His Fanged Luna

Chapter 8: The Fanged Family

Emma's POV

I sat on the bench, rubbing my wrist, staring at the tattoo like it held some kind of answer. The mark felt like a chain, one I never asked for. The wind brushed against my face, but it did nothing to shake off the weight pressing on my chest. I hadn’t slept well at all.

“Emma.”

I jerked up to see Kael standing beside me.

“You skipped breakfast,” he said, sitting down. “Why?”

I shrugged, keeping my eyes on my wrist. “Didn’t want any trouble. Especially not with Selene around.”

Kael hissed, shaking his head. “You’re a guest, not a servant. She has no right to make you uncomfortable, you have the right to sit at the table just as she—”

“Just let it go, Kael. Please.” My voice was soft as I pleaded. I didn’t have the energy for this argument. Not today.

He looked at me, his brows furrowed, and then his eyes dropped to the tattoo. “Still thinking about it, huh?”

“Yeah,” I said, tracing the dark lines with my finger. “Will it ever fade?”

Kael was silent for a moment. Too silent. “No," he finally replied.

I turned to him, catching the hesitation in his eyes. “Don’t lie to me.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “If the bond is broken... yes, it can fade.”

I shook my head, biting my lip. “This is absurd. We create a bond just from you saving my life? That’s... insane.”

Kael’s jaw tightened, his eyes searching mine. “I lost my mate a long time ago, Emma. We were just kids. Since then, I never thought... I never believed I’d have another chance.” He paused, his voice softening. “And then, that night in the woods, I saw you. I don’t save humans, Emma. They’re trouble. But your scent... something about it told me I had to keep you safe.”

“I was just trying to help my friend,” I said quietly. “I wanted to find out what was going on in the woods. That’s when I ran into those... rogue wolves. And then you showed up.”

Kael nodded, his face hardening at the mention of the rogues. “They’re dangerous. My pack, the Crescent pack, has been hunting them for years. But they’re relentless.”

I let out a shaky breath. “I had no idea any of this existed. Supernaturals, werewolves, any of it. It’s all so... overwhelming. But I stayed with you because I don’t want my family to be dragged into this.”

Kael’s eyes softened, a flicker of understanding in them. “That was the smart choice. If you’d gone back, they would’ve targeted your family to get to you.”

I swallowed hard, the fear of that possibility settling in. “Why is this mark so dangerous? Why does it feel like my whole life is hanging by a thread now?”

Kael’s expression darkened. “I’m an alpha, Emma. The rogues see me and my pack as the biggest threat in this territory. If I’m weakened, if I’m distracted, they’ll take the opportunity to raid the human town. They would’ve done it already if not for us.”

“So, me being your mates puts me in danger?” I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of confusion and hurt.

Kael’s silence was louder than any answer he could’ve given.

“I didn't know you felt that way."

Kael sighed, “I'm feared, dreaded. Having a woman would be a weakness, one that I can't afford."

I frowned, the words stinging more than I wanted to admit. “But Selene,” I said, the name tasting bitter on my tongue. “Wasn’t she supposed to be the one you’ll marry?”

Kael glanced away, his jaw tightening. “Yes. Selene is the daughter of a Beta. She’s strong, powerful. Everything a werewolf needs in a mate. But you…” He paused, turning back to me, his eyes full of a strange mix of regret and something else I couldn’t place. “You’re human, Emma. And that makes you my weakness.”

I felt the air leave my lungs. “Your weakness?”

“I didn’t mean it like that.” Kael’s voice softened, but the damage was done.

Then suddenly, he moved closer and brushed a strand of hair from my face, his fingers lingering just a second too long. I caught his gaze, and for a heartbeat, everything felt charged. He leaned in slightly, our faces inches apart.

"Emma." His voice was soft, barely above a whisper.

