Chapter 3: The Beast That Chose Her
1065 Words
Luna couldn’t move.
Kael’s monstrous wolf charged straight toward her like death itself.
The underground chamber shook beneath his massive paws.
Guards screamed and scattered.
“Get her out of here!” someone shouted.
But it was too late.
Kael was already in front of her.
His red eyes glowed with pure bloodlust.
His jaws opened.
Rows of razor-sharp teeth gleamed inches from her face.
Luna’s entire body went numb.
This was how she would die.
At the hands of her own mate.
Tears filled her eyes as she whispered—
“Kael…”
The wolf froze.
Everything stopped.
Its claws scraped against the stone floor.
Its breathing grew ragged.
Violent.
Conflicted.
The beast trembled as if fighting something inside itself.
Luna stared in disbelief.
Then she heard it.
A voice.
Deep.
Broken.
Inside her mind.
Mate…
Luna gasped.
“What was that?”
The wolf whimpered.
Not growled.
Whimpered.
Then Kael’s massive body suddenly turned away from her and slammed into the stone wall.
BOOM.
The entire chamber shook.
Blood splattered across the floor.
The guards stared in disbelief.
Again.
Kael threw himself into the wall.
Again.
And again.
And again.
He was trying to hurt himself—
so he wouldn’t hurt her.
“Stop!” Luna screamed.
Kael roared in pain.
One final impact sent chains and stone crashing everywhere.
Then his massive body collapsed.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Luna ran toward him.
“Luna, don’t!” a guard shouted.
She ignored them.
Kael’s wolf slowly began shifting back.
Bones cracked.
Fur disappeared.
Until Kael lay unconscious on the floor.
Broken.
Covered in blood.
Barely breathing.
Luna dropped to her knees beside him.
His body was covered in old scars.
Whip marks.
Burn wounds.
Silver cuts.
This wasn’t the first time.
He had been suffering for years.
Her hands trembled.
“Why would you do this to yourself?”
A voice answered from behind her.
“Because he’s terrified of becoming his father.”
Luna turned.
A tall man with brown hair stood at the entrance.
He bowed slightly.
“I’m Damien. Beta of Blackthorn Pack.”
Luna looked back at Kael.
“What happened to him?”
Damien’s face darkened.
“Kael was cursed as a child.”
Luna frowned.
“By who?”
“The royal family.”
Her eyes widened.
“What?”
Damien stepped closer.
“When Kael was ten years old, the royal family feared his strength. A prophecy claimed he would one day destroy the throne.”
Luna listened silently.
“So they cursed him during a Blood Moon ritual.”
Her stomach twisted.
“The curse forces his wolf into uncontrollable madness.”
“How many people has he killed?”
Damien hesitated.
“Hundreds.”
Luna’s breathing became uneven.
“But never intentionally.”
Damien looked at Kael.
“He locks himself underground every Blood Moon to protect everyone.”
Luna stared at Kael’s unconscious body.
The terrifying Alpha everyone feared…
was a prisoner of his own curse.
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
Damien gave a sad smile.
“Because people only see monsters. They never stay long enough to hear the truth.”
Luna looked away.
That sounded painfully familiar.
Suddenly Kael groaned.
His eyes slowly opened.
The moment he saw Luna beside him—
panic filled his face.
He pushed himself backward.
“Did I hurt you?”
Luna froze.
His voice was desperate.
Raw.
Broken.
“Answer me.”
“No…”
Kael visibly relaxed.
Then his face hardened again.
“Leave.”
Luna frowned.
“What?”
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“You almost killed yourself.”
“And I’d do it again.”
“Why?”
Kael stared at her.
His crimson eyes softened.
“Because I would rather die than become the monster that kills you.”
Her heart skipped.
Luna quickly looked away.
“That doesn’t change the fact that you kidn*pped me.”
Kael gave a weak laugh.
“There’s the fire I expected.”
Before Luna could respond—
the castle alarm suddenly rang.
Loud.
Urgent.
Damien’s face turned pale.
“That’s impossible…”
Kael immediately stood despite his injuries.
“What happened?”
A guard burst into the chamber.
“Alpha!”
He was breathing heavily.
“We captured someone trying to sneak into the castle.”
Kael narrowed his eyes.
“Who?”
The guard swallowed hard.
“A woman claiming to be Luna’s mother.”
Luna’s entire world stopped.
“What?”
Kael’s face darkened.
“That’s not possible.”
Luna grabbed the guard.
“Take me to her NOW!”
Minutes later—
Luna was running through the castle halls.
Her heart pounded so violently it hurt.
This had to be a lie.
It had to be.
Her mother was imprisoned in the capital.
Kael had said so.
Then who was this woman?
The prison doors opened.
A weak woman sat in chains.
Her face was bruised.
Her clothes torn.
But Luna recognized her instantly.
The same gentle eyes.
The same soft smile.
The same face from her childhood memories.
“Mom…”
The woman burst into tears.
“Luna.”
Luna collapsed to her knees.
“Mom… is it really you?”
Her mother nodded while crying.
“I’m so sorry.”
Luna rushed forward to hug her.
But Kael suddenly grabbed her arm.
“Wait.”
Luna turned angrily.
“What are you doing?!”
Kael stared at the woman coldly.
His eyes narrowed.
“That’s not your mother.”
Silence.
Luna looked at him like he was insane.
“What?”
The woman’s crying instantly stopped.
Her entire expression changed.
She slowly smiled.
A cruel smile.
Then her body began shifting.
Skin tearing.
Bones twisting.
Until a completely different woman stood there.
Luna screamed.
The fake mother laughed.
“Well done, Blood Moon Alpha.”
Kael stepped in front of Luna.
“Who sent you?”
The woman wiped blood from her lips.
“The king sends his regards.”
Luna’s heart dropped.
The woman looked directly at Luna and smiled.
“He knows you’ve awakened.”
Then she bit down on something hidden in her mouth.
Blood spilled from her lips.
She collapsed instantly.
Dead.
Luna stood frozen.
The king knew about her.
Kael looked at her grimly.
And spoke the words that changed everything.
“The royal family is coming for you next.”
- Writer
