“Because they think I’ve become weak.”
Her chest tightened painfully.
Kael noticed immediately.
His large hand settled carefully against the small of her back.
Warm.
Steady.
Grounding.
“They’re wrong.”
“But they believe it.”
His silver eyes drifted toward the warriors below.
“Most alphas only respect violence.”
“And you don’t?”
A faint smirk touched his mouth.
“I enjoy violence.”
That sounded disturbingly honest.
“But,” he continued, looking down at her now, “I don’t mistake cruelty for strength.”
Emotion flickered softly through the bond.
Pride.
Possession.
Something dangerously close to affection.
Lyra looked away first.
Because every time he looked at her like that…
It became harder to remember why she should leave.
A loud crash suddenly echoed below.
Both looked toward the training yard instantly.
Two wolves had shifted mid-fight, snarling violently in the snow while warriors shouted around them.
One of the wolves suddenly yelled:
“Maybe our alpha should mate with humans next!”
Laughter erupted from several nearby wolves.
Lyra froze.
Kael didn’t.
The balcony railing cracked beneath his hand.
Pure rage slammed violently through the bond.
The entire training yard went silent.
Every wolf below looked up immediately.
Kael’s voice came low.
Deadly calm.
“Who said that?”
Nobody answered.
Fear spread instantly across the yard.
Kael started toward the stairs.
Lyra grabbed his wrist immediately.
“Kael.”
He stopped.
Barely.
“They’re insulting you,” he growled.
“They want a reaction.”
“They have one.”
His silver eyes glowed faintly now.
Wolf close to the surface.
Dangerously close.
Lyra tightened her grip slightly.
“Please.”
The word softened something inside him instantly.
She felt it happen through the bond.
His rage still burned hot beneath her skin, but control slowly returned.
Below them, warriors exchanged nervous glances.
Because everyone had just witnessed something terrifying.
The alpha listened to the runt.
Kael exhaled slowly through his nose.
Then his gaze swept coldly across the training yard.
“Next wolf who disrespects my mate loses their tongue.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
No one doubted him.
Kael turned away from the balcony.
“Come with me.”
Lyra followed quietly beside him through the estate halls while wolves immediately moved aside from their path.
Fear.
Respect.
Confusion.
Every emotion filled the air around them.
Kael led her toward the upper western wing she’d never visited before.
The farther they walked, the quieter the estate became.
Finally they stopped outside massive black double doors.
Lyra frowned softly.
“What is this?”
Kael opened the doors.
His room.
No.
Not room.
Suite.
Lyra stared openly.
Dark wood walls stretched around a massive space overlooking the mountains through towering windows. Black furniture, stone fireplaces, shelves of books, weapons mounted along the walls.
Everything smelled like him.
Cedarwood.
Winter.
Wolf.
The scent wrapped instantly around her senses.
Mine.
Her wolf stirred happily beneath her skin.
Kael noticed the exact moment she reacted to his scent.
His expression darkened slightly.
Possessively.
“You like it.”
Heat flooded her face.
“It smells nice.”
A dangerous kind of satisfaction flickered through the bond.
Kael closed the doors behind them.
The sound made her suddenly aware they were alone.
Very alone.
Her pulse quickened.
Kael walked toward one of the large windows overlooking the forest.
“They’ll try to separate us at the gathering.”
Lyra’s stomach twisted again.
“How?”
“Pressure. Politics. Challenges.” His jaw tightened slightly. “Possibly worse.”
Fear curled colder through her chest now.
“What’s worse?”
Kael was silent for a moment.
“Some packs still believe runts are cursed.”
She stared at him.
“They’d hurt me?”
His silver eyes turned icy.
“They’d try.”
The room suddenly felt colder.
Kael stepped closer again.
“You will stay beside me at all times.”
“You can’t guard me every second.”
“Yes,” he said calmly. “I can.”
The absolute certainty in his voice shouldn’t comfort her as much as it did.
But it did.
Kael’s gaze studied her carefully.
“You’re scared.”
“Yes.”
Honest.
Because lying to him felt impossible now.
The bond exposed too much.
Kael lifted one large hand slowly toward her face.
This time…
She didn’t flinch.
Something deep and possessive flashed behind his eyes at that.
His fingers brushed softly against her cheek.
Warm.
Gentle.
Completely opposite of the monster everyone believed him to be.
“You trust me now.”
The quiet realization in his voice made her chest ache.
Lyra swallowed softly.
“A little.”
Kael’s thumb brushed lightly beneath her eye.
“Liar.”
Her breath caught.
Because he sounded pleased about it.
The bond pulsed hotter suddenly.
Awareness flooded between them instantly.
Too much awareness.
Too much closeness.
Kael’s gaze dropped briefly toward her mouth again.
Lyra’s pulse jumped violently.
The room felt smaller now.
Quieter.
His hand slid slowly into her hair, fingers disappearing through soft white strands.
“So pretty,” he murmured softly.
The words nearly destroyed her.
No one had ever touched her gently before him.
No one had ever looked at her like she was beautiful instead of strange.
And Kael—
Kael looked at her like she hung the moon itself.
Lyra’s hand curled lightly against the front of his shirt before she could stop herself.
The bond snapped tighter instantly.
Kael inhaled sharply.
Silver eyes darkened.
“Lyra.”
Her name sounded rough in his voice now.
Hungry.
The realization sent heat spiraling through her stomach.
She should step back.
Instead she whispered:
“What?”
Big mistake.
Kael’s control visibly cracked.
His forehead rested lightly against hers as his hand tightened carefully in her hair.
“You need to stop looking at me like that.”
Her breath trembled softly.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Liar again.”
The deep sound of his voice vibrated straight through her chest.
Then suddenly—
A violent pounding slammed against the suite doors.
Both froze instantly.
Damien’s voice echoed through the room.
“Kael!”
The alpha closed his eyes briefly like a man enduring suffering.
“What?”
“The Crimson Claw alpha arrived early.”
Everything changed instantly.
The warmth vanished from the room.
Kael stepped back immediately, every inch of him turning dangerous again.
Lyra’s stomach twisted painfully.
Because she felt it too through the bond now.
Threat.
A real one.
Kael opened the doors sharply.
Damien stood outside looking grim.
“He brought warriors.”
“How many?”
“Too many.”
Kael’s expression darkened.
“And Magnus?”
“Meeting with them already.”
Silence.
Then Kael looked toward Lyra.
Every dangerous edge in him softened instantly again.
“Stay here.”
Fear flickered through her chest.
“You think they’ll try something tonight?”
“Yes.”
Honest again.
Always honest with her.
Kael stepped closer one last time before leaving.
His large hand cupped her jaw gently.
“If anyone enters this room besides me or Damien,” he said quietly, “you scream.”
Cold fear spread down her spine.
Because Kael Draven truly believed danger had arrived at their doorstep.
And judging by the darkness in his eyes—
He was already preparing for war.
- Writer
