Chapter 3 The Shadow of His Hatred

The wedding night was supposed to be a celebration, but there was nothing beautiful about being locked inside a stranger’s bedroom.

Kael’s chambers were filled with expensive furniture, ancient books, and decorations that probably cost more than everything I had ever owned in Silver Moon. A massive bed stood beneath a canopy of black silk, while a fireplace illuminated the dark walls with dancing shadows. Along one side of the room stood several bookshelves filled with old volumes about pack history, ancient bloodlines, and forgotten supernatural laws.

It was a beautiful prison.

The windows were reinforced with iron bars, and the heavy wooden door had no handle on the inside. Even worse, the silver wedding ring on my finger refused to come off no matter how hard I pulled.

I had tried soap, water, and even a little oil from the dressing table.

Nothing worked.

It’s the pack magic, my wolf whispered.

I examined the ring again.

What kind of marriage requires a magical prison?

An Alpha marriage, she replied.

I rolled my eyes.

“Wonderful.”

I walked toward the window and looked down at the courtyard. Several warriors were still patrolling the grounds, their movements precise and coordinated. Beyond the fortress walls, the forest stretched toward the distant mountains.

Somewhere beyond those mountains was Silver Moon.

Or whatever remained of it.

My fingers instinctively touched the necklace around my neck. The small silver pendant felt unusually cold against my skin.

Kael’s reaction to it continued to trouble me.

He had recognized the symbol immediately. More importantly, he had seemed almost frightened when I told him it belonged to my mother.

I returned to the bed and reached beneath the mattress, retrieving the silver envelope I had hidden earlier. I unfolded it carefully, tracing the familiar handwriting with my fingertips.

When you meet your mate, run.

Why had she written those words?

Had she known who my mate would be?

And if she had, why hadn’t she told me anything before she died?

I was about to fold the letter when I heard footsteps outside.

The sound grew louder until the lock turned.

I quickly slipped the envelope beneath my pillow.

The door opened.

Kael entered without knocking.

He had changed into black trousers and a dark shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His expression was colder than it had been during the ceremony, and his dark eyes immediately settled on me.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he closed the door.

“You shouldn’t have challenged me in front of my pack.”

I folded my arms.

“Good evening to you too, husband.”

His jaw tightened.

“Don’t use that word.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Which one? Husband? Is there another title you’d prefer?”

He walked farther into the room.

“You embarrassed me today.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“Are you serious?”

“My warriors watched you refuse my command. They watched you question my authority in front of the entire pack.”

“And you survived. Congratulations.”

His expression darkened.

“Do you think this is a game?”

“No. If it were a game, I would have asked for better rules.”

Kael stopped in front of me.

“You have no understanding of what is happening around you. My enemies are watching every decision I make. They see this marriage as an opportunity to weaken my authority. Half my council believes bringing you here was a mistake.”

“Then perhaps you should have married someone they approved of.”

“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”

“And I didn’t ask to become your wife.”

Silence settled between us.

For a moment, I thought he might lose his temper. His hands curled into fists, and the muscles along his jaw tightened.

Instead, he turned away and walked toward the fireplace.

“You think being my mate gives you some kind of protection,” he said. “It doesn’t.”

I followed him with my eyes.

“Then why do you keep reminding me that I’m yours?”

He looked over his shoulder.

“Because you belong to this marriage now.”

“Marriage isn’t ownership.”

His gaze returned to the flames.

“You’ll learn that things work differently here.”

I watched him carefully.

There was something strange about the way he spoke about the marriage. He sounded almost angry with himself, as though being bound to me was a punishment he hadn’t anticipated.

Perhaps he hated the mate bond as much as I did.

That thought should have comforted me.

Instead, it made me wonder what he would do if he discovered that I was beginning to feel something for him despite everything.

Kael remained near the fireplace for several minutes before speaking again.

“My pack has a problem.”

I frowned.

“Is that why you came here? To tell me about your problems?”

“Listen.”

I closed my mouth.

“Three of our northern patrols have disappeared within the last two weeks. No bodies have been recovered, and nobody has claimed responsibility. Last night, while I was dealing with your father’s pack, another patrol failed to report.”

