For a moment, Liana couldn't breathe.
Kael Draven stood between her and the witch—tall, broad-shouldered, and radiating a power so heavy the air itself seemed to bow to him. But what terrified her the most wasn't his magic.
It was the way he looked at her.
Like he knew her.
Like she was meant for him.
His storm-gray eyes stayed on her face as he reached back, extending one hand slightly behind him. A thin ripple of power burst from his palm, forming a barrier around her like a transparent wall of shimmering moonlight.
The witch hissed, her violet eyes widening.
"You can't protect her. She is human. She doesn't belong in your world."
Kael didn't even look at her.
"She belongs where I decide."
Liana's heart slammed hard.
"W-Why are you doing this?"
He turned his head slowly toward her, and the intensity in his eyes made her sink back a little.
"Because," he said, voice low and certain, "you are mine."
Her breath caught.
The witch's laughter sliced through the air like glass.
"Yours? She doesn't even know who you are."
Kael's jaw tensed. "I don't need her to know yet."
"Yet?" Liana whispered, stunned.
Kael lowered his hand, and the barrier around Liana folded into his skin like light returning to a star. He took a step toward her—then another—slow, deliberate, as if he didn't want to frighten her.
But she was already frightened.
"Don't come closer," she breathed.
He stopped immediately.
That surprised her.
He listened.
His voice softened. "You're afraid. That's normal. But I won't hurt you."
The witch suddenly shrieked, interrupting the moment. Power gathered in her hands again, anger twisting her face.
"You took what I marked!" she screamed. "She is nothing!"
Kael turned his head, expression cold enough to freeze oceans.
"Say that again," he warned.
"She. Is. NOTHING—"
Kael moved faster than thought.
One second he stood beside Liana, the next he was gripping the witch by the throat, pinning her against the wall. Violet sparks exploded, but none of her magic touched him.
"You dare cast a claiming spell on what's mine?" he growled, his voice deeper, edged with something almost animalistic. "You dare touch my mate?"
Liana felt her knees weaken.
Mate?
She covered her mouth with trembling fingers.
This had to be a nightmare… right?
The witch gasped, clawing at his hand.
"You can't claim her! She's human—unmarked—unaware—"
Kael leaned in closer, eyes glowing like silver fire.
"She will be aware soon enough."
He released the witch with enough force that she crumpled to the floor. Before she could teleport or cast another spell, his power wrapped around her wrists like chains of moonlight.
"Leave," he commanded. "Tell your order that the human girl is off-limits. If they try again…" He paused, eyes flashing darker.
"…I will burn every last witch tower to ash."
The witch vanished instantly—terrified.
Silence fell.
Kael stood there, breathing hard, shoulders tense, his eyes dimming back to gray. Slowly, he turned back to Liana.
And the moment their eyes met, everything inside her twisted.
She should run.
She should scream.
But she didn't.
Instead… she asked the question that terrified her the most.
"What did you mean by… mate?"
Kael stepped closer—slowly this time—letting her move back if she wanted. She didn't.
He stopped just inches in front of her.
Up close, she could see the faint glowing veins under his skin, the heat rolling off him, the danger wrapped around him like a second skin—but also a strange safety.
"A mate," he said softly, "is destiny's choice. The one soul created to balance mine."
Liana swallowed, her voice shaking. "But why me?"
Kael lifted his hand, hesitating—just for a moment—before brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. The touch was warm, gentle.
"I didn't choose you," he said. "The moon did."
Her heartbeat raced.
"My world found you long before I did. Tonight… I only came because your soul cried out."
"My soul?" she echoed.
"You were hurting."
His eyes softened at the corners.
"I felt it."
Liana backed up a step, overwhelmed. "This is crazy. Werewolves, witches… alphas… mates… none of this is real."
Kael followed her, stopping a breath away.
His presence swallowed the room, swallowing her whole.
"Then why," he murmured, "can't you look away from me?"
She froze.
Because it was true.
Her heart, her body, her eyes—they all reacted to him like he was the world's strongest magnet and she was metal.
But Liana shook her head.
"No. I don't know you."
"You will," he promised.
"I don't trust you!"
Kael leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of her ear as he whispered:
"You don't have to trust me."
His warm breath sent shivers down her spine.
"But you will. Soon."
Before she could answer, a sudden sharp knock echoed through the apartment door.
Kael's head snapped up, eyes narrowing.
"They're here," he murmured.
"Who?" Liana whispered.
Kael stepped in front of her protectively—his power rising like a storm.
"The witches."
He glanced over his shoulder at her.
"Stay behind me, Liana. From this moment… you're part of my world."