Moon's Beloved

The air in the parking lot grew heavy as the sharp clack of heels echoed against the concrete. Kairan's body went rigid, tension coiling in his muscles like a snake ready to strike. Serin turned to the source of the interruption, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

A woman emerged from the shadows, her elegance undeniable. She was draped in a form-fitting, silk outfit that screamed wealth and power. Her dark eyes sparkled with malice, and her perfectly styled hair framed a face that seemed carved from ice. She was the embodiment of controlled fury, but the venom in her tone was anything but restrained.

"Demek hâlâ o eski canavarsın" So you're still the monster you once were. the woman repeated her words in Turkish, her voice cutting through the parking lot's stillness like a whip.

Kairan froze, the rage simmering beneath his skin barely contained. Despite his stillness, the shift in his demeanor was palpable. He exuded danger, an alpha teetering on the edge of control.

Serin stepped closer to him instinctively, her own protectiveness flaring. "And who the hell are you?" she asked, her voice cold.

The woman smirked, ignoring Serin entirely as her gaze bore into Kairan. "Ah, sweet Kairan. You've certainly grown, but you're still just as reckless, aren't you?"

"Ne istiyorsun, Hala?" (What the fuck do you want, Aunt?) Kairan asked, his voice low and measured, though the undertone of anger was unmistakable.

The woman...his aunt, tilted her head, the picture of mock innocence. "Your father is back. He demands your presence immediately. And, of course, I volunteered to deliver the message. Who else would inform him of your latest… transgressions?" Her eyes flitted to Zade's lifeless body, and her lips curled in mock disgust.

Serin's fists clenched at her sides. "Transgressions?" she repeated, her voice icy. "That man tried to kidnap me. Kairan protected me."

The aunt finally deigned to look at Serin, her expression dripping with disdain. "Ah, and this must be the mate everyone's talking about. Quite the spitfire, aren't you? How quaint."

Serin took a step forward, but Kairan caught her wrist, holding her back. "Don't," he murmured softly, though his eyes never left his aunt.

"Listen to him, little girl," the aunt sneered. "You don't want to tangle with me."

Kairan's grip on Serin tightened ever so slightly. "I asked you a question. Why are you really here?" His voice was sharper now, a blade honed on years of suppressed anger.

His aunt's smile widened. "Because someone has to keep you in line. You've been a thorn in this family's side for far too long. And now, you've gone and killed someone. Again." Her voice dropped, dripping with mock sympathy. "How very like you."

Kairan's composure cracked for a split second. "If you're trying to provoke me, Hala, you'll find I'm not as easy to manipulate as I was before."

"Oh, Kairan," she said with a laugh, her tone mocking. "This isn't about manipulation. It's about control. You think you've built a little empire for yourself, but you'll always be under his thumb. Just like your mother."

The mention of his mother hit a nerve, and Kairan's voice dropped to a dangerous growl. "You don't get to speak about her."

"Touchy, aren't we?" she said, unfazed. "But fine. I'll leave you to clean up your mess. Just remember, your father is waiting. And if you don't show up…" She glanced meaningfully at Serin. "Well, let's just say you're not the only one who can play dirty."

The moment she left, the tension in the parking lot remained thick. Kairan didn't move, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

"Kairan," Serin said softly, stepping in front of him.

He finally looked at her, his blue eyes clouded with turmoil. "I didn't want you to see this," he admitted, his voice rough.

"I don't care about that," she said firmly, cupping his face with her hands. "What does she mean, Kairan? What aren't you telling me?"

He hesitated, his jaw tightening. "My father… he's not just cruel. He's dangerous. He's spent years trying to control me, and now that I've defied him, he's using every resource to pull me back. And my aunt? She's his weapon. She thrives on chaos."

Serin's eyes softened, but her resolve only hardened. "We'll deal with them. Together."

"You don't understand, Serin," he said, his voice breaking slightly. "If he finds a way to hurt you—"

"He won't," she interrupted, her voice steady. "Because I'm not some fragile little flower, Kairan. And neither are you. We're stronger than him."

Her words broke through his fear, and he pulled her into a fierce embrace. "Sana zarar gelirse yaşayamam" I couldn't live if you were hurt. he whispered into her hair.

"And I couldn't live if I let you fight this alone," she replied, tightening her arms around him.

_

_

As they returned home, the weight of the parking lot confrontation still hung heavily in the air. Serin sat on the plush sofa in the living room, her brown eyes watching Kairan with concern as he paced back and forth. His usually composed demeanor was fractured, and the tension in his frame was palpable.

"Kairan" she said softly, her voice coaxing.

He stopped abruptly, his back to her. "Do you want to know why I hate them?" he asked, his voice low, almost a growl.

Serin hesitated for only a moment before replying, "Yes. Tell me."

Kairan turned to face her, his jaw tight, his blue eyes stormy with emotions he rarely let anyone see. He raked a hand through his hair and sat down beside her, though the space between them seemed deliberate, as if he was afraid to be too close.

"When I was soon turning nine...." he began, his voice brittle, "my father sent me to Turkey to stay with my aunt's family for the summer. I didn't want to go, but he insisted, saying it was 'to learn discipline.'"He scoffed bitterly.

Serin remained silent, her gaze unwavering.

"At first, it wasn't too bad. My aunt acted like she cared, always doting on me in front of others. But her daughter, Aylin…" He paused, his fists clenching. "She was 18, practically an adult. And she—"

His voice cracked, and Serin instinctively reached for his hand, her fingers lacing through his. "Kairan, you don't have to_"

"No, I do" he interrupted, his tone firm. "She took an interest in me. At first, I didn't understand. I thought she was just being nice. But then, one night…" His voice faltered, and he closed his eyes tightly, as if trying to block out the memory.

Serin's heart ached as she watched him struggle.

"She tried to assault me" he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was just a kid, Serin. I didn't know what to do. I froze. But Hades… my wolf… he didn't freeze. He took over and killed her. Tore her apart."

Serin inhaled sharply, her grip on his hand tightening.

"When they found us, I was covered in blood. My aunt screamed, accusing me of being a monster. And my father… he believed her. He didn't even ask what happened. He just looked at me like I was some cursed thing and sent me away. My mother begged him not to, but he didn't care."

Kairan's voice grew colder, the bitterness seeping into every word. "That's why I ended up in the Magic Kingdom. That's why I became the way I am. Because they made me believe I was broken. A twisted, dangerous freak."

"Kairan…" Serin whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

He turned to her, his expression unreadable. "They didn't break me, though. They just made me stronger. I promised myself I'd come back and take everything from them. And I will. But my father and aunt… they're half the reason I am who I am."

Serin reached up, cupping his face with both hands. "You're not a monster, Kairan. You're a survivor. And you're not alone anymore. I'm here with you, no matter what."

For a moment, He saw the sux year old girl clinging to his feet smiling and his icy façade cracked. He leaned into her touch, his forehead resting against hers. "I don't deserve you" he murmured.

"Yes, you do" she said fiercely. "You deserve everything good in this world, and I'm not going anywhere."

Kairan let out a shaky breath, pulling her into his arms as if she were the anchor keeping him grounded. For the first time in years, he allowed himself to feel something other than anger for that harsh memory. With Serin by his side, maybe....just maybe....he could finally heal.