Chapter 1: Unexpected Rescue
Selene had always prided herself on being capable, strong, and fiercely protective of those she loved. As the beta of the Silver Moon Pack, it was her duty to defend her pack and maintain the peace, but tonight, nothing seemed within her control.
The moon hung low in the sky, and an ethereal glow spread through the dense woods around the pack's territory. She ran faster than she ever did, her heart pounding within her chest. There was an invasion of some rogue pack, and she had been sent to confront them. But this was no usual rogue attack, something about this group felt off, darker and calculated.
But then, a pain like no other sliced through her side; she lost balance and staggered, with the rogue's claws inside her skin. A growl reverberated among the trees, and with another spring, he leaped for her throat, but just before the blow could reach, some powerful force drove him aside.
A man, imposing, tall, and dangerously handsome, his eyes gleaming a piercing amber. His movements were fluid, predatory, as he dispatched the rogue with ease. Selene's breath caught in her throat as she watched him, a strange feeling rising within her, one she couldn't quite understand.
The rogue was naught now, a heap of broken bones and shattered spirit. But the man-no, the creature-stayed still, his gaze locking with hers. Amber eyes, unlike any she had ever seen, were filled with something… familiar. Something she couldn't place.
"Are you alright?" His voice was deep, smooth, and unsettlingly calm. But his eyes, they didn't leave hers.
"I—" Selene gasped, struggling to stand as she clutched her wound. "I'm fine. Thank you."
The man didn't speak for a moment, his gaze scanning her body as if assessing a threat. But then, he took a step closer, the space between them growing smaller. "You shouldn't be here alone," he said, his voice quiet, almost a warning. "It's too dangerous for someone like you."
Someone like you. Selene stiffened with the words; a part of her wanted to refute the statement, but that part of her felt an overwhelming pull toward him, as if the world had tipped in his direction and her instincts were screaming at her to trust him.
It was before she could reply that a rustling noise cut through the stillness, and he turned sharply, his stance protective.
"Go," he ordered, his eyes hardening. "You're not safe here."
"I'm not—" Selene started to protest, but the man moved with supernatural speed, cutting her off.
"You don't understand." His voice was sharp, and there was an edge of frustration in it. "You're marked now. They'll come for you, whether you're ready or not."
Marked? The word reverberated in her mind as he disappeared into the night, leaving her standing there in shock and puzzlement.
For a long moment, Selene stood there, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Then her gaze fell on something on the ground-a faint glow near the rogue's body. She stooped to investigate and gasped when she saw a symbol etched into the earth. The same symbol she had seen once before, a long time ago, on some kind of mysterious necklace that had been left to her by her mother.
Her heart raced, and she suddenly felt the weight of something greater than herself pressing down. There was no turning back from whatever had just been set in motion.
A whisper of a warning danced in her mind as the man's voice echoed in her ears: You're marked now.
Before she could process the weight of his words, a shadow loomed over her from the trees. The rogue wasn't the only danger in these woods.