Claimed by the Alpha, Bound to the Vampire

Chapter 2:Mine to Protect

Kael's POV

The moment my eyes met hers, the world around me disappeared.

The dead rogues.

The scent of blood.

Even the vampire standing between us.

None of it mattered.

All I could see was **her**.

My mate.

The Moon Goddess had finally answered my prayers after six endless years, yet instead of running into my arms, she stood behind my greatest enemy.

My wolf paced restlessly inside me.

**She's frightened. Don't scare her.**

I forced myself to take a slow breath, though every muscle in my body remained tense.

"My name is Kael Blackthorne," I said, keeping my voice steady. "You don't need to be afraid."

The young woman frowned, clearly overwhelmed.

"I-I don't even know who you are."

Before I could answer, the vampire took one step forward, subtly shielding her with his body.

"She doesn't know you," he said calmly. "She's under my protection."

My patience snapped.

"Move."

His crimson eyes locked onto mine.

"No."

The single word echoed through the clearing.

Every wolf in my pack who had arrived behind me lowered into defensive positions.

Growls filled the air.

The vampire didn't flinch.

Instead, he studied me with an expression that was almost... curious.

"You've found your mate," he said quietly. "Congratulations."

"But until she chooses where she feels safe, no one is taking her anywhere."

Choose?

The word made my wolf furious.

A mate bond wasn't something that could be debated.

It was sacred.

It was destiny.

Yet when I looked at the fear in her blue eyes, I realized forcing her would only make things worse.

"My mate," I said, my gaze never leaving hers, "I won't hurt you."

She swallowed nervously.

"You... keep calling me that."

"Because it's true."

Selene's POV

Nothing about tonight made sense.

Hours ago, I had been driving home after visiting my grandmother.

Now I was standing in a forest surrounded by people whose eyes glowed in the dark.

One claimed to be my mate.

The other had saved my life.

If this was a nightmare, I wanted to wake up.

"My name is Selene," I whispered.

The silver-eyed man's expression softened.

"Selene."

The way he said my name sent an unfamiliar warmth through my chest.

It was comforting.

And strangely familiar.

I immediately looked away.

No.

I couldn't let myself trust strangers simply because they had kind eyes.

The pale man beside me glanced down.

"I'm Lucien."

Unlike Kael, his voice carried no urgency.

No demands.

Only calm.

"You don't have to decide anything tonight."

I appreciated that.

At least someone understood how terrified I was.

"What... what are you people?"

The clearing became silent.

Kael answered first.

"We're werewolves."

I blinked.

Lucien gave a small nod.

"And I'm a vampire."

I stared at them.

Then laughed.

A nervous, shaky laugh.

"This isn't funny."

"No," Lucien replied.

"It isn't."

The sincerity in his voice made my smile disappear.

They believed every word they were saying.

Lucien's POV

She was handling the truth better than most humans would.

Many screamed.

Some fainted.

Others simply refused to believe.

Selene did none of those things.

She was afraid.

Confused.

Yet she continued asking questions instead of running away.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

The Alpha was watching me carefully.

He didn't trust me.

Nor should he.

Centuries of hatred couldn't disappear overnight.

But I had no intention of fighting him.

Not while the young woman behind me still trembled from the rogue attack.

"I saved her because she was in danger," I said evenly.

"If our positions were reversed, I expect you would have done the same."

Kael remained silent.

His eyes searched mine for any sign of deception.

Finally, he spoke.

"Thank you."

The words surprised everyone.

Including me.

"For protecting her before I arrived."

I inclined my head slightly.

"You don't owe me thanks."

"I know."

His expression hardened once more.

"But my gratitude changes nothing."

"I still intend to take my mate home."

Kael's POV

The air suddenly shifted.

A familiar scent drifted through the trees.

Damon.

Seconds later, my younger brother burst into the clearing with several warriors behind him.

His eyes immediately landed on Selene.

"So..."

He grinned.

"You actually found her."

I ignored him.

"Report."

"The rogues weren't acting alone," Damon said, his smile vanishing.

"We tracked dozens of footprints leading deeper into the forest, but they suddenly disappeared."

My instincts sharpened.

Rogues never worked together.

Not like this.

Someone had organized them.

Someone had wanted my mate.

I looked toward Selene again.

She was hugging herself against the cold night air.

Her clothes were torn from running through the woods, and exhaustion was evident on her face.

She didn't belong in the middle of this conflict.

"You need rest," I said gently.

"Our pack hospital isn't far."

She hesitated.

Then looked at Lucien.

It wasn't a romantic glance.

It was the look of someone seeking reassurance from the only familiar face she had left.

Lucien noticed it too.

He gave her a small nod.

"The choice is yours."

Those words lingered in the air.

For the first time in my life, I feared the answer.

Selene took a slow breath.

"I..."

Before she could finish, a long, chilling howl echoed through the forest.

Every wolf in the clearing froze.

Another howl answered.

Then another.

Dozens.

My warriors instantly formed a protective circle around us.

Damon's expression darkened.

"Alpha..."

I didn't need him to finish.

I could smell them.

Not ten.

Not twenty.

Hundreds of rogues were moving toward us from every direction.

Someone wasn't just hunting wolves tonight.

They were hunting **my mate**.