Chapter 1: Blood and Howls

The air was thick with the stench of iron and sweat, the howl of the wind mixing with the fierce roars of battle. The land between the Kingdom of Wolves and the Night Realm was soaked in blood—both human and beast. The moon, full and glowing, illuminated the battlefield, casting eerie shadows as warriors clashed. At the front of the battle was Princess Selene of the Wolf Kingdom, her golden eyes gleaming under the moonlight. She was a fierce, ruthless warrior, her long, silver hair tied tightly behind her head. Clad in leather armor, her twin blades glinted in the moonlight as she sliced through the enemies that dared stand before her.

Her warriors, the Lupine Guard, moved swiftly at her command, their connection to the wolves within them allowing them to shift at will. Half-human, half-beast, they were a fearsome force, and Selene, with her unmatched skills in battle, was their rightful leader.

Selene slashed through another enemy soldier, her face expressionless, her heart focused only on the battle at hand. She was the Wolf Princess, and her people depended on her. For years, the wolves had been at war with the Night Realm. The Night King and his son, Prince Kael, had sent their shadowy forces to invade the wolves' lands, driving them into this endless conflict.

She had heard tales of the prince—Kael, the ruler of shadows, whose dark magic could shroud the battlefield in impenetrable darkness. The stories spoke of his cold heart, his ruthless tactics. Selene had never met him, but she knew enough. He was her enemy, and that was all that mattered.

At the same time, across the battlefield, Prince Kael watched the battle unfold from the ridge above, his eyes glowing with an unnatural light. Clad in black armor, he was the embodiment of the night itself. His face was chiseled and calm, but his eyes were sharp, calculating. He observed everything—the way the wolves moved in unison, the precision with which they attacked, and the way they retreated only to strike again.

Kael lifted his hand, and from his palm, tendrils of shadow extended, wrapping around the legs of an enemy soldier. With a flick of his wrist, the soldier was dragged into the abyss, lost to the darkness. He was untouchable in his element, using the very night to command the battlefield.

But even as he surveyed the battle, his thoughts lingered on the one enemy who had managed to evade his forces for years—Princess Selene. He had never faced her directly, but he had seen her handiwork on the battlefield. He had heard the legends of the Wolf Princess—of her strength, her speed, her wildness. She was a warrior, through and through, a leader of beasts.

And though he would never admit it, he was curious about her.

A cry from his soldiers drew Kael's attention back to the battle below. The Wolf Kingdom was pushing his forces back, Selene leading the charge. She was moving with brutal efficiency, her twin blades spinning in deadly arcs. Kael clenched his fists, the darkness around him swirling in response.

“Enough,” he muttered to himself. With a surge of power, he extended his arms, sending waves of darkness crashing onto the battlefield. The night itself seemed to respond to his command, shadows spreading like a suffocating blanket. His soldiers rallied behind the wave of darkness, their weapons cutting through the fog with newfound strength.

But Selene was not deterred. She could feel the dark magic creeping toward her, threatening to engulf her and her warriors. She snarled, a low growl rumbling from her chest, and summoned the power of the wolf within her. With a howl, she shifted, her body growing larger, more beast than human. Her fur bristled as she threw herself into the shadows, her claws tearing through the darkness. Her Lupine Guard followed suit, their howls echoing across the battlefield.

Despite the shadows closing in, Selene pushed forward, refusing to be defeated. She would die before she let the Night Realm claim her land.

From the ridge, Kael's eyes narrowed as he saw the wolf-like figure tear through his dark magic. He had expected her to be strong, but this... this was something else. She was a force of nature, her strength fueled by the full moon above.

For a brief moment, their eyes met across the battlefield—Selene, wild and feral, and Kael, calm and composed. It was only a glance, but it was enough. Kael felt something stir deep within him, a curiosity that he couldn’t quite place. But he quickly shoved the thought aside. She was the enemy. And this was war.

As the battle raged on, the two leaders fought with all the power they could muster. But no matter how fierce their hatred, they were evenly matched. The battle ended in a stalemate, both sides retreating under the blood-red sky.

Back in the Wolf Kingdom, Selene paced in her war chamber, her frustration evident. The war seemed never-ending, and her people were growing weary. She wanted to strike directly at the Night Realm, to end this once and for all. But her advisors had other plans.

“Your Highness,” her chief advisor said, stepping forward. “There is another way. The Night King has sent a message. He proposes a... solution.”

Selene's eyes narrowed. “What kind of solution?”

“A marriage,” the advisor said quietly. “Between you and Prince Kael.”

