Bound By The Moon: The Eternal Bond - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Alpha Valen pov
I stood on the edge of my balcony, the cool night air brushing against my skin as I stared out at the vast expanse of my estate. The moon, high and full, illuminated the sprawling grounds below, but its light did little to ease the storm brewing inside me.
The ache in my chest never faded. My mate—my destined partner—was out there somewhere, and every day without her was a day I felt incomplete. But tonight, it wasn’t just her absence weighing on me.
The Alpha King. Damon. His shadow loomed over everything.
I gripped the railing, my claws threatening to emerge as my wolf growled in frustration. Damon called himself the Alpha King, the leader of all alphas, but to me, he was nothing more than a tyrant. His rule promoted division and suffering, enforcing an apartheid-like system where only the strong thrived while the weak were crushed beneath his heel.
It sickened me.
But the root of my hatred for Damon ran deeper than his oppressive rule. My father’s death had been shrouded in mystery, and every instinct I had told me Damon was somehow involved.
I closed my eyes, the memory of that day flooding my mind like a nightmare I couldn’t escape.
I had been twenty, barely stepping into my role as the pack’s future alpha. My father, Alpha Renan, was a respected leader, known for his fairness and strength. He had always been vocal about his opposition to Damon’s ways, refusing to submit to the so-called Alpha King.
One night, he didn’t come home.
I had led the search party myself, my wolf howling with dread as we scoured the forest. It wasn’t until dawn that we found him—lifeless, slumped against a tree in a clearing. His eyes were open, staring at nothing, and there wasn’t a single mark on his body.
No blood. No wounds. No signs of a struggle.
The pack’s healer said his heart had simply stopped, but I didn’t believe it. My father had been in perfect health, his strength unmatched. Alphas didn’t just die. Not like that.
The clearing reeked of something unnatural, a faint trace of magic that made my wolf snarl in anger. Damon had the resources, the connections, and the motive to orchestrate something like this. But without proof, I couldn’t act.
The memory of my father’s lifeless body haunted me every day. His death had thrust me into the role of alpha far earlier than I was prepared for, but I had vowed to lead with the same integrity he had.
And to find the truth.
I opened my eyes, my claws retracting as I forced myself to focus. The past couldn’t be changed, but the future was still mine to shape.
A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Enter,” I called, my voice sharp.
Ryker stepped in, his expression grave but steady. My beta had been my closest confidant since we were pups, and he understood the burdens I carried better than anyone.
“Alpha,” he began, bowing slightly before closing the door. “I have news.”
“Let me guess,” I said, turning to face him. “More of Damon’s chaos?”
Ryker nodded. “The Alpha King has sent his enforcers to the southern territories. They’re pushing out smaller packs, claiming it’s for ‘order and security,’ but we both know what that really means. If we don’t act soon—”
“I know,” I interrupted, my voice low but filled with restrained anger. “Damon’s greed has no s. He won’t stop until he controls every inch of the kingdom. But we can’t act without a plan. Defying him openly would put everyone here at risk.”
Ryker hesitated, his loyalty evident in the way he carefully chose his next words. “There’s another matter I need to bring to your attention.”
I raised an eyebrow, silently urging him to continue.
“The students at Full Moon College are reopening their library. They’ve invited you as the guest of honor.”
I scoffed, turning back to the balcony. “I don’t have time for meaningless events. Tell them to send someone else.”
“Alpha,” Ryker pressed, his voice firm but respectful. “This could be an opportunity—a chance to find your mate.”
I froze. My wolf stirred, its restless pacing replaced by sharp anticipation.
“You’ve said it yourself,” Ryker continued. “You’ll search every corner of this world to find her. The college will be packed with people from all over. Who’s to say she won’t be there?”
His words hit harder than I wanted to admit. My mate’s absence was a constant void in my life, but the possibility of finding her was enough to stoke the faint embers of hope in my chest.
“And,” Ryker added, his tone measured, “it’s a chance to gather allies. Damon’s influence hasn’t reached everyone yet. The college is a neutral ground, a place where you can strengthen your ties with others who share your views.”
I clenched my fists, the frustration of my situation warring with the faint flicker of hope. Finally, I sighed, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. “Fine. I’ll go. But only for a short time. If this is a waste, you’ll answer for it, Ryker.”
Ryker smirked, his confidence irritating but strangely reassuring. “Understood, Alpha. But I have a feeling this won’t be a waste.”
As he left the room, I turned back to the balcony. My wolf stirred restlessly, its golden eyes gleaming with anticipation. The library reopening was nothing more than a social obligation to most. But for me, it was more than that.
It was a chance. A chance to find my mate, to gather allies, and to uncover the truth about my father’s death.
Damon’s reign wouldn’t last forever. I would make sure of it.
Thank you for reading this chapter! What do you think about Alpha Valen’s mysterious past and his rivalry with the Alpha King? Do you think he’ll find his mate at the library event?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Don’t forget to hit the ⭐ if you’re enjoying the story—it means so much to me! Stay tuned for the next chapter where secrets might begin to unravel…