Chapter 2 Lucien

Lucien sat perched high on a thick branch of an ancient tree, the dense canopy shielding him from the view below. His sharp eyes scanned the scene unfolding beneath him-rogue wolves, filthy and desperate, circling their prey. A girl, frail and clearly helpless, was surrounded by their snarls and snapping jaws. Her wide, terrified eyes darted between the wolves, trying to find an escape, but it was clear there was none.

Liam  leaned back, indifferent at first. Such things happened in his kingdom all the time-the weak were picked off by rogues, and only the strong survived. He had no interest in saving some poor soul who couldn't defend herself. It wasn't his responsibility to intervene.

But then, just as he prepared to move on, something unusual stopped him. A voice.

"Please help me."

The voice wasn't audible; it rang inside his head, soft and trembling, a plea that carried an unusual weight. Lucien tensed, his body freezing at the unexpected connection. It had been years since he last heard a voice like this in his mind. After his family was massacred in a raid, he had shut himself off from the world, losing his ability to mind link with other wolves. He hadn't heard another wolf's thoughts since. Until now.

"Please... help me."

The desperation in the voice clawed at his conscience, the torment so raw it struck a part of him he had long buried. Lucien clenched his jaw, anger rising as the voice continued to echo, refusing to be ignored. He didn't want to be pulled into this-didn't want to feel anything for a stranger.

With a growl of frustration, Lucien leaped down from the tree, landing silently. The rogues were too focused on their prey to notice him. The girl, now trembling on the ground, was trying to shield herself as the wolves closed in.

Lucien's eyes narrowed. He wouldn't allow the rogues to take what wasn't theirs. One of the wolves lunged toward the girl, but Lucien was faster. In one swift motion, he grabbed the wolf by its throat and snapped its neck with a sickening crunch. The other wolves turned, realizing too late who they were up against.

Lucien made quick work of them, his movements precise and lethal. The forest floor was soon littered with the bodies of the rogues, their blood staining the earth. He stood over their lifeless forms, his chest rising and falling with controlled breaths, his eyes cold and unfeeling.

The girl hadn't moved, too shocked and terrified to react. Lucien's gaze shifted to her, his piercing eyes scanning her trembling form. She was covered in dirt and bruises, her clothes torn and bloodied. She looked fragile-too fragile to have survived this long in his world.

But something else tugged at him now, something stronger than his initial disinterest. The pull of a bond he hadn't expected to feel. Lucien's breath caught in his throat as realization slowly dawned on him.

She was his mate.

His heart pounded, the connection between them undeniable now that he was standing close to her. But he hadn't realized it during the fight-his mind had been too focused on the battle. Only now, as he looked at her, did the weight of the bond settle on him.

Lucien's jaw clenched, his anger simmering beneath the surface. The moon goddess had chosen *her* for him? This frail, powerless girl? He had always respected the goddess's decisions, but this-this was too much.

Without a word, Lucien reached down, grabbing her by her hair and yanking her to her feet. She gasped in pain, her hands instinctively grabbing at his wrist, but she couldn't loosen his grip.

"Get up," he ordered coldly, dragging her through the forest. His long strides forced her to stumble and nearly fall as he pulled her along. He didn't care about her tears or her cries for mercy. The bond between them only made him angrier-how could the goddess think this girl was fit to be his mate?

They reached the palace quickly, Lucien storming through the grand halls, ignoring the startled glances from his guards and servants. His focus was solely on her, on the questions racing through his mind. He needed answers. Why had she been in his head? And why hadn't he realized they were mates sooner?

He pushed open the doors to his private chambers and threw her to the floor. She landed hard, gasping for breath as the pain coursed through her body. For a long moment, the room was silent except for the sound of their labored breathing.

Lucien stood over her, his expression unreadable. His emotions were in turmoil, but he wouldn't let it show. He had to stay in control, even now.

"Explain," he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. "Why were you in my head?"

Rachel looked up at him, tears in her eyes, her body trembling from both fear and exhaustion. "I-I don't know," she stammered. "I didn't mean to... I don't know how it happened."

Lucien's anger flared. He took a step closer, looming over her. "Liar. You spoke to me. How?"

"I swear, I don't know!" she cried, her voice cracking. "I was scared, and I just-I didn't mean to reach out to you. It just happened."

Lucien stared at her, his fury fading into something else-confusion, frustration. He didn't know whether to believe her, but the bond between them was unmistakable now. As much as he hated to admit it, this girl was his mate. And that meant something, whether he liked it or not.

Suddenly, the air in the room shifted, the tension thick between them as the bond pulsed stronger. Rachel's breath caught as her eyes met Lucien's, the connection hitting her like a tidal wave. She felt it too. The recognition was instant and mutual-they were mates.

Lucien's expression hardened, but he couldn't deny the truth any longer. The moon goddess had chosen her for him, and despite his misgivings, he had to respect that. He had always honored the goddess's will, no matter how difficult it was to accept.

For a moment, he stood frozen, wrestling with his emotions. He had expected a strong, powerful mate, someone worthy of his title. But instead, he had been given her-weak, helpless, and in need of protection. Yet, the bond was real, and he couldn't ignore it.

"I will not reject you," Lucien finally said, his voice quieter now, though still edged with frustration. "The moon goddess chose you, and I will respect that."

Rachel blinked, shocked by his words. She had expected rejection, cruelty. But instead, he was... accepting her? Even though she was weak?

"However," he continued, his eyes narrowing. "You will remain here. You're too weak to survive on your own, and until I figure out what to do with you, you'll stay in this room."

Rachel nodded, too exhausted and overwhelmed to protest. She could feel the weight of the bond between them, and even though he was angry, she sensed a glimmer of something else-something softer, buried deep beneath his harsh exterior.

Lucien turned away, his mind racing. He didn't know how he would handle this, but one thing was clear: he couldn't ignore the bond. The moon goddess had chosen, and now he would have to deal with the consequence.