Selena's chest rose and fell rapidly as she stared at the man blocking her path.
Prince Adrian Valerius stood a few steps away, the moonlight casting sharp shadows across his face. His crimson eyes glowed faintly in the darkness of the forest.
Calm.
Unbothered.
As if her desperate attempt to escape had been nothing more than a small inconvenience.
Selena's claws dug into the dirt. Her heart pounded violently in her chest.
"I will not go back," she said, her voice low and dangerous.
Adrian tilted his head slightly, studying her like a curious predator.
"You already know that isn't your choice."
The words ignited fresh rage inside her.
With a furious snarl, Selena lunged forward.
Her claws sliced through the air, aimed directly for his throat.
But Adrian moved faster.
Much faster.
He stepped aside with effortless grace, catching her wrist mid-strike. His grip was firm but controlled.
Selena struggled immediately, twisting and trying to break free, but his strength was overwhelming.
"You fight well," Adrian said quietly.
His tone almost sounded… impressed.
That only made Selena angrier.
"I should have killed you when I had the chance," she spat.
Adrian's expression remained unreadable.
"You tried."
Before she could react again, two vampire guards appeared behind her, grabbing her arms and forcing her to her knees.
Selena snarled, trying to shift into wolf form again, but exhaustion and the lingering poison weakened her.
Adrian looked down at her.
For a moment, his crimson eyes softened slightly.
But the moment passed as quickly as it came.
"Take her back to the castle," he ordered.
The guards obeyed immediately.
Selena fought them the entire way.
She kicked, clawed, and tried to break their hold, but it was useless. The vampires dragged her across the forest floor and back toward the towering black walls of the vampire capital.
The massive iron gates opened with a deep grinding sound.
Selena's stomach twisted as she was forced back inside.
The city was just as unsettling as she remembered.
Tall black towers pierced the sky like jagged spears.
Crimson lanterns hung from stone arches, casting an eerie red glow across the streets.
Vampires filled the pathways, their pale faces turning toward her as she was dragged through the city.
Whispers followed her everywhere.
"The wolf girl…"
"That's the Luna…"
"She tried to escape already…"
Selena lifted her chin defiantly.
Let them stare.
Let them whisper.
She refused to look weak.
Eventually they reached the massive castle at the center of the city.
The structure towered over everything around it, carved from dark stone that seemed to swallow the moonlight.
The castle doors opened as they approached.
Inside, the grand hall stretched endlessly before them.
Tall pillars lined the room, decorated with ancient carvings of vampire battles and victories.
Dozens of vampires stood along the sides of the hall.
Nobles.
Advisors.
Warriors.
All watching.
All staring at her.
The whispers grew louder.
"So this is the Luna."
"She doesn't look very impressive."
"Prince Adrian risked soldiers for her?"
Selena's eyes flashed with anger.
One noblewoman stepped forward.
She was tall and elegant, dressed in a crimson gown with black embroidery. Her golden hair fell perfectly around her shoulders.
Her eyes scanned Selena from head to toe with obvious disgust.
"So this is the wolf," she said coldly.
Selena met her gaze without fear.
"Yes," Selena replied.
"And you must be one of the parasites living in this palace."
Gasps rippled through the hall.
The noblewoman's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"How dare you—"
"Enough."
The deep voice cut through the room like a blade.
Every vampire immediately stepped aside.
Prince Adrian walked into the hall.
His presence alone silenced the entire room.
He stopped a few feet from Selena.
For a moment, the two simply stared at each other.
Selena's chest tightened.
She hated him.
Hated everything he represented.
The destruction of her pack.
The loss of her home.
The chains now binding her life to this cursed place.
Adrian finally spoke.
"Release her."
The guards hesitated but obeyed.
Selena immediately stood up, rubbing her wrists.
Her silver eyes burned with fury.
"You can lock me in your castle," she said.
"You can surround me with your monsters."
"But I will never belong here."
A faint smile appeared on Adrian's lips.
"That," he said calmly,
"remains to be seen."
He turned toward the throne at the end of the hall.
"The king will want to see her."
A cold chill ran down Selena's spine.
The king.
The ruler of the entire vampire kingdom.
And the man responsible for whatever dark plan she had been dragged into.
As guards moved to escort her forward, Selena clenched her fists.
She had lost her home.
She had failed to escape.
And now she stood in the heart of enemy territory.
But one thing was certain.
This war between wolves and vampires…
Was far from over.