Bound to my sister’s mate

Selene's POV

I shouldn't have been this close to the border.

The Neutral Territory was forbidden for a reason. This was the abandoned land between the Witch Kingdom of Lunaris and the Werewolf Kingdom of Silvermoon. No one came here except those looking for trouble.

But I needed the moonflowers. They only grew here, in the space between our worlds where magic was wild and unpredictable. My healing potion wouldn't work without them.

I kept my eyes on the ground, searching through the dead grass for the silver petals that glowed faintly in the afternoon light. My basket was almost full. Just a few more and I could leave.

A twig snapped behind me.

I froze, my hand moving instinctively to the dagger at my belt. Slowly, I turned around.

Three wolves stood at the edge of the tree line. But these weren't normal wolves. They were massive, easily twice the size of any natural animal. Their eyes glowed red instead of the normal gold. Foam dripped from their mouths.

Rogue wolves. The kind that had lost their minds and their humanity. The kind that killed anything that moved.

My heart hammered against my ribs. I dropped my basket and raised my hands, calling my magic to my fingertips. Purple light crackled around my fingers.

"Stay back," I warned, my voice steadier than I felt.

The wolves didn't listen. They spread out, circling me slowly. Hunting. I was prey to them. Nothing more.

The biggest one lunged first.

I threw a blast of magic at it. The purple light hit the wolf's chest and sent it flying backward into a tree. But the other two kept coming. One from the left, one from the right.

I spun and threw more magic. I hit one but missed the other. The wolf's claws caught my arm, tearing through my sleeve. I screamed as pain shot through me. Blood soaked into my dress.

The first wolf was already getting back up. All three of them were circling again, tighter this time. My magic was strong but I couldn't fight three rogue wolves alone.

I was going to die here.

The biggest wolf charged again. I threw everything I had at it but I knew it wouldn't be enough. The wolf's jaws opened wide, going straight for my throat.

Then something black and massive slammed into it from the side.

Another wolf. Even bigger than the rogues. Its fur was pure black and its eyes glowed silver in the dim light.

The black wolf tore into the rogue with vicious efficiency. The rogue didn't stand a chance. Within seconds, it lay dead on the ground.

The other two rogues turned on the black wolf. They attacked together, trying to overpower it with numbers.

But the black wolf moved like nothing I'd ever seen. Fast. Deadly. Beautiful in a terrible way. It dodged their attacks and struck back with precision. One rogue went down with its throat torn out. The last one tried to run but the black wolf caught it before it could escape.

Silence fell over the clearing. Three dead rogues lay on the ground. And standing in the middle of them was the black wolf, breathing heavily, blood staining its dark fur.

I should have run. Should have used the distraction to escape back to witch territory. But I couldn't move. Couldn't look away.

The black wolf turned to face me.

Our eyes met.

Silver eyes stared into mine. Not the mindless red of the rogues. These eyes were intelligent. Aware. And they looked at me with something that made my breath catch.

I felt it then. A pull. Like invisible strings connecting my heart to this creature. Recognition of something I didn't understand. A feeling that made no sense.

Fear mixed with something else. Something I couldn't name.

"Thank you," I whispered. The words came out before I could stop them.

The wolf tilted its head slightly, as if surprised I'd spoken to it. It took a step toward me.

I took a step back, raising my hands again.

"Don't come any closer."

The wolf stopped. We stared at each other. My heart pounded but not entirely from fear anymore.

Then I heard shouting. Voices calling my name. The border guards must have heard the fighting.

The black wolf's ears flicked toward the sound. It looked at me one more time, its silver eyes staring into mine for a long moment.

Then it turned and ran back into werewolf territory, disappearing into the trees.

"Selene!" Guards burst into the clearing, weapons drawn. They saw the dead rogues and their faces went pale.

"What happened? Are you hurt?"

I looked down at my bleeding arm.