Chapter 1
Elena's POV
The first light of dawn pierced the eastern horizon as I stood alone at the edge of Moon Watch Cliff, my silver-white hair dancing wildly in the biting morning wind. Another sleepless night. My fingertips had gone numb from the cold, but I didn't care—today was the deadline, the final day of the third year Kane "Steel Claw" had promised to return.
My fingers unconsciously reached for the wolf fang pendant around my neck, which I'd worn smooth over these three years. I drew a deep breath, tasting pine and morning dew in the air, but not his scent.
"Today's the last day, Kane," I whispered to the rising sun. "I know you'll come back, you have to. Word of victory has reached us from the front lines. You must be on your way home, right?"
But what if he doesn't return? a small voice inside me asked. I quickly pushed the thought away.
I closed my eyes, and memories came unbidden—three years ago, Kane stood in this very spot, his dark eyes intense and burning as he placed the necklace around my throat.
"I must follow my father into battle," he said, his voice betraying a slight tremor. "But I swear I'll return, Elena. No matter what happens, I'll come back to you." His thumb gently caressed my cheek. "This pendant carries my scent, telling all werewolves you're promised to me. Three years, I swear by the Moon Goddess."
Opening my eyes, I smiled bitterly as I touched the pendant. "Three years, and I've waited like a fool every day for your promise."
The pack whispered about my foolishness. The Council of Elders twice tried to arrange matches for me—first with the son of the Eastern pack's powerful alpha, then with our tribe's most respected warrior. I refused them all, earning disapproval and criticism from everyone.
Even my best friend Ella had given up. Last week she rolled her eyes, saying, "He's definitely found someone new on the battlefield. Don't be stupid, Elena. You're the alpha's daughter—you can't keep holding onto a promise from someone who might be dead."
"I'm not waiting forever," I said through gritted teeth. "Just until today. He said he'd come back."
The first ray of sunlight suddenly crested the ridge, warming my frozen face. Just then, a wolf's howl cut through the dawn silence—the signal of a victorious return! My heart raced.
Oh my God! He's back! He really came back!
I rushed down the cliff path, my legs carrying me at breakneck speed. More howls and drumbeats echoed from the direction of the village. My wolf stirred in my blood, nearly breaking through my skin—wanting to shift, to run, to fly to him.
The village was already in commotion. I pushed through the crowd to find my father, Magnus Silvermoon, standing in the front row. His expression was unusually grave.
"Dad?" I asked, confused, catching the scent of tension rolling off him.
"Elena," he said just my name, his eyes not meeting mine.
At that moment, the first warriors appeared at the forest edge. They formed neat ranks, bearing the scars of war but walking with the pride of victors.
And then—I saw him.
Kane walked at the front of the formation, taller and broader than when he'd left. A new scar ran from his temple to his jaw. The eyes that once looked at me with warmth were now cold and unfamiliar.
More heartbreaking was the red-haired woman following closely behind him, almost pressed against his side. She was tall and strong, her arm occasionally touching Kane's back with intimate familiarity. Her scent—strong spices mixed with some flower I couldn't identify—stung my nose.
"Who is that?" My throat tightened.
"Sava," my father answered briefly. "A warrior from the East. Inseparable from Kane on the battlefield."
Unease coiled around my heart like a poisonous snake. The next moment, the formation stopped before us.
I couldn't control myself and rushed forward. "Kane! You're back! I knew you'd keep your promise!"
His gaze met mine, and for just an instant, I thought I saw something—hesitation? Regret? But the emotion vanished too quickly, replaced by cold unfamiliarity.
"Elena." Just this one word, accompanied by a stiff nod, then his gaze moved past me to my father.
Sava stepped closer, smiling at me. "So this is the famous Silvermoon princess? I've heard so much about you." Her fingers deliberately wrapped around Kane's arm, her message crystal clear—He's mine now.
That BITCH! I glared at her, but she didn't budge. Then Kane left with that woman without giving me another glance.
My father's hand fell gently on my shoulder. "Child," he said softly, "war changes many things. You need to prepare yourself."
"For what?" I asked, bewildered. "He's back now. We can hold the bonding ceremony, right?"
My father's eyes darkened. "Things... aren't as simple as you think."
The Great Hall blazed with torchlight, ancient murals seemingly coming alive in the dancing flames. The long tables were laden with food, but I had no appetite. Warriors from both packs sat on opposite sides, the air thick with tense, uneasy whispers.
I sat in the place of honor, but Kane was seated too far away, with that red-haired bitch Sava right beside him, her hand "accidentally" brushing his arm every so often, each touch stabbing into my heart like a needle.
As I glared at them furiously, fragments of whispers reached my ears. Two Iron Claw warriors sat nearby, heads close together. "...his father gravely wounded, unconscious, probably won't make it..." one said in a hushed voice. The other nodded gravely: "Kane as acting alpha has no choice..."
Their voices disappeared into the noise. But I barely registered the weight of these words, my attention completely captured by Sava's fingers trailing along Kane's arm.
This isn't right. None of this is right. I thought to myself. How could he do this?
My father finally stood, raising his drinking horn. "Tonight we celebrate victory!" Cheers rose and subsided. He continued, "According to our traditions, when warriors return, we must honor the promises made before their departure." His gaze locked on Kane. "Including the bonding pledge between my daughter Elena and Kane Steel Claw."
The entire hall suddenly grew quiet enough to hear the crackling of logs in the fireplace. All eyes turned to Kane, and my heart nearly burst from my chest.
Kane slowly rose to his feet, his back straight, his eyes cold.
"Alpha Magnus," his voice deeper than I remembered, "I respect tradition, but a true Alpha cannot be bound by childhood promises. War has changed everything. The Iron Claw pack needs stronger alliances."
His hand fell on Sava's shoulder, and I caught her smug look, wanting to claw those eyes out.
"Sava saved my life three times on the battlefield," Kane continued. "She understands what it means to be a warrior's mate."
My blood froze. He's publicly humiliating me.
"Three years, Kane!" I shot to my feet, my voice shaking with anger. "I waited THREE WHOLE YEARS! Turned down EVERY suitor! You swore on the Sacred Stone to the Moon Goddess!"
Sava laughed. "Battlefield oaths carry more weight than childhood promises, little princess. Too bad you weren't there—you'll never understand what true bonding looks like."
In that moment, the wolf inside me exploded. Rage and humiliation burned through every nerve. I felt the excruciating pain of bones breaking and reforming, nails extending into claws, teeth sharpening into fangs. My vision turned red as instinct took over.
I lunged across the table toward Sava, claws aimed at her throat. But Kane reacted faster—grabbing my wrist and hurling me aside. I slammed into the stone wall, the pain forcing me back from half-shift to human form.
I staggered to my feet, feeling every eye in the room cutting into me like knives. Humiliation, rage, and heartbreak tangled together as tears blurred my vision.
"You're not the Kane Steel Claw I knew," I gasped, my voice hoarse. "That Kane died on the battlefield!"
My trembling hand ripped the wolf fang pendant from my neck and hurled it at his feet.
"I HATE you!" I screamed through tears. "I CURSE every minute I waited for you!"
Then I turned and fled the hall, letting my tears flow freely, with only one thought in my mind. I will never wait for anyone's promise again. NEVER again.