Kissed by the Alpha

The first snowfall always fell gently to Elowen Woods-like a whisper over the world, like a breath before a kiss. But this time it came with teeth.

Lyra pulled the scarf tighter around her throat, her breath fogging in the chill. Snowflakes clung to her eyelashes as she struggled through the thicker and thicker shroud of white. The wicker basket next to her bumped against her hip, half-filled with frozen herbs and dried root packets she'd picked before the storm had spiraled out of control.

She'd lost the path an hour ago.

Or maybe it'd lost her.

Trees leaned in like guard sentinels, their lanky branches groaning under the weight of snow. The sky, which had been pale gray, was now bruised lavender's color. Her hands throbbed cold, even under gloves. A howl arose in the distance-long and low and dirge-like.

She froze.

Not a wolf. Nearly.

She had heard in childhood the story of this beast, this wretched creature to exist in these woods. Of a prince who had once been disobedient to the gods, transformed into a wolfish fiend to prowl the wilderness forever, fated to love and lose again and again.

Simple lies that frightened children.

And yet...

Something in the howl had wracked something in her chest. It was not lonely. It was hurting.

Lyra ran faster now, limbs cracking under her feet. Snow came up to her knees, and the wind lashed her eyes. A momentary golden flash caught her eye through the blizzard-firelight?

No. Moonlight, off something dark and enormous still and silent in the snow.