Not a werewolf, not human.

CAGED TO THE MOON KING

CHAPTER 3

Sebastian.

I bellowed at them to scour every corner of the planet for her.

That audacious woman!

How did she dare to flee from my grasp? No creature, not even the mightiest wolf, ever eluded my senses like this.

When did I grow so complacent that her departure went unnoticed?

Hold on! She was shackled, wasn't she? How on earth did she manage to...

Without a second thought, I rose and stormed out. She was not just sharp-tongued but also fiercely independent. The moon's descent signaled the approaching dawn, and it was imperative that we set out for the Moon Pack's domain.

Under normal circumstances, the journey would take a mere day with the aid of my wolf form. The beast within yearned to burst forth and stretch its limbs, but I had to restrain it.

My new mate, fragile and lacking her own wolf, meant we had to undertake the trek on foot, enduring days of travel to reach the pack.

"My Prince, please, this is no place for you... Retreat to the safety of the indoors, and we shall bring her to you immediately," one of them pleaded, but I answered with a growl.

"What were you imbeciles doing when she slipped away, huh?"

They shrank back, bowing and stammering apologies.

"Your hands will roll on the ground before you if she's not found by sunrise," I threatened.

They scattered before I even finished speaking.

I attempted to harness my moon powers to locate Heaven, but it was futile. The moon had vanished, and the sun threatened to scorch me if I persisted.

I sighed, a rare moment of frustration overtaking me, longing for the sight that had always eluded me.

I could have used my keen sense of smell to track down my obstinate mate. I had to find her, or face ruin.

Casting caution to the wind, I shed my long robes and ventured blindly into the small town, hoping for any trace of her.

For hours I wandered without assistance, my presence prompting bows from onlookers who mistook me for a lost soul.

I followed the pull of a force I couldn't explain, as if drawn through a tunnel by an invisible thread.

My men, having searched fruitlessly, found me striding with determined steps. They fell into step behind me without a word.

A surge of power guided me, her scent growing stronger, leading me onward. I ignored the thorns tearing at my skin and pressed forward until I came to an abrupt halt.

Her scent overwhelmed me, and I veered left, continuing until a gate barred my path.

I knew my men were in tow, and with a command, I ordered them to tear it down.

They complied, their swords hacking away at the rickety wooden barrier until it collapsed.

Alertness crackled in the air as the rogues within stood ready to defend against the intrusion. As they bared their teeth in fury and advanced, I braced myself for the onslaught.

I couldn't help but grin as I sensed the rogues' heavy footsteps approaching. Two attackers lunged at me simultaneously with swords drawn, but I dodged with ease, causing their heads to collide. Seizing the moment, I hoisted them both and hurled them into one of the cages with a satisfying crash.

Another rogue leaped onto my back, but with a swift turn, I clawed and flung him away, my eyes blazing a fierce inferno red.

My pack fought off the rogues effortlessly, yet they could sense the storm of my anger and instinctively turned to follow my lead.

Heaven's scent drew me in, and as I moved closer, I could detect the faint trace of her blood and the pain she carried. Grasping the pillars, I found ropes binding her and, with one swift movement, I shattered her bonds.

"Are you okay, Princess?" I asked, my voice a mix of concern and command.

Heaven, too shocked to speak, seemed to find solace in my timely arrival. Overcome by fear, she flung herself into my arms and wept, her embrace tight.

Damn!

I froze, taken aback by her intense reaction, the remnants of my rage still pulsing through me. Curiosity gnawed at me, wondering what had frightened her so, and how she had escaped her shackles.

"Are you hurt?" I inquired, stroking her back to offer some comfort.

"How did you find me?" Her voice was calm, a stark contrast to her earlier panic.

"You couldn't have gone far, not with that stubborn spirit of yours," I scoffed, my irritation bubbling to the surface. "What the heck is wrong with you, you weak creature?"

"You forced me to leave, blind prince, so don't you dare preach to me."

"Seriously? You deserve a harsh lesson right now for your escape."

I was determined to deal with her later for fleeing, but at the sound of her voice, all my senses seemed to scatter.

I had been paranoid at the thought of her being killed, knowing full well that my brothers would have taken the opportunity to mock me and vie for the throne.

The battle raged on until a tall, imposing figure stepped forward and issued a sharp command. Instantly, all the rogues ceased their assault, bowing to the authority of their king.

Heaven looked on, taken aback by the striking appearance of their leader, whose subjects were a stark contrast to his regal demeanor.

He approached us, and Heaven could feel my body tense in anticipation. I shielded her with my back, refusing to break our embrace. She shrank back, too intimidated to meet the gaze of those piercing golden eyes.

"You didn't have to create a mess, Prince," he said, his voice laced with irritation over the injuries and deaths of his men.

"They shouldn't have taken her," I retorted, my hold on Heaven unyielding. She shifted, trying to escape my embrace as the proximity to the rogue king made her uneasy, but I held her firmly, protective and resolute.

"I'll let this slide because it's you, Prince Sebastian. But keep your mate away from my territory, or next time you might not be quick enough to find her."

"And if one of your rogues lays a finger on her again, I assure you, you won't have the chance to draw another breath, as your heart will be in pieces," I countered, my voice a low growl of warning.

"Quite the possessive type, aren't you? Shouldn't you be ruling your kingdom instead of wandering around in your condition?"

"That's none of your concern," I snapped back.

"As the crowned prince of the Moon Pack, completely blind and yet so powerful, it becomes my concern when you stumble into my domain uninvited."

"Worry more about this ramshackle den of yours and what I might do if our paths cross again," I threatened.

The rogue king rolled his eyes and glanced at Heaven, who was now pressing herself even tighter against my shoulder.

"She's neither werewolf nor human," he observed.

"That's my problem, now get out of my way," I demanded, my voice brooking no argument. Reluctantly, he stepped aside, his teeth grinding in frustration.

I took Heaven's hand, leading her as if I could see the way to the gate, which astonished her.

Despite my blindness, my other senses were heightened, allowing me to navigate with precision.

We made our way back through the quaint town, my men trailing behind us.

"Thank you!" Heaven gasped, struggling to keep pace with me.

"For saving me back there." She sounded exhausted, but without warning, I turned and delivered a sharp slap to her face, causing her to stagger in shock and pain.

"What the actual heck?" she cried out.

"Don't thank me, Princess, because if you ever run from me again, I will find you—and next time, I might just kill you myself."