The scent of rain clung to the air, thick and heavy, as Selene Ashford sprinted through the dense forest, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The night was cruelly silent except for the pounding of her feet against the damp earth, her heartbeat a frantic rhythm against her ribs. Every shadow, every rustling leaf, felt like a whisper of danger, a reminder that she was being hunted.

She had been running for days.

Running from the ghosts of her past.

Running from the hunters that sought to drag her back to the world she had barely escaped.

But there was nowhere left to run.

Her lungs burned as she pushed herself harder, deeper into the unknown. The full moon cast its silver glow over the towering trees, illuminating the wilderness in an eerie light. She had crossed the borders of countless packs before, slipping through undetected, always careful not to leave a trace. But this time, she had gone too far.

This was his territory.

The Blood Moon Pack.

Selene’s pulse spiked as she sensed it—the presence of wolves, the weight of their power pressing against the air like a storm about to break. Her instincts screamed at her to turn back, to flee, but her body was already at its limit. If they caught her, there was no telling what they would do to a rogue trespassing on their sacred land.

The stories of Alpha Kieran Vaughn were whispered across the werewolf world like a warning. He was not just an alpha—he was a force of nature, ruthless and unyielding. His enemies feared him, and his own pack worshipped him. He was a man who trusted no one, a wolf who had long since severed himself from the shackles of fate.

And now, she was at his mercy.

A low growl rumbled through the trees, the sound slicing through the silence like a blade. Selene skidded to a halt, her muscles tensing as she whipped around. The air crackled with dominance, with a raw, overwhelming power that sent shivers down her spine.

Then she saw him.

Emerging from the darkness, the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack stood before her, his presence like a shadow stretching across the earth. He was taller than she expected, his frame broad and powerful, muscles coiled beneath his dark clothes. His black hair was tousled from the night wind, his sharp jaw clenched in a way that spoke of barely contained restraint.

But it was his eyes that rooted her in place.

A piercing silver, glowing with the light of the moon, cold and calculating. They locked onto her like a predator watching his prey, assessing, judging.

Selene’s breath hitched.

She had faced danger before. She had survived horrors that should have broken her. But as she stood under the weight of his gaze, she felt something she hadn’t felt in years.

Fear.

“You’re trespassing.” His voice was low, dangerous, every syllable laced with authority. It wasn’t a question. It was a statement of fact, one that carried the weight of an unspoken threat.

Selene swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his stare. “I didn’t mean to.”

His expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes—something unreadable. “Then you’re either reckless or incredibly stupid.”

Anger flared in her chest, burning away the edge of her fear. She had been called many things, but never stupid.

“I had no choice,” she snapped, her voice sharper than she intended. “I was being followed.”

Kieran tilted his head slightly, considering her words. Then, with a speed that defied logic, he moved. One moment, he was several feet away, and the next, he was in front of her, his hand gripping her wrist with a strength that sent a shudder through her body.

The heat of his touch was startling, his fingers rough with the callouses of a warrior. Selene tensed, her instincts warring between fight and flight.

“By who?” His voice was softer now, but no less dangerous.

She hesitated. She could lie. She could tell him it was nothing, that she was just another rogue passing through. But something in his eyes warned her that he would see through any deception.

And the truth… the truth was far worse than any lie.

“I can’t tell you.”

A muscle in his jaw ticked, his grip tightening for the briefest moment before he released her.

“Then you’ll stay here until you do.”

Selene’s heart stuttered. “What?”

“You crossed into my territory.” His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, a finality that sent a chill down her spine. “That makes you my problem now.”

She took a step back, her mind racing. She couldn’t stay. She couldn’t afford to be trapped here.

But before she could make another move, the sound of footsteps echoed through the trees. More wolves. More of his wolves.

She was surrounded.

For the first time in years, Selene Ashford had nowhere left to run.

And worse still… she wasn’t sure if she wanted to.

Selene’s mind raced as she turned in a slow circle, her sharp eyes flicking between the figures emerging from the shadows. The Blood Moon warriors closed in like a pack of silent predators, their eyes glowing under the moonlight. Their movements were controlled, precise—trained killers, each one radiating power and loyalty to their Alpha.

Kieran Vaughn stood at the center of it all, a pillar of dominance. He hadn’t moved since releasing her wrist, but she could feel his presence like an invisible chain locking her in place.

“Alpha.” A dark-haired man to Kieran’s right stepped forward, his voice calm but edged with curiosity. “Who is she?”

Kieran’s gaze remained locked on Selene. “A rogue,” he said simply. “Trespassing.”

The warriors tensed. Rogues weren’t just unwelcome in established packs—they were considered dangerous, untrustworthy, a threat to stability. And yet, Kieran hadn’t given the order to seize her, nor had he struck her down where she stood.

Selene swallowed hard, forcing herself to remain still. Any sudden movement, any sign of aggression, could be her undoing. She had survived too much to be taken down now.

