The Capture

The full moon hung high in the sky, bathing the Darkwood Forest in a pale silver glow. The scent of damp earth, pine, and something darker—blood—clung to the air as Seraphina Blackwood ran for her life.

Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. Her muscles burned, but she pushed forward, weaving between the towering trees. She had been hunted before, but never like this. Never with this much intent.

A low, menacing growl rumbled behind her.

Her body reacted before she could think. She leaped over a fallen log, landing with a soft thud, then sprinted forward. Faster. Just a little faster. She could lose them.

But the moment that thought formed, the ground beneath her gave way.

She tumbled down a hidden ravine, crashing through the thick underbrush, her body hitting rocks and roots. Pain exploded through her limbs, and by the time she landed at the bottom, her vision blurred with dizziness.

She tried to push herself up, but a heavy weight slammed into her back, pressing her into the cold dirt.

A rough, calloused hand wrapped around her throat.

A deep voice, dark and full of unspoken promises, vibrated against her ear.

"Running from me was a mistake, little wolf."

Seraphina gasped, her fingers clawing at the hand restraining her. She twisted, trying to fight, but she already knew it was useless.

Alpha Kael Valerian had caught her.

His scent overwhelmed her—smoky cedar, leather, and something primal. His grip tightened, his body heat pressing against hers, completely dominating her.

"Let me go," she snarled, her voice hoarse from the chase.

A low chuckle rumbled from Kael's chest, but there was no humor in it. "You think you have a choice?" He loosened his grip just enough for her to turn onto her back, pinning her beneath him. His piercing silver eyes locked onto hers, glowing with raw intensity.

Seraphina refused to look away, even as her pulse betrayed her, beating wildly beneath his touch.

"You're mine now," Kael murmured, his lips curling into a dangerous smirk.

Seraphina spat at him.

His expression darkened instantly. In a blur of movement, he flipped her onto her stomach, his hand pressing into the small of her back, keeping her in place.

"Feisty," he mused, his voice amused but laced with warning. "I'll enjoy breaking you."

Seraphina bared her teeth, a growl escaping her lips. "You'll regret this, Alpha."

Kael's breath was warm against her ear. "I doubt that."

Then everything went black.

---

When Seraphina woke, she was no longer in the forest.

She lay on a soft bed, her wrists bound with silk restraints. The scent of firewood and polished stone filled her lungs, and as her eyes adjusted to the dim candlelight, she realized where she was.

The Lunar Citadel.

The heart of Kael's kingdom. His domain.

Panic flared in her chest. She yanked at the restraints, testing their strength, but they only tightened against her skin.

A deep chuckle came from the shadows.

Kael stood at the edge of the room, shirtless, his powerful frame bathed in flickering firelight. His silver eyes burned with amusement as he watched her struggle.

"You look beautiful like this," he said smoothly.

Seraphina shot him a glare. "Let me go, Kael."

He tilted his head. "No."

Her breath hitched.

"You belong to me now," he murmured, stepping closer, his presence suffocating. "And I don't share."

Seraphina's heart pounded as he reached for her, his touch burning through the thin fabric of her dress. She wanted to hate him. She wanted to fight.

But the worst part?

Her body betrayed her.

And Kael knew it.

"This is only the beginning, little wolf," he whispered. "You'll come to crave my touch… whether you admit it or not."

Seraphina clenched her jaw, refusing to give in.

But as the rival alpha's scent drifted through the open window—dark, dangerous, and unmistakably Darius Nightbane—a shiver ran down her spine.

She wasn't just Kael's prisoner.

She was the prize in a war between alphas.

And neither man was willing to lose.