Chanel’s POV
The morning after the party, I woke up to a soft knock on my door. I knew who it was before I even opened it.
Daniel stood there. He looked tired, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I’m sorry about last night. Miranda was only drunk."
"Which part? The part where I was just a distraction? Or the part where you were waiting for Miranda, like I was nothing more than a way to pass the time?"
He exhaled, his jaw tightening. "You know it’s complicated."
I let out a cold laugh, shaking my head. "No, Daniel. It’s not complicated. It never was. You always knew exactly where you stood. You had Miranda—your perfect, untouchable mate. And you had me, hidden in the dark, convenient whenever you needed someone to hold onto."
His silence told me everything I needed to know.
I stepped closer, my arms uncrossing as I tilted my chin up, refusing to look away. My nails dug into my palms, the sharp sting grounding me, fueling the fire inside me. "Tell me, Daniel. Did you ever even feel guilty? Did it ever cross your mind what it felt like to be nothing more than a secret? Or was it just easy? Easy to have me when you were lonely and push me away when she came back?"
His hands clenched at his sides, but he didn’t answer. He didn’t fight for me. He never had.
I swallowed the ache in my throat and took a step back. "Save your apologies, Daniel. They mean nothing to me now."
---
That afternoon, I traveled to the Deathfang Pack alone to meet with Alpha Kios. As I walked through the territory, I noticed the warriors nodding at me in acknowledgment.
When I reached the packhouse, Kios was waiting for me outside, his arms crossed over his broad chest. His silver eyes, sharp and calculating, met mine. "So, you came. I thought you might change your mind."
I lifted my chin. "Of course not. I have my word of honor."
He studied me for a long moment before speaking. "You understand what this means? Once the bond is sealed, there is no turning back. You will be my mate. My Luna. No half-measures."
I frowned. "I never agreed to be your Luna. I don’t want that title."
Kios arched a brow, a slow smirk curving his lips. "That’s not how the world works. I’m an Alpha. You’re going to be my mate. That makes you Luna by default."
I stiffened. "And what if I refuse?"
His silver eyes gleamed with amusement, but there was an unmistakable edge of challenge beneath them. "Refuse? That’s cute, Chanel. But let’s be clear. I don’t ask."
A chill ran through me, but I lifted my chin, refusing to back down. "So that’s it? No choice? Just forced into it?"
His smirk widened. "I’m giving you the choice to walk away. But let’s be honest—you won’t. Because you know what happens if you do. Daniel wins. Again. You remain his second choice, his afterthought. You keep watching him put her first. You keep living in the shadow of their perfect love story."
My stomach twisted. He knew exactly what buttons to push, and damn it, he was pressing them hard.
"This isn’t about love," Kios continued, his voice a low murmur. "This is about power. About never being discarded again. You understand?"
I clenched my fists. "I understand."
His smirk widened as he closed the space between us with unhurried steps. "Do you? Because I don’t entertain doubts, Chanel. I don’t tolerate weakness."
His voice dropped to a near whisper, yet it carried an undeniable weight. "You want my protection? My strength behind you? Then you don’t get to hesitate. You don’t get to waver."
I swallowed hard, my heart hammering against my ribs. "I don’t need your protection. I need an alliance."
Kios chuckled darkly. "Is that what you tell yourself? That this is just a strategic move? That it’s not about making him suffer? That it’s not about proving to Daniel, to Miranda, to every damn person who ever doubted you, that you are not someone to be cast aside?"
My breath caught. The way he peeled back my motivations, exposing them raw and unfiltered, sent a slow, insidious chill curling through my veins. He wasn’t wrong. And that terrified me.
He lifted a hand, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face, his fingers barely grazing my skin, making my pulse stutter. "Say the words, Chanel. Say that you are mine."
I stared at him as my throat went dry.
"Say it," he pressed, his thumb tracing the edge of my jaw before settling at my chin, tilting my face up to meet him. "Because once you do, there’s no going back. No regrets. No second chances."
Power radiated off him, daring me to recoil. But I didn’t. I met his gaze, saying, "Alright, Alpha. I'm all yours."
"Make no mistake. You are mine now. And I do not share."
Before I could react, Kios sealed the agreement with a swift, deliberate kiss on my lips. Brief, almost impersonal—yet to me, it felt anything but. My breath hitched as he pulled away, leaving me stunned.
---
That night, the scent of blood filled the air when I returned to our pack.
I had just stepped into the main hall when snarls erupted, followed by the heavy thud of a body hitting the ground. The doors crashed open, and rogues poured in like a tidal wave. Warriors met them head-on, but they were outnumbered.
"Everybody, get ready!"
I turned, spotting Daniel. He was standing protectively in front of Miranda, shielding her as if she were the only one in danger.
A rogue lunged at me, and I dodged, my body moving on instinct. Claws raked the air where my throat had been seconds before. I retaliated, my nails elongating into sharp points as I slashed across his chest, sending him stumbling back with a pained howl.
Another came at me from the side. I twisted, landing a kick to his ribs before driving my fist into his jaw. The fight blurred into movement—strikes, dodges, the sharp scent of iron coating my tongue.
Daniel was still with Miranda. Even as warriors fell around them, he never left her side. He parried every attack that came too close, his focus unshakable.
Meanwhile, a rogue caught my moment of hesitation, tackling me to the ground. My head slammed against the cold marble, stars bursting behind my eyes. His claws dug into my shoulders, pinning me beneath his weight. I struggled, but he was stronger, his breath hot and rancid against my face.
Panic clawed at my chest. I needed help.
“Daniel!”
I screamed his name with desperation. For a split second, I hoped he’d turn, that instinct would pull him toward me. But he didn’t. Not even a glance.
Miranda screamed, and that was all it took. Daniel surged forward, cutting down the rogue near her with a single, brutal swipe.
Rage and grief surged through me. Snarling, I shifted partially, my claws raking across the rogue’s chest as I drove my knee into his gut. He recoiled, but I didn’t give him a chance to recover. With a swift, predatory lunge, I sank my fangs into his throat, tearing through flesh and muscle. He gurgled, choking on his own blood, before collapsing in a lifeless heap at my feet.
The battle ended as quickly as it had begun. The rogues that remained were either killed or forced to retreat.
I was shaking. Not from exhaustion, but from the cold realization searing through me. Daniel had rushed to Miranda, who bore no wounds. His hands hovered over her as if she were fragile porcelain.
Then, just as his eyes briefly met mine, Miranda smirked at me.
