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

casting slow-moving shad

in, but her mind refused to rest. Every muscle still buzzed with leftover adrenaline from the rogue attack. Her gaze flicked to

hung from a hook by the door. The blood on his chest had dried in a rust-brown streak that clung to the

more: the thing he fought... or h

down," Kael said

not s

e exha

m f

rough. "You don't

moment. Then: "That thing in the wood

in. "It was a rogue. Half-shi

es that

wolf who loses his bond to the moon. Or his pack. Or his mind.

And you fought it

ed you I

him. "You co

d. "I've come

"What happens if

"The Blood Alpha surfaces. And once

it-calm, honest, without melod

"So you live like this? Alone. Hunted.

h that she felt the heat of his skin. "I'm not h

"And you think you can k

ow I

n't even

n't ne

boasting. Just stating a fact. And

e space between them-frag

ened. "You still

stupid i

dn't

firepit and pulled out a small metal objec

ant?" s

-binding rune. If you wear it, no shifted creature ca

tared

ing her. He was gi

pped it over her head. The metal was warm, t

she said

small nod.

" he said again. "

d. "Where do

end of the chamber. "Over th

use o

f what's o

vity as she lay back. The furs were soft bene

up position near the door, blade across

el. And she wasn't sure if tha

ire hissed low. And sleep

rs

ing wo

ral, not human. He

at the door, unmoving. Except now-his head was bowed, his hands

p carefull

ulders

is head turne

yes g

ust a flicker of silver, like a w

air," he

owly, uncerta

come

fr

r at night. Especially near a full moon. I ca

Her heart raced. "The

breathing harder now.

of si

w, sharp bangs-echoed f

blood r

ow, his frame tremb

in the Outlands

yes went f

mber fell i

e and a strange sense of safety. The fire crackled steadily beside her, casting long shadows th

still didn't quite rest. She sat up slowly, adjusting the fur blanket he'd draped over her. Her knee ached, but Ka

it ha

shift in

toward the passageway that led to the surface,

in his eye

warn

res

st lifted a hand slightly, a

ed, heart

y down the stairwell. N

ver - was comin

ber. Then came the scent: smoke and pine and something metalli

he stepped

wo

d claws. Her eyes were pale - not silver like Kael's, but washed-out amber, like

ve. "You shoul

voice a quiet drawl. "Y

half-rising.

n't just see - it judged. "So this is her," she said. "The r

hed. "Leave her

a

dulled by use - old, hard,

. "Wait... B

idn't tell you? Interesting. You really h

incing but refusing to

theart. You

ot with aggression, but finality.

the buried. Even the Elders feel it now. You think hiding here makes you

otection," Kael sa

n is a myth, Kael. You don't even hav

say love,"

breath

tever this is," she gestured, "it's a mistake. A human? During a cursed moon? If

ask for yo

ough that Kael's eyes flashed

ed to Zara, a

than names. They smell her already. Hum

wallow

you let someone in, Kael, they buried what was lef

ell without another word, her

shaking until Kael turned

houldn't have seen you. I th

?" Zara ask

take. And a messenger, sometimes. She's not

ice was soft. "Is it dang

ked away

But then he added, "But it'

pa

id she mean..

o the fire, gripping the ston

ruling packs of the Wolfian Zone. I was meant to

ed, heart

bay... they turned on me." He looked back at her, eyes burning. "I shifted in front of the Elders. Wit

. "So they

hey tried. But I left befo

again. The fire crack

ed closer.

es fou

. "You kept me safe. You didn't let that thing near m

away, jaw

added. "But I believe y

had appeared, a breath of something fragile passed be

"There's a storm coming. And

airwell, where the shadow

is strange protector with blood o

he re

ea what she'd

t ready to st