The room fell silent, the words hanging in the air like a death sentence. Selene’s heart pounded in her chest, her fists clenched at her sides.

“Never,” she snarled.

But deep down, she knew this war couldn’t go on forever.

Chapter 2: Unwanted Proposal

Selene stared at the council of elders in stunned silence. The weight of the advisor’s words pressed down on her, suffocating her in a way no battle ever had. Marriage to the prince of the Night Realm? The very thought of it made her stomach churn. The man was nothing but shadows and darkness, everything the wolves had fought against for centuries.

Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword, still strapped to her side, as if it could somehow give her the strength to resist what was being asked of her. The elders around her stood still, their eyes locked on her, waiting for her response.

“You can’t be serious,” she growled, her voice low and dangerous. “You expect me to marry him? After everything his people have done?”

The head advisor, an older man with a long gray beard and fur-lined robes, took a step forward. His face was lined with age, and though he was a man of peace, there was no softness in his eyes. He had seen too much war. “We don’t expect this of you lightly, Princess Selene,” he said gravely. “But the Wolf Kingdom cannot continue to bleed. We have lost too many warriors. The people are suffering. This marriage... it could end the war.”

Selene slammed her fist onto the long table in front of her, the wood splintering under the force of her blow. “End the war? By binding me to that creature of shadows? He is no ally. He is the enemy. And I will not be used as a pawn in this—”

“This is not a request, Selene,” the advisor interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. “The king has spoken. If we do not agree to the marriage, the Night Realm will strike again, and I fear this time we will not be able to hold them off. We cannot afford more losses. We must think of the people.”

Selene’s chest heaved with rage, but deep down, she knew the advisor was right. Her people had been pushed to the brink, their resources stretched thin. As much as she wanted to tear through the Night Realm and bring Kael to his knees in battle, she knew that her kingdom wouldn’t survive another prolonged war. The wolves were strong, but even they had limits.

She turned away from the table, her hands clenched into fists at her sides as she stared out the large windows overlooking the vast forest that surrounded the Wolf Kingdom. The moon was high, casting a silver glow over the trees, and she could feel its pull deep within her, urging her to shift, to let the beast inside her take control. But even that wouldn’t change the reality of the situation.

A marriage to Prince Kael would end the bloodshed. But at what cost?

Selene closed her eyes, her heart heavy with the burden of her people’s fate. She had always been a warrior first, fighting for her kingdom with tooth and claw.

But this… this was not the kind of battle she had prepared for.

“I am a warrior,” Selene whispered, almost to herself. “Not a bride.”

“You are both,” the advisor said, stepping closer, his voice softer now. “A leader must make sacrifices, sometimes of the heart, for the greater good. We know this is not what you want, but it may be the only way to save the kingdom. Think of your people. Think of the future.”

Selene let out a long breath, her shoulders sagging slightly. The fight drained from her, though the anger still simmered under the surface. She didn’t want this. Everything in her rebelled against it. But she couldn’t deny the truth staring her in the face. The Kingdom of Wolves couldn’t survive another war. Her people were weary. If a marriage could secure peace, could she really refuse?

Turning back to face the council, her eyes hard but resigned, she spoke. “Fine. I’ll do it. I’ll marry him.”

The silence that followed was heavy with relief. The advisor gave her a solemn nod, but Selene saw the flicker of gratitude in his eyes. “Thank you, Princess. You’ve made the right choice.”

But Selene wasn’t so sure.

Days later, in the grand halls of the Night Realm, Prince Kael stood before his father, the Night King, his jaw tight, his fists clenched. The room was bathed in shadows, the dark stone walls seeming to breathe with the magic that flowed through the very foundation of the kingdom. The Night King, a tall, imposing figure with eyes as cold as the darkest void, watched his son carefully.

“I’m not marrying her,” Kael said, his voice low and filled with venom.

The Night King raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by his son’s defiance. “You don’t have a choice.”

Kael turned sharply, his long black cloak swirling behind him as he paced the length of the chamber. “I’ve fought her people for years. They’re nothing but beasts. Savages. I won’t bind myself to one of them.”

“You will,” the Night King said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “We have been at war for too long. Our people are tired. The shadows whisper of dissent, Kael. This marriage will bring peace. It will unite the realms.”

Kael’s chest tightened with frustration. He had always been a dutiful son, always followed his father’s commands. But this—this was too much. He had seen the Wolf Princess on the battlefield. She was fierce, wild, and unrelenting, everything he had been taught to hate. To marry her felt like a betrayal to everything he stood for.

