His Rogue Luna

FOUR

Selene

---

The great hall stank of blood and fear.

Warriors crowded around Draven as he barked orders—double patrols, reinforced gates, ration checks. I stood at his side, trying to ignore how my leathers stuck to me with sweat and other people's blood.

Livia pushed through the crowd. "This is what happens when you bring a rogue into our pack! Malakar never attacked us like this before she—"

Draven backhanded her.

The c***k echoed through the hall. Livia hit the floor, clutching her face.

"One more word," Draven said softly, "and I'll have you whipped."

Torin helped her up, his eyes promising vengeance.

I should've felt victorious. Instead, my mark ached.

Draven gripped my elbow. "With me."

He dragged me to his chambers and slammed the door.

"Show me."

I didn't pretend to misunderstand. Holding out my wrist, I let him examine the mark. It pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat.

Draven traced it with one claw. "These visions. How do they work?"

"I don't know. They just... happen."

His jaw tightened. "Malakar recognized you."

The memory made my stomach twist. "He killed my family. I was the only one who got away."

For a long moment, Draven just stared at me. Then—

"Take off your clothes."

I blinked. "What?"

"Your clothes. Off." When I didn't move, he snarled. "I need to see if there are other marks."

My fingers trembled as I undid the leather ties. The clothes fell to the floor.

Draven circled me like a predator. His fingers brushed my spine, making me shiver.

"Here." He turned me toward the mirror.

A new mark glowed between my shoulder blades—a crescent moon with three claw marks through it.

"The Mark of Sight," Draven murmured. "Only the first Luna bore this."

I met his eyes in the reflection. "What does it mean?"

"It means," he said, pulling me against him, "Malakar will never stop coming for you."

His teeth grazed my mating gland.

My knees nearly gave out.

"And it means," he continued, "we need to complete the bond. Tonight."

---

The Moon Altar stood silver-bright under the full moon.

The entire pack gathered, though none looked happy about it. Torin's jaw was clenched so tight I heard his teeth grinding. Livia looked ready to murder someone.

Good.

The shaman painted runes on our foreheads with wolf's blood. "Alpha Draven of the Bloodmoon Pack, do you claim this female?"

Draven's claws sliced his palm. He pressed the bleeding wound to my mark. "By blood and bone, I claim her."

The mark burned like fire.

"Selene of the..." The shaman hesitated.

"Of the Nightshade Pack," I said firmly.

A murmur went through the crowd. My dead pack's name hadn't been spoken here in a decade.

The shaman continued. "Do you accept this Alpha?"

I sliced my own palm. "By blood and bone, I accept him."

Our blood mingled on the altar stone.

The moon turned red.

Power slammed into us like a tidal wave. Draven grabbed me as the bond snapped into place—a living thing between our ribs, pulling tight.

His growl vibrated through me. "Mine."

Then he threw me over his shoulder and carried me back to his chambers while the pack howled their approval.

Livia's scream of rage was the sweetest sound I'd ever heard.

---

Draven tossed me onto the furs.

I barely had time to breathe before he was on me, his teeth at my throat. "Last chance to run, Luna."

I dug my nails into his back. "Make me yours."

He did.

Pain. Pleasure. Blood and sweat and growls. The bond between us burned brighter with every thrust, until I couldn't tell where he ended and I began.

When it was over, Draven licked the mating bite on my neck.

I expected him to leave. Alphas didn't sleep with their mates unless they wanted pups.

But Draven pulled me against his chest and held on like he was afraid I'd disappear.

Outside, a wolf howled in agony.

---

The morning after the claiming, I woke with his teeth still in my skin.

Literally.

Draven had me pinned beneath him, his canines lightly pressed to my mating mark even in sleep. As if his body refused to let me go. The possessive bastard.

I shifted—just an inch—and his grip tightened. A low growl vibrated against my throat.

"Stop moving." His voice was rough with sleep.

"I need to piss."

His golden eyes cracked open. For a heartbeat, something almost soft flickered in them. Then he rolled off me with a grunt. "Hurry."

The chamber pot was behind an ornate screen. I squatted, wincing at the ache between my thighs. Mating was... more intense than I'd imagined. More blood. More biting. More Draven snarling "mine" like a mantra against my skin.

When I emerged, he was dressed in black leathers, strapping knives to his thighs.

"You're bleeding," he said without looking up.

I touched my neck. The claiming bite had reopened. "Your teeth are like daggers."

"Good." He tossed me a cloth. "It should scar deep."

