The Sun in the Smoke

An Unexpected Bond

Ben’s POV

Knox and I weren’t in control anymore. Our body wasn’t ours—it belonged to her. Every muscle, every breath, every heartbeat moved under Queen Regina’s command.

“Damn it, Knox! Don’t give up! We can’t do this—we can’t kill Lady Grace or the princesses!” I shouted in my head.

Knox whimpered. “I’m sorry, Ben. I’m too tired. I can’t fight her anymore.”

I wanted to scream. I’d only just turned eighteen—barely stepped into adulthood—finally old enough to feel my wolf’s strength. Gamma Charlie, Alpha Liam, and I had trained our entire lives to be the best warriors of the Ironpaw Pack. None of it mattered. Not against her.

Regina. The Gemini Witch. The Queen of cruelty.

Lady Grace had once ruled beside her twin, kind and gentle, beloved by all. But Grace chose love, chose family—and Regina never forgave her for it. Now she ruled with jealousy, hunger, and the terrifying gift of controlling any supernatural creature. We were her weapons.

The forest around us looked exactly like home. The Celestial Realm mirrored the Human Realm perfectly, which meant Grace must have hidden herself here. Regina halted us with a flick of her hand, lowering her hood to reveal her hard, pitiless gaze.

Ahead, a small cabin stood by a glowing silver lake. Smoke curled from its chimney, the air soft with the scent of firewood.

Her eyes locked on me. Power surged through my veins like fire.

“Find them. Bring them to me.”

My wolf obeyed before I could resist. Knox’s paws pounded against the earth as we sprinted toward the cabin.

And then—something shifted.

“Knox,” I whispered in my head, hope rising. “She’s slipping. I can feel it!”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he froze mid-run, nose twitching furiously. His pupils blew wide. A growl built low in his throat. He followed the trail of something sweeter, calmer. Lavender.

The scent pulled us behind the cabin, deeper into the woods, to a massive tree with branches stretching in every direction. Inside its hollow lay a basket. Two babies slept there, wrapped in blankets. One had hair as black as midnight, the other soft golden blonde.

The dark-haired baby stirred, blinking open bright eyes. She looked straight at us—straight at Knox.

Knox leaned close, brushing her cheek with his nose. She giggled and tugged on his fur. And then I felt it. The bond.

“Mate,” Knox growled, voice steady and sure. “She’s our mate.”

I froze. “What? Knox—she’s a baby.”

He ignored me, lifting the basket carefully in his jaws.

Behind us, the night exploded with snarls and screams. Grace was fighting. Wolves were dying.

Knox ran, carrying the basket away from the chaos.

“We have to throw them off our trail,” I urged. “The lake. Shallow crossing—there.”

We splashed into the freezing water, fighting to keep the basket dry. My lungs burned, my muscles screamed, but somehow, we made it to the far side. And suddenly—I felt it. Control. My body was mine again. Regina hadn’t noticed.

“I’m sorry, Knox,” I whispered. “We both know what we have to do.”

“I know. We’ll protect her. Together.”

We ran until the glow of human lights appeared ahead. A man in a black uniform stepped out of a strange carriage, red and blue lights flashing across the night. He moved inside a nearby building, leaving the carriage behind.

Knox lowered the basket, licking the black-haired baby’s cheek one last time. She cooed softly.

“We’ll see her again,” I promised him.

Knox placed the basket beside the carriage, then pulled back. From the shadows, we watched as the man returned. His eyes widened when he saw the babies. Another man joined him, dressed the same, and together they lifted the girls into their arms. The dark-haired one clutched the man’s silver badge, fascinated. They smiled, then carried the children away.

Knox whimpered. His strength slipped back, giving me control.

The lavender bond—the pull to my mate—faded into the distance. My chest cracked with pain.

“I, Benedict Chandler,” I whispered, “renounce my ties to the Ironpaw Pack. From this moment, I am rogue.”

The pack bond snapped. I was alone.

I stumbled through the woods until a golden glow caught my eye. Shielding my face, I stepped closer.

A woman appeared, cloaked in pale blue silk, white hair tumbling over her shoulders. Tiny golden sparks floated in the air around her.

“Hello, Benedict,” she said softly. “I’m Seraphina. Lady Grace’s right hand—and her best friend. Thank you for saving her daughters. I wish I could have come sooner, but Regina locked the realms.”

Suspicion flared in me. “Then how are you here now?”

Her eyes filled with tears. “Because Regina is finished. She drained Grace of her power. Grace and Daniel are gone. She’s back in the Celestial Realm… searching for the girls.”

A growl rose from my throat.

Seraphina gave me a sad smile. “Don’t fear. The princesses are safe. I’ve cloaked them well. But Regina could use your bond with the black-haired child to find her. That bond—it was prophesied long ago.”

My chest tightened. “Why would the Moon Goddess bind me to a baby? To a witch baby?”

“I don’t know,” Seraphina admitted. “But one day, it will make sense.”

Heat burned in my face as I realized I was still standing naked before her. She giggled, covering her mouth. “Forgive me. Wolves are… very well-bred.”

From her cloak, she drew a golden vial. “Drink this. It will cloak your scent and stop you from aging while you stay here. You’ll be able to watch over them. But…” Her eyes flickered. “It only works on your wolf side. Once you drink, you’ll become a dog.”

Knox stirred.

“Well?” I asked him silently. “Think you can handle being a dog?”

“Not much different than a wolf. If it keeps her safe, I’ll do it.”

I nodded and drank.

Seraphina smirked. “I wonder what kind of breed you’ll be. Maybe a corgi.”

My eyes widened. “What do you mean breed?!”

Pain tore through me. Bones cracked, shrinking. Fur spilled across my skin. I braced for the worst—

Seraphina tilted her head. “Ah. A German Shepherd. Strong. Fitting.”

Relief washed over me. At least I wasn’t tiny.

“When you return to the Celestial Realm, the spell will break,” she warned. “Regina’s wolves will smell you again. When that happens, find me.” She placed her hand on my head, and a vision seared into my mind—the location of her sanctuary.

Then she was gone, vanishing into golden light.

I curled into the moss, exhaustion finally claiming me. Tomorrow, I would find the princesses again. Tomorrow, I would keep my vow.

I would protect them. With my life. With everything.

The realm depended on it.