“You’re lucky, rogue,” the dark-haired man muttered. “If it were any other pack, you’d already be dead.”

Selene met his gaze without flinching. “And yet, here I stand.”

A few warriors exchanged looks, clearly surprised by her defiance. Rogues rarely spoke back, especially not to a pack as powerful as Blood Moon.

A slow smirk tugged at the man’s lips. “She’s got guts. I’ll give her that.”

“Enough, Luca.” Kieran’s voice was calm, yet it cut through the air with deadly precision. The warrior—Luca—tilted his head but said nothing else.

Selene clenched her fists. “If you’re going to kill me, get it over with,” she said, her voice steady.

Kieran arched a brow. “And if I don’t?”

She hesitated. She had been prepared for a fight, for a swift execution. What she hadn’t been prepared for was this—his scrutiny, his control, the way he seemed to be measuring her, trying to unravel the mystery she carried.

Selene lifted her chin. “Then let me go.”

Kieran exhaled a quiet breath—something between amusement and annoyance. “Not happening.”

Her stomach tightened. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“You trespassed.”

“I was running for my life.”

Kieran studied her in silence for a long moment, then turned to his warriors. “Take her back to the estate. Keep her under guard.”

Panic surged through Selene like wildfire. “No.”

Kieran’s gaze snapped back to her, irritation flickering in his silver eyes. “That wasn’t a request.”

She took a step back, her pulse hammering. “I’m not going with you.”

Luca and another warrior moved at once, their forms blurring as they closed the distance between them. Selene spun on her heel and bolted, her muscles screaming in protest.

But she didn’t make it more than a few feet.

A strong arm wrapped around her waist, yanking her back with inhuman speed. The force of the impact stole the air from her lungs as her body collided with a firm, unyielding chest. The scent of pine and something darkly intoxicating enveloped her.

Kieran.

She barely had a moment to register the heat of his body before he turned her in his grasp, pinning her arms to her sides effortlessly. His hold wasn’t painful, but it was immovable, like iron shackles molded to her skin.

“Enough,” he murmured, his voice dangerously low.

Selene struggled, twisting, trying to break free, but it was useless. He was stronger, faster. He had probably anticipated her every move before she even made it.

His fingers tightened ever so slightly, his breath fanning against her ear. “Keep fighting, and I might start thinking you actually are hiding something.”

Selene stilled.

Kieran exhaled sharply. “Good.”

Then, without another word, he lifted her off the ground as if she weighed nothing and threw her over his shoulder.

A startled gasp escaped her lips. “Put me down!”

Kieran ignored her, striding through the trees with purpose.

Selene slammed her fists against his back. “You arrogant, overgrown—”

A sharp smack landed on her thigh, not hard enough to hurt, but firm enough to shock her into silence.

“Behave,” he said lazily.

Selene’s face burned with fury and something else she refused to name. “You’re a bastard.”

Kieran chuckled, the sound rich and deep. “I’ve been called worse.”

The warriors followed behind as Kieran carried her deeper into his territory. Selene gritted her teeth, forcing herself to think. She needed a plan, a way out of this.

But then, as the towering walls of the Blood Moon estate came into view, she realized the awful truth.

She was trapped.

And she had no idea how to escape.

---

The estate was nothing like she expected.

Selene had envisioned a cold, militaristic compound—stone walls, iron gates, the kind of place built for war. Instead, she found herself staring at a sprawling mansion surrounded by thick forest, the glow of lanterns casting soft light against the grand architecture. It was a fortress, yes, but one disguised in elegance.

Kieran carried her up the stone steps and straight through the massive double doors, where warm golden light spilled into the grand entrance hall. The floors were polished wood, and the walls were lined with portraits of past alphas, their eyes seeming to follow her even as she was hauled further inside.

Finally, Kieran stopped.

With an effortless motion, he set her down on her feet. Selene staggered slightly, her legs still weak from exhaustion. She tried to step back, but Kieran’s hand remained firmly around her wrist, keeping her in place.

A woman approached—a warrior, judging by the way she carried herself. Her dark auburn hair was tied back, and she had the sharp, observant eyes of someone who missed nothing.

“Quinn,” Kieran addressed her. “She stays here. No one in, no one out.”

Quinn nodded, her gaze flicking to Selene with mild curiosity before she turned to the guards. “You heard the Alpha. Get stationed.”

Selene clenched her jaw as she turned to Kieran. “How long do you plan on keeping me here?”

“As long as it takes,” Kieran said simply.

“For what?”

“For me to figure out what the hell you’re hiding.”

Selene stiffened.

Kieran leaned in, his silver eyes locking onto hers. “I don’t believe in coincidences, rogue. You showed up on my land running from something. And until I know what that something is, you’re not going anywhere.”

Selene’s heart pounded.

She should have been afraid. She was afraid.

But deep beneath the fear, beneath the anger and frustration, something else stirred.

A pull.

A dangerous, unexplainable connection to the man who now held her prisoner.

And that terrified her most of all.