LUNAR RECKONING

th a spell, a commitment. She remained there, in the shadow of the trees right outside the limit of the pack's property, like she'd constantly b

high alert. All that about her felt off-base

her voice delicate, like velvet-b

plied, my voice hars

ll, knowing smile. "I'm someone who can h

mind, constantly shifting, reeling from the power I had no control over. If she c

g a step back, eyes darting to the trees around

ing my words. "Oh, but you are," she sa

id it, a thread of certaint

ue lineage. I can help you unlock your power,

ouncing around like an unwelcome guest.

answers are buried deep, hidden from you, and only I can show you where the

tide. I felt it in my bones, that strange, magnetic pull. I could almost taste th

he rogue werewolf in the forest, the darkness closing in. An

whisper, but I didn't wait for her response befor

e whispering through my mind like a song I couldn't forget. I fought the temptation, my thoughts tugging in all dire

esence was heavy. His silence, as

said without preamble, his voice

the guilt still prickled. "I ran in

freezing any further thoughts I might have had about Morgana. "Sh

ons. "I need help, Grayson. I can't control what's happening to

ing, but he held it back. His fists balled at his sides, but when he spoke again

reath. The thought of Morgana's power, her certainty about

the fireplace, my thoughts still

His gaze was kind, always kind, and it made the confusion in

aid, the words tumbling ou

, his brow furrowing. "I've heard of her," he said. "She's... com

ers. "But she said she could help me-help me control my powers. I do

lone, Eve. The pack-me-we can help you. You don't n

m now, a quiet warning. He wasn't wrong. But Morgana's

ieve anymore," I whispere

shadowy figure appearing out of the

haven't you?" His voice, always

me," I muttered, the knot of confus

" His eyes, dark and wild, flicked toward the trees. "Morgana is playing yo

eyes. I didn't need his opinion. "You don't unde

oying with everyone else. Morgana manipulates people, Eve. She pulls on your weaknesses, makes yo

wed me something," I said, voice barely above a whisper. "A vision. O

curling into a frown. "That's

washing over me. "I saw myself, standing on top of the worl

t before he spoke, his voice low

It feels... right, but it also feels wrong. Like

r than this, Evelyn. You can make your own path. You don't need Morgana, and

g unreadable. "I don't know who to trust anym

dn't get Morgana's offer out of my mind, but Grayson's warnings echoed in my ears, and Liam's steady presence felt like a lifeline. And then there

ill, feeling more remarkable than I had at any point envisioned. It consumed to me like a fire I was unable to quench, an

it may, a

the heaviness of her commitment weighty in the air between us, t

ed, her voice velvet-smooth, as though she could reco

bit, then, at that poi

the grin of somebody who needed to help. It wa

oded inside me, a fire that consumed my veins. Also, at that time, I understo

murmured, stepping back

y knew -it was too late. Morga