The Mating Bond

The moon hung low, full and crimson, casting an eerie glow over Nightshade Hollow. Trees stood like silent watchers, their branches clawing at the sky. Elysia Thorn pressed deeper into her coat, the wind biting through the fabric as she trudged along the narrow forest trail. Her flashlight flickered. Of course it did.

She shouldn't have stayed this late at the antique bookstore. But Miss Aurelia had been lonely, and her stories of ancient lore always fascinated Elysia more than they should have. She wasn't supposed to believe in werewolves or moon curses or blood-bound fates. She was supposed to be normal.

A twig snapped behind her.

Elysia froze. Her heart thundered against her ribs, the sound almost louder than the wind. Slowly, she turned.

Nothing.

Just the trees.

She shook her head. "Get a grip, Thorn."

She kept walking, faster now. The flashlight flickered again before it gave out completely, plunging her into darkness.

"Shit," she whispered, smacking the side of the light. Nothing. The silence around her seemed too still now. Even the wind had stopped.

Another snap. Closer this time.

Elysia's breath caught. She spun again. Still nothing. But now she felt it-something watching her. Not someone. Something.

She broke into a run.

Leaves crunched beneath her boots. Her breath came in sharp bursts, fogging in the air. Her lungs burned. The trail twisted, and she stumbled. Branches clawed at her cheeks and arms. Her hair whipped behind her.

Then she heard it-heavy, deliberate footfalls. And the low, guttural growl of something not human.

Elysia screamed.

She didn't see the root until it caught her boot. She fell hard, pain flaring in her knees and palms. The ground spun as she scrambled to get up-but it was too late.

A massive shadow lunged from the trees.

Glowing amber eyes. Razor-sharp teeth. Saliva dripping from a snarl that could split bone.

The creature towered over her-wolf-like, but too large. Too wrong.

She screamed again, curling her arms over her face. But the bite never came.

A dark blur slammed into the beast midair, sending it flying. A violent growl echoed through the forest as the two wolves clashed. One black as night. The other brown and scarred.

Fangs tore. Claws ripped.

The black wolf was larger, faster. It pinned the other down with ease, biting deep into its neck. The brown wolf yelped once-then went still.

Elysia didn't move.

Not until the black wolf turned its glowing silver eyes on her.

She gasped, heart racing. Her body screamed at her to run-but she couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. Something inside her stirred, warm and ancient and electric.

The wolf stepped closer.

And shifted.

Bones cracked. Muscles twisted. The creature collapsed to its knees, its form shrinking, contorting, reshaping-

Until a man knelt before her.

Naked. Bleeding. Breathing hard.

He was devastatingly beautiful and terrifying all at once. His black hair clung to his face in damp strands. Silver eyes burned into hers. Scars crossed his chest, his shoulders. And though he was clearly human now, power still radiated off him in waves.

"You're bleeding," he said, voice low and gravelly.

Elysia blinked. "You... You're..."

"You shouldn't be out here."

Her throat worked, but no words came.

He looked at her for a long moment, something fierce and unreadable in his gaze. Then, with slow steps, he approached her. She should have backed away. But she didn't. Couldn't. Her body felt like it wasn't her own anymore.

When he touched her-just the lightest graze of his fingertips along her wrist-her skin burned.

But it wasn't pain.

It was like lightning.

A jolt of something ancient surged through her veins, her breath catching in her throat. Her pulse roared in her ears.

His eyes widened slightly.

"You feel it too," he murmured.

"Feel what?"

"The bond."

Elysia pulled her hand back, trembling. "What bond?"

He stood fully then, towering over her. His expression hardened, though his eyes remained locked on hers.

"I'm Kael Draven," he said. "Alpha of the Obsidian Pack."

"Alpha," she repeated, voice shaking.

"Yes." His voice was low, dangerous now. "And you... you're my mate."

The words hit her like a slap. She took a step back. "No. That's not possible. I'm not- I don't even know you!"

Kael's jaw tightened. "Neither of us asked for this."

She opened her mouth to argue, but a sound cut through the air-howling. Distant, then closer. Dozens of voices. Not friendly.

"They're coming," Kael muttered, already shifting back into his wolf form. "You need to come with me. Now."

"I-I can't just-"

He growled lowly. "If you stay here, they'll tear you apart."

A scream echoed in the distance.

It wasn't human.

It wasn't far.

Kael stepped between her and the sound, body already tensed to defend. Elysia's legs moved before her brain caught up.

She ran.

Kael bounded beside her, leading her deeper into the forest. The trees blurred. The air thickened. Behind them, the howls grew louder.

Suddenly, Kael stopped. He turned back, teeth bared.

"What-" Elysia started to ask.

Then she saw them.

Dozens of wolves emerging from the shadows.

Amber eyes. Bloodied fur. Snarling mouths.

One of them stepped forward, larger than the rest. Gray and savage, with a twisted ear and a fresh scar across its snout.

It growled a word.

"Give. Her. To. Us."

Elysia gasped.

They could talk?

Kael didn't flinch. "She's mine."

A murmur went through the pack. Then-chaos.

They lunged.

Kael roared and met them mid-charge. Claws clashed. Fur flew. Blood sprayed the snow-laced earth.

Elysia stood frozen-until one of the wolves broke through the fight and came straight for her.

Too fast.

Too close.

She screamed-too late.

Its claws slashed toward her throat-

And the world went black.