Bound by blood and bite

Chapter 2

The snow fell in dense, merciless veils as Mila ran through the darkness. Her bare feet sank into the icy blanket, yet she barely felt the cold. Her blood was boiling. Her heart hammered like a war drum, loud enough that she feared it would wake the entire pack. Every breath tasted of smoke and desire. Of him.

Kael.

The name burned into her mind like a brand. She should have hated him. Instead, something pulsed inside her that yearned for his closeness. For his touch. For his bite. The mate bond was no longer a gentle thread. It was a glowing rope that dug deeper into her soul the farther she fled.

She reached the old oak forest at the edge of the estate. The trees stood like silent sentinels, their branches heavy with snow. Mila pressed herself against a thick trunk, leaned her head back, and tried to catch her breath. But the air tasted only of him. Musk. Storm. Power. Her body wasn’t trembling from cold. It trembled with longing.

“Damn it,” she whispered into the night. “Damn, damn, damn.”

She slammed her fist against the bark. Splinters dug into her skin. Black blood dripped onto the white ground. The pain cleared her head for a moment. Long enough to remember Kunis. To remember what she had overheard.

Kael would take Kunis. Use her. Impregnate her. Discard her.

And Mila would not allow it.

She had to make a plan. Fast. The ceremony was in two nights. Two nights to save Kunis. Two nights to save herself from what was awakening inside her.

A snap in the underbrush made her freeze.

Someone was following her.

Mila crouched deeper into the shadows. Her breathing became shallow. She listened. Footsteps. Heavy. Deliberate. Not a guard. Not a servant.

Alpha.

Her wolf, which had always slept because no mark could wake it, suddenly rose within her. A deep, warning growl rolled through her chest. She clenched her teeth to suppress it.

The footsteps came closer.

Then a voice. Deep. Rough. Dangerously calm.

“You can’t run from me, little one.”

Mila spun around.

Kael stood no more than ten steps away. The moon cast silver light across his face. His eyes glowed like molten mercury. He wore no coat. Only the black leather shirt that stretched tight across his broad chest. Snow lay on his shoulders but melted instantly on his hot skin.

“Stay away from me,” Mila hissed.

He smiled. Slowly. Predatory. “That’s what you say. But your body is saying something else.”

He stepped closer. Mila backed away until her back hit the tree trunk. No escape anymore.

“What do you want from me?” she asked. Her voice sounded thinner than she wanted.

“The truth.” He stopped, close enough that she could feel his body heat. “Who are you really?”

“I’m nobody.”

“Lie.” He leaned in. His nose nearly brushed the curve of her neck. He inhaled deeply. “You smell of moonflower. Of fear. Of me.”

Mila clenched her fists. “I bear no mark. I’m not one of you.”

“And yet you are my mate.” The words fell heavily between them. Like a judgment. Like a promise.

“Impossible,” she whispered.

“Tell that to my wolf.” His hand rose. Slowly. As if he didn’t want to startle her. His fingers grazed her cheek. A spark jumped across. Mila gasped. Heat exploded low in her belly. She wanted to run. She wanted to stay. She wanted to bite him. She wanted to kiss him.

Kael growled deep in his throat. A sound that vibrated through her entire body. “You feel it too.”

“No.”

“Liar.” His other hand settled on her hip. Firm. Possessive. Mila should have pushed him away. Instead, her fingers clawed into his shirt.

“I won’t sacrifice Kunis,” she said with a trembling voice. “I won’t let you use her and throw her away.”

Something flickered in his eyes. Surprise. Then darkness. “You were eavesdropping.”

“Everyone in the house knows what you’re planning.”

“Not everyone.” He pressed her harder against the tree. His body pinned hers. Hard. Hot. Unyielding. “Only you. Because you’re mine.”

“Kunis is my sister. The only one who was ever kind to me.”

“Half-sister,” he corrected coldly. “And she bears the mark. She is the Luna the pack needs.”

“She’s not a thing. She’s a person.”

Kael laughed softly. A dark, dangerous sound. “In our world, we’re all things. Tools. Weapons. Breeding stock.”

“Then you’re no different.”

His fingers dug into her hip. Pain and pleasure mingled. Mila gasped.

“Maybe,” he murmured. “But I’m the tool that survives.”

He lowered his head. His lips brushed her ear. “I never wanted a mate. Never needed one. And then there you are. Unmarked. Worthless. And yet…” His tongue traced the shell of her ear. Mila shuddered. “…you break me in half.”

“Then let me go,” she pleaded. “Forget you ever saw me.”

“Too late.” His hand slid upward. Under her thin dress. His fingers found bare skin. Mila arched into him before she could stop herself. “Too late for both of us.”

He kissed her.

Not gentle. Not hesitant.

He devoured her.

His lips crashed brutally against hers. His tongue plunged in, demanding, dominant. Mila resisted for a single heartbeat. Then she surrendered. Her hands tangled in his hair. She pulled him closer. Bit his lower lip. Blood tasted of copper and storm.

Kael growled in triumph. He lifted her as if she weighed nothing. Her legs wrapped around his hips. The tree at her back was the only thing still holding her up. His hands tore her dress open. Cold air hit hot skin. Mila cried out softly as his fingers slid between her thighs. She was wet. Ready. Desperate.

“Tell me you don’t want me,” he rasped against her mouth.

“I hate you,” she gasped.

“Liar.” Two fingers thrust into her. Deep. Hard. Mila threw her head back. A cry tore from her throat. He moved mercilessly. Fast. Deep. His thumb found her most sensitive spot and rubbed it in brutal circles.

