The bond burned like a brand beneath Lira's skin, a constant reminder of Killian's claim. But pain had always been her best teacher.
She waited until the witching hour—when the moon was shrouded in clouds and the guards at her door slumped in drowsy silence. The bond had been fresh for less than a day, but already she could feel its pull, like a chain yanking at her ribs every time she stepped too far from Killian's scent.
"Not for long," she whispered.
The window of Killian's chambers was barred, but the iron was old, rusted at the hinges. A well-placed kick sent one side groaning loose. Cold night air rushed in, carrying the scent of pine and freedom.
Lira didn't hesitate. She leapt.
The forest swallowed her whole.
Branches lashed at her arms as she ran, her bare feet tearing over roots and rocks. She could hear the distant howls of the Bloodmoon patrols, but the bond's tether stretched thinner with every step.
She was going to make it.
Then—
A snarl ripped through the trees behind her.
Lira whirled just in time to see Killian emerge from the shadows, his golden eyes glowing in the dark. He wasn't in wolf form. He didn't need to be.
"Running already, little wolf?" His voice was deceptively calm. "And here I thought you'd at least wait until the blood dried."
Lira bared her teeth. "I'd rather die than sleep another night under your roof."
Killian tilted his head. "Funny. Your body disagrees."
A wave of heat crashed through her—the bond's punishment. Her knees buckled as fire licked up her veins, the magic furious at her defiance. She choked back a scream.
Killian closed the distance in three strides, hauling her up by the throat. "You feel that? That's what happens when you try to leave." His grip tightened. "The bond doesn't just tie you to me. It breaks you for me."
Lira spat in his face.
For a heartbeat, Killian went utterly still. Then his mouth curved into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Good. I like my prey with a fiesty, it makes the meal more delectable."
He threw her over his shoulders ignoring her kicks and sqirms. As he carried her back to the packhouse, his voice dropped to a whisper :" run again and I'll enjoy dragging you back "
---
Amber thrashed in the Alpha's arms, her nails drawing blood from his shoulders, her kicks useless against his immovable strength. He didn't flinch. Didn't slow.
The pack's howls echoed around them, a chorus of triumph as their Alpha carried his stolen, snarling prize back through the torch-lit corridors.
Her breath came in sharp, panicked bursts. No. No, no, no—
The mark on her neck burned like a brand.
The door crashed open. He tossed her onto the bed like a feral thing, and she scrambled back against the headboard, chest heaving.
The Alpha stood at the foot of the bed, wiping the blood from his cheek where she'd clawed him. His golden eyes glowed in the firelight.
"You fight like a cornered fox," he mused, voice low. "All teeth and no strategy."
Amber bared her own teeth. "Touch me, and I'll rip your throat out."
A dark chuckle. "Promises, promises."
He stepped closer.
She flinched.
For all her defiance, her body betrayed her.
Her hands trembled. Her pulse was a frantic drum against her ribs. She'd heard the stories, what happened to claimed mates who resisted. The pain. The breaking.
The Alpha stilled. His nostrils flared, scenting her fear.
Something flickered in his gaze—irritation? Disappointment?
"You think I'm going to force you," he said flatly.
Amber swallowed hard. "Aren't you?"
A beat of silence.
Then he turned away with a scoff.
Instead of pouncing, the Alpha stalked to the fireplace, pouring himself a drink from a decanter. "Would you like some " He asked, she shook her head frantically, was he trying to get her drunk just so she wouldn't resist him?
"I don't take unwilling mates," he broke into her thoughts, voice rough. "Even stolen ones."
Lira blinked. What?
He shot her a look over his shoulder, jaw tight. "The mark is enough for now. The bond will do the rest."
Her stomach twisted. "You expect me to just… want you?"
The corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk. "Oh, you will."
The certainty in his voice sent a shiver down her spine.
He set the glass down with a click.
"But make no mistake, little mate just because I haven't claimed your body doesn't mean a thing, you're mine and mine alone ".
His hard gaze dropped to her lips, just for a heartbeat. Then he turned and walked out, locking the door behind him.
Amber was left alone, her body thrumming with adrenaline—and something else.