Fated to The Moon

/-Mia-/

I was numb. I didn't know what to think. Truly I couldn't process all of what he said. I didn't even understand him. Me? Werewolf? Target? What's he even saying?

Can I even trust him? I pondered quietly.

He continued as if trying to explain further.

“There's an ancient curse involving your ancestors… you know what, you'll understand this later.”

I kept mute trying to pinch myself and probably wake up if it were a dream — a nightmare. But it wasn't.

“You are mate! — My Fated Mate.” He held my hands gently as he said this, while he looked into my eyes.

“Let go of me!” I retreated. How many shocks for one night? I don't know how he is cool about believing I am fit to be his spouse when he doesn't even know me personally.

This is barbaric! I thought. I had always kicked against something as mystical and controlling as fated mates.

“Whether you like it or not, IT'S FATE! — There are no choices!” His voice was higher than usual.

“So how do you expect me to process that I am a werewolf, and now I'm being told I'm bound to someone I just met? Does it make any sense?” I retorted.

As the last tremors of the transformation faded, I struggled to catch my breath. My bones had stopped breaking, my claws retreating, but everything felt off. My skin tingled, and a strange heat simmered beneath the surface, like I wasn’t done changing yet.

Kael watched me with those strange, glowing eyes, his stance calm but alert. Too calm.

“What the hell did you do to me?” I growled, half expecting another surge of rage to take over. My body felt like it was ready to shift again at any moment, and I had no control over it.

“Not me. This was always going to happen,” he said, his tone too steady, too knowing.

His voice grated on my nerves, but before I could snap back, a sharp pain shot across my side. I winced and pressed my hand to my ribs, my fingers brushing something raised and warm. A scar. A fresh scar that shouldn't exist. I jerked my hand away, gazing at it in shock.

"What the hell is this?" I demanded.

Kael's gaze was drawn to the scar, and his face tightened for a brief moment before he swiftly concealed it. "We don't have time for that right now."

"We don't have time for what?" I snapped, stepping toward him, my anger rising again. “You dragged me into this nightmare, I’m half an animal, and now I have some kind of brand on me?”

He stepped closer, his voice low. “You’re more than just a werewolf, Mia. That mark means they’ll come for you soon. And not everyone who finds you will want to help.”

My stomach dropped, but before I could ask what the hell that meant, a distant howl cut through the air. My head snapped toward the sound. It wasn’t like Kael’s voice, deep and commanding—it was cold, chilling, and far too close.

Kael’s eyes sharpened. “We need to move. Now.”

I opened my mouth to retort, but then I noticed it—a shadow moving in the distance, creeping through the woods, too swift and silent to be human. My pulse raced, my body stiffened, and every instinct screamed danger.

“What’s that?” I whispered, suddenly aware of just how exposed we were.

“They found us faster than I thought.” Kael grabbed my arm, his grip firm but not painful. “We need to run. Or they’ll kill you.”

“Who will?”

“Others. Not like me. Worse.”

I yanked my arm free, panic setting in, but before I could question him again, the shadow moved closer. A pair of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness, watching us. No, watching me.