At the age of 7, Luna, a young werewolf, is separated from her family during a rogue attack and wanders into the territory of the Shadowclaw Pack. Taken in as a prisoner, she is forced into servitude by the pack's ruthless alpha, Ryker. For years, Luna endures his cruelty, unaware of the emotions simmering beneath his harsh exterior. By the time Luna turns 18, she has grown into a strong and beautiful young woman. On her birthday, Ryker feels an intense pull toward her and is stunned to discover the truth-Luna is his fated mate. The realization terrifies him. He has spent years masking his feelings for her with anger, but now the bond is undeniable. Luna, unaware of their connection, is confused by Ryker's sudden shifts in behavior. His cold demeanor softens at times, yet he remains possessive and controlling. As the mate bond deepens, Luna begins to feel a strange attraction to him despite her resentment. When a rival pack threatens the Shadowclaw territory, Luna proves her worth by saving Ryker's life during an ambush. This act forces both of them to confront their feelings. Ryker must choose whether to continue hiding behind his alpha pride or embrace his mate, while Luna struggles to decide if she can forgive him and accept their bond. Through shared trials, the two begin to build a fragile trust, uncovering the love and connection destined for them. Their journey is one of redemption, healing, and the unbreakable pull of a fated bond.
Chapter 1 Chains of the past
Luna sat by the edge of the campfire, the warmth of the flames doing little to chase away the chill that had settled deep in her bones. The sound of distant howls echoed through the night air, a reminder that she was never truly alone in the Shadowclaw Pack's territory. Her eyes flickered over to the alpha's tent, the one place in the camp where she was not allowed. She had learned long ago to avoid looking in his direction, to keep her head down, and to do her work without drawing attention. After all, it was better that way. Safer.
She was 18 now, no longer the scared 7-year-old who had wandered into Shadowclaw territory all those years ago. Luna had grown up here, raised by cruelty and forced to live under Ryker's watchful, unyielding gaze. She had been a slave, made to work for the pack, doing everything from cleaning the dens to cooking meals, always under the strict eye of the pack members. But now, as the years had passed, something inside her had changed. She had grown stronger, not just physically but emotionally. Luna was no longer a helpless child, and she knew it.
The bond she had with Ryker-the one she didn't understand-had started to grow stronger with every passing day. Luna couldn't explain it, but she could feel the pull whenever he was near, like an invisible chain tightening around her chest. At first, she thought it was just fear. But it wasn't. It was something deeper, something more primal.
The first time she'd felt it had been months ago when she had been ordered to clean the training grounds. She had seen Ryker sparring with the pack's warriors, his movements smooth and deadly, his strength apparent to anyone who watched. She had tried to stay invisible, to keep her distance, but when their eyes met across the field, something inside her had snapped. Her heart had raced, and for the briefest moment, she'd thought he had looked at her differently. That look had lasted a fraction of a second, but it was enough to make her question everything.
Now, it was happening more often. She would feel his presence before she even saw him, a shiver running down her spine whenever he entered the same room. Sometimes, she'd catch him watching her when he thought she wasn't looking, his intense amber eyes studying her with a mixture of something she couldn't name. It made her uneasy, but also strangely...drawn.
Tonight, Luna was supposed to be cleaning the common area again, scrubbing away the grime left by the warriors who had spent the day training. But her mind wasn't on the task. It was on Ryker-on the strange connection, she couldn't understand. Why did he treat her like a servant, yet never let anyone else harm her? Why did he grow cold whenever she got too close but never let her go?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. Luna tensed, her heart skipping in her chest. She didn't need to look up to know who it was. She could feel him as if the air itself had changed. Ryker.
"You're late with the chores," his voice came, low and commanding.
Luna didn't respond, keeping her head down. She had learned that silence was safest, especially around him. His presence alone was enough to make her skin prickle, the weight of his alpha authority pressing down on her like a heavy stone.
"I asked you a question." His voice was sharper now, a warning.
"I'm sorry, Alpha," she muttered, still not daring to look up. "I'll finish it right away."
There was a brief silence, and then the sound of his footsteps stopping in front of her. Luna forced herself to remain still, even as she could feel his gaze boring into her.
"You're always so quick to apologize," he said, his tone softer but still edged with something she couldn't place. "Don't you have anything to say for yourself?"
Luna clenched her fists in her lap. She knew he wasn't just talking about the chores. He was talking about her place in the pack, her role as a servant. He was testing her again.
"I don't have anything to say, Alpha," she replied quietly, her voice steady despite the tightness in her chest.
There was a pause, and then Ryker sighed. "You should learn to speak up, Luna. You've been here long enough to know how to stand your ground."
Luna bit her lip, resisting the urge to argue. She had tried standing her ground before, and it had only made things worse. Ryker's anger was something she couldn't handle, something that had nearly broken her more than once. But as the years had gone on, she had learned to accept her place in the pack-even if it meant burying her true feelings deep inside.
"Finish your work," Ryker said, his voice colder now. "And remember your place."
As he walked away, Luna felt the familiar pang of frustration in her chest. It wasn't just the work or the constant mistreatment-it was the way he never saw her as anything more than a servant. She hated it. But what could she do? She was just a slave to his pack, chained by her past.
And yet, as she stared into the fire, Luna couldn't shake the feeling that the chains that bound her were not only of her past but something more, something that tied her to Ryker in a way she could neither understand nor escape.