At night, the tension had been thick for months, a slow-burning frustration that Ingolf could no longer ignore. He had watched from the shadows of Harald Dyre's mind, a prisoner in his way, forced to endure the distance between himself and Asis. She was his, bound to him by blood and fate, but he had been denied her presence, her touch. Dyre had kept him at bay, fearing the violence of Ingolf's nature, the untamed hunger that simmered beneath the surface. But tonight, Ingolf would not be denied.
Dyre had sensed the storm brewing within him, the possessive fury that threatened to tear through their shared consciousness. They had argued, voices clashing in the dark corridors of their mind, until finally, with reluctant resignation, Harald yielded. "Do not frighten her," he had warned, but Ingolf had only snarled in response. He would have what was his.
The door to their chambers groaned as Ingolf pushed it open, his massive frame filling the threshold. Asis sat by the fire, a book resting in her lap, the glow of the flames casting shadows across her delicate features. She looked up, and for a moment, her breath caught; those sharp, knowing eyes were not Dyre's.
"You," she whispered, fingers tightening around the spine of her book. Ingolf smirked, his expression predatory. "Disappointed?" She set the book aside slowly, her gaze never leaving his. "I knew you would come eventually."
He prowled forward, each step deliberate, his presence filling the room like a gathering storm. "Did you miss me, little queen?" Asis lifted her chin, defiance flashing in her eyes. "I've seen you only in glimpses—a beast in the shadows, a ghost in Dyre's eyes. You don't give me much to miss."
A low growl rumbled in his chest as he closed the distance between them, his hand snapping out to grip her wrist, hauling her to her feet. She gasped but didn't struggle, her pulse fluttering beneath his fingers. "You belong to me as much as you belong to him," he murmured, his breath hot against her ear. "And I've waited long enough." Her scent was intoxicating as he licked the mark on her neck roughly.
She swallowed hard, her free hand pressing against his chest, whether to push him away or pull him closer, even she didn't seem sure. "Dyre said—"
"Dyre isn't here," Ingolf interrupted, his voice rough. "Tonight, you answer to me."
The air between them crackled with tension, a dangerous dance of dominance and submission. Asis knew that Ingolf was a force of nature, untamed and relentless. She had seen him in his true form, a monstrous beast of fang and fury, but this—this-this was different. This was the man beneath the monster, the hunger beneath the control.
His mouth crashed down on hers, claiming her in a kiss that was more teeth than tenderness. She moaned into him, her body arching instinctively, her fingers tangling in his hair. He bit her lower lip, drawing blood, and she shuddered, the pain and pleasure blurring into something intoxicating.
"You've been alone too long," he growled against her mouth, his hands roaming possessively over her body. "Dyre is too gentle with you. But I know what you need."
Asis's breath hitched as he tore the fabric of her dress, the sound of rending cloth loud in the quiet room. His touch was rough, demanding, his fingers digging into her hips hard enough to bruise. She should have been afraid, perhaps a part of her was, but the heat pooling low in her belly betrayed her.
"You want this," Ingolf murmured, his lips trailing down her throat, teeth scraping over her pulse. "You want to know what it's like to be taken by a beast." She didn't deny it. Couldn't.
He lifted her effortlessly, tossing her onto the bed, her body bouncing against the furs. Before she could catch her breath, he was on her, his weight pressing her down, his hands pinning her wrists above her head. His eyes burned with feral intensity, the gold of them nearly swallowed by black. "Say it," he commanded.
Asis licked her lips, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "I want it."
A dark smile curved his mouth. "Good."
What followed was a tempest of teeth and hands, of rough pleasure and sharp pain. Ingolf was relentless, his touch both punishment and worship, his mouth leaving marks that would linger for days. He took her with a ferocity that bordered on brutality, yet every thrust, every bite, every growl whispered against her skin was a promise: you are mine.
And when she shattered beneath him, her cries muffled against his shoulder, he held her through the aftershocks, his grip unyielding.
Dawn was still hours away when he finally allowed her to rest, her body spent, her mind hazy with exhaustion. Ingolf lay beside her, one arm draped possessively over her waist, his breath warm against her neck.
"Dyre will take you to Sinha Haveily tomorrow," he murmured.
Asis turned her head slightly to look at him. "And you?"
His lips curled. "I'll be watching."
She exhaled slowly, her fingers tracing the scars on his chest. "You'll come back to me?"
Ingolf caught her hand, bringing it to his mouth to press a biting kiss to her knuckles. "I always do."
Outside, the wind howled, a beast's promise in the dark.
*****
The grand halls of Sinha Haveily were eerily quiet, the usual hum of activity replaced by a tense silence. Mihika sat at the dining table, her fingers drumming restlessly against the polished wood. The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, casting long shadows, but it did little to ease the weight pressing against her chest. "Still nothing?" Kian Avi asked, stepping into the room, his voice low.