“She’s a beast,” Kael spat, his dark eyes glowing with anger. “A creature of the wild. You expect me to share a bed with her?”

The Night King’s lips curled into a cold smile. “She is a warrior, just as you are. And perhaps that is exactly why this will work. You will respect each other’s strength.”

Kael scoffed, but he knew his father was right, at least in part. He had never respected weakness, and Princess Selene was far from weak. Still, the idea of marriage, of being tied to someone who represented everything he had fought against, twisted his gut.

“I don’t have to like this,” Kael muttered.

“No,” his father said, his voice softening slightly. “But you must do it. For the realm. For the people.”

Kael’s jaw clenched, the weight of duty pressing down on him as it always had. He hated the wolves. He hated everything they stood for. But he couldn’t deny the truth in his father’s words. The Night Realm had suffered losses just as the wolves had. They couldn’t afford to keep fighting. Not like this.

With a final growl of frustration, Kael turned back to his father. “Fine. I’ll marry her. But don’t expect me to be happy about it.”

The Night King’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Good. The wedding will be arranged immediately.”

Chapter 3: Chains of Duty

The days leading up to the wedding were filled with tension and reluctance on both sides. Neither Selene nor Kael wanted this marriage, but duty bound them both. Messages were exchanged, emissaries sent back and forth between the kingdoms, and preparations were made for a grand ceremony that would mark the end of centuries of bloodshed.

In the Wolf Kingdom, Selene trained harder than ever, trying to lose herself in the familiar rhythm of battle practice. She sparred with her warriors, her blades flashing in the morning light, her body moving with the grace and ferocity of a predator. But no matter how hard she fought, she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that lingered in the pit of her stomach.

This was not the life she had envisioned for herself. She had always imagined leading her people into battle, earning victory with her own strength and skill. She had never pictured herself in a gown, standing beside an enemy prince, exchanging vows for the sake of politics.

One afternoon, as she wiped the sweat from her brow, her closest friend and fellow warrior, Lyra, approached her. Lyra was one of the few people Selene truly trusted, and her presence was a welcome comfort in these uncertain times.

“You’re brooding,” Lyra said, handing Selene a waterskin.

Selene took a long drink, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “You’d be brooding too if you were in my position.”

Lyra smirked. “True. But I can’t say I’m envious of you. Marrying the Prince of Shadows? I’d rather face an army of night creatures alone.”

Selene let out a bitter laugh. “It might be the same thing.”

Lyra’s expression softened, and she placed a hand on Selene’s shoulder. “You don’t have to like him. But if this marriage brings peace, maybe it’s worth it.”

Selene sighed, her frustration momentarily giving way to weariness. “I know. I just… I don’t trust him, Lyra. He’s cold, calculating. He’s everything we’ve fought against.”

“And yet,” Lyra said with a knowing look, “he probably feels the same way about you.”

Selene’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t argue. She knew Lyra was right. Kael likely hated this as much as she did.

Meanwhile, in the Night Realm, Kael stood in his private chambers, staring out at the darkened sky. The shadows that surrounded him seemed to pulse with his emotions, feeding off his frustration and resentment. He had always been at peace with the darkness, but now it felt like a burden.

The idea of marrying Selene gnawed at him. She was a wild thing, untamed and fierce. He had seen the way she fought on the battlefield, the way her warriors followed her with absolute loyalty. There was no doubt she was a formidable leader, but she was also his enemy.

And soon, she would be his wife.

Kael’s fingers drummed against the stone windowsill as his thoughts drifted. He wasn’t naive. He knew this marriage wasn’t about love—it was about politics, about survival. But that didn’t make it any easier to accept. He was a prince of the Night Realm, master of shadows, and yet here he was, being forced into a union with a woman who despised him as much as he despised her.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. It was his most trusted advisor, Darion, entering the room with a respectful bow. “The preparations are almost complete, Your Highness. The Wolf Kingdom will arrive by tomorrow’s nightfall.”

Kael nodded, his expression unreadable. “So, it’s happening.”

“Yes,” Darion confirmed. “The ceremony will be held at the Dark Temple, as per tradition.”

Kael let out a slow breath, his mind still whirling with thoughts of Selene. “She won’t be easy to control,” he muttered. “She’s too wild.”

Darion chuckled softly. “Perhaps that’s exactly what you need, my prince. Someone to challenge you.”

Kael shot him a sharp look but didn’t respond. He didn’t need a challenge. He needed peace. But deep down, he couldn’t deny the flicker of curiosity that had started to grow within him, a small ember that refused to be extinguished.

Tomorrow, he would meet her.

And tomorrow, their fates would be sealed.