“Say it again,” he commanded.

“I… hate… you…” Her words shattered into moans.

He laughed darkly. “Your body doesn’t lie.”

He withdrew his fingers. Mila whimpered in protest. Then she heard fabric ripping. His trousers. He positioned himself. The head of his c**k pressed against her entrance. Large. Hot. Unrelenting.

“Look at me,” he growled.

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

“Tell me to stop.”

She stayed silent.

He thrust.

Hard. Deep. To the hilt.

Mila screamed. Pain and ecstasy collided. He filled her completely. Stretched her. Claimed her. Her nails dug into his back. Blood ran over her fingers.

Kael held still. Just for a moment. Then he began to move.

Slowly at first. Torturously slow. Each thrust a promise. Each withdrawal torment.

Then faster.

Harder.

Deeper.

The tree scraped her back. Snow fell onto them. Mila lost all sense of time and space. There was only him. His thrusts. His growls. His teeth at her shoulder.

“Mine,” he growled. “Only mine.”

“No,” she gasped. “Kunis…”

He bit down. Not deep enough to set the mark. But deep enough to mark her. Blood ran down her chest. Pleasure exploded inside her. She came. Hard. Brutal. Her entire body tensed. She screamed his name.

Kael followed her. With an animalistic roar he spilled inside her. Hot. Endless. His knot swelled. Locked them together.

They clung to each other. Breathing heavily. Sweaty. Bloody.

Minutes passed. Or hours. Mila didn’t know.

Then he whispered hoarsely: “This changes everything.”

“No,” she whispered back. “This makes everything worse.”

He slowly pulled out. His knot released. His seed ran down her thighs. Warm. Sticky. Possessive.

Kael set her down carefully. Her legs gave way. He caught her. Held her against his chest.

“I won’t take Kunis,” he said quietly.

Mila froze. “What?”

“I won’t mark her. Won’t impregnate her. Won’t discard her.”

“Why?” Her voice cracked.

“Because I found you.” He brushed a strand of hair from her face. Gently. Almost tenderly. “Because the bond is real. And because I want no one else.”

Mila laughed bitterly. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “You’re lying.”

“I never lie.”

“Your pack won’t accept it. An Alpha without a marked Luna. Without heirs.”

“Then I will fight.”

“Against whom?”

“Against everyone.”

He lifted her chin. Forced her to look at him.

“But first you have to trust me.”

“I don’t trust anyone.”

“Then learn. Now.”

He kissed her again. This time slowly. Deeply. As if he wanted to taste her. As if he wanted to imprint himself on her.

Mila returned the kiss. Against all reason. Against every instinct.

Because deep inside she knew the truth.

She was lost.

And he was her downfall.

Suddenly a scream tore through the night.

Kunis.

Mila tore herself away. “Kunis!”

She ran. Kael followed. His footsteps thundered behind her.

They stormed back to the house. Lights burned in every window. Guards raced across the courtyard. Screams echoed through the night.

Mila burst through the door into the west wing.

Kunis lay on the floor of her room. Blood seeped from a wound on her shoulder. The crescent moon mark glowed unnaturally bright. Too bright. As if it were burning.

Lord Ashton stood over her. His face twisted with rage.

“Father!” Mila screamed.

He whirled around. His eyes were red with fury. “You dare come here?”

Kunis coughed. Blood dripped from her lips. “Mila… run…”

Lord Ashton grabbed Kunis by the hair. Yanked her head back. “The mark is fading. She’s dying. And you…” His gaze fell on Mila. “You’ve slept with him. I can smell him on you.”

Mila froze.

Kael stepped beside her. His presence filled the room like a storm.

“Let her go,” he said calmly.

Lord Ashton laughed. “You fool. You think you can take my daughter? The wrong daughter?”

“I take what belongs to me.”

“Then take her.” Ashton threw Kunis to the floor. “But the mark will die. And without the mark there is no peace. No alliance. Only war.”

Kunis crawled to Mila. Her hand reached for hers. “I’m sorry… I wanted to protect you…”

Mila knelt. Tears streamed down her face. “I wanted to protect you too.”

Lord Ashton drew a silver knife. The blade gleamed in the candlelight. “If the mark dies, she dies. And if she dies…” He looked at Kael. “…you will bear the blame.”

Kael moved like lightning. He seized Ashton’s wrist. Bones cracked. The knife clattered to the floor.

“Touch her again,” Kael said quietly, “and I’ll rip your throat out.”

Ashton staggered back. Fear flickered in his eyes. For the first time.

“You’ll regret coming here,” he hissed.

“I regret only one thing,” Kael replied. “That I didn’t come sooner.”

He lifted Kunis gently. Carefully. “We’re getting her to safety.”

Mila followed him. Her heart raced. Her body ached. Her mind was a whirlwind of fear, lust, and determination.

In the hallway Kael stopped. He looked at Mila.

“In two nights the ceremony takes place,” he said. “But not the way it was planned.”

“What are you going to do?”

He smiled. Dark. Dangerous. Hopeless.

“I will fight. For you. For her. For us.”

Then he leaned in and kissed Mila. Short. Intense. As if he were breathing his soul into her.

“Prepare yourself,” he whispered. “Because at sunrise the war begins.”

Mila nodded.

She had no choice anymore.

The bond was awake.

Her sister was dying.

The Alpha belonged to her.

And the world would burn before she gave up.

The night was still young.

And the storm had only just begun.