Moonbound Desire

Raine Carter

The scent of pine and damp earth filled my lungs as I sprinted through the dense forest, my heartbeat pounding in rhythm with my rapid steps. Moonlight cut through the canopy above, casting silver streaks across my path. Twigs snapped underfoot, the cool night air stinging my skin. They were close. Too close.

A growl echoed through the trees, low and menacing. I pushed harder, my muscles screaming in protest. The Shadowfang patrol had caught my scent, and if they found me, there would be no escape. My fingers tightened around the strap of my satchel, the ancient pendant inside pressing against my ribs. If they got their hands on it, everything would be lost.

Leaves rustled behind me. The scent of wolves thickened, mixed with the unmistakable metallic tang of bloodlust. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, but shifting wasn't an option. Not now. Not when they would hear the crack of bones and the telltale glow of my transformation.

A branch snagged my sleeve, tearing fabric as I yanked free. The terrain sloped downward, leading to a rushing river, its waters swollen from recent storms. My lungs burned, but stopping meant death. A howl split the night-a signal. They knew where I was.

Panic surged through me. The river was my only chance. If I could cross it, I might throw them off my trail. My boots skidded over damp rocks as I reached the riverbank, water roaring past in a frenzied current. It would be dangerous, but not as deadly as what lurked behind me.

A deep snarl snapped my attention to the treeline. A hulking wolf emerged from the shadows, its fur the color of midnight, eyes glowing like molten gold. Alpha blood. The realization sent a shudder down my spine.

Kade Voss.

My heart slammed against my ribs. He was supposed to be miles away at the capital, not here in the depths of the Shadowfang territory. His presence changed everything. This wasn't a random patrol. They'd been hunting for me.

Kade's gaze locked onto mine, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "Running, little wolf?" His voice was smooth, laced with danger. He stepped forward, his towering frame illuminated by the moon's glow. "You can't outrun fate."

Every nerve in my body screamed to run, but his presence rooted me in place. The mate bond snapped taut between us, a chain neither of us had expected-or wanted.

Kade inhaled sharply, his expression shifting. Recognition flared in his gaze, dark and unreadable. "You."

I didn't wait for him to say anything else. Spinning on my heel, I launched myself into the river. The icy water engulfed me instantly, stealing my breath, dragging me under.

Kade Voss

Raine Carter.

The moment her scent hit me, I knew. Vanilla and storm-churned air-a contradiction as wild as the woman herself. My mate.

She stood at the edge of the river, defiant even in the face of capture. I should've expected nothing less. The rogue wolf who had eluded my patrols for years was more than just a fugitive. She was mine.

Every instinct in me demanded I claim her, but she was already moving, her decision made before I could react. Water swallowed her in an instant, the current tearing her from sight. A growl rumbled in my chest, frustration burning through my veins.

"Find her," I barked at my warriors, stripping off my jacket. The river was merciless, but she wouldn't escape me. Not now.

Diving into the frigid depths, the cold sliced through me, but I didn't falter. The current pulled hard, dragging me downstream, but my wolf sharpened my senses, guiding me toward her struggling form.

She fought the river with the same stubbornness she faced me, her limbs battling against the force of the water. But even Raine Carter couldn't win against nature. Her body jerked, submerged for a second too long.

Reaching out, I wrapped an arm around her waist, hauling her against me. She thrashed, refusing to submit even in the grip of death.

"Stop fighting," I growled against her ear, my breath warm against her freezing skin. "I've got you."

Raine twisted, eyes blazing. "Let me go."

A bitter laugh rumbled in my chest. "Not a chance, little wolf."

The river fought to tear her from my grasp, but I held on, kicking toward the shore. My warriors had already gathered on the bank, their eyes flicking between me and the woman in my arms.

The moment my feet hit solid ground, she renewed her struggle, her wet clothes clinging to her body, every muscle tense with resistance. Even now, drenched and trembling, she radiated defiance. She was beautiful. Wild. Mine.

I tightened my grip, ignoring the way my wolf howled in triumph. "You ran long enough, Raine." My voice dropped to a low growl, meant only for her. "But it's over."

Her blue-gray eyes locked onto mine, fury and something else- something deeper- flashing in their depths. "It will never be over."

She had no idea how right she was.

Raine Carter

My body trembled with cold, but the fire in my veins burned hotter. Kade's grip was ironclad, his body radiating heat even as water dripped from his clothes. I wanted to claw at him, to break free and disappear into the night, but his strength was absolute.

