Elara woke to warmth.
Not the sterile warmth of hospital lights,bed, but the soft, flickering kind—like a fire crackling nearby. Her body ached, her limbs felt very heavy, and the scent of herbs and pine surrounded her like a cocoon. For a moment, she didn't open her eyes. She was afraid that if she did, the fear would return. The chase. The blood. The glowing eyes in the dark.
But then she felt it.
A presence.
Strong. Watchful. Calm.
She blinked.
The room was wooden, dimly lit by lanterns and the hearth. Rough stone walls and furs draped over furniture gave the space a rustic warmth. She tried to sit up, wincing at the sharp pull in her side.
"You're safe."
The voice rumbled low and deep—like distant thunder wrapped in silk.
Elara's eyes darted toward the source.
A man sat by the fire, elbows resting on his knees. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and shirtless, his chiseled form shadowed by firelight. His hair was tousled and dark, falling over sharp cheekbones, and his eyes glowed faintly gold, even in the dark.
She recognized him. Not from memory… from instinct.
"You…" she whispered.
"I found you in the forest," he said, standing slowly. "You were bleeding. You've been unconscious for two days."
Elara's lips parted, unsure what to say. Her voice was hoarse. "What… what happened to me?"
Kael hesitated. "Something was hunting you."
She shivered. "I don't remember. I just ran."
He stepped closer. "What's your name?"
"El.....
"I'm Elara".
The name stirred something in him, something old and familiar.
"I'm Kael," he said. "Alpha of the Shadowfang Pack."
She blinked. "Alpha…?"
Kael didn't explain.
Not yet.
Because despite all the questions, all the unknowns—there was one truth that pulsed through every beat of his heart.
This woman—Elara—was his mate.
And the moon had brought her to him for a reason.