BOUND BY BLOOD AND MOON

The scent of rain hung heavy in the air.

Selene stood at the edge of the training grounds, her muscles coiled with tension as she watched the pack's warriors spar in the dim morning light. The ground was still damp from last night's storm, mud clinging to boots, the scent of sweat and wet earth thick in the air.

Her fingers twitched.

She needed a fight.

Needed to feel something other than the dull ache that had settled in her chest since last night.

"Spacing out again?"

Selene turned just in time to block the strike aimed at her ribs. Seraphina grinned, stepping back as she rolled her shoulders. "You're easy to sneak up on when you're brooding."

Selene huffed. "I wasn't brooding."

Seraphina raised an eyebrow. "No? Then what do you call standing there with that lost-in-thought look while men with swords swing at each other right in front of you?"

"Thinking," Selene corrected, shifting into a defensive stance.

Seraphina smirked. "Whatever you say, Moon Eyes."

Selene barely had time to process the nickname before Seraphina lunged.

Their blades clashed, the impact jolting up Selene's arm. She gritted her teeth and pushed back, forcing Seraphina to step away. The redhead didn't let up, circling her like a predator, her twin daggers gleaming under the morning sun.

Selene adjusted her grip.

Seraphina was fast. Faster than most. But Selene wasn't weak.

She waited.

One second. Two.

Then Seraphina moved ,too quick for most to react. But Selene had fought her before. She knew the pattern.

She ducked, twisting just enough to avoid the blade slicing toward her shoulder, and caught Seraphina's wrist in an iron grip. With a sharp yank, she threw her friend off balance, sending her stumbling back with a muttered curse.

A smirk tugged at Selene's lips.

"Still too predictable."

Seraphina groaned, shaking out her wrist. "You are the worst."

Selene chuckled, stepping back to sheath her weapon. "Maybe you're just getting slow."

Seraphina glared. "Oh, you"

"Enough standing around!" A deep voice boomed across the training grounds.

Beta Callum.

The pack's second-in-command stood near the center, his sharp eyes scanning the gathered warriors.

"If you have time to joke, you have time to train harder," he barked.

Selene and Seraphina exchanged a look before breaking apart. Seraphina rolled her eyes but didn't argue, already heading toward another sparring partner.

Selene turned, expecting to do the same, but Callum's gaze locked onto her.

"Selene. With me."

A ripple of interest passed through the warriors.

Selene kept her expression neutral as she approached. The Beta rarely sparred outside of official challenges.

Whatever this was, it wasn't just about training.

Callum was a mountain of a man, taller than most, with a presence that demanded attention. He wasn't the kind of leader who wasted words. If he wanted something, he made it clear.

He studied her for a long moment before speaking. "You're strong."

Selene blinked. "Uh… thank you?"

Callum's lip twitched slightly,just enough to hint at amusement before his expression hardened again.

"But you let your emotions rule you."

Selene's spine stiffened.

"I don't...."

"You do," Callum cut in. "You fight well, but your focus wavers. You hesitate when you shouldn't. You react instead of thinking ahead."

Selene clenched her jaw. "And what exactly am I supposed to do about that?"

Callum tilted his head. "Learn."

Then he lunged.

Selene barely had time to react before his fist slammed into her gut. The force sent her skidding back, her boots digging into the muddy ground.

Pain flared, but she swallowed it down.

She straightened, eyes narrowing.

Fine. If this was a lesson, she'd make damn sure she learned.

They clashed again, the sound of fists meeting flesh echoing across the grounds.

The whispers around them faded. The world narrowed to movement,strike, block, counter.

Selene pushed herself harder, faster.

And for the first time in a long time, she didn't feel like she was drowning.

She felt alive.

Later That Night

Selene sat on the rooftop of the packhouse, her legs dangling over the edge. The night air was crisp, carrying the distant howls of wolves patrolling the borders.

Her body ached from training, bruises forming where Callum had landed his blows. But she felt… lighter.

She hated to admit it, but the Beta was right. She let emotions cloud her fights.

She needed to be better.

Stronger.

Because something was coming.

She could feel it.

Like a storm brewing in the distance.

She closed her eyes, letting the wind whip through her curls.

She didn't know what fate had planned.

Didn't know that in just a few nights, she'd come face to face with the one being who would change everything.

Didn't know that the darkness waiting for her had a name.

Damian Kieran.