Bound by the Blood Moon

Chapter 5: Protecting the Luna

Seeing Vance shift his target toward Elena triggered something ancient and lethal inside Ethan. A dark, deafening roar tore from his throat, echoing through the mountain range as he moved faster than the human eye could follow.

Before Vance’s fangs could reach Elena, Ethan slammed his body into the Beta, tackling him hard into the snow. The force of the impact snapped several trees in half.

"Touch her," Ethan snarled, his eyes glowing like burning coals, "and I will tear your soul from your body."

Elena stumbled back against the cabin doorway, her pulse racing. Ethan’s black claws sank deep into Vance’s chest, holding the massive wolf pinned to the ground. Vance thrashed wildly, but Ethan’s grip was unyielding. The sheer dominance radiating off Ethan was so overwhelming that the remaining rogue wolves whimpered and retreated into the dark woods, terrified of their former Alpha's son.

Vance shifted back into his bloody human form, coughing violently. "She's... a human, Ethan. A weak, worthless human. The pack will never accept her as Luna!"

"She is my Mate," Ethan growled, his voice vibrating with absolute authority. "And I am the true Alpha of the Crimson Pack. They will bow to her, or they will bleed."

Ethan delivered a crushing blow to Vance’s temple, knocking the Beta unconscious. He stood up slowly, blood dripping from his bare arms, his heavy breathing misting in the freezing air.

He turned around to face Elena. The primal fury in his eyes softened the moment his gaze landed on her trembling frame.

Elena swallowed hard, her mind spinning with a thousand questions, yet her body stepped forward instead of backward. "You saved me..."

Ethan walked toward her, wiping the dark blood from his knuckles. "I will always save you. But Vance was right about one thing—the pack knows about you now. This place isn't safe anymore."

He reached out, his warm, calloused hand cupping the back of her neck, pulling her close until his lips almost touched hers.

"Pack your things, Elena. Tonight, you come with me."