I looked at him.

“Do you think someone is attacking your territory?”

“I know someone is.”

“Then why are you telling me?”

His eyes narrowed.

“Because you’re going to become part of this pack, whether you like it or not. You need to understand what you’re entering.”

I considered his words.

“If your warriors are disappearing, shouldn’t you be searching for them instead of arranging revenge marriages?”

His expression became dangerous.

“Careful.”

“I’m only asking a question.”

“You’re asking questions about matters you don’t understand.”

“Then explain them.”

He stared at me.

For several seconds, I thought he would refuse. But eventually, he pulled a chair away from the fireplace and sat down.

“Someone has been testing our borders. They know our patrol schedules, our guard rotations, and the locations of our weakest defensive points. Whoever is responsible has access to information that should only be available to members of my inner council.”

I frowned.

“So you think there’s a traitor inside your pack?”

“Possibly.”

“Have you questioned your council?”

“Every member.”

“And?”

“Nobody has confessed.”

I shook my head.

“Perhaps you’re asking the wrong questions.”

His eyes narrowed.

“What does that mean?”

“If someone knows your patrol schedules, then they’re probably not acting alone. Maybe the information is being passed through someone who doesn’t even realize what they’re helping.”

Kael studied me.

“That’s an interesting assumption.”

“It’s not an assumption. It’s a possibility.”

“And you believe you can solve a problem my best warriors haven’t been able to solve?”

I shrugged.

“I believe asking different questions might lead to different answers.”

For the first time, he looked at me without obvious hostility.

It lasted only a moment.

Then he stood.

“Don’t mistake this conversation for trust.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

He walked toward the door, but stopped before opening it.

“There’s something else you should understand. Your father’s death changes everything.”

My heart suddenly tightened.

“What?”

Kael turned.

“Marcus is dead.”

The words entered my ears, but my mind refused to understand them.

I stared at him.

“What did you say?”

“Your father was executed after we left Silver Moon.”

The room seemed to tilt.

“No.”

Kael’s expression remained cold.

“Yes.”

I shook my head.

“You’re lying.”

“Why would I lie about something like that?”

Because you wanted to hurt me, I thought.

Because you wanted to make me suffer.

Because you were capable of anything.

But I couldn’t say any of those things.

My father had been cruel. He had neglected me, humiliated me, and eventually surrendered me to his enemy. Yet he was still my father.

And now he was dead.

I pressed a hand against my chest.

A strange sensation spread through my body, like a thread being pulled apart somewhere deep inside me.

My wolf whimpered.

He’s gone.

I closed my eyes.

For one brief moment, I felt something that wasn’t mine. A fading heartbeat, a distant cry, and an overwhelming sense of finality.

Then it disappeared.

I opened my eyes, struggling to breathe.

“I felt it,” I whispered.

Kael looked at me sharply.

“What?”

“The moment he died.”

His expression changed.

“You felt your father’s death?”

I nodded slowly.

“Through the pack connection. It was like something inside me suddenly went silent.”

He studied me with an intensity that made me uncomfortable.

“That’s unusual.”

“Not for an omega.”

“Most omegas cannot sense a death across territories, especially when the connection has been weakened.”

I looked down at my hands.

“Perhaps I’m not as ordinary as everyone thinks.”

Kael said nothing.

I swallowed.

“How did he die?”

“His execution was carried out by my warriors.”

“Did he suffer?”

Kael’s eyes hardened.

“Why does that matter?”

“Because I asked you a question.”

He looked away.

“It was quick.”

I nodded, although the answer did little to comfort me.

I had spent years wishing my father would look at me with pride. I had imagined countless conversations in which he finally apologized for making me feel unwanted.

Now those conversations would never happen.

“I hated him sometimes,” I whispered. “I hated how he treated me. I hated how he looked at me as though I was a mistake. But I still wanted him to live long enough to understand that I wasn’t worthless.”

Kael watched me silently.

I wiped the tears gathering in my eyes.

“I suppose I’ll never get that chance.”

Something shifted in his expression.

For the first time, he seemed uncertain about what to say.

