Chapter Eight

POV: Kaden

Flashback...

The skies over Rathguard had been restless for days, an omen of something powerful stirring in the ether. My instincts were on edge, and my primal awareness sensed an approaching change. I had my warriors scout the edges of the realm with me. Thinking it was some new threat. But nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to experience.

I stood in the shadows of the forest, surveying the land that stretched far beyond the magical borders of Rathguard, watching for any sign of disruption. And then it happened.

A ripple of energy, faint at first but unmistakable, surged through the air. The forest stilled. The hairs on the back of my neck rose. The portal opened in a flash of light. A tear between worlds. and there she was.

I didn't move at first. Just watched.

She stumbled slightly, disoriented as her feet touched the ground of a world foreign to her. Her hand instinctively went to the amulet around her neck, a simple gesture, but it caught my attention immediately. I could feel the magic emanating from it, pulsing, alive. It was that amulet, I realized, that had brought her here, that had bridged the gap between her realm and mine.

My hand tightened around the hilt of the dagger at my side, my every sense sharpening. I didn't know who she was or why she had crossed into Rathguard, but the energy that surrounded her was unlike anything I had felt before. It was wild and ancient, and it resonated with the very core of this realm. She wasn't human—that much I could tell. There was magic in her blood, though she seemed unaware of the power she held.

And then, something else hit me, something stronger. The bond. It struck fast and sharp, like a blade to the heart. I inhaled sharply as the sensation washed over me, an undeniable pull that tightened around my chest. My vision tunneled, every part of me zeroing in on her. The connection was instant, primal, and impossible to deny.

I stayed hidden in the shadows of the forest, my heart pounding in my chest as I watched her look around, disoriented and confused. She didn't belong here. She had crossed into a realm she didn't even know existed. I could smell her power, raw and unrefined.

I could feel my claws digging into the bark of a nearby tree as I fought the urge to rush to her. My wolf snarled within me, desperate to claim her, to protect her, to make sure no harm ever touched her in this realm or any other. But I held back. I couldn't overwhelm her. Not yet.

She didn't know what she was to me. She had no idea that the moment our eyes met, the mate bond had snapped into place, tying us together forever.

Mate. The word echoed in my mind, fierce and wild. I hadn't been looking for her. I hadn't been searching for a mate at all. Yet, there she was, standing in my realm, completely unaware of the bond that had just snapped into place between us.

My wolf stirred beneath my skin, snarling, pacing. The need to protect her, to claim her, to mark her as mine was overwhelming. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to remain in the shadows, to stay hidden. I couldn't rush this. She didn't know me, didn't know what had just happened. If I appeared now, if I revealed what she was to me, it would frighten her. I had to stay in control.

Her scent carried on the wind, a mixture of earth and wild magic, heady and intoxicating. It stirred every primal instinct within me, my wolf pacing restlessly beneath the surface. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched her. She was looking around, taking in her surroundings with cautious curiosity, completely unaware of the weight of the bond that had just tied us together.

I felt a growl rise in my throat, but I forced it back down. My body hummed with the need to be closer, to touch her, to claim her. But I couldn't. Not yet. She didn't know me, and more importantly, she didn't know what I was. The Lycans of Rathguard were a secret from the world she came from, and I had no intention of forcing her into anything she wasn't ready to understand.

I watched as she moved cautiously through the forest, her fingers brushing the trees and the leaves as though she was trying to ground herself in this strange new world. There was a fierceness in her movements, though, a determination that made my chest tighten even more. She wasn't weak. She had strength, a quiet power that resonated with the wildness in me.

As she walked, she stopped suddenly, her eyes narrowing as though she sensed something. She glanced toward the trees where I stood, her brow furrowing. I froze, my heart pounding in my chest, unsure if she had actually seen me or if she was reacting to the unfamiliar energy of this place.

For a moment, her gaze lingered on the spot where I was concealed, and my breath caught in my throat. But then, just as quickly, she turned away, dismissing the moment as a trick of the light or her disoriented mind.

I exhaled slowly, releasing the breath I had been holding. I stayed in the shadows, watching her, my mind racing. The bond was stronger than I had expected. It tied us together now, a force that couldn't be undone. She was my mate, and that meant she was mine to protect. But she didn't know that yet. She didn't know what it meant to be bound to a Lycan, to be tied by a bond that transcended time and realms.

I couldn't force her to understand. She had to come to it on her own. I would give her time. Time to know me, to trust me. And when the time was right, I would tell her the truth. But until then, I would stay close, watch over her from the shadows, and make sure no harm came to her in this world that was still unknown to her.

