Chapter 4
804 Words
Chapter 4: The Bond Awakens
The laughter echoed through the Hawthorne Estate.
Champagne glasses clinked.
Soft music drifted through the gardens.
Guests mingled beneath strings of golden fairy lights, unaware that fate had already begun weaving its threads.
Emilia smiled politely as another guest wished her a happy birthday.
"Happy birthday, sweetheart," an elderly woman said, embracing her. "Your mother would be so proud."
"Thank you."
Even after all these years, hearing someone mention Sophia still left an ache in Emilia's heart.
She barely remembered her mother.
Only stories.
Photographs.
And dreams that felt too real to be dreams.
---
"Emilia!"
Camila grabbed her wrist.
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"I have a surprise."
Before Emilia could protest, Camila dragged her toward the center of the garden.
The lights suddenly dimmed.
A massive three-tier birthday cake was wheeled into view.
The guests began singing.
"Happy Birthday to you..."
Emilia laughed, covering her face in embarrassment.
"You planned all this?"
Camila grinned proudly.
"Obviously."
As the song ended, everyone applauded.
Lillian hugged Emilia from one side.
Sean stood just behind her.
For once...
He wasn't holding a phone.
He wasn't checking emails.
He was simply...
Present.
"Make a wish," Camila whispered.
Emilia closed her eyes.
I wish...
She hesitated.
...to stop loving someone I can never have.
She opened her eyes...
...and blew out the candles.
The flames vanished.
Then—
The wind stopped.
Every leaf in the garden became perfectly still.
The fairy lights flickered.
The temperature dropped.
A strange silence settled over the estate.
Several guests glanced around in confusion.
"What was that?"
"Did the power go out?"
"It's not even windy..."
Emilia frowned.
She could hear something.
A heartbeat.
Not her own.
Someone else's.
Strong.
Steady.
Calling to her.
---
Across the garden...
Killian froze.
His entire body went rigid.
His wolf erupted inside him with a force he had never experienced before.
MATE!
The roar thundered through his mind.
His vision sharpened.
Every scent disappeared...
Except one.
Vanilla.
Wild roses.
Rain after sunshine.
Emilia.
His eyes found her instantly.
Standing beside the birthday cake.
Bathed in moonlight.
His mate.
"No..."
The word escaped his lips before he realized he'd spoken aloud.
Damien, standing nearby, looked at him.
"Alpha?"
Killian couldn't hear him.
His wolf was pushing forward.
Go to her.
"No."
Claim her.
"No!"
He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.
His breathing became uneven.
It couldn't be.
Not Emilia.
Not Sean's daughter.
Not Camila's best friend.
Not the little girl who used to run through his gardens chasing butterflies.
The Moon Goddess had made a mistake.
She had to have.
---
Miles away...
Roman Volkov slammed on the brakes.
His SUV screeched to a stop on an empty road.
His Beta turned sharply.
"Alpha?"
Roman's breathing became ragged.
His wolf howled violently inside him.
Find her.
His crimson eyes narrowed.
"What..."
The pull was unlike anything he'd ever felt.
Not complete.
Not comforting.
But impossible to ignore.
It felt as though the moon itself was pointing him toward someone.
A woman.
Roman smiled slowly.
"So..."
"You're finally awake."
---
Back at the Hawthorne Estate...
Emilia pressed a hand against her chest.
Her heart raced uncontrollably.
"Are you okay?" Camila asked.
"I..."
She looked around.
"I suddenly feel..."
Warm.
Too warm.
The pendant around her neck pulsed faintly against her skin.
A silver glow flickered beneath her dress before disappearing.
She blinked.
Did anyone else see that?
No one seemed to notice.
Except one person.
Killian.
His piercing blue eyes locked onto the pendant.
His heartbeat thundered.
The symbol...
It had responded.
Only one bloodline carried that blessing.
Moonborn.
His expression darkened.
Sophia...
What did you hide from us?
---
"Killian."
Sean's voice broke through his thoughts.
"You look pale."
Killian forced himself to breathe normally.
"I'm fine."
Sean studied him.
"You've barely touched your drink."
"I've had a long week."
"Hmm."
Sean wasn't convinced.
He had known Killian for over twenty years.
He could tell something was wrong.
He just couldn't imagine what.
---
As the party continued, Emilia slipped away from the crowd.
She needed air.
The gardens behind the estate were quiet beneath the full moon.
She walked slowly along the stone path, trying to calm the strange feeling inside her.
"Why do I feel like someone is watching me?"
She turned.
No one.
Just the rustling trees.
She shook her head.
"I'm imagining things."
But hidden beyond the tree line...
A tall figure stood cloaked in darkness.
Roman Volkov watched her with a faint smile.
His wolf growled possessively.
Mine.
Roman's smile faded.
"No..."
He whispered to himself.
"Not mine..."
"But soon..."
He disappeared into the shadows before anyone could sense his presence.
Far above, the full moon shone brighter than ever.
And somewhere beyond mortal sight, an ancient prophecy stirred.
The game had begun.
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