Shackled to the Shadow King

05

The hot water washed over my shoulders, turning the clear tub water into a murky brown within seconds.

For twenty minutes, I scrubbed my skin raw with scented soap that smelled of lavender and vanilla—luxuries I had only ever smelled on the women of the Silverfang elite. As the dirt and soot melted away, the faint, silver scars scattered across my pale skin were revealed: memories of sharp branches in the woods, hot iron kettles, and heavy boots.

When I stepped out, wrapped in a plush cream robe that felt far too soft for my skin, Lady Beatrice was waiting near the vanity table. Beside her stood a man in his early thirties wearing a tailored medical coat, a stethoscope slung casually around his neck.

"Salem," Lady Beatrice said, her tone businesslike but slightly less sharp than before. "This is Doctor Vance, the primary physician for the Onyx Citadel and Gaze’s personal doctor."

Vance gave me a polite, reassuring smile, gesturing for me to sit on the plush armchair. "Good evening, Salem. Gaze asked me to perform a thorough checkup. Don't worry, nothing painful—just a blood scan and a general physical assessment."

I sat quietly as Vance worked, placing a cold scanner against my neck and taking a small vial of blood from my arm. He pulled up a glowing blue holographic display from his medical tablet, watching the data streams with an increasingly tight expression.

"Severe malnutrition," Vance muttered, his brow furrowing as he read the diagnostic reports. "Vitamin deficiencies, muscle fatigue, and..." He paused, adjusting his glasses as he zoomed in on a faint, flickering red line on the screen. "An artificially suppressed wolf core."

My eyes widened. "Suppressed?"

Vance glanced up at me, his expression turning serious. "Your wolf spirit isn't naturally weak, Salem. Someone has been lacing your food or water with wolfsbane or shadow-root extracts for years. It kept your wolf locked in a dormant, near-dead state."

A cold lump formed in my throat. Silverfang. They hadn't just used me as a servant; they had deliberately poisoned me to ensure I could never shift, never defend myself, and never leave.

Before Vance could explain further, the heavy mahogany doors of the suite burst open.

Gaze strode into the room, surrounded by a sudden drop in air pressure. He had discarded his suit entirely, now wearing a dark tactical shirt and leather pants, a pair of heavy combat knives strapped to his thighs. His jaw was set, his golden eyes glowing dangerously in the dim lighting of the bedroom.

"Report, Vance," Gaze commanded, ignoring everything else as he stopped right beside my chair. The scent of rain and pine rushed over me, instantly making the cold fear in my stomach recede.

"She’s severely malnourished, Alpha," Vance said, standing up and handing the tablet to Gaze. "And someone at Silverfang was systematically poisoning her with wolfsbane to suppress her lineage. It’s a miracle her organ functions haven't collapsed."

A low, lethal growl vibrated deep within Gaze’s chest. The air in the room grew so heavy that even Lady Beatrice had to bow her head, taking a step back. The temperature plummeted, frost faintly forming along the edges of the high glass windows.

"Marcus," Gaze spat, the name dripping with absolute venom. "I should have ripped his head off the moment I stepped onto his lands."

"Gaze," I whispered, reaching out on instinct and lightly touching the sleeve of his tactical shirt.

The moment my fingers made contact with his arm, the suffocating pressure in the room vanished. Gaze froze, his harsh breathing slowing as his golden eyes snapped down to my small hand against his dark clothes. The dangerous, violent edge in his posture softened just enough for me to breathe again.

"Leave us," Gaze ordered coldly, his gaze never leaving my face.

Doctor Vance quickly packed his equipment, exchanging a knowing glance with Lady Beatrice before both of them bowed and quietly exited the room, closing the heavy doors behind them.

Silence descended upon the massive suite.

Gaze slowly sank to one knee in front of my chair, bringing his towering frame down to my eye level. The sheer contrast between us—a terrifying, battle-hardened Alpha and a bruised, half-starved outcast—was overwhelming, yet his touch was impossibly gentle as he picked up my hand, his thumb lightly tracing the faint scar across my knuckles.

"They hurt you," he murmured, his voice thick with a raw, dark emotion that sent shivers down my spine. "Every single day you were there, they were breaking you piece by piece."

"It was the only life I knew," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why do you care so much, Gaze? You don't even know me. We are strangers from two completely different worlds."

Gaze raised my hand to his lips, pressing a warm, lingering kiss against my knuckles. His golden eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that burned straight to my core.

"We are not strangers, Salem," he said softly, the power in his voice undeniable. "Our souls were forged together before we were even born. The moment I smelled your scent in that filthy courtyard, the beast inside me knew its owner. You are my true mate, my Luna, and the only person in this world who holds my heart."

My breath caught in my throat. True mate. The legend was real.

"But you are in danger here," Gaze continued, his tone shifting back to a dark, serious warning. "My enemies in the capital know I brought someone back from Silverfang. They don't know who you are yet, but the moment they find out you are my weakness, they will come for you."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, exquisite silver chain holding a sleek black obsidian pendant. He leaned forward, wrapping the chain around my neck and securing the clasp behind my nape. The stone felt cool against my skin, instantly radiating a subtle, comforting warmth that seemed to steady my fast-beating heart.

"This carries a piece of my aura," Gaze explained, his fingers lingering on the nape of my neck. "It will cloak your scent from rogue trackers and mask your location within the Citadel. Keep it on at all times."

"What are you going to do?" I asked, sensing the dangerous shift in his energy.

Gaze stood up, towering over me once more, his obsidian eyes flashing with a cold, unyielding resolve.

"I’m going to war, Salem," he growled quietly. "And when I return, no one will ever dare lay a finger on you again."