Moonbound Desire

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ounding in rhythm with my rapid steps. Moonlight cut through the canopy above, casting silver streaks a

atrol had caught my scent, and if they found me, there would be no escape. My fingers tightened around the strap of my

ic tang of bloodlust. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, but shifting wasn't an option. Not n

ard, leading to a rushing river, its waters swollen from recent storms. My lungs burn

em off my trail. My boots skidded over damp rocks as I reached the riverbank, water roaring

ged from the shadows, its fur the color of midnight, eyes glowing like

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capital, not here in the depths of the Shadowfang territory. His presence

ttle wolf?" His voice was smooth, laced with danger. He stepped forward,

nce rooted me in place. The mate bond snapped taut be

n shifting. Recognition flared in h

heel, I launched myself into the river. The icy water eng

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illa and storm-churned air-a contradicti

ture. I should've expected nothing less. The rogue wolf who had elu

n made before I could react. Water swallowed her in an instant, the current tearin

pping off my jacket. The river was mercil

idn't falter. The current pulled hard, dragging me downstream, but

battling against the force of the water. But even Raine Carter couldn'

ist, hauling her against me. She thrashed, r

t her ear, my breath warm against

, eyes blazin

d in my chest. "Not a

king toward the shore. My warriors had already gathered on the

thes clinging to her body, every muscle tense with resistance. Even now, d

n triumph. "You ran long enough, Raine." My voice drop

nd something else- something deeper- flashi

idea how ri

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ronclad, his body radiating heat even as water dripped from his clothes. I wanted to

yes assessing, wary. They weren't just here to catch

"You've caused quite the chase, little wolf." His voice was q

ite the way my soaked clothes clung t

his lips. "You didn't ask to be

my throat. "You're

rs flexed around my wrist before he released me, stepping

ake the ba

, his scent marking him as Kade's Beta. "A

r left mine. "Sh

territory. There were too many eyes, too many wolves

my clenched teeth. "You do

me like I was a puzzle he int

iver down my spine. Not from fear. From some

l never accept me," I said, keeping my voice even

n't make decisions for me." His voice was quieter now, meant only for me. "And

sn't trying to drown. I

edged with something dark. "And yet,

ing his stance, watching us too closely. I couldn't

faster than I anticipated. His hand caught my thigh mid-strike, yanking me forward.

aw tightened. "You s

new. Not what I carried, not

breath came fast, my heart hammering against my ribs. Ev

se, irritation flickering i

me. I jerked away from their hands, m

ug settling in his expression. "Goo

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into place. My wolf surged forward, demanding I take her, c

r wasn't the ty

ight despite the exhaustion rolling off her. Stubborn. Reckle

disappeared beneath the current. The thought alone made my wolf restless, fu

. Raine's eyes darted around, calculating. I sa

my body blocking her path. "Try it, and I'll

stormy eyes. "I'd

lse of heat through my blood

further. She was weighing her options,

ld mount, a warrior approached. "Alpha,

ped toward h

ng one. Barely shifted. She c

ore I turned my gaze back to the wo

d. Then she masked it with an icy glare.

i

his throat. "She say

earing. Even the wind se

stif

oice drop to something only she could hear.

link. "You h

my lips. "Then it looks like

me, she was