My breath caught, and I felt his hand at the back of my neck, pulling me closer. His lips hovered just over mine when—

"Alpha," a voice called out suddenly, stepping into view. Before I could say anything, Williams appeared out of nowhere, bowing slightly. “Alpha, we’re ready to leave.”

I blinked, confused. “Leave? Where are we going?”

Kael stood up, offering me his hand. “Come on. Selene wants to be sure I’m not keeping you against your will or something. This is just a courtesy visit to check on your family. Me, you, Williams, and Selene. Just to make sure they’re fine.”

I stared at his hand, hesitating. “Selene arranged this?”

Kael nodded. “She may seem harsh, but she’s not heartless. She knows how much family means to me.”

For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. Selene? The same Selene who’d made it her mission to remind me of my place? I shook my head. “That’s very considerate of her.”

Kael’s lips curled into a small smile. “She’s a complicated person.”

I took his hand, and he pulled me up from the bench.

As we started toward the car, Williams fell in step behind us, his presence a quiet shadow. And then, just as we reached the car, a familiar voice rang out behind us.

“Well, isn’t this cozy?”

Selene stood a few feet away, her arms crossed, a sly smile playing on her lips. She was dressed in black, her eyes glinting with mischief.

We climbed into the car, Williams on the wheel with Kael beside him. While Selene sat beside me in the backseat. The space between us felt like it was shrinking with every second. I had never felt so uncomfortable. Selene’s presence was suffocating, and I kept fidgeting with my hands, twisting my fingers, trying to keep my mind off the awkwardness.

Just as I thought I could maybe get through this ride, Selene’s voice came. “Did you sleep well?”

I didn’t answer. I wasn’t sure how to respond to her.

She turned around in her seat and gave me a cold, pointed look. “What? Are you dumb now, too?”

Kael’s voice was sharp as he called out, “Selene.”

He didn’t need to say anything more. The warning was clear.

Selene shrugged, smirking. “I was just making sure the little stray was okay.”

The silence in the car was thick, and I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. I bit my lip, staring out the window, desperate to escape the small space we were crammed into.

After a few seconds, I couldn’t take it anymore. “I... I need some air.”

Selene scoffed. “We’re slowing down, and we’ve got a long way to go to the human city. Can’t you wait?”

“I really need some air,” I said, my voice firmer this time.

Kael didn’t hesitate. “Williams, stop the car. Let her out.”

The car pulled to the side, and I stepped out, gulping in the fresh air like it was my lifeline. I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing, feeling the tension in my chest slowly start to unravel.

Kael was beside me a moment later. “Are you okay?” His voice was softer now, concerned.

I nodded. “Yeah... I just needed a minute.”

He watched me for a second longer, then nodded. “I’m going to sit next to you.”

We climbed back into the car, and Kael slid in beside me. I could feel the shift in the energy now, Selene’s glare burning into the side of my head, but she didn’t say anything. The rest of the ride passed in silence.

After what felt like hours, we finally reached the clearing, and there it was—my house. The sight of it brought a strange mix of relief and nostalgia, even if I'd only been away for a couple of days.

I stared at it for a moment, surprised. “You still remember where I live?” I whispered.

Kael’s voice was low, steady. “I remember everything about you.”

We stepped out of the car, and as we approached the house, the front door was slightly ajar, and I could see a shoe and a pile of clothes tossed haphazardly near the entrance.

I pushed the door open, immediately hit by a sharp, metallic stench. I stopped in my tracks, my hand flying to cover my nose. “What is that smell?”

Kael’s eyes darkened, and without another word, we moved further inside. “Mom?” I called out cheerfully, “Alec?”

There was no answer.

We made our way to the dining room and then I saw them.

Alec was sitting at the table, his face pale, his eyes wide. Beside him was my mother, standing unnaturally still, her hand on his shoulder. But it was the man on the table that made my blood run cold.

He was half-naked, his torso bare, his head slumped back, a dark, gaping wound on his wrist, bleeding onto the table. The metallic scent in the air suddenly made sense. Blood. I froze.