Chapter 2

Kael appeared in the doorway with a full line of Silvermoon warriors behind him.

Every wolf in the room dropped their gaze.

Even with that kind of killing aura on him, he was still obscenely handsome—tall, lean, coldly refined, the kind of man who made every other male in the place look like a cheap knockoff just by standing there.

Unfortunately, that used to be exactly my type.

His eyes found me, skimmed my face, then dropped to my hand on that young warrior’s bare chest.

His fingers curled; claws slid out as he started toward me.

The pressure of his dominance hit, and my body reacted before my mind—I snatched my hand back.

He didn’t look at the boy. “Out,” he said, flat.

The wolves scattered.

I turned with them, angling toward the exit.

I’d taken one step when a hand locked around my waist and jerked me back.

“Who told you you could come to a place like this?” Kael’s voice was low.

I met his stare. “Since when do I need your approval to walk through a door?”

His eyes went colder.

He didn’t argue. He just bent, hauled me over his shoulder, and carried me out, ignoring my fists on his back, shoved me into the waiting SUV, and got in beside me. The locks snapped down.

In the cramped car, his Alpha aura pinned me in place.

“Enjoyed yourself?” he asked. “Letting another wolf’s scent all over you in a pit like that.”

“The drinks are better than anything on your land,” I said. “The view too.”

“The contract spells it out,” he said. “As my intended, you don’t meet underground packs in private. You don’t touch other males. You don’t break the law to amuse yourself.”

“That stupid book should’ve been burned years ago.”

“Under that ‘stupid book,’ you go to the Moon Spring for three days,” he replied. “Cleansing. Isolation. You reflect there.”

“I’m not going,” I said. “Why would I take your orders?”

He stilled. “Say that again.”

“I’m not your mate,” I said. “Your ancient rules don’t apply to me.”

The car went dead quiet.

His pupils tightened, composure cracking just enough to show what was underneath.

That’s when it hit me—I’d gone too far. If I kept pushing and he marched straight to Marcus to check the contract and the Moonlight Estate I’d just clawed back could go up in smoke.

Now was not the time to flip the table.

I forced my jaw to unclench. “I mean, with my temper, you can drown me in that spring a hundred times and I still won’t turn into your obedient Luna.”

He watched me for a long beat. “You don’t have to like it. You still obey. The law isn’t optional.”

“Then keep waiting,” I said, turning toward the window.

The SUV pulled into Blackwood territory and rolled to a stop.

“Alpha Kael.” Seraphine’s soft voice floated over as the door opened.

She stood on the steps in a modest pale dress, hair neatly pinned, prayer beads looped around her fingers, the picture of gentle devotion.

“I just finished the full‑moon prayer,” she said. “I also asked the Moon Goddess to forgive my sister.”

Kael glanced at her, then at me. “Both daughters of Marcus,” he said coolly, “and you still haven’t learned even a fraction of her manners.”

In my last life, that sentence would’ve gutted me.

This time, I almost smiled.

“Then let her be Luna,” I said. “There’s an elders’ banquet tomorrow, isn’t there? Take Seraphine. She fits your checklist better than I ever will.”

They both froze.

“You are the Luna I chose,” he said slowly. “That doesn’t change because you decide to throw a tantrum. You’ll attend. It’s your duty.”

Right. Duty. Never choice.

“You want me there, fine,” I said. “But if I embarrass you again, that’s on you.”

Seraphine stepped in smoothly. “Raven probably just isn’t used to formal events,” she said. “If you allow it, Alpha, I can go with her tomorrow. If she forgets any etiquette, I’ll remind her.”

“That works for me,” I said before he could answer.

“I didn’t ask you,” he snapped.

“But you know it’s easiest,” I said. “You get your perfect decorum. She gets to perform. I get a live rulebook. Everyone wins.”

He held my gaze, then said, “Both of you. Tomorrow. Six o’clock,” and walked away.

As soon as his footsteps faded, the sweetness dropped off Seraphine’s face.

She grabbed my wrist, nails digging in.

“Why did you give me the marriage contract?” she hissed. “What are you really up to?”