Marked Twice

Impossible

Silence swallowed the forest.

Even the wind seemed to stop.

Lyra stared at Ronan, certain she had heard him wrong.

Mate.

The word felt heavy. Ancient. Dangerous.

Kael’s expression turned deadly.

“No,” he said coldly.

Ronan’s golden eyes never left Lyra. “You can deny it all you want. I can smell the bond.”

“That’s impossible.”

For the first time since meeting him, Kael sounded unsettled.

Not angry.

Unsettled.

Ronan let out a humorless laugh. “I agree.”

The wolves around them shifted uneasily. None of them looked comfortable anymore.

One of the Bloodclaw wolves lowered his head nervously. “Two Alpha bonds have never existed.”

“They can’t exist,” another muttered.

Lyra’s head pounded.

“What are you talking about?” she demanded. “What is a mate bond?”

Neither Alpha answered immediately.

Both men continued staring at each other like violence was seconds away.

Then Kael spoke without looking at her.

“A mate bond is created by the Moon Goddess.”

His voice remained calm, but tension pulled tightly beneath every word.

“One bond. One mate. Once in a lifetime.”

Lyra frowned. “Okay…”

Ronan finished for him.

“Which means you should not carry both our scents.”

Her stomach dropped.

Both.

The burning mark beneath her collarbone pulsed painfully again.

Lyra grabbed her neck with a soft gasp.

Immediately, both Alphas looked at her.

The intensity of their attention made her chest tighten.

Kael moved first.

Ronan blocked him instantly.

A growl ripped from Kael’s chest.

“She’s in pain.”

“And you think I don’t feel it too?” Ronan snapped back.

The words startled everyone into silence.

Ronan looked almost angry at himself for saying it aloud.

Lyra blinked between them anxiously. “Feel what?”

Neither answered.

But she noticed it then.

Both men looked tense.

Affected.

Like her pain hurt them too.

The realization unsettled her deeply.

Kael stepped closer despite Ronan’s warning growl. His silver eyes dropped briefly to the mark glowing against her skin.

“It’s reacting to stress.”

“That’s not possible either,” Ronan muttered darkly.

Lyra was growing tired of hearing that phrase.

Impossible.

Not possible.

Shouldn’t exist.

Every answer only created more questions.

She took a shaky breath. “Someone needs to explain what’s happening before I lose my mind.”

Kael looked at her for a long moment.

Then finally—

“There are legends.”

Ronan’s face hardened immediately. “Don’t.”

But Kael ignored him.

“Centuries ago, there were wolves called Moonborn.”

The word sent visible tension through both packs.

Lyra noticed immediately.

Fear.

Even werewolves feared this story.

Kael continued carefully. “They were rare. Powerful. Connected directly to the Moon Goddess.”

“And?” Lyra whispered.

Kael’s jaw tightened.

“The women could survive multiple Alpha bonds.”

The clearing fell silent again.

Lyra stared at him.

Then laughed weakly.

“No.”

No one joined her.

Her smile faded quickly.

“You’re serious.”

Ronan finally spoke again, quieter this time.

“The Moonborn bloodline disappeared generations ago.”

“Destroyed,” Kael corrected coldly.

Ronan’s eyes darkened briefly.

Lyra’s breathing became uneven.

“This is insane.”

Kael looked at her directly. “Your scent changed after the mark.”

Ronan nodded once reluctantly. “I smelled it immediately.”

Lyra shook her head and stepped backward.

“No. I’m human. I grew up in Black Hollow. My mother was human.”

The second she mentioned her mother, something flickered across Kael’s face.

Ronan noticed too.

“What was her name?” he asked suddenly.

Lyra frowned. “Why?”

“What was her name?”

“…Elena.”

Both Alphas went still.

A dangerous silence spread through the clearing.

Kael cursed softly under his breath.

Ronan’s expression darkened with realization.

“You know her?” Lyra asked anxiously.

Neither answered immediately.

That terrified her more than anything.

Finally, Kael looked at her again.

“Your mother lied to you.”

The words hit harder than she expected.

Lyra’s chest tightened painfully.

“My mother is dead.”

Kael’s expression softened slightly.

Barely.

“When did she die?”

“Ten years ago.”

Ronan exchanged a look with Kael.

A silent conversation passed between them.

Neither looked comfortable.

Lyra’s frustration finally snapped.

“Stop doing that!” she shouted. “Stop talking around me like I’m not standing here!”

Both Alphas looked at her immediately.

Breathing hard, Lyra pointed at the glowing mark on her chest.

“Five hours ago I thought werewolves were fairy tales. Now I’m apparently connected to two violent men who keep staring at me like I’m some kind of problem.” Her voice cracked slightly. “So somebody tell me the truth.”

Silence followed her words.

Then suddenly—

A sharp pain exploded through her chest.

Lyra gasped violently.

The silver mark flared bright enough to light the clearing.

Both Alphas staggered slightly.

Ronan cursed.

Kael grabbed Lyra before she collapsed completely.

The second his arms caught her, another pulse of energy rushed through the bond.

Stronger this time.

The forest shook.

Every wolf around them immediately lowered themselves submissively to the ground.

Fear flashed across Ronan’s face.

Real fear.

Kael looked down at Lyra in shock as silver light glowed beneath her skin.

Then somewhere deep in the forest…

Something howled back.