Chapter 38

I sat bolt upright in bed, a scream dying in my throat before it could escape. My heart hammered against my ribs as I gasped for breath, the nightmare still clinging to me like a second skin. Sweat plastered my hair to my forehead as I struggled to separate dream from reality.

"Lena?" Kieran's voice, rough with sleep, came from beside me. I felt the bed shift as he sat up, his warm hand finding my shoulder in the darkness. "What's wrong?"

I couldn't look at him. Not when the image was still so fresh in my mind—Kieran's face transforming, his usually handsome features twisting into something monstrous. In my dream, his eyes had glowed with malice as his lips pulled back to reveal elongated fangs. "You will submit," he had growled, pinning me down. "The mating bond will be completed tonight, whether you consent or not."

"Just a nightmare," I managed to say, my voice trembling despite my efforts to steady it. I pulled away slightly, needing space to breathe, to remind myself that the man beside me wasn't the monster from my dreams.

Kieran reached over to light the bedside lamp, casting the room in a soft golden glow. His brow furrowed with concern as he took in my pale face and wide eyes.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, keeping his distance now, seemingly understanding my need for space.

I shook my head, unable to admit the nature of my nightmare—that I had dreamed he would force the mating bond upon me. After the incomplete marking at the coronation, tension had lingered between us, though Kieran had been surprisingly patient. But the wolf in me remained wary, and apparently, so did my subconscious.

"It was nothing," I lied, avoiding his piercing gaze. "Just stress from all the changes, I suppose."

Kieran studied me for a long moment before nodding. "It was just a dream, Lena," he said softly. "Whatever it was, it can't hurt you here." His hand hovered near mine, not quite touching. "I'm here if you need me."

The gentleness in his voice made my chest ache. This was the Kieran I was beginning to see glimpses of—thoughtful, considerate, so different from the harsh Alpha most of the pack knew. So different from the monster in my dream.

"Thank you," I whispered, but I knew sleep would elude me now. My nerves were too raw, my mind too active. "I think I need some air. I'm going to go for a run."

Concern flashed across his face. "It's the middle of the night, Lena."

"I'll stay within the inner territory," I promised. "I just need to clear my head."

After a moment's hesitation, he nodded. "Be careful."

I slipped from the bed, quickly changing into clothes suitable for running or shifting if I chose to let my wolf out. The cool night air hit my face as I stepped outside our quarters, instantly refreshing me. I took deep breaths, filling my lungs and clearing away the lingering tendrils of the nightmare.

I began to run, my feet carrying me toward the forest that bordered our pack's central compound. The physical exertion helped, each stride pushing the dream further into the background. My wolf stirred inside me, eager for freedom, but I held back on shifting just yet, enjoying the human sensation of muscles working, lungs burning.

As I approached the border of our main territory, I spotted three figures patrolling—guards keeping watch through the night. They straightened as they saw me approach, recognition dawning on their faces.

"Luna," the tallest of them greeted me with a respectful nod. "Is everything alright?"

"Just needed some air," I replied. "How's the night been?"

"Quiet, Luna," said another guard, a woman with short-cropped hair. "But..." She hesitated, glancing toward the deeper woods beyond our border. "We've caught unfamiliar scents the past two nights. Nothing definitive, but worth watching."

The third guard, younger than the others, stepped forward. "Luna, it might be safer if you returned to your quarters. The border isn't secure enough for you to be out alone."

I bristled slightly at being told what to do—a reaction that surprised me. A few weeks ago, I would have nodded meekly and done as suggested. But something had changed since the coronation. I was Luna now, not just another pack member.

"I appreciate your concern," I began, about to assure them I would be fine—

A howl cut through the night, followed by the sound of snapping branches. Before any of us could react, dark shapes burst from the tree line—wolves with matted fur and wild eyes, moving with desperate hunger and aggression. Rogue wolves.

One lunged directly at me, giving me no time to think. Pure instinct took over as I dropped to the ground, my body contorting as bones cracked and reformed. The shift was faster than it had ever been before, pain giving way to power as my wolf surged forward eagerly.

Where seconds before I had stood as a woman, now a wolf snarled back at our attackers. I leapt at the nearest rogue, my jaws finding his throat before he could adjust his trajectory. The taste of blood filled my mouth as I tore through flesh, a savagery I hadn't known I possessed taking control.

The guards had shifted as well, but they hesitated, clearly surprised by my ferocity. I didn't wait for them. My wolf moved with deadly precision, taking down a second attacker that tried to circle behind me. Claws raked my flank, but the pain only fueled my rage. I spun, connecting with the third rogue, my teeth finding the vulnerable junction between neck and shoulder.

In moments, it was over. Three rogues lay dead on the ground, their blood staining the earth. I stood over them, panting, only now registering the shocked silence from the guards.

I turned toward them, confused by their stunned expressions. Then I caught sight of my reflection in a small puddle nearby—my fur gleaming silver in the moonlight, with unmistakable streaks of pure white and gold running through it. A unique coloration that marked me as something special, something rare.

The realization of what I'd revealed hit me at the same moment I became aware of the burning pain in my side. One of the rogues had bitten me deeper than I'd realized. Blood matted my beautiful fur, spreading too quickly.

The world began to tilt and sway around me. The guards rushed forward as my legs gave way beneath me. As darkness closed in, a single thought crystallized in my fading consciousness: I haven't said goodbye to my partner properly...

Then the world went black.