Shadowfang warriors circled us like vultures, their eyes assessing, wary. They weren't just here to catch a rogue; they were waiting for their Alpha's command.

Kade's golden gaze locked onto mine, unreadable yet intense. "You've caused quite the chase, little wolf." His voice was quiet, but the weight of authority pressed down like a mountain.

I set my jaw, refusing to shiver despite the way my soaked clothes clung to my skin. "I didn't ask to be hunted."

A slow, humorless smirk touched his lips. "You didn't ask to be my mate either. But here we are."

A snarl curled in my throat. "You're no mate of mine."

Something dangerous flickered in his expression. His fingers flexed around my wrist before he released me, stepping back just enough to let me think I had room to run. A test.

I didn't take the bait. Not yet.

A broad-shouldered warrior stepped forward, his scent marking him as Kade's Beta. "Alpha, what do you want us to do with her?"

Kade's gaze never left mine. "She comes with us."

My pulse spiked. No. I couldn't go back to Shadowfang territory. There were too many eyes, too many wolves who would tear me apart if they knew what I carried.

I forced a breath through my clenched teeth. "You don't want me in your pack."

Kade tilted his head, studying me like I was a puzzle he intended to solve. "Oh, but I do."

Something about the way he said it sent a shiver down my spine. Not from fear. From something much worse-something I refused to name.

I needed to turn this in my favor. "Your pack will never accept me," I said, keeping my voice even. "I'm a rogue. A traitor, according to your laws."

He stepped closer, the heat of his body cutting through the cold. "My pack doesn't make decisions for me." His voice was quieter now, meant only for me. "And I don't take orders from a woman who just tried to drown herself to escape me."

My teeth clenched. "I wasn't trying to drown. I was trying to get away."

His smirk returned, slower this time, edged with something dark. "And yet, you're right back where you belong."

A flicker of movement caught my eye-a warrior shifting his stance, watching us too closely. I couldn't let them take me back. Not when I had come this far.

Without warning, I lashed out. My knee shot up, aiming for Kade's ribs, but he moved faster than I anticipated. His hand caught my thigh mid-strike, yanking me forward. The next second, I was against his chest, his scent wrapping around me like a snare.

A slow inhale. His jaw tightened. "You smell like moonfire."

Panic spiked through me. He knew. Not what I carried, not yet, but he sensed something.

I shoved against his chest. This time, he let me go. My breath came fast, my heart hammering against my ribs. Every warrior around us was watching, their eyes unreadable.

Kade exhaled through his nose, irritation flickering in his gaze. "We leave now."

Two warriors stepped forward to grab me. I jerked away from their hands, my voice sharp. "I can walk on my own."

Kade's smirk deepened, something smug settling in his expression. "Good. Then try to keep up, little wolf."

Kade Voss

The moment Raine's scent hit me, something inside me snapped into place. My wolf surged forward, demanding I take her, claim her, bind her to me so no one else could ever touch her.

But Raine Carter wasn't the type to be tamed.

She walked ahead now, stiff with defiance, her shoulders straight despite the exhaustion rolling off her. Stubborn. Reckless. And completely unaware of the battle she had just started.

The river had nearly taken her. If I had been a second slower, she would've disappeared beneath the current. The thought alone made my wolf restless, furious. No one else was allowed to take her from me. Not the river. Not fate.

We reached the clearing where our horses waited. Raine's eyes darted around, calculating. I saw the exact moment she considered bolting again.

I was in front of her before she could move, my body blocking her path. "Try it, and I'll throw you over my horse like a sack of grain."

Fire flashed in her stormy eyes. "I'd like to see you try."

The challenge sent a slow pulse of heat through my blood. "Careful what you wish for."

Her nostrils flared, but she didn't push further. She was weighing her options, deciding whether to fight or play along.

I reached for my reins, but before I could mount, a warrior approached. "Alpha, we caught another rogue near the border."

My head snapped toward him. "Another?"

The warrior hesitated. "A young one. Barely shifted. She claims she's looking for Raine."

A growl rumbled low in my chest before I turned my gaze back to the woman in question. "Care to explain?"

Raine's face paled, but only for a second. Then she masked it with an icy glare. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Liar.

The warrior cleared his throat. "She says she's her sister."

Silence fell over the clearing. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

Raine stiffened.

I took a slow step toward her, letting my voice drop to something only she could hear. "You've been keeping secrets, little wolf."

She didn't blink. "You have no idea."

A slow smile stretched across my lips. "Then it looks like we have a lot to talk about."

And this time, she wasn't running.