But whatever emotion had briefly appeared disappeared almost immediately.

“Now you understand what it means to lose someone.”

I looked at him.

“Yes. I do.”

He seemed to expect me to become angry, but I didn’t.

“My father never loved me the way he loved my brother. He made me feel unwanted for most of my life. But I still loved him because he was my family.”

I took a shaky breath.

“Maybe that’s the worst part about being an omega. Everyone expects us to be gentle, forgiving, and obedient. They forget that we have feelings too.”

Kael’s gaze remained fixed on me.

“You’re not like the omegas I’ve known.”

I gave a sad smile.

“Perhaps you haven’t known very many.”

The silence between us became uncomfortable.

Kael moved toward the table and poured himself a glass of water. His movements were controlled, but I noticed the slight tension in his shoulders.

“There’s something I want to know,” I said.

He didn’t look at me.

“Ask.”

“Why did you choose me?”

His hand paused.

“I already explained that.”

“No. You explained why you wanted revenge. You never explained why you chose me specifically.”

He placed the glass down.

“You’re Marcus’s daughter.”

“I have a brother.”

“Your brother is not here.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

Kael turned toward me.

“Your father spent years protecting you from the consequences of his actions. You were the one thing he refused to place in danger.”

I stared at him.

“That’s not true.”

His expression remained unreadable.

“How would you know?”

“Because he never protected me. He barely noticed when I was hurt.”

Something flickered in his eyes.

“Perhaps you don’t know as much about your father as you think.”

I frowned.

“What does that mean?”

He approached the bookshelf, selecting a thick black volume.

“Three years ago, my brother was murdered. The investigation led us to Silver Moon. Your father denied responsibility, but several witnesses identified his warriors.”

“Then why didn’t you confront him through the council?”

“Because the council was already compromised.”

I remembered what he had said about the missing patrols.

“Was my father involved with the people attacking your borders?”

Kael looked at me.

“That’s what I intend to discover.”

I stared at him, trying to understand.

For the first time, I realized that the story surrounding Dorian’s death might be more complicated than Kael had made it sound.

Perhaps my father had been guilty.

Perhaps he hadn’t.

Either way, I was determined to discover the truth.

Kael placed the book on the table.

“Listen carefully, Luna. I’m giving you one week.”

I looked at him.

“For what?”

“To prove that you can be useful to this pack.”

I almost laughed.

“Useful?”

“You’re going to learn how Blackwood operates. You’ll attend council meetings, understand the pack laws, and demonstrate that you can contribute something beyond your bloodline.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then you’ll remain exactly what my enemies believe you are. A weakness.”

I folded my arms.

“You expect me to prove myself to people who already hate me?”

“I expect you to show them that underestimating you is a mistake.”

His words surprised me.

I studied his face, wondering whether he was mocking me.

“Why give me an opportunity at all?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

Then he stepped closer.

“Because I want to know whether the daughter of Marcus is truly as insignificant as she appears.”

I felt anger rise inside me.

“My father may have treated me like I was worthless, and your pack may see me as an enemy, but I won’t spend my life trying to convince people that I deserve to exist.”

His gaze sharpened.

“Then what will you do?”

I lifted my chin.

“I’ll prove that I can stand without anyone’s permission.”

For several seconds, Kael simply watched me.

Then he nodded once.

“One week.”

I extended my hand.

“Agreed.”

He looked down at it.

“Do you think this is a business arrangement?”

“No. But I prefer knowing the terms of my imprisonment.”

A faint smile touched his lips before disappearing.

“Get some sleep. Your training begins tomorrow.”

He moved toward the door.

“Kael?”

He stopped.

“Why did you react so strangely when I mentioned my mother?”

His expression immediately changed.

“Your mother is not part of this conversation.”

“She gave me a necklace bearing the Blackwood symbol. You recognized it. I deserve to know why.”

He stared at the pendant resting against my chest.

“That symbol belonged to an ancient branch of my family.”

“Then why did my mother have it?”

“I don’t know.”

I studied him.

For some reason, I didn’t believe that answer.

“You’re hiding something.”

His eyes darkened.

