CHAPTER 6 The Mate Bond
1455 Words
Darkness swallowed the council chamber.
Smoke drifted through the air where candles once burned while terrified voices echoed around the room.
“What was that?!” “She caused it!” “The mark is awakening!”
Fear spread through the chamber like poison.
At the center of the chaos stood Lyra Nightbane trembling in Alpha Kael Draven’s arms.
The burning beneath her collarbone became unbearable.
Silver light pulsed beneath her skin violently.
Her breathing turned uneven.
Pain shot through her chest in waves.
Kael tightened his grip around her instantly.
“Lyra.”
His voice cut through the panic sharply.
But she barely heard him.
The room blurred around her.
Voices sounded distant now.
Like she was sinking underwater.
Then suddenly—
A female voice whispered inside her mind.
Find me.
Lyra froze.
The voice sounded soft.
Beautiful.
Familiar.
Before the blood moon rises.
Her eyes widened.
“Who are you?”
The room fell strangely silent.
Several council members stared at her nervously.
Kael’s expression darkened.
“Who are you speaking to?”
Lyra looked around confused.
“You… didn’t hear that?”
Fear spread across the council instantly.
One elder stepped backward.
“She hears spirits.”
Another whispered shakily—
“The bloodline prophecy…”
Kael’s wolf snarled violently beneath his skin.
Enough.
His silver eyes flashed.
“Leave.”
Nobody moved.
Kael’s voice deepened dangerously.
“I said leave.”
The entire council rushed out immediately.
Nobody dared challenge him.
Within moments the chamber emptied, leaving only Kael, Lyra, and Damon behind.
Kael looked down at Lyra carefully.
The silver glow beneath her skin slowly faded.
But the mark remained visible now.
Ancient symbols circled the crescent moon faintly.
Alive.
Kael gently brushed his thumb across her shoulder.
The moment he touched her—
The mate bond exploded violently.
Heat slammed through both of them instantly.
Lyra gasped softly.
Her knees weakened.
Kael caught her before she could fall.
The air between them changed.
Thicker.
Hotter.
Dangerous.
Kael’s breathing deepened slightly.
Mine.
The word pounded through him.
Claim her.
His wolf pressed violently against the surface now.
Every instinct screamed to mark her.
To bite her neck.
To make every wolf in existence understand she belonged to him.
Lyra looked up at him breathlessly.
Why did touching him feel addictive?
Terrifyingly addictive.
Kael noticed her shaking.
“You’re overwhelmed.”
“That’s an understatement.”
Despite everything, the faint sarcasm in her voice nearly amused him.
Nearly.
Damon cleared his throat awkwardly nearby.
“We should move this conversation somewhere safer.”
Kael didn’t take his eyes off Lyra.
“Prepare the east wing.”
Damon blinked.
“The royal wing?”
“Yes.”
Shock flashed briefly across Damon’s face.
Nobody stayed in the royal wing.
Not since Kael’s parents died.
But Damon nodded immediately.
“As you wish.”
Once Damon left, silence settled between them again.
Kael slowly released Lyra.
Immediately the cold returned.
And strangely…
She hated it.
The realization frightened her.
Kael noticed the subtle disappointment in her expression.
His wolf became smug instantly.
Mate.
Lyra quickly looked away.
“What’s happening to me?”
Kael studied her quietly.
“The mate bond is strengthening.”
“But I don’t even have a wolf.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“It should.”
Kael stepped closer slowly.
“You believe having no wolf makes you weak.”
Lyra laughed bitterly.
“Doesn’t it?”
Kael stared at her silently for several seconds.
Then—
“No.”
The simple answer caught her off guard.
“Everyone else thinks so.”
“I’m not everyone else.”
Again, those words hit harder than they should have.
Kael turned toward the shattered windows overlooking the storm outside.
Rain crashed against the glass violently while lightning illuminated the mountains beyond the castle.
“There are wolves born powerful,” he said quietly.
Then his expression darkened.
“And wolves born dangerous.”
Lyra frowned slightly.
“What’s the difference?”
Kael looked back at her.
“Power can be controlled.”
His silver eyes sharpened.
“Danger cannot.”
A chill crawled across her skin.
“Are you talking about me?”
Kael didn’t answer immediately.
Which was answer enough.
Fear twisted inside her chest again.
“What exactly am I?”
Kael’s jaw tightened.
“I don’t know yet.”
That terrified him more than he admitted.
Because Kael recognized the Moonborn mark.
