Kieran’s POV

I woke up screaming again.

My claws had torn through the bed sheets again, and sweat covered every inch of my body like I had been running for hours. The nightmare was always the same. Always ending the same way. Sleep never brought me peace anymore, only bloody memories that I wished I could forget but never would.

I sat up on the edge of my destroyed bed and looked out the large windows. Dawn was breaking over Shadowmoon territory, painting the sky in shades that reminded me of things I did not want to remember. From up here, I could see everything that belonged to me. Miles and miles of land stretched before my eyes. Forests thick with ancient trees and pack houses where hundreds of wolves lived under my rule.

I was the Lycan King, the most feared Alpha in all the lands, and other packs trembled when they heard my name.

They respected me because they had to, because I was stronger than all of them and because I ruled through fear and power that no one could question. But even with all this strength, I could not silence the ghost that haunted my dreams every single night.

I did not try to go back to sleep because I knew it would only bring more of the same terrible dreams. More sleep meant more memories, and I already knew exactly how this nightmare would end every time. Instead, I got up from my ruined bed, pulled on some training clothes, and made my way downstairs to my private gym.

The gym was my sanctuary. The one place where I could push my body until it screamed for mercy and my mind finally went quiet. I grabbed my bow and arrows first, lining up targets across the room. Each arrow flew straight , hitting the center of every target with accurate precision.

I moved to the weights next. Lifting until my muscles burned and my lungs dried. I pushed myself harder and harder because training was the only way to quiet the voice in my head. The voice that never stopped whispering about things I had lost, things I had destroyed with my own hands.

I was in the middle of the third set when my beta, Damien, walked into the gym. Damien had served me faithfully and knew better than to disturb my morning routine unless it was important. He waited until I finished my set before speaking, which showed he had learned some wisdom over the years.

"The breeder from Black Fang Pack has arrived," Damien said, his voice careful and respectful like always.

I set down the weights and grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat from my face. I had almost forgotten about Marcus Ashworth's pathetic daughter. The Alpha had practically begged me to take her off his hands in exchange for territory rights and weapons.

"Have her sent to my chambers in thirty minutes," I ordered. "I want to finish my training first." I told Damien, not looking at him as I moved to the next set of equipment.

Damien nodded and left without another word, and I went back to punishing my body until it had no choice but to obey me. Thirty minutes later, I was finally ready to have sex with the lady whose name I did not even care to remember.

I made my way back to my chambers, stripped off my sweaty training clothes, and stepped into the shower. The hot water felt good on my sore muscles, and I let myself enjoy the simple pleasure of being clean and refreshed after pushing my body so hard.

This girl was supposed to be beautiful according to her father, but I didn't care what she looked like. She was here for my pleasure, nothing more.

I had no use for emotions or connections. Those things only made wolves weak and vulnerable. I learned that lesson the hard way seven years ago, and I would never make the same mistake again.

I walked into my bedroom just as the door opened. The breeder stepped inside with her eyes fixed on the floor like she had been trained.

She was beautiful. Even I had to admit that as she stood there with her head down. Her long dark hair fell over her shoulders, and the red dress showed off curves that would make any man want her. Her father had not lied about her appearance. But her beauty meant nothing to me. She was just another breeder who would serve her purpose for a few months before I grew bored with her.

Some lasted months, others only weeks. It depended on how well they followed orders and how long they could survive my needs. Most of them were too weak in the end, and they all met the same fate as the ones before them.

I was the Lycan King, and I was ruthless when it came to disposing of things that no longer served me.

This girl would be no different. I would use her body until I am tired of it, and then she would disappear like all the rest.

"Come closer," I commanded.

She took a few small steps forward but kept her eyes on the floor. Her whole body was shaking, and I could smell her fear from across the room.

"Look up," I ordered when she stopped a few feet away from me.

She kept her eyes fixed on the floor like she had been trained to do. The defiance annoyed me.

"I said look up." This time I let my Alpha command flow through my voice,and she could not resist.

Her head snapped up immediately, and her eyes met mine.

The moment our gazes locked, I felt it hit me striking right through my chest. The scent of peach and lavender filled my nose, every cell in my body recognized her as mine, and the pull was so strong.

But with recognition came the memory of why this could never be.

I was cursed. The beast inside me was not just a wolf - it was something darker, something that destroyed everything it touched. Every full moon, I became a monster that knew no mercy,nor love . I had learned this lesson in the most painful way possible seven years ago, and the memory still haunted every nightmare.

The curse made me dangerous to everyone. The bond would only make the monster stronger, violent and more deadly. I could never risk that again.

I pushed her away from me roughly with disgust filling my voice. "Get out."

She stumbled backward with confusion clear on her face. "What do you mean?"

"I said GET OUT," I roared, pointing toward the door.

She turned toward the door, moving quickly, but I was not finished.

"Before you leave," I said, my voice deadly calm. "I, Alpha Kieran Blackwood, the Lycan King, reject you as my Luna and mate."."

I felt the mate bond writhing in pain at the rejection, but I ignored it. They were necessary. She gasped and stumbled backward like I had physically struck her.

"Damien!" I called for my beta.

He appeared in the doorway within seconds, looking between me and the girl with confusion. "Yes, Alpha?"

"Take her to the dungeon," I ordered. "We are going to kill her."

"But Alpha," Damien started to protest. "You haven't even done anything yet—"

"I said get her out!" I cut him off before he could finish. "We are going to kill her by tomorrow.”