The scent of roses and damp earth filled the air, mingling with the soft hum of the city beyond the glass door. The Green Haven was Alina Donovan’s sanctuary—an oasis tucked away from the chaos of Ravenshade, where the noise of the supernatural world felt distant.


    “Just a little more…” Alina murmured, coaxing the vine to twist delicately around the base of the orchid. Her fingers brushed against the smooth leaves, her magic humming softly in response. Life pulsed beneath her fingertips—gentle, vibrant, and entirely under her control.


    For now.


    She exhaled, carefully pulling her magic back before it grew too loud. The last thing she needed was to attract attention.


    No mistakes. No attention.


    That was the rule.


    The bell above the door jingled softly.


    “Be right there!” Alina called, wiping her hands on her apron as she turned to greet the customer.


    But the moment her eyes landed on the man standing in the doorway, her breath caught.


    Kaelen Wolfe.


    Oh, hell.


    His presence hit her like a tidal wave. Tall, broad, and every bit as intense as she remembered. He was dressed in worn jeans and a dark jacket that stretched across his broad shoulders, but it was the sharp edge in his golden eyes that sent a shiver down her spine. Those eyes. They were the same—fierce, guarded, and laced with the untamed energy of a wolf that was never far from the surface.


    Alina’s pulse hammered in her ears. She hadn’t seen Kaelen Wolfe in years.


    Not since Blackthorn Academy.


    Flashback: Blackthorn Academy, Seven Years Ago


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    “Eyes on your target, Donovan!” Master Hallow’s voice echoed across the training grounds.


    Alina tightened her grip on the wooden staff, her pulse quickening as she faced her opponent. Flint Calderon. A fire bender with a cocky grin and a talent for burning everything to a crisp. He circled her like a predator, flames licking at his fingertips.


    “Getting tired, Elementalist?” Flint taunted, his smirk widening.


    Alina ignored him, focusing on the energy thrumming beneath her skin. She felt the pull of the earth beneath her feet, the whisper of the wind in her ears—both eager to be called upon.


    But she didn’t want to lose control.


    “Come on, Donovan,” Flint sneered. “Show us what makes you so special.”


    A flicker of frustration flared in her chest, and before she could stop herself, her magic surged—both wind and earth responding at once.


    The ground rumbled as roots shot up from the soil, while a gust of wind knocked Flint off his feet.


    Gasps echoed from the sidelines.


    Too much.


    Alina’s heart clenched as she quickly pulled her magic back, but the damage was done. The other students murmured, eyes filled with curiosity and fear.


    All except one.


    Kaelen.


    He stood at the edge of the training circle, watching her with an unreadable expression. His group—the Silverfang heirs—stood close behind, their postures rigid, but Kaelen’s golden gaze was locked on her.


    Not with fear.


    With… something else.


    Curiosity. Recognition.


    But whatever moment passed between them was gone just as quickly.


    Kaelen turned away, rejoining his pack without another glance.


    Alina never forgot that look.


    Present Day – Ravenshade


    “Alina.”


    Her name on Kaelen’s lips pulled her back to the present, her pulse still racing.


    “Kaelen.” She tried to keep her voice steady, but the way his gaze swept over her made her skin prickle. Why was he here?


    “Long time.” His tone was gruff, but there was something beneath it—something strained.


    “Yeah,” Alina murmured, her mind racing. Why now? Why after all these years?


    “Are you—”


    The words barely left his mouth before the bell above the door chimed again.


    A tall man in a dark coat stepped inside, but Alina’s senses prickled before she even saw him. Magic. The air grew heavier, charged with something dangerous and volatile.


    Kaelen’s posture went rigid. He felt it too.


    Shit.


    Alina barely had time to react before the man pulled a blade from his coat—a rune-etched dagger that pulsed with dark energy.


    “Get down!” Kaelen’s voice was a growl, but Alina was already moving.


    The attacker lunged, and Alina’s instincts kicked in. She raised her hand, the air around her shifting as a blast of wind surged toward the man, knocking him back into a shelf of potted plants.


    Damn it.


    Her magic.


    Kaelen was beside her in an instant, his body moving with the lethal grace of a predator as he intercepted the man before he could recover. A flash of steel. The knife clattered to the ground as Kaelen pinned the attacker to the floor, his eyes flashing gold.


    “Who sent you?” Kaelen’s voice was low, deadly.


    The man’s lips curled into a twisted smile. “You’re too late.”


    Before Kaelen could react, a pulse of magic rippled through the air—a binding spell.


    “No!” Alina shouted, but it was too late.


    The spell detonated, knocking them both back.


    Aftermath: The Unseen Bond


    Alina’s ears rang as she struggled to sit up, her vision blurred. What the hell was that?


    “Alina.”


    Kaelen was beside her, his touch grounding her as she blinked through the haze. His skin was warm, his presence a steady anchor.


    But something was… wrong.


    Alina’s heart clenched as she felt it—a subtle pull, like an invisible thread connecting her to Kaelen. Her magic… entwined with his.


    “Kaelen…” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “What just happened?”


    His jaw clenched, his eyes flickering with gold.


    “We’re bonded.”