The MoonBound

was coming. Leora pulled her coat tighter around her shoulders, t

at moment with Kael. Her heart was still in a whirlwind, and no amount of ti

thinking about him

r the past few days. Every time she saw him, heard

her breath caught in her throat. The connection was

nt as ever, his emotions locked away behind

n't underst

any indication of returning her feelings? He had bee

cared in the same way. Did he even understand the bond? Did he feel it t

e forest, the familiar trails underfoot offering a moment of

the dense canopy above, casting long, dappled

, a reminder of how small and fragile she felt

e usual path. She had spent countless hours in th

eace. Her thoughts were too loud, her emotions too raw. S

she wasn't sure she wanted to feel. Yet, no matter how muc

er in with each passing moment. The idea of being his mate terrified

t didn't want to fight the bond anymore. It was like a quiet wh

he embrace something that

among the trees ahead of her. It wasn't until the rustle o

t pounding in her chest as s

. Liam. His hands were raised in a peaceful

asked, his voice w

m in. "What are you doing out here?" she asked, her voice ed

ask you the same thing. The pack's been looking

, brushing past him. "I

as he studied her. "Air, huh? Funny, you look like

nergy to spar with him. But Liam, as always, refused to

ve been different lately. Quie

away from him, the mention of Kael

king about," she said, though

't think I notice? The way you look at him? Like you're trying to

her ears. "That's not true," she

ath. His usual easygoing demeanor was gone,

e looks at you too, Leora. Not often, and not in a way

ill pond. "He doesn't," she said, shaking her head. "Kael doesn't car

he doesn't feel anything. He's had to be strong for everyone else, and maybe that's made him forget how to be vul

why does he push me away? Why does he make me fe

doesn't know how to handle it. You think this is easy for him? You t

e didn't want to believe Liam's words, didn't want to hope fo

e way his words resonated-made

o wait for Kael to figure things out. It doesn't mean you have to let his walls stop you

gaze, the sincerity in his eyes

alone in this, that Kael felt even a fraction of what she d

hispered, the vulnerability in

e enough, Leora. You always have been. T

for a moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of Lia

ve all the answers, and she wasn't sure what the future wou

her uncertain but no longer as daunting. The bond might have brought her and

she felt ready to