I'm not sure what I expected from Kael Draven, but him turning his back on me wasn't it. His words—"If you stay near me, we're both dead"—hung in the air like a bad omen, and my wrist burned where the crescent mark pulsed, as if it was pissed I wasn't listening. The forest around us, some no-man's-land just past Silverclaw territory, felt alive, the mist curling through the trees like it was watching us. Kael's broad shoulders moved ahead, his black coat blending into the shadows, but I wasn't about to let him walk away. "You don't get to drop a bomb like that and just leave," I called, my voice sharp, cutting through the dawn chill. My boots sank into the damp earth as I chased after him, my heart pounding with a mix of anger and that stupid mate bond pulling me like a leash.
Kael stopped but didn't turn, his voice low and gritty. "You're stubborn as hell, Lila Thorn. That's gonna get you killed."
"And you're running like a coward," I shot back, closing the gap. My leather jacket creaked as I moved, my dagger still in hand, ready for anything. The mate bond was messing with my head, making my blood hum when I got too close to him. It was like standing near a storm—electric, dangerous, and way too tempting. "If this mark ties us, I deserve answers. What's this curse? Why me?"
He spun around, and those gray eyes hit me like a punch, stormy and raw. Up close, I could see the scars on his jaw, the kind you get from surviving things most people don't. He was tall, too tall, and the way he looked at me made my chest tight. "You want the truth?" he growled. "Fine. But don't cry when it's more than you can handle."
He pointed to a fallen log, and we sat, the space between us buzzing like a live wire. I kept my dagger close, my tracker instincts screaming to stay sharp. The forest was too quiet, and I knew Blackfang scouts could be lurking. Kael's scent—wild, like pine and earth with a hint of something that made my pulse race—made it hard to think straight. I gritted my teeth, shoving the feeling down. No way was I letting some mystical bond call the shots.
"Five years ago," Kael started, his voice rough like he was dragging the words out, "I was Silverclaw's Alpha. Youngest in a century. Led the pack through two wars, kept us strong against the Blackfangs. Then someone screwed me over. Planted evidence I'd sold secrets to our enemies. The elders didn't even blink—they exiled me. Torin, my second-in-command, didn't lift a finger."
My breath hitched. I'd heard the stories about Kael Draven, the traitor Alpha, but they were always half-told, twisted by pack gossip. His eyes held a pain that made me want to believe him, even though every Silverclaw bone in my body said not to. "Who set you up?" I asked, leaning forward.
"Don't know," he said, his jaw tight. "Not yet. But the Blackfangs saw their chance. Their witch, Isolde Vey, tracked me down in exile. Said the Silverclaws would fall if I stayed alive. So she cursed me." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that sent shivers down my spine. "The second I meet my fated mate, my life starts slipping away. A countdown—days, maybe weeks, before I'm done. And now, here you are."
My mark flared, a sharp sting that made me wince. "So this thing on my wrist… it's killing you because I showed up?"
"Not because of you," Kael said, his voice softer now, almost gentle. "Because of Isolde. Her magic, her rules. If we stay close, it speeds up. If you die, it might stop—but I'd burn this forest down before I let that happen."
My heart did a stupid flip, caught between his words and the way his eyes locked on mine. I wanted to snap at him, to tell him I didn't need his protection, but the mate bond was like a current, pulling me toward him. I stood up, pacing to shake it off. "So what's the plan? I'm not sitting around waiting for you to keel over. Or for the Blackfangs to use this against my pack."
Kael's lips twitched, almost a smirk. "You're as fierce as they say, Thorn. But you need to go back to your pack. Stay safe. I'll find Isolde, make her undo it."
I laughed, short and bitter. "You think I'm gonna hide? I'm a tracker, Kael. I've hunted rogues in storms, slipped past Blackfang patrols. If anyone's finding this witch, it's me." I met his gaze, my chin up. "With or without you."
He stood, looming over me, his face hard to read. "You go after Isolde, you're walking into a war. The Blackfangs know about your mark—don't ask me how. If they catch you, they'll use you to get to me. Or worse, to gut your pack."
My stomach dropped. The Silverclaws were my home—Jace with his goofy grin, Mara with her endless worrying, even Torin, pain in the ass that he was. The thought of the Blackfangs, with their brutal warriors and that creepy witch, hitting our territory made my blood run cold. But backing down? Not my style. "Then we move fast," I said, my voice steady. "Find Isolde before they find us. You know her. Where is she?"
Kael hesitated, his eyes searching mine like he was looking for a crack in my resolve. "Blackfang stronghold. Deep in their territory. It's a fortress—guards, traps, Isolde's magic everywhere. You'd need a damn army."
"Or a tracker," I said, my mind already spinning. I'd slipped past enemy lines before, but the Blackfang stronghold was next-level. Still, sitting still wasn't an option—not with this mark burning a hole in my life. "I can get in. Just tell me what I'm looking for."
He grabbed my arm, his touch sending a jolt through my mark. "You're not listening, Lila. Isolde's not just a witch—she's vicious. And the Blackfangs? They'll rip you apart."
I yanked free, my eyes blazing. "Don't touch me unless I say so. And don't underestimate me. I'm not here because some goddess thought it'd be cute. I'm here because I choose to be. So, you helping me or not?"
For a second, he just stared, and I swear I saw a flicker of respect in those stormy eyes. Then he sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "You're impossible. Fine. We go together. My way—quiet, careful, no reckless stunts."
I smirked, hiding the way my hands shook. "Deal. But don't expect me to salute, Alpha."
Before he could snap back, a growl rumbled through the trees. My dagger was out in a heartbeat, my senses screaming. Kael tensed, his eyes scanning the shadows. "Blackfang scouts," he whispered. "They've tracked me."
Three wolves stepped out, half-shifted, their gold eyes glowing, claws glinting. My heart raced, but I planted my feet. "Stay behind me," Kael growled, his own claws extending.
"Like hell," I said, lunging at the closest scout. My dagger sliced his arm, blood spraying. He roared, swinging, but I ducked, years of training making me fast. Kael tackled another, slamming him into a tree with brutal force. The third came for me, but I kicked his legs out, dropping him hard.
"Enough!" Kael's voice boomed, an Alpha's command that shook the air. The scouts froze, then bolted, tails low. I panted, my mark burning like fire. Kael turned to me, breathing hard. "You're reckless. But damn, you're good."
"And you're slow," I said, wiping my dagger clean. "We need to move. They'll bring friends."
He nodded, his eyes lingering on me, intense and unreadable. "You sure about this, Lila? Once we go after Isolde, there's no turning back."
I met his gaze, the mate bond singing in my blood, dangerous and alive. "I was sure the second this mark showed up. Let's end this curse."