“Be careful about accusing your Alpha of things you cannot prove.”

“I’m not accusing you. I’m asking you to tell me the truth.”

He opened the door.

“Stay away from the northern wing of this fortress. And don’t enter the old archive without permission.”

My heart skipped.

“What’s in the archive?”

“Things that no longer concern you.”

The door closed before I could ask another question.

I stood there, staring at the empty doorway.

The northern wing.

The old archive.

My mother’s necklace.

There was too much connecting these things for it to be a coincidence.

I didn’t sleep immediately after Kael left.

Instead, I returned to the bookshelves and began examining the titles. Most concerned pack history, ancient treaties, and supernatural law. One particular volume caught my attention.

It was old, its leather cover cracked along the edges. Unlike the others, it had no title printed on its spine.

I pulled it free.

A small piece of paper slipped from between its pages and landed on the floor.

I picked it up.

There were only three lines written on it.

The first bloodline was never broken.

The moon remembers its daughters.

The forbidden heir must never awaken.

My breathing became uneven.

I read the words again.

The moon remembers its daughters.

My mother had always told me that my wolf was special. She had said there was something inside me that I would understand when I was ready.

Could this be what she meant?

I turned the paper over, hoping to find a name or date.

There was nothing.

Suddenly, my wolf stirred.

Someone is coming.

I quickly returned the paper to the book and slid it back onto the shelf.

A moment later, I heard footsteps.

The door opened slightly.

A young woman entered carrying a tray of food. She had light brown hair, bright green eyes, and a small scar running along her cheek.

She smiled politely.

“Good morning, Luna. I’m Elise. I’ve been assigned to look after you.”

I nodded.

“Thank you.”

She placed the tray on the table.

“You’re expected in the training courtyard tomorrow morning. Delta Rhea will be supervising your lessons.”

I sighed.

“Wonderful. Another person who can’t wait to give me orders.”

Elise laughed softly.

“Don’t worry. Rhea isn’t as terrible as she looks.”

“That’s reassuring.”

She glanced toward the bookshelf.

For a brief moment, her smile disappeared.

“Have you been reading the old books?”

I frowned.

“Just looking.”

She hesitated.

“Perhaps you should avoid those shelves.”

“Why?”

Her eyes moved toward the door.

“Some books in this room haven’t been opened in years. The Alpha doesn’t like people touching them.”

I studied her face.

“Do you know why?”

Elise lowered her voice.

“Because some of them belonged to his mother.”

My heart skipped.

“His mother?”

She nodded.

“Lady Seraphina. She disappeared many years ago. Nobody in the fortress is allowed to speak about her.”

I remembered the rumors I had heard about Kael.

The stories about his mother.

The accusations of betrayal.

“Did she die?”

Elise looked uncomfortable.

“Nobody knows.”

Before I could ask anything else, she straightened and picked up the empty tray.

“I should go. The Alpha doesn’t like his servants staying in his chambers too long.”

She reached the doorway, then paused.

“One more thing, Luna.”

I looked at her.

“Yes?”

Her expression became serious.

“Whatever you do, don’t let anyone see that necklace.”

My fingers immediately touched the pendant.

“Why?”

Elise glanced down the corridor.

“Because the last woman who wore that symbol was accused of destroying the Blackwood bloodline.”

Then she disappeared.

I remained standing in the middle of the room, unable to move.

My mother had owned the same symbol.

Kael’s mother had disappeared.

And somewhere inside the fortress, there was an old book warning about a forbidden heir who must never awaken.

I looked down at my necklace.

For the first time, I wondered whether my mother’s death had truly been an illness.

Or whether someone had made certain she would never reveal the truth.

Outside, the wind began to howl through the fortress towers.

My wolf lifted her head.

Luna, something is coming.

I swallowed.

“What?”

She remained silent for several seconds.

Then her voice echoed through my mind, quieter and more frightened than I had ever heard it.

I can feel it. There is something inside us that has been sleeping for a very long time.

I closed my fingers around the pendant.

Before I could respond, a strange warmth spread across my palm.

The silver symbol began to glow.

And somewhere deep beneath Blackwood Fortress, something answered.