Fated By Blood And Moonlight

✨

rtress, Two

into view. Dark stone walls stood tall, covered in ancient runes that shimmered faintly in the gray

th caught in

sn't a

meant to keep beasts

sat atop her own horse now, guided gently by Kael's Beta, Thorne, a stoic man with a

much since they le

fortress, Elara could fee

h. The sky hung heavier here,

wing faintly under the bandages Kael h

. "Until we know who to trust, the f

e unde

open and she stepped inside the for

Advisors.

expressions twisted-from shoc

't just

mate-and that meant

-

her down. She took his hand reluctantly,

w voice, bowing slightly. "Sha

er," Kael replied. "But not a

erst

ress gates, his pace steady, hi

ned the halls, illuminating tapestries depicting Lycans of old-kings crowne

re felt... an

dn't belong

idor near the eastern tower, K

is y

with furs. A fireplace already lit. A bath steaming near the window.

all this," s

ll," Ka

him. "Why are

ment, then stepped inside an

nk I cho

nched. "D

e life. I ruled by fear

n wh

itter. "It demands. It claims. And when I saw you-felt your blood call to

trem

. "I don't know what this mark means. I do

ped forwa

he truth. I want your strength. Your fire

rushing a knuckle

. Here. Safe. Protected. And when yo

eath h

er spoken to

ever seen h

her beyond that simple gesture. Instead, he ste

ace," he said. "B

dded,

ilence, and the slow unraveling of everything

-

n one of the soft black gowns from the wardrobe, Ela

gain-bright

t was reactin

som

he door brok

d inside-no older than Elara herself, with russet hair bra

rtsy. "I'm Amira. The King as

ady," Elara

d shyly. "Y

, and laid out simple details about the fortress-the dining hour

Elara aske

d. "Especially about the ol

heart

. The soldiers say they felt something shift when you

wallowe

that

ftly. "But change always frighten

re cra

ond the walls, wolves howl

-