Bound by blood and bite

Chapter 3

The candles in the old tower room flickered wildly, as if the wind itself was afraid of what was happening here. Mila carried Kunis up the narrow spiral staircase, followed by Kael, whose steps echoed like thunderclaps on the stone. Kunis hung limply in his arms, her breathing shallow and irregular. The crescent-moon mark on her shoulder pulsed with an unhealthy, feverish glow, as though it were burning from the inside out. Blood seeped from the wound her own father had inflicted—a deep cut that threatened to destroy the sacred sign.

Mila pushed open the heavy oak door. The room was small and circular, with only a narrow window through which the full moon stared in like a silver eye. In the center stood a wide bed covered with wolf pelts and blankets. Once, prisoners had been kept here. Today, it would be their hideout. Their last refuge before everything shattered.

Kael laid Kunis down carefully on the bed. She moaned softly, her eyelids fluttering. Mila immediately knelt beside her, tore strips from her own ripped dress, and pressed them against the wound.

“Hold on,” she whispered. “Please, Kunis, hold on.”

Kael stood motionless, fists clenched. His eyes glowed silver, but beneath that something darker lurked. Rage. Helplessness. And hunger. The hunger that hadn’t faded since their encounter in the forest.

“I’ll get herbs,” Mila said. “Moonblossom. Ironroot. Anything that might stabilize the mark.”

“No.” Kael’s voice was a deep growl. “You’re not going anywhere. Not alone.”

“I have to.”

“Then I’m coming with you.”

“And who stays with her?” Mila looked at Kunis. “She’s dying, Kael.”

He cursed under his breath. An animalistic sound. Then he gave a curt nod. “Hurry. Every second counts.”

Mila started to rise, but Kael’s hand closed around her wrist. Tight. Possessive. He pulled her up until their bodies nearly touched.

“If you don’t come back,” he murmured, “I’ll tear this entire pack apart to find you.”

Mila swallowed. “Then come quickly if I scream.”

She wrenched herself free and ran down the stairs. The courtyard lay silent, but she knew the guards would raise the alarm soon. Lord Ashton wouldn’t wait long before he began the hunt.

In the herb garden behind the stables she found what she needed. Her hands trembled as she tore the plants free. Moonblossom. Ironroot. Bloodmoss. She stuffed everything into the pouch at her hip and was about to run back when a figure stepped out of the shadows.

Lord Ashton.

He held the silver knife in his hand. The blade gleamed in the moonlight. His face was a mask of hatred.

“You little w***e,” he hissed. “You’ve ruined everything.”

Mila backed away. “You hurt Kunis. Your own daughter.”

“She had become useless. The mark is dying. And you…” He spat. “You let him mount you. Unmarked trash. You destroyed the peace.”

“I didn’t destroy anything,” Mila said. Her voice sounded steadier than she felt. “You did.”

Ashton laughed bitterly. “The contract was sealed. Kael would have taken Kunis. Produced heirs. The pack would have stayed strong. Instead he chooses you. A bastard daughter with no worth.”

Mila clenched her fists. “Maybe he sees more in me than you ever could.”

Ashton lunged. The knife flashed. Mila ducked. The blade hissed past her throat by a hair’s breadth. She kicked his knee. He staggered. Mila ran.

But he was faster. His hand grabbed her hair. He yanked her head back. The knife pressed against her carotid artery.

“You die tonight,” he whispered. “And then I’ll take Kunis back. And Kael will watch while I sacrifice her.”

A snarl tore through the night.

Kael.

He came like a shadow storm. His form half-transformed. Fur burst through skin. Teeth lengthened. Claws sank into Ashton’s shoulder. Blood sprayed.

Ashton screamed. The knife fell. Kael hurled him against the stable wall. Bones cracked. Ashton slumped, gasping, bleeding.

Kael stood over him. His eyes were black with murderous intent.

“Touch her again,” he said quietly, “and I’ll eat your heart while it’s still beating.”

Ashton coughed blood. “You fool… the pack will hunt you…”

“Then let them come,” Kael replied.

He turned. To Mila. His hand reached out. Blood dripped from his claws.

“Come,” he said simply.

Mila took his hand. They ran back to the tower.

Upstairs, Kael closed the door. Slammed the heavy bolt home. Then he turned to Mila.

His chest rose and fell heavily. Blood clung to his skin. His shirt hung in tatters. The transformation had left him half-changed. Muscles rippled beneath the skin. His eyes still glowed.

Kunis lay motionless. Mila knelt, crushed the herbs with trembling fingers, and pressed the paste onto the wound. Kunis moaned softly. The glow of the mark dimmed slightly. Stabilized.

“She’s holding on,” Mila whispered. “For now.”

Kael stepped behind her. His presence was overwhelming. Heat radiated from him like a furnace.

“You’re bleeding,” he said roughly.

Mila looked down. A cut on her arm. Not deep. But enough.

Kael knelt. He took her arm. Gently. His tongue slid over the wound. Mila gasped. The touch was electric. Healing. He licked the blood away. Slowly. Relishing it.

“Kael…”

He looked up. “You belong to me.”

“I belong to no one.”

He pulled her to her feet. Pinned her against the wall. His body pressed against hers. Hard. Hot. Unyielding.

“Say it again,” he murmured against her lips.

“I… belong… to no one.”

He kissed her. Brutal. Desperate. His tongue invaded, demanded, claimed. Mila clawed into his hair. Bit back. Blood mingled with saliva. Lust exploded inside her.

Kael tore her dress off completely. Fabric ripped. Naked skin met naked skin. His hands were everywhere. On her breasts. Between her legs. He found her wet. Ready. Desperate.

