Moonlight Serenades

rembling hands. My breath hitched as my eyes traced the inked word

able, destined by the Moon Goddess herself. Once the bond i

lurred. My

ake her place through deception and dark magic. If the Alpha

e

always

t

t was. Pain was all i could feel. Somethin

breathy laugh echoed behind me. "You s

d in my grip, the ink bleeding into my

y voice cracked, ba

l she was close enough that I could feel he

e dripping with amusement.

awled down

ice caught as she

surprise. "No, darling. I si

sting jagged shadows on the walls. The ai

e truth settled deep in

before I even k

the parchment, glowing at m

s to claim. He has alwa

Before everythin

rd. Not just because he was covered in dirt and blood, or because his shir

in love, even when I know it's not mine to have. The man who feels like home, but I'll alwa

never

it

out colder t

, dropping into the chair l

be gentle w

oring the way the nicknam

else." I grabbed a cloth, dipping i

t in the corner of the class, just so I could stare at him when he wasn't l

e became w

I prayed, he was

." He

reached forward and yank

his deep bruises. Still, everythin

ntion deprived way. I f

without carrying his pain too. He bleeds, and though my skin remains untouched

r his ribs. My fingers hovered close enough to feel the warm

et today,"

look up.

foc

d. But you're usually

. Because he noticed. Because he alway

ou how annoying you are

" He grinn

nd I wasn't his to pull. The realization hit me harder than it should have. Harder than it ever

t was

keep going. One cut, one brui

a mission today? I could've gone with you." Th

didn't

find him watching me. His eye

g at?" I asked, my voic

ng heavy. Something I didn't understand. He tilted hi

e beau

ped br

uti

ed something deep and aching inside me. But it did. And then-j

paintings might weep..

d into something hot and furious. I

hat was

I snapped my med kit

st shattered something inside me. Like he

of the room, grinning like he hadn't just rip

n't a

his was m

ting him consume me piece by piece-

t path leading away from the pack house. The scent of pine and damp earth clung to the

er his chest, the moonlight catching on his

ot going to make some stupid joke about

xed ahead. "I thought about it. But then I figu

. "Smart

oments like this. Moments where we just existed next to each other, where I could pretend, even for a second, that noth

"You were reckless today, you know. If you died, I would have ha

uckle. "Who says I'm no

is arm with my elbow. He

a moment just a little longer but

ped, stumbling back, knees hitting the dirt. The w

tri

re else. Lying down. A soft, warm surface beneath me. Fingers brushing

n. C

clo

m spice and cedarwood. Familia

it too,

ghosting over my lips. I could feel his warmth, the weight of his presence p

new

new

o distant to recognize. Distant in a way some

member but didn't. His fingers sl

oing to

, Astrid. And yo

new this moment. I ha

n't

ent, the touch, the voice-gone. I

, my body trembling,

firm on my arms, his voice sharp with conce

was