Moonlit Vows

Selene awoke the next morning to the sound of Ivy's laughter drifting through the house. The warmth of her sister's voice brought a fleeting sense of comfort, but the memory of the vampire and Kael's warnings quickly crept back into her mind. Danger was looming, and no amount of normalcy could push it away.

As she headed downstairs, she found Ivy sitting at the kitchen table with a sketchpad in front of her, her pencil moving in quick, deliberate strokes.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," Ivy teased without looking up.

"Morning," Selene mumbled, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"You've been sneaking off a lot lately," Ivy said, her tone casual but laced with curiosity. "Anything interesting going on?"

Selene hesitated. Lying to Ivy didn't sit well with her, but how could she explain what was happening without sounding insane?

"Just… going for walks," Selene said, hoping her vague answer would suffice.

Ivy glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "Right. Well, be careful, okay? You know how weird this town can get."

"I will," Selene promised.

She spent the rest of the morning trying to distract herself with mundane tasks, but by noon, her restlessness got the better of her. She left a note for Ivy and headed into the forest, her thoughts already on Kael and the training he'd promised to continue.

---

Selene didn't have to search long. Kael was waiting for her in the clearing, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.

"You're late," he said, though there was no real bite in his tone.

"Good morning to you too," she replied with a smirk.

"Ready to get back to work?"

"Always."

Their training picked up where they'd left off, but this time, Kael focused on teaching her how to anticipate an opponent's movements. Selene struggled at first, her reflexes slower than she'd like, but Kael's patient guidance kept her motivated.

"You're improving," Kael said after an hour.

Selene grinned, wiping sweat from her brow. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Kael opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, his entire body tensed. His head snapped toward the trees, his nostrils flaring.

"What is it?" Selene asked, her heart skipping a beat.

"Trouble," Kael said grimly. "Stay close."

Moments later, three wolves emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with hostility. They were larger than any wolf Selene had ever seen, their sleek black fur bristling as they growled low in their throats.

Kael stepped in front of her, his body radiating authority. "This is my territory," he said, his voice cold. "You have no business here."

One of the wolves shifted into human form, revealing a tall man with sharp features and a cruel smile.

"Relax, Alpha," the man said mockingly. "We're just here to talk."

Kael's growl deepened. "Then talk."

The man's smile widened. "My Alpha has a message for you. Surrender your territory, and no one gets hurt."

Kael took a step forward, his presence towering. "Tell your Alpha that this land belongs to my pack. If he wants it, he can come take it himself."

The man chuckled. "Brave words, but we both know you're outnumbered. This is a fight you can't win."

Kael didn't flinch. "Get out. Now."

The man's smile faded, replaced by a sneer. "Suit yourself. Don't say we didn't warn you."

With that, he shifted back into wolf form, and the group disappeared into the trees.

Selene let out a shaky breath. "Who were they?"

"Rogues," Kael said, his voice tight. "They're part of a rival pack that's been trying to claim my territory for months."

"And now they're escalating," Selene said, her stomach twisting.

Kael nodded. "This was just a warning. They'll be back—and next time, they won't come to talk."

---

Later that evening, Selene returned home, but her unease lingered. She couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

Her fears were confirmed when Ivy didn't return from her usual afternoon walk. Panic gripped Selene as she searched the house and called her sister's phone, but there was no answer.

"Ivy," she whispered, her heart racing.

Without thinking, she grabbed her coat and ran back into the forest, her mind consumed by dread. She didn't stop until she reached Kael's den.

"Kael!" she called, her voice trembling.

He appeared almost instantly, his expression darkening when he saw her. "What's wrong?"

"It's Ivy," Selene said, her voice breaking. "She's missing."

Kael's jaw tightened. "Where was she last?"

"She went for a walk this afternoon, but she hasn't come back," Selene said, tears streaming down her face. "I think… I think they took her."

Kael didn't hesitate. "Damon!" he called sharply.

Damon appeared moments later, his smirk replaced by a look of concern. "What's going on?"

"Selene's sister is missing," Kael said. "I need you to track her scent."

Damon nodded, his demeanor turning serious. "On it."

Kael turned to Selene, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We'll find her. I promise."

Selene nodded, her fear giving way to a flicker of hope. If anyone could bring Ivy back, it was Kael.

---

The search led them deep into rogue territory. Damon moved ahead, his sharp senses guiding the group as they followed Ivy's scent.

After what felt like an eternity, they found her. Ivy was tied to a tree in a small clearing, her face pale but unharmed. Selene's heart leapt with relief as she ran to her sister's side.

"Ivy!"

Ivy's eyes fluttered open, and she managed a weak smile. "Selene… you found me."

Before Selene could untie her, a low growl echoed through the clearing. She turned to see a group of rogues emerging from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with malice.

Kael stepped forward, his body bristling with tension. "You've made a mistake."

The leader of the group shifted into human form, his cruel smile returning. "You're outnumbered, Alpha. Hand over your territory, or your little human friends won't make it out alive."

Kael's growl shook the air. "You shouldn't have taken her."

With that, he shifted, his massive wolf form lunging at the leader with terrifying speed. Chaos erupted as the clearing filled with snarls and the sound of claws meeting flesh.

Selene shielded Ivy as the battle raged around them, her heart pounding with both fear and awe. Kael fought like a force of nature, his silver fur flashing as he tore through the rogues with ruthless efficiency.

Within minutes, the remaining rogues fled, their leader lying motionless at Kael's feet.

Kael shifted back into human form, his chest heaving as he turned to Selene. "Are you okay?"

Selene nodded, tears streaming down her face as she hugged Ivy tightly. "Thank you," she whispered.

Kael's gaze softened. "I told you—I'll protect you. Both of you."

As the moon rose high above the forest, Selene realized just how much she trusted Kael. And for the first time, she felt like she truly belonged by his side.