“Tell me you don’t want me,” he growled.

“I want you,” she gasped. “I hate you. But I want you.”

He laughed darkly. Lifted her. Her legs wrapped around his hips. He carried her to the bed. Laid her down beside Kunis, careful not to wake her.

Then he was above her.

His trousers fell. His c**k sprang free. Large. Hard. Pulsing. The tip already glistened. Mila stared. Fear and desire intertwined.

Kael positioned himself. The head pressed against her entrance. He paused.

“Look at me.”

Mila obeyed. His eyes were black with lust. Only a thin silver ring remained.

“Tell me to stop.”

“Don’t stop,” she whispered.

He thrust.

Deep. Hard. To the hilt.

Mila cried out softly. He filled her completely. Stretched her to the limit. Pain and ecstasy fused. Kael held still. Let her adjust. Then he began to move.

Slowly at first. Each thrust a torturous promise. He pulled almost all the way out, only to slam back in deep. Mila arched into him. Her nails dug into his back. Blood ran down his skin.

“Harder,” she gasped.

He obeyed.

His thrusts grew faster. Deeper. More brutal. The bed creaked. Pelts rustled. Mila bit his shoulder to keep from crying out loud. Kunis lay only a meter away. The danger of being discovered made everything more intense.

Kael flipped her over. Onto all fours. He gripped her hips. Entered from behind. Even deeper. Mila gasped. Her breasts swayed with each thrust. His hand slid forward. Found her c**t. Rubbed it in hard circles.

“Come for me,” he growled.

Mila shattered. Her o****m hit like lightning. She screamed into the pelts. Her body clenched. Milked him. Kael growled in triumph. His thrusts became erratic. Wilder.

He pulled out. Flipped her onto her back again. Hooked her legs over his shoulders. Thrust in once more. This time past the knot. The knot swelled. Locked them together.

“Mine,” he rasped. “Forever.”

He leaned down. His teeth grazed her shoulder. Exactly where the mark should have been.

“Do it,” Mila whispered. “Mark me.”

Kael froze. “If I do this… there’s no going back.”

“Then do it.”

He bit down.

Deep. Merciless.

Pain exploded. Then pleasure. The bond between them flared. Golden. Unbreakable. Mila screamed his name. Her second o****m hit even harder. She felt him come. Hot. Endless. His seed filled her. The knot kept them locked.

They stayed joined. Breathing hard. Sweaty. Bloody. Connected.

Minutes passed. The knot slowly eased. Kael withdrew. Seed ran down her thighs. He lay beside her. Pulled her into his arms.

“I marked you,” he murmured.

Mila touched the fresh bite. It glowed. A new mark. Not a crescent moon. Something else. Something wild. Something theirs.

“I belong to you,” she whispered.

“And I to you.”

But the quiet didn’t last.

A loud crash echoed through the house. Shouts. Footsteps. The pack had come.

Kael sat up. His eyes glowed.

“They’re here.”

Mila jumped up. Hastily pulled on what remained of her clothing. Kunis stirred. Her eyes opened.

“Mila…?”

“I’m here,” Mila said. “We’re getting you out.”

Kunis smiled weakly. “The mark… it doesn’t burn as much anymore.”

Mila looked at Kael. “What now?”

He stood. Naked. Unafraid. “Now we fight.”

He went to the door. Listened. Then turned.

“Thirty. Maybe more. Ashton’s leading them.”

Mila clenched her fists. “We can’t fight them all.”

“Yes we can,” Kael said. “Because we have to.”

He looked at Kunis. “Can you walk?”

Kunis nodded. “I’ll try.”

Mila helped her up. Kunis leaned heavily against her.

Kael opened the door. The hallway was full of shadows. Guards. Warriors. All armed.

Lord Ashton stood at the front. His face bloody. His hatred immeasurable.

“Hand them over,” he shouted. “Or die with her.”

Kael stepped forward. Naked. Marked. Invincible.

“I hand over nothing,” he said calmly. “I take what’s mine.”

Ashton laughed. “Then die, all of you.”

The fight began.

Kael fully transformed. A massive black wolf. Larger than any other. He leaped. Claws tore. Teeth sank into throats. Blood sprayed.

Mila pulled Kunis back into the room. Bolted the door. But the wood was already splintering.

“We have to get out,” Mila said.

Kunis nodded. “The window.”

It was high. Narrow. But below lay snow. Deep enough, maybe.

Mila opened it. Cold air rushed in.

“Me first,” she said.

She climbed out. Held onto the sill. Let go.

She fell. Landed softly. Snow puffed up.

Kunis followed. Mila caught her. Both stumbled.

Behind them the door burst open.

Wolves leaped out. Kael was still fighting. Surrounded. Blood dripped from his fur.

Mila screamed his name.

Kael turned his head. Saw her. Saw Kunis.

Something flashed in his eyes. Resolve.

He hurled himself against the wall. Stone shattered. He leaped out. Landed beside them. Still wolf. Still bleeding.

“Run,” he growled. The voice echoed in their minds.

They ran.

Through the forest. Through snow. Through night.

Behind them wolves howled. Hunting calls. Death cries.

But ahead lay the forbidden forest. Deep. Dark. Dangerous.

And freedom.

Mila held Kunis tight. Kael ran beside them. Protector. Weapon. Mate.

The bond pulsed between them. Strong. Alive.

They had survived.

For now.

But the war was far from over.

Lord Ashton still lived.

The pack was hunting.

And the new mark on Mila’s shoulder glowed like a promise.

Or like a warning.

The night was endless.

And the true battle was only just beginning.