Ancient stories existed about the bloodline.
Stories powerful Alphas tried to erase centuries ago.
A royal hybrid bloodline capable of controlling wolves.
Destroying packs.
Starting wars.
And according to legend…
One Moonborn queen nearly burned the werewolf kingdoms to the ground.
Kael remembered the vision again.
Fire.
Death.
Lyra standing beneath a blood moon.
His wolf remained strangely calm about it.
Because regardless of what she was—
She was still his mate.
Suddenly Lyra wrapped her arms around herself tightly.
Cold.
Kael noticed instantly.
Without a word, he removed his black coat and placed it around her shoulders.
Lyra blinked in surprise.
Warmth immediately surrounded her.
And his scent.
Rain.
Smoke.
Cedar.
Danger.
It strangely comforted her.
Kael noticed her relaxing slightly beneath his coat.
Something protective stirred violently inside him.
Mine.
Lyra looked up carefully.
“Why are you being kind to me?”
The question caught him off guard.
Kael frowned slightly.
“Kind?”
“You saved me. Protected me.”
She hesitated softly.
“No one usually does that.”
Something dark moved behind Kael’s eyes instantly.
Because he suddenly imagined Lyra living her entire life unloved.
Untouched.
Unprotected.
Rage stirred beneath his skin.
“What did Vivian do to you?”
Lyra looked away quickly.
“Nothing.”
Lie.
Kael stepped closer.
“She hit you.”
Silence.
“She starved you.”
Lyra’s breathing became uneven.
“She locked you away.”
Tears burned her eyes immediately.
Kael’s wolf snarled violently.
Kill them.
Every bruise on her body suddenly felt personal to him.
Dangerously personal.
Lyra quickly wiped her eyes.
“I don’t want pity.”
Kael’s expression hardened.
“You have my protection.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
The honesty in her voice stunned him slightly.
Because she was right.
Protection wasn’t love.
And Lyra looked like someone who had spent her entire life begging silently to be loved.
Kael slowly lifted his hand toward her face.
This time—
She didn’t flinch.
His fingers brushed softly against her cheek.
The mate bond pulsed again.
Hot.
Intimate.
Lyra’s heartbeat quickened instantly.
Kael noticed.
His gaze lowered briefly to her lips.
And suddenly the air became far too dangerous.
Lyra noticed the shift immediately.
So did his wolf.
Claim her.
The desire hit Kael violently.
Unexpectedly.
He hadn’t wanted someone in years.
Not like this.
Not with this level of intensity.
Lyra stepped backward quickly.
Fear flashed across her face again.
Not fear of him hurting her.
Fear of what she felt too.
Kael immediately regained control.
Barely.
“Come,” he said roughly.
He led her through the massive castle corridors in silence.
Servants immediately lowered their heads whenever Kael passed.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody looked directly at him.
Lyra noticed everything.
The fear.
The obedience.
The loneliness.
Kael ruled an entire territory.
Yet somehow he looked completely alone.
Finally they reached massive silver doors guarded by black wolf statues.
Kael pushed the doors open.
Lyra stepped inside slowly.
And froze.
The room was breathtaking.
Massive windows overlooked the mountains.
Silver curtains flowed softly in the wind.
Ancient bookshelves lined the walls while moonlight spilled across dark marble floors.
A fireplace crackled warmly nearby.
Beautiful.
Quiet.
Lonely.
“This is your room,” Kael said.
Lyra stared at him.
“This room is bigger than my entire attic.”
Kael’s jaw tightened slightly again.
Attic.
He hated imagining her there.
Cold.
Forgotten.
Hurt.
A servant quietly entered carrying folded clothes before quickly leaving again.
Kael walked toward the fireplace.
“You’ll stay here where I can protect you.”
Lyra looked down.
“From what?”
Kael’s silver eyes darkened.
“Everything.”
Silence settled between them again.
Then suddenly—
A sharp scream echoed through the castle.
Lyra jumped.
Kael instantly moved toward the door.
Another scream followed.
Followed by running footsteps.
Damon burst inside moments later breathing heavily.
“Alpha.”
Kael’s expression sharpened.
“What happened?”
Damon looked toward Lyra briefly.
Then back at Kael.
“We found another body.”
A cold feeling spread through the room instantly.
Kael’s voice lowered dangerously.
“Where?”
“The western tower.”
Damon hesitated.
Then added quietly—
“The victim had the Moonborn symbol carved into his chest.”
- Writer
