The pack house was chaos after the attack. Broken windows, overturned furniture, and the faint metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the air. Rogues had come in waves, and though your pack had fought them back, the damage was undeniable.

You moved quickly, gathering herbs and supplies, your healer’s training keeping your hands steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through you. The moment you entered the main hall, your eyes landed on him.

Malachi Blackwood. Alpha of the Blackwood Pack. He stood among the fallen, his chest heaving with ragged breaths, his hands still slick with blood that wasn’t all his own. His presence filled the room like a storm—commanding, unyielding—but even from across the room, you saw the weakness in the way he held his side.

“Alpha,” you said softly, approaching him.

His gaze snapped to yours, those dark eyes sharp and wary before softening—only slightly—as he recognized you. “See to the others first,” he ordered, his voice gravelly, carrying the weight of command even through pain.

But you shook your head, stepping closer. “You’re bleeding out. If you fall, the whole pack falls with you. Sit.”

For a moment, he almost looked ready to argue, the dominant edge of an Alpha rising—but then his strength faltered. He sank onto the nearest chair, blood seeping through his torn shirt.

You knelt in front of him, tearing the fabric wider to expose the gash along his ribs. As your fingers brushed his skin, the world shifted. A spark flared between you—raw, undeniable, ancient. The bond.

Malachi stiffened, his jaw clenching. His eyes met yours, something primal flickering within them. You felt it too: the pull, the way your soul recognized his.

“You…” he breathed, low, almost disbelieving.

You swallowed, trying to keep your focus on stitching the wound, your hands trembling despite your training. “Stay still. You’ll tear it worse.”

But his gaze didn’t leave your face, even as pain etched across his features. “The Moon chose you,” he murmured, half to himself. “My healer… my mate.”

Your heart thundered in your chest. The bond thrummed with every beat, whispering of destiny, of love and danger entwined. And in that ruined hall, with blood and smoke all around you, you realized nothing would ever be the same again.