Chapter 8

Kaelen raised his hand, and the moonlight pouring through the Crescent Shrine's dome suddenly surged. "The bonding ritual begins."

"No—" Sylvia tried to break free, but Kaelen's arm locked tight around her waist.

The moonlight poured down, warm and heavy. Sylvia felt something invading her mind. It was the spiritual bond of a fated mate, being forced into existence.

But in the next instant, agony exploded through her. It wasn't ordinary pain, but a tearing, soul-rending agony that felt like her very being was being ripped apart.

Sylvia screamed, her body doubled over in pain as blood sprayed across Kaelen's chest.

"Sylvia!" Kaelen's face went ashen. He forced the ritual to stop and caught her as she collapsed. "Get the healer now."

"Alpha Lord." An elderly voice echoed from the entrance of the shrine. It was the High Priest. "A wolfless one cannot bear the spiritual bond of a fated mate. Her body is rejecting the divine will."

Kaelen's hands trembled as he held Sylvia.

She lay in his arms, her face sickly. Blood still clung to her lips, and her breath was so weak.

"What does that mean?" His voice was hoarse, almost frightening.

The High Priest sighed, "That means she cannot form the bond unless she awakens her wolf form. Forcing it will kill her."

Kaelen looked down at Sylvia in his arms, rage and fear churning in his golden eyes.

"Awaken her wolf form," he echoed. "How to do that?"

The High Priest shook his head. "No one's figured out how those without a wolf form awaken it through the ages.

"Some say it takes a near-death scare, others extreme emotions, and some claim it's nothing less than a special blessing from the Moon Goddess."

Kaelen held Sylvia close, as if she were the most fragile treasure in the world.

His chin pressed gently to her hair, his voice dropping to a vow. "Then we'll search. Every ancient record, every corner of the earth.

"A month, three months, a year, or ten years, whatever it takes.

"I'll wait for her to awaken her wolf form."

He lifted his gaze, sweeping it over everyone present before fixing a murderous, cold stare on Vivian. "Nobody lays a finger on her till she's awakened her wolf form.

"Anyone who tries will live to regret every breath they take."

Vivian's face went ghastly, and she stumbled back a step.

*****

Sylvia woke up in the Forbidden Sanctuary.

The so-called Forbidden Sanctuary was a stone chamber hidden deep within the Crescent Shrine. It was a place only the Alpha and priests could enter.

The walls were built from obsidian, sealing away all traces of the outside world. Overhead, a massive moonstone was set into the dome, bathing the room in a gentle silver glow.

She lay on a huge stone bed, covered with a black velvet blanket. That was Kaelen's personal bedding, still infused with his scent: cold and edged with cedar and rust. It was the aura of the Alpha.

"You're awake?" Kaelen's voice drifted out from the shadows.

Sylvia turned her head and saw him sitting in a chair beside the stone bed, cradling an ancient tome. He was wearing a black silk robe, the collar loose, giving her a glimpse of perfect skin below his collarbone.

It looked the same as in that shirtless pic from last night.

Sylvia's cheeks went up in flames, and she instinctively pulled the blanket up to her chin.

"Don't move." Kaelen set the ancient tome aside and came over to press her shoulder. "Your organs are injured. You need to rest."

His palm was burning hot, the heat radiating through her thin clothes and pressing into her skin.

Sylvia froze, not daring to move an inch.

"A-Alpha Lord," she whispered. "I..."

"Call me by my name," Kaelen said.

"What?"

"Call me Kaelen." He lowered his gaze to meet hers. His golden eyes, glowing under the moonstone, looked like flickering flames. "Or, as you do online, call me darling."

Sylvia's cheeks flushed deeper, as if she were about to burst. "I-I don't dare."

"But you were so shameless online," Kaelen teased, a faint smile softening his whole vibe. "You said, darling, show me your abs; darling, I miss you; and darling, send me money."

"Stop it." Sylvia buried her face in her hands, wishing she could have somewhere to hide herself.

Kaelen let out a deep, velvety chuckle. It was warm and inviting, nothing like his usual icy, dominant vibe.

Sylvia peeked at him through her fingers and saw his face lit up with a smile, his eyes sparkling as if he'd scored something precious.

"Sweetheart." He gently pulled her hand down and wrapped it in his. "Do you know how long I've been dying to hear you call me darling?"

Sylvia's heart skipped a beat.

"The way you called me darling online was so sweet." Kaelen's thumb traced her knuckles. "But now, you can't meet my eyes. Sylvia, are you that afraid of me?"

"I-I'm not afraid." Sylvia lowered her head. "I-I don't think I'm good enough—"

"That's not for you to decide," Kaelen cut her off. "It's up to me."