Lunar Reckoning

The wolves lunged.

Killian shoved me backward so hard I hit the ground. His body blurred in front of me, one heartbeat a man, the next something else.

Bones cracked. Flesh tore. A snarl ripped from his throat so deep it shook the air.

And then he wasn’t human anymore.

The wolf that landed where Killian had stood was enormous black as midnight, fur bristling, eyes glowing silver like shards of the moon. His size dwarfed the others, his snarl a weapon all its own.

The pack froze for half a breath. Then chaos detonated.

Two wolves lunged at Killian. He met them head-on, slamming one into a tree so hard bark exploded, sinking his teeth into the other’s neck. Blood sprayed.

I scrambled to my feet, heart trying to punch out of my chest. The world was a blur of teeth and fur and snapping jaws. I had no weapon, no chance, nothing but raw panic.

Luka didn’t move. He stood at the edge of the clearing, golden eyes fixed on me. His wolves fought and bled, but he just smiled, calm, patient, like the chaos meant nothing.

“Run,” he said softly.

It wasn’t a threat. It was an invitation.

My pulse stuttered.

Killian tore through another wolf, his silver eyes flashing to me. Stay put. His gaze pinned me even through the frenzy, but the bond tugged at me in two directions. Killian’s command rooted me. Luka’s voice pulled like gravity.

Two alphas. One bite. One claim.

The ground shook as another wolf slammed into Killian’s side. He staggered, snapping back, jaws crunching bone. The forest reeked of blood and fur.

Luka finally moved. Slow. Deliberate. He stepped toward me, each stride smooth, predatory.

“You feel it, don’t you?” His voice threaded through the air, honey and venom. “The bond. The hunger. You’re not like them. You’re not like him. You’re mine.”

I stumbled back. “Stay away.”

But my body betrayed me. The bite on my neck burned hot, pulsing in rhythm with his words.

Killian roared, ripping free of another wolf and hurling it aside. He lunged for Luka but one of Luka’s pack intercepted, dragging him down.

“Killian!” My scream ripped out before I could stop it.

Luka’s smile sharpened. “See? You call for me even as you bleed for him.”

“I wasn’t calling for you,” I spat.

He only grinned wider. “Not yet.”

Another wolf lunged at me. I threw up my arms in useless defense

and Killian was there. A black blur, silver eyes blazing, jaws crushing down on the wolf’s throat. Blood sprayed my face, hot and metallic.

He stood over me, chest heaving, fur bristling, his body a wall between me and Luka. His snarl ripped through the night, promising death to anyone who came closer.

For a second, Luka’s smile faltered. Just a second. Then it was back.

“Enjoy your little protector, Raine,” Luka said, voice smooth as silk. “But remember this every bond breaks eventually. And when his does, I’ll be waiting.”

He whistled low. The remaining wolves peeled back instantly, melting into the forest shadows. In seconds, only Luka remained, golden eyes burning into mine.

“Sweet dreams, little half-blood,” he murmured. “I’ll see you soon.”

Then he was gone.

The clearing reeked of blood and death. My ears rang. My knees buckled, but Killian caught me before I hit the ground.

Except it wasn’t his hands anymore it was claws. His massive wolf body loomed over me, his fur matted with blood. His silver eyes locked on mine, wild and unhinged.

And for the first time, I realized he wasn’t fully in control.

Killian’s silver eyes pinned me to the ground.

“Killian…” My voice cracked. “It’s me.”

He didn’t move. His chest heaved, huge ribcage expanding and collapsing. Blood dripped from his jaws, steaming in the cold night.

“Shift back,” I whispered, even though I had no idea if he could hear me like this. “Please. I know you’re in there.”

A low growl rolled out of him, vibrating the earth beneath me. His head lowered until his snout was inches from my throat. I froze. The heat of his breath seared my skin.

My mind screamed run. My body couldn’t move.

Then his nose brushed the bite Luka had left on me. My entire body jolted like lightning shot through my veins.

I gasped. “Don’t ”

The growl cut deeper, not threatening but furious. His eyes locked on the mark. He knew.

“You think I wanted this?” My voice rose, desperate. “He forced it on me! I didn’t Killian, I didn’t ask for it!”

Something flickered in his silver eyes. For half a breath, the fury ebbed.

Then he snarled so loud the trees shook.

My hands flew up. “Stop! You’re scaring me!”

He froze. Chest heaving. Eyes burning.

That pause that hesitation was all I had. Slowly, trembling, I reached up and pressed my palm to the side of his face. His fur was coarse, hot, damp with blood.

“Don’t let him win,” I whispered. “Don’t let Luka own me. Don’t let him take you from me, too.”

The sound that ripped from Killian’s throat wasn’t a snarl. It was a broken, guttural sound. His body trembled. His claws dug into the dirt, tearing roots and soil.

Then the shift began.

Bones cracked. Flesh twisted. The enormous wolf shuddered, shrank, reshaped. When it was over, Killian was on his knees in front of me, human again naked, covered in blood, his chest rising and falling like he’d just come back from the edge of hell.

His hands slammed the ground to keep himself steady. His head bowed, dark hair falling over his face.

“Don’t,” he rasped, voice shredded raw. “Don’t ever touch me when I’m like that again.”

I blinked, still shaking. “You would’ve killed me?”

His head snapped up. His eyes still faintly glowing silver locked on mine. “No.” He swallowed hard. “I would’ve claimed you.”

The forest went dead silent. My pulse thundered.