I pressed the fabric to my throat. "Romantic."

A knock at the door.

Draven sniffed the air. "Mira."

The omega girl entered, eyes downcast, carrying a breakfast tray. Her scent spiked with fear when she saw me—really saw me—standing naked but for Draven's bite.

"L-Luna." She curtsied so low her knees cracked. "I brought—"

"Leave it." Draven snatched an apple from the tray. "Tell the captains I'll inspect the walls at noon."

Mira fled.

I reached for a pastry. Draven smacked my hand away.

"Ow! What the hell?"

"You eat after training." He threw my leathers at me. "We have work to do."

---

The training yard fell silent when we arrived.

Warriors mid-spar froze. Omegas carrying water buckets stumbled. Even the damn chickens stopped clucking.

All eyes locked onto my throat.

Livia stood with her Gamma cronies near the weapon racks. Her perfect face twisted when she saw the bite. "Slut."

Draven's growl shook the earth.

Livia paled but didn't back down. "She's weak, Alpha. The rogues attacked because of her. And now you've—"

Draven moved.

One second he was beside me, the next he had Livia by the throat, her feet dangling. "Finish that sentence," he whispered. "I dare you."

Her lips peeled back from her teeth. "You'll regret choosing a rogue over your pack."

He dropped her. "Gamma Livia, you're relieved of rank."

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Livia's mouth fell open. "You can't—"

"Effective immediately." Draven turned his back on her. "Selene will oversee warrior training today."

My stomach dropped. "What?"

He didn't answer, just strode toward the gate. "Torin! With me."

Leaving me alone.

With a pack that hated me.

And a sobbing ex-Gamma crawling in the dirt.

Perfect.

---

Livia lunged before Draven's dust had settled.

I sidestepped, but her claws caught my arm. Blood welled. The pack circled us, hungry for violence.

"You ruined everything," Livia hissed.

I wiped my arm on my pants. "He was never yours."

She shifted mid-leap.

I barely dodged her wolf's snapping jaws. Someone—probably Torin's lackey—kicked a practice sword toward me. I grabbed it just as Livia charged again.

Wood cracked against her muzzle.

She yelped, stumbling back. The warriors murmured. No one had ever bested Livia in combat. Until now.

I pressed the advantage, swinging hard. She blocked, but I feinted left and swept her legs. Her head hit the dirt with a satisfying thud.

I pressed the sword to her throat. "Yield."

Her human lips curled. "Never."

Then the visions hit.

Livia slipping poison into Mira's dinner. A knife in the dark. My new mark burning as I choked on my own blood.

I staggered back, gasping. Livia scrambled up, confused by my sudden weakness.

The warriors moved in, sensing blood.

Until a howl cut through the tension.

Draven stood at the gate, Torin beside him. Both splattered in fresh blood.

"Rogues at the eastern ridge," Draven announced. Then his eyes found mine. "Luna. With me."

Livia spat at my feet as I passed. "This isn't over."

I bared my teeth. "Looking forward to it."

---

We ran for miles, following the rogue scent.

Draven moved like shadow and death ahead of me, his muscles coiling with each leap over fallen logs. Beautiful. Terrifying. Mine.

The bond between us thrummed, new and raw. Every shared glance sent heat pooling low in my belly. Every brush of his hand made my mark pulse.

We found the rogues at Redfern Creek.

Three of them, drinking from the stream. They never saw us coming.

Draven took the first two with silent efficiency—slit throats, dead before they hit the water. The third almost escaped.

Almost.

My throwing knife took him through the eye.

Draven raised a brow as I retrieved my blade. "Where'd you learn that?"

"Stabbing rats in the kitchen." I wiped the knife clean. "Same difference."

His lips twitched. Then he grabbed my wrist, licking the blood from my fingers. "Good girl."

The praise went straight to my core.

"Why am I here with you? Torin is the best person..."

"You've been unlucky to be my Luna at a time of war, you have a very little time to learn to lead. And I don't want you to die yet."

"So you like me?" I wanted to get an expression out of him.

“We'll return now. This was just to test your racing abilities and you passed." His expression was blank as he turned in his tracks.

We returned to find the pack in chaos.

Mira's body lay lifeless in the courtyard. She had fresh wounds on her body. Seven other bodies were piled at a distance. Warriors.

Draven's snarl shook the trees. "Who did this?"

Mira trembled. "G-Gamma Livia said it was your orders, Alpha."

I met Draven's eyes. The bond between us flared hot with rage.

Livia had just signed her death warrant.