Bound by moonlight

Lines in the sand

Chapter Two

Lines in the Sand

The scent of unfamiliar wolves lingered in the corridors of the Silverclaw estate. Raven hated it.

She had been here less than a day, and already, the walls felt like they were pressing in. The thought of spending the rest of her life surrounded by Killian’s people, under his rule, made her stomach twist.

Not that she intended to let that happen.

Killian might think this was his home, his domain, but she had no intention of playing the obedient Luna. This wasn’t his kingdom.

Not anymore.

---

Raven stalked through the grand hall, her boots clicking against the polished floors. Every Silverclaw wolf she passed glanced at her with wary curiosity, their gazes lingering just a second too long. She met every stare head-on, daring them to challenge her.

None did.

But that didn’t mean they accepted her.

She could feel it—the tension in the air, the way conversations hushed as she walked past. She was an outsider. An enemy, forced into their midst.

And Killian had done nothing to ease that tension.

The bastard hadn’t even spoken to her since last night.

Not that she wanted him to.

Still, it irritated her. He had acted as if their wedding had been nothing more than another day at the office, and then he had disappeared into the night without another word.

Fine.

If he wanted to ignore her, she had no problem ignoring him too.

She had bigger things to worry about.

She stepped onto the estate’s balcony, inhaling the crisp morning air. From here, she could see the vast stretch of Silverclaw land—the towering pines, the training grounds below, the city skyline in the distance.

It was enemy territory, but for now, it was home.

A presence approached behind her. She didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

"You're up early," Killian said, his voice smooth, unreadable.

Raven kept her gaze forward. "Unlike you, I have a pack to look after."

A pause. Then, "You’re in Silverclaw now. That makes them your pack too."

She scoffed, turning to face him. He was dressed casually, his black shirt unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rolled up. He looked like he had just woken up, and somehow, that only irritated her more.

"They’ll never be my pack," she said coolly.

Killian studied her for a moment, then leaned against the balcony railing. "That’s going to be a problem."

"Not my problem."

His jaw ticked, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he looked out over the grounds. "There’s a meeting with the pack Elders this afternoon. We’re expected to attend together."

Raven crossed her arms. "Let me guess—so we can pretend we don’t hate each other?"

Killian’s lips curved slightly. "Something like that."

She exhaled sharply, forcing herself to relax. "Fine. But don’t expect me to play the doting wife."

"I wouldn’t dream of it."

Their gazes held for a moment, something unspoken crackling between them.

Then Killian pushed off the railing. "Breakfast is in the dining hall. Try not to scare anyone."

With that, he walked away.

Raven let out a slow breath, her wolf pacing beneath her skin.

This marriage was going to kill her.

---

The Elder’s Meeting

The Silverclaw council room was as cold and rigid as the pack itself. The long wooden table, the dim lighting, the sharp-eyed Elders seated in a perfect line—it was all designed for control.

Raven took her place beside Killian at the head of the table, her shoulders squared, her expression unreadable.

The room smelled of distrust.

"You’ve made quite an impression," one of the Elders said, eyeing her with open skepticism.

Raven leaned back in her chair. "I tend to."

A few of the Elders exchanged glances.

Killian’s voice cut through the silence. "We’re not here to debate the marriage. It’s done. What we need to focus on is the rogue threat."

Raven glanced at him, surprised. This was the first time he had actually stood up for her, even in such a small way.

Not that she’d thank him for it.

An older wolf, Elder Garrick, cleared his throat. "The attacks are getting bolder. The rogues know we’re in a vulnerable position."

Raven frowned. "They’re not just attacking at random anymore. They’re targeting specific locations."

Killian nodded. "They know our weak spots."

The room fell silent. The weight of that realization settled over them like a thick fog.

"Which means someone is feeding them information," Raven said.

The words landed like a blow.

A traitor.

Killian’s expression darkened. "We’ll need to investigate quietly. If we accuse the wrong person—"

"We’ll tear the pack apart from the inside," Raven finished.

Their gazes met. For the first time since this whole nightmare began, they were on the same side of something.

A shiver ran down her spine.

She didn’t like it.

Killian turned back to the Elders. "We’ll start by reviewing patrol reports. I want every suspicious movement documented."

Elder Garrick nodded. "Understood."

The meeting continued, but Raven barely heard it.

Her instincts screamed at her.

Something was wrong.

And she had a feeling this was only the beginning.

---

A Warning in Blood

The sun was setting when Raven stepped outside for some air. The day had been exhausting—meetings, politics, the constant weight of Killian’s presence.

She needed space.

But as soon as she stepped onto the training grounds, she knew something was off.

Wolves stood in a tight circle near the southern gate, their voices low, tense. The scent of blood thickened the air.

Raven’s pulse quickened. She pushed her way through the crowd—then froze.

A body lay in the dirt.

One of the patrol guards, his throat slashed, his eyes wide and lifeless.

But it wasn’t the body that made Raven’s blood run cold.

It was the message scrawled in blood across the ground beside him.

"The bond will break. The war will come."

A chill ran down her spine.

She felt Killian’s presence before she saw him. He stopped beside her, his jaw tight, his blue eyes dark with rage.

"Rogues?" she asked quietly.

Killian’s fists clenched. "Maybe. But this…" He gestured to the message. "This is something else."

Raven exhaled slowly, pushing down the unease twisting in her gut.

First a traitor.

Now this.

She turned to Killian, meeting his gaze.

"Whatever this is," she said, voice steady, "it’s only just begun."