End of flashback

Present...

Astrid was mine, my mate, though she was unaware of the bond that tethered us together. The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew. Her scent was intoxicating, pulling me in like nothing else ever had. But I kept my distance, my cold facade in place. She had to choose me for who I was, not because of the mate bond.

And now, watching her unleash a power she didn't understand, the protectiveness I had tried to keep under control flared into something more. A dangerous instinct burned through me. Astrid was in danger, and I would rip apart anyone who threatened her.

The wind howled, tearing through the room with a force that shook the walls of the council chamber. Elder Ronald's body was pinned to the far wall, struggling against the invisible power that gripped him. My gaze stayed on Astrid, and I could barely recognize her. The amulet around her neck glowed with a radiant intensity, her voice no longer her own, layered with a deeper, otherworldly tone.

The council had overstepped. Ronald's arrogance had pushed her to this, and now, they were reaping the consequences of provoking a force they couldn't control. Astrid's voice...no, the voice inside her echoed through the chamber, deep and otherworldly, commanding and terrifying.

"Such a mortal flaw, greed..." the voice thundered through the room, resonating with an ancient power. The words sent chills down my spine. It wasn't just Astrid speaking—something else had taken hold of her.

The council members' faces were pale with fear. Even Elder Elandra, the most composed among us, looked shaken. This was far more than any of us had anticipated.

I wasn't terrified, though. I was furious. This was the last thing I wanted was for Astrid to be caught up in their mess, risking her life for their petty games. I took a step forward, every muscle in my body coiled tight with anger.

"Enough," I growled, my voice cutting through the chaos, though I knew Astrid, if it were still her, she wouldn't hear me.

"Hold on, Astrid. Hold on!" I called, stepping forward despite the fierce winds. But before I could reach her, the energy surrounding her seemed to halt, and she collapsed to the floor.

Silence fell as the wind dissipated, leaving the room eerily still. I rushed to her side, cradling her in my arms. Her body was limp, her skin cold to the touch. "Astrid," I whispered, shaking her gently. "Astrid, wake up."

No response. Her chest rose and fell with shallow breaths, but she was unresponsive. A sinking feeling settled in my stomach as I lifted her into my arms. "Get the healer!" I shouted over my shoulder as I made my way toward the doors.

The elders remained frozen, stunned by what had just unfolded. Ronald, still catching his breath from where he'd been pinned, stared at Astrid with wide, horrified eyes. "She's dangerous," he muttered, half to himself, half to the room.

"She's not dangerous," I snapped, my voice sharp with anger. "She's powerful. And if you ever violate her mind like that again, it'll be you facing the consequences, Ronald. I'll deal with you later."

With that, I left the chamber, not sparing him another glance.

In her bedroom, I laid her down gently, watching her chest rise and fall with shallow breaths. The healer arrived quickly, but I could barely contain my irritation as she moved too slowly for my liking.

"How is she?" My voice came out harsher than I intended, but I didn't care. I needed answers. I needed her to be all right.

The healer worked quickly, her hands glowing with a soft light as she checked over Astrid. "She's exhausted but stable," she said, glancing up at me. "Whatever force overtook her was strong. She'll need time to recover."

"Time we don't have," I muttered, my eyes never leaving Astrid's face. But I knew pushing her right now would only make things worse. I would protect her, even if that meant waiting.

The healer stood and bowed her head slightly before leaving the room. I remained at Astrid's side, my mind racing with questions I couldn't answer. The elders had overstepped, and now Astrid had paid the price. The image of Ronald invading her mind, forcing her to relive painful memories, twisted my insides. I would deal with him soon enough.

As soon as the door closed, I sat by her bed, the icy mask I wore for everyone else slipping away. I brushed a strand of hair from her face, my touch gentle but my heart heavy. I could smell the lingering scent of fear, exhaustion, and that damn power that wasn't hers.

The room was quiet, but the bond between us hummed with a steady pull. She was my mate. Mine to protect. But I hadn't told her. Not yet. Not when she had no idea what I truly was. She didn't know about Lycans or the bond that linked us for life. I needed her to choose me for who I was, not because of the mate bond forcing her hand.

Some time passed as I watched over her, not moving, barely breathing. If anyone dared enter, they would find a king who would kill without hesitation to keep her safe. The cold reputation I held was well-earned, but for her, it softened. She was the only one who had ever broken through my walls.

"Astrid," I said, my voice low but softer than I usually allowed it to be.

She blinked, her gaze unfocused for a moment before she found me. "Kaden?"