“Claimed me,” I repeated.

His jaw tightened. “And once I did, there’d be no going back.”

Before I could respond, a sound sliced through the trees. A low whistle. Familiar.

My blood ran cold. Luka’s whistle.

Killian shot to his feet, every muscle taut. His eyes scanned the trees. The whistle came again closer this time.

“He’s not gone,” I whispered.

Killian didn’t look at me. His body was coiled, trembling, fury barely contained.

“No,” he growled. “He’s hunting.”

The whistle echoed again. Closer. Too close.

Killian’s muscles went rigid, every line of him bristling with fury. His voice dropped low, guttural, more growl than man.

“Stay behind me.”

“Like hell,” I hissed. My hands trembled, but I forced myself upright. “If he wants me, standing behind you makes me the perfect target.”

His head whipped toward me, silver eyes burning. “You don’t get to argue with me now.”

“You don’t get to order me like I’m your property.” My pulse hammered, but anger flared hot enough to steady me. “You think I’m going to hide while the psycho who bit me plays hide-and-seek out here? No.”

For a second, Killian just stared at me. His jaw tightened. Then just barely his lips twitched.

“You’re insane.”

“Maybe,” I shot back. “But I’m still alive, aren’t I?”

Before he could respond, a voice drifted out of the trees. Smooth. Mocking. Too close.

“She’s brave,” Luka said. “I like that.”

My stomach dropped.

The trees rustled. Shadows shifted. I spun in a circle, trying to pinpoint him, but the bastard’s voice seemed to come from everywhere at once.

Killian stepped in front of me again, every muscle in his back coiled. His voice came out lethal.

“Show yourself, Luka.”

A low chuckle. “Why would I, when I’m already so close?”

A blur of movement flashed in the corner of my vision. I gasped too late. A body slammed into mine from the side, pinning me to the dirt.

Luka.

His golden eyes glowed inches from my face, feral and gleaming. His weight pressed me down, one hand fisting in my hair, the other clamping over my wrist. His breath hit my ear, hot and taunting.

“I told you, Raine. You’re mine.”

I struggled, but his strength was inhuman. “Get off me ”

Killian roared. The ground trembled as he lunged.

Luka’s grin widened. He didn’t move. Didn’t even flinch.

“Which Alpha will she obey?” he murmured against my skin. “Which one will she surrender to?”

Killian’s wolf burst through his skin again, black fur exploding, jaws wide.

But Luka yanked me up with him, spinning me against his chest, dragging me with him into the shadows. His lips brushed my ear, low and hungry.

“Choose, little half-blood. Him. Or me.”

And then he was gone. Just like that. The forest swallowed us.

Branches whipped against my face as Luka dragged me through the forest. His grip on my wrist was iron, his pace inhuman. I stumbled, almost fell, but he yanked me upright before my knees hit the ground.

“Let go!” I shouted, clawing at his hand.

“Not until you understand,” he growled. His golden eyes burned in the dark as he spun me around, slamming me against a tree. His face hovered inches from mine, lips curled into a cruel smile. “Not until you feel what it means to be chosen.”

“I didn’t choose you!” I spat, shoving against his chest.

His hand wrapped around my throat, not tight enough to cut air but enough to make me still. His smile twisted. “You think choice matters in this world? Wolves don’t choose, we claim.”

“Then I’ll never be yours.”

For a split second, the mask cracked. Something darker flickered in his gaze, want, raw and unhinged. Then it was gone, replaced with cold amusement.

“You already are.” His thumb brushed my jawline. “The moment my teeth sank into you, the moment my blood touched yours you became mine. Your wolf knows it. She’s just waiting for you to admit it.”

“Killian will kill you,” I hissed.

“Killian will try.” Luka leaned closer, his breath hot against my ear. “But he’s too late. You felt it, didn’t you? The way your body reacted when I touched you? When I marked you?”

My stomach twisted, not just with fear but with something far more dangerous. Heat crept through me, betraying me, making my knees weaken even as my mind screamed to fight.

I shoved him back with everything I had. “You’re insane.”

He caught my wrists, slamming them above my head against the bark. His smile widened. “Maybe. But insanity has its advantages. You’ll see.”

“Let her go!”

The voice shattered the night. Killian’s.

Luka’s head turned slowly, eyes gleaming. He didn’t release me. Instead, his grip tightened, pinning me harder.

“Or what, brother?” Luka called out, his tone mocking. “You’ll kill me? Tear me apart? Then she’ll never know which of us she truly belongs to.”

Killian emerged from the shadows in his wolf form, black fur bristling, silver eyes glowing like fire. He prowled forward, low and lethal, every step vibrating the ground beneath us.

For the first time, Luka’s grin faltered. Just slightly.

But instead of running, he leaned down, pressing his lips to my ear. His whisper seared me.

“Remember this, Raine. When he fails you and he will, I'll be waiting.”

Then, with a vicious shove, he released me. My body slammed against the tree, air whooshing out of my lungs. By the time I sucked in a breath, Luka was gone nothing but shadows and golden eyes retreating into the forest.

Killian shifted mid-stride, skin ripping, fur dissolving, until he was human again, bare and shaking with fury. He grabbed my shoulders, his grip almost painful.

“Did he hurt you?” His voice was ragged, eyes wild.

I opened my mouth but before I could answer, the whistle came again.

This time, it wasn’t Luka’s.

It was lower. Deeper. Echoing from the east.

Killian froze. His jaw tightened. “We’re not alone.”