Mihika shook her head, her gaze fixed on her phone. The last message from Asis had been weeks ago, a brief, vague assurance that she was fine and needed time. Since then, nothing. No calls, no replies to their frantic texts. "I called Riya again," Mihika said, her voice tight. "She hasn't heard from her either. And Amma's house is empty. It's like she vanished."
Aarav entered, his expression grim. He had returned from his honeymoon two weeks ago, only to be met with the same unsettling silence. "I checked with Mateo," he said, running a hand through his hair. "He claims he doesn't know anything, but something's off. He's been avoiding me."
Itzel hovered near the doorway, her fingers twisting in the fabric of her saree. She knew the shift in the supernatural world the moment Vlad Calin fell. But how could she tell them? How could she explain that their daughter was now bound to a Lycan king, that she had been fighting for her life against vampires while they sat here, oblivious? Mihika's phone buzzed.
Her breath hitched as she snatched it up, her eyes scanning the screen. Then, a choked sound escaped her. "She is coming home." Aarav was at her side in an instant. "When?"
"Today." Mihika's voice trembled. "She says she's bringing Karl with her." Kian Avi's brows furrowed. "Karl Marius? The investor?" Itzel's pulse spiked. *Karl Marius—Harald Dyre.* The Alpha King was coming here.
*****
The car pulled up the long driveway of Sinha Haveily, gravel crunching beneath the tires. Asis sat in the passenger seat, her fingers clenched in her lap. Beside her, Harald, disguised once more as Karl Marius, with a steady presence, his grip on the steering wheel tight. "You're sure about this?" he asked, his voice low.
She exhaled. "No. But it's time."
The moment the car stopped, the front door burst open. Mihika rushed out, her saree fluttering behind her, her eyes wide with relief and fear. "Bittu!" Asis barely had time to step out before her mother pulled her into a crushing embrace. Mihika's hands trembled as they cupped her face, her voice breaking. "Where were you? Do you have any idea how worried we were?"
"I'm sorry, Ma," Asis whispered, her throat tight. "I couldn't explain before." Kian Avi and Aarav were right behind Mihika, their expressions shifting from relief to wariness as Harald stepped out of the car. "Karl," Aarav said carefully. "I didn't expect to see you with Asis."
Harald inclined his head. "Aarav." His gaze flickered to Itzel, who stood frozen in the doorway. A silent understanding passed between them. Mihika's grip on Asis tightened. "Come inside. We need to talk."
The family gathered in the living room, the air thick with unspoken tension. Asis sat between Harald and her mother, her fingers twisting together. "Asis," Kian Avi began, his voice measured, "what's going on?" She took a deep breath. "I need to tell you the truth. All of it." And so she did.
She spoke of Lycans and vampires, of Vlad Calin's obsession, of the blood moon ritual. She told them about Harald and really told them about the Alpha King beneath Karl Marius's facade, about the bond between them. Silence followed her words. Then, to her shock, Kian Avi exhaled heavily and leaned back in his chair. "So it's true."
Asis blinked. "You… knew?"
Mihika's lips pressed into a thin line. "Not about you. But about them." She gestured to Harald. "Our family has old ties to the supernatural world, Bittu. Your Nano was a witch and seer, that's why we had to send you to her when you were five years old. We've always known creatures like the Lycans existed." Aarav's jaw clenched. "You never told me." Kian Avi sighed. "We wanted to protect you. The less you knew, the safer you were."
Itzel, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. Her hands shook as she met Aarav's gaze. "There's something I need to tell you, too." Aarav's expression darkened. "Itzel? She took a steadying breath. "I'm not entirely human. I'm a werewolf." The room went deathly still.
Aarav stared at her, his face unreadable. Then, slowly, he crossed the distance between them and cupped her face. "I know." Itzel's eyes widened. "You what?"
He let out a rough laugh. "You think I didn't notice the way you flinch at silver? Or how you disappear during the full moon?" His thumb brushed her cheek. "I love you, Itzel. Human or not." Tears welled in her eyes as she sagged against him.
Harald, who had been observing silently, finally spoke. "You're taking this better than expected." Kian Avi gave him a dry look. "We're Sinhas. We adapt."
Mihika, however, turned to Asis, her gaze searching. "And you? Are you… happy?" Asis hesitated, then reached for Harald's hand. "I am." Mihika studied them for a long moment before nodding. "Then that's all that matters."
The rest of the evening passed in a blur.
Mateo arrived, his expression haunted. The moment he saw Harald, he stiffened, but Asis stepped between them. "He's free, Harald. Vlad's magic is gone."
Harald's golden eyes bore into Mateo. "If you ever hurt her again—"
"I won't," Mateo said quietly. "I never wanted to."
Dinner was a tense affair, but by the end, the initial shock had faded into cautious acceptance.
Later, as the night deepened, Asis found herself on her balcony, staring at the moon. Harald joined her, his presence warm against her back. "Your family is stronger than I thought," he murmured. She leaned into him. "They always have been."
He turned her to face him, his fingers tracing her jaw. "And you? Are you ready to become my Luna Queen?" She smiled. "As long as you are standing beside me."
His lips met hers, sealing the promise.
*****