The forest was alive with sounds—rustling leaves, crackling twigs, the distant howl of wolves. But Luna could hear none of it. Not now. The only thing that filled her senses was Kieran. His presence, overwhelming, suffocating, and—God help her—compelling.
She could feel his eyes on her even when she wasn't looking at him. The dark gaze that had once held her captive, now lingering with an intensity that made her want to crawl out of her skin. She needed distance. She needed air. But there was nowhere to run.
Kieran had her in his grasp—figuratively and literally—and his words were a constant reminder of that fact. **"You're mine, Luna. Forever."** Those words played on a loop in her mind, as if the universe itself was trying to imprint them into her very soul.
Luna's breathing quickened. She needed to focus, to get away. She couldn't afford to be distracted, but the more she tried to concentrate, the more his touch—his claim—pulled at her. She could feel his hands on her skin, could hear his voice deep inside her mind.
**No,** she thought fiercely, **this is not happening.**
"Stop it," she hissed, her voice tight with the strain of trying to control the storm raging within her.
Kieran was walking beside her now, close enough that their bodies brushed with every step. Her skin tingled where their arms met, the heat of his body seeping into hers like a fire that could not be extinguished. His presence was overpowering, commanding.
"I'm not stopping," Kieran said, his voice a low, possessive growl. "You don't get to tell me what to do, Luna."
Her heart raced again. She fought the desire to turn and face him, to see that infuriating, beautiful face with those glowing golden eyes that seemed to see right through her.
"I won't be your puppet," she spat, trying to shove him away again, but he didn't budge.
He didn't even flinch.
Kieran stopped walking and reached out, grabbing her wrist with a strength that left no room for escape. His fingers were like iron around her, his touch possessive, unyielding. His other hand cupped her chin, tilting her head so that their gazes locked. There was a storm brewing in his eyes, something ancient, something hungry.
"You're already mine, Luna. Whether you accept it or not," he said softly, his voice no longer cold but almost tender, like a promise. His thumb brushed over her lower lip in a motion so gentle, it made her knees weak. "And you will accept it. You'll want it."
"Want it?" she echoed, her voice shaky. "You're insane."
A dark chuckle rumbled in his chest, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. "I'm not insane. I'm simply fated." His gaze darkened, and for a moment, she saw a flicker of something ancient—something far more dangerous than anything she'd imagined. "We are bound by the curse, Luna. You've always been mine. I've just been waiting."
His words hit her like a slap, and she recoiled instinctively. "What do you mean, waiting? I don't even know who you are. Why the hell would I belong to you?"
He stepped closer, his presence looming over her. Luna's heart beat so loudly, she was sure he could hear it. "You will. You've always belonged to me. You just don't remember."
"I don't belong to anyone," she snapped, trying to tug her wrist free from his grasp. But it was like trying to move a mountain. His strength was overwhelming, and she was powerless against it.
"You will," Kieran repeated, his voice heavy with certainty. "I'm giving you the chance to see it for yourself."
Before she could protest, he let go of her chin and pulled her closer. Luna gasped in surprise, but his grip on her wrist tightened, pulling her flush against his chest. His heart beat beneath her cheek, steady and powerful, a constant reminder of how little control she had in this situation. Her body reacted against her will, her pulse quickening, her breath hitching as his warmth enveloped her.
"I don't want this," she whispered, though it was clear to both of them that she didn't believe her own words.
"Yes, you do." Kieran's lips brushed against the top of her head, his voice dark and velvety. "You just don't know it yet."
For a moment, they stood there, the weight of his words pressing down on her like a physical force. She could feel his heart pounding against her chest, and it was as though they were connected by something far more powerful than just fate.
His thumb traced the curve of her jaw again, a soft touch that sent a wave of heat rushing through her. "You're mine, Luna," he whispered, the words both a warning and a promise. "And nothing will change that."
She pulled back slightly, forcing herself to break free from his hold. "I don't believe you," she said, though even she could hear the uncertainty in her voice. "You can't just—"
But before she could finish, he placed a finger to her lips, silencing her. "You will," he said simply, his gaze never leaving hers. "In time, you'll understand. But until then, I'll be here."
Luna opened her mouth to argue, but the words stuck in her throat. She wanted to fight, to deny everything he was saying, but deep down, a part of her knew the truth. **He was right.**
Something inside her was awakening, something that had lain dormant for years, and it was all because of him. **The curse.** The way her wolf had stirred inside her the moment they'd come into contact. The way she felt connected to him in ways she couldn't explain.
She closed her eyes, trying to block out the emotions swirling within her. **No,** she thought fiercely, **I can't let this happen.**
But it was happening. Slowly, inevitably, like the rising tide. Kieran's words had taken root in her mind, and she wasn't sure if she could fight them much longer.
Kieran's voice interrupted her thoughts. "I can feel you, Luna. Your resistance, your fear. But you'll give in. You'll come to me, and when you do, you'll understand why this is happening."
Luna shook her head, desperate to hold on to her sense of self. "You don't know me," she said firmly, though her voice wavered.
"I know you better than you know yourself," Kieran replied softly. "I've waited for this moment for longer than you can imagine."
With that, he turned away, leading her deeper into the forest. And though she wanted to escape, though she wanted to fight him with every fiber of her being, she couldn't shake the feeling that, despite her resistance, she was already falling into his trap.
Kieran Draven had marked her.
And she couldn't escape what she was destined to become.
---