What a coincidence 💅🏻

Luna

"I will seal you, Silas."

"No!" Silas screamed, his voice choking on the pitch-black blood rising from his throat. "Luna, don't... don't trap me in this darkness."

"I won't lose you," I said, tears falling from my eyes onto his cold cheek. "I won't lose the man who protected me, no matter the cost."

Dante knelt beside me. "Binding his soul isn't enough, Luna. To break the death seal, your life force has to flow into his body. You have to seal him with your teeth."

Silas shook his head with what little strength he had left. "No... I can't drag you into this curse."

"Shut up, Silas," I whispered.

I leaned in without thinking. I found that tender spot between his neck and shoulder, closed my eyes, pressed my lips to his skin, and sank my teeth into his flesh without mercy.

A muffled groan rose from Silas's throat, pain and relief tangled together.

The metallic, mystical taste of blood flooded my mouth, and at the same moment, a massive explosion tore through the hall. Jet-black smoke poured from Silas's body, flowing directly into mine through the wound I'd made. My chest ignited. Without pulling my teeth from his skin, I whispered:

"I seal my soul to yours. My life is your life, my death is your death."

Silas lifted his head and, with his last strength, sank his teeth into my shoulder. The two-way seal was complete. Our blood mingled, and on our skin, a blood-red wolf mark blazed like a brand, permanent, never to fade.

The ice-blue light in Silas's eyes went dark. The pain in my body became unbearable, and the universe began to spin around me.

Silas's final whisper, carved into my soul, burned itself into my mind:

"See you in the new life... my defiant wolf."

And the world sank into blackness.

---

YEARS LATER... (PRESENT DAY)

Avery was unnervingly calm as she sorted through her files for the company project presentation. The senior architects and engineers around her were sweating in panic. Today, the holding company's new and ruthless CEO was making his first inspection visit. Everyone in the office whispered that he was a monster, that he fired people for a single mistake.

Avery didn't care. She'd carried an inexplicable emptiness inside her her whole life, a restlessness she could never understand. She bowed to no one, was moved by no one.

Suddenly, the massive glass doors swung open.

He entered, flanked by three bodyguards and the company executives.

A black, impeccably tailored suit. Sharp features. And ice-blue eyes cold enough to freeze everyone in the room with a single glance.

The entire office rose and bowed in greeting. Avery didn't budge. She sat upright in her chair, arms crossed over her chest, staring the man down.

As CEO Julian Vance walked, the air in the room grew heavier. Julian stopped dead when he reached Avery's desk.

A searing pain stabbed into the left side of his chest, over his heart, so violent it nearly stole his breath. At the exact same moment, Avery clutched her left shoulder. The birthmark-like scar there began to burn as if branded with hot iron.

Julian turned slowly. His ice-blue eyes locked onto Avery.

The room was silent. Everyone waited for the CEO's reaction to this insolent girl.

Julian took a step toward Avery. As the distance between them closed, the burning in their shoulders intensified to a horrifying degree. In Julian's gaze appeared a deep confusion, an undefinable rage, and a dark pull.

Julian leaned over the desk. He planted both hands on the surface, bringing his face close to Avery's.

"You don't seem to realize who you're dealing with, little lady," Julian said. His voice was low, dangerous, commanding. "You don't stand before the person you're supposed to show respect to?"

Avery smiled. No sign of being affected, no hint of backing down. She didn't yield an inch to the crushing pressure in his gaze, not even with a twitch of her expression. She held his eyes.

"Respect is earned, Mr. Vance," Avery said, her voice clear and cold as glass. "It's not bought with status. And I haven't seen anything yet that warrants me standing."

The room held its breath. No one spoke to Julian Vance like that.

Julian's jaw tightened. Something inside him, perhaps a wolf buried deep in his soul, reared at this woman's defiance. But at the same time, he wanted to hate this arrogant girl to death. Rage, reason unknown, boiled his blood.

Julian leaned in closer. His lips came right beside Avery's ear. She didn't flinch, but the ache in her shoulder was at its peak.

Julian whispered, "You're very brave," his voice laced with a hair-raising danger. "And strangely... I feel like I know you from somewhere. But believe me, you remind me of the thing I hate most in my memory."

Avery tilted her head slightly, looking directly into Julian's eyes, and answered with cool composure:

"What a coincidence, Mr. Vance," she said, "because the moment I saw you, I hated you more than I've hated anything in my entire life."

Julian smiled. A dark, dangerous smile. The seal was burning. Fate had begun to turn again.