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 theer 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