I'M NOT A WOLF/ THE MOON PRINCE'S HUMAN MATE

ness of the forest and the crisp scent of dew. Birds chirped lazily above, shaking

shes flut

r like a punch-Kael's kiss, her fear, the collapsing pain, the cold dirt beneath h

s moved - an

ocused on the small pan over a fire. A slab of meat crackled against it. His dark hair hung loose around his jawlin

ed her

g, he spoke-lo

n to scare yo

the pain in her leg. "You didn'

red over the pan for a bre

thing I do." He finally turned, eyes shadowed with something sharp

a wolf," she murmured again, barely louder than the rustle of leaves. "

kno

hing a frightened deer. But he stopped a g

again. Not near

"You can just

tly. "But I'll fight

tched between them - not empty,

irst. "What is this pla

smoke curling upward into the sky. "This is the Outlands. Border

dry laugh

r from home. Too far to go back alone.

him. "Why do

fire. He plated the meat with care, using a torn leaf to hold it. The

ifted the moment I saw you.

the food slowly. Her fingers brushed his

her, watching the forest instead of her. She coul

ara," she sa

d faintly.

ed her he

it in yo

y. "So... what now? You're just going to

lves out here that don't listen to reason. Packs that

hroat ti

hidden. You can rest, think, and decide if you want to stay until the

id silver in the sunlight. Her heart twisted with conf

st you," she

kno

on't want to

, a small, crooked grin tugged

limped a little toward him. He moved forward quickly

h conviction, "I won't hurt you. Not in wolf form, not as a

rching for a lie. But Kael's

," she w

w trail veiled by thick branches and roots. "C

ing blue, Zara took her first step deeper into a world she never meant to enter

spering trees. Zara followed behind him carefully, wincing with every step on her

-hanging branches. The forest was denser here. Shadows clung to the trunks. The

so... quiet

ck. "Because the wo

a f

teady but low. "Don't panic

Steel. There was something ancient in the way he moved-like he w

r mile, the

arp and bone-deep. Then another,

arrowing. "They're

was tight.

front of her. "But those who know my sce

f they

idn't

s rustling-fast, h

owled-not shifted, not yet, but his voice dro

ent burst from

oo long, eyes bloodshot with hunger, teeth too wide

a snarl of movement. They crashed to the ground, and Kael's hands-still human-found the creature's throat. A

lapsed, gaspi

ed like war drums.

arms, a red line down his cheek.

d in a daze

And darker. But Kael n

urs that felt like d

ruin-but Kael walked to it like it was home. He brushed his hand against a hidden panel of

e said, glan

well, then back at him.

s sa

he followed

on the floor, shelves lined with herbs and weapons. A fire flickered in a

his eyes softening a

, Zara. No one gets

, wrapping her ar

I'll stitch your knee. And... if you

rn he wouldn't shift near her again. Who killed to prote

n on the fu

ide her. "This

does," she

idn't flinch. His hands were steady. Gent

at I expected,

ok up. "Neit

reathing outside the walls, Zara realized something t

of

toni

tte

jah Ok

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