The Alpha's Forgotten Bride

ky bl

dipped behind the pines, the moon rose-dark, swollen, and crimson. Its

oak flapping in the wind. Her golden eyes reflected the b

r nights

e buzzed with preparations-wards were being carved into the ear

thed the knot tighte

p in her so

dn't just awak

waken some

sure in

palpable. Maps lay spread before them, showing the borders of the ancient woods, old escap

ar the Blackfang border. "Shadow Hunters travel with scent

ed. "Then they're te

. "They're not just

ked. "What

hatever it is that binds Kaelen and me-it's

estroy the bond, they des

tronger, Alpha. But some of the warriors worry. They say

s eyes

enough,"

had notic

flashes of red in his silver eyes. The haunted way h

stronger, Kaelen'

entirely und

rn of th

f the sacred grove-a glade where moonflowers

found someo

sted root. Her eyes gleamed like molten ru

. "You're not

. "No. But once,

step back. "

Heir to the Red Wolf line. And once, you ca

unded. "I don't

with a sad smile. "But

epped

eckoning. You weren't just Moonborne, Lyra. You were cho

wned. "T

sleeps now, but soon, the moon will rise fully-and it will open. W

caught. "Wha

ce dropped t

beast insi

ghtmar

, Lyra dre

life. This fire was cold-burning in

d. His beast form-his wolf-melted away, leaving something monstrous in its

ached

he t

ttack

in a sweat

was glowing again, this tim

nd threw o

eded a

acle's

her, they descended into the crystal caverns beneath the temple, where a sacred

. "Ask it only what

ed before

t I was," sh

rface

ing on a cliff under a moonless sky. Beside her knel

ised a

d it into

en r

ky cr

arth

back, tears bu

she whispered. "To seal

s the gate's lock. Your blood was the key. That's why they n

. "But if I don't awake

s is the choice no o

Tu

elen didn't come

himself in the

loor, shaking violently. His back was drenc

she knelt

bared-but stoppe

ered-silver to

anymore," he gasped.

ce. "You need me.

The closer we get, the stronger th

won

emember now, Lyra. I remember the deal. You g

fr

r full power..." he whis

or

ath the moonlight in the ce

e had g

se. Magic hung in the

even Isolde

ched last, wearing the cerem

ore each other

ning your blood tonight, the bond will be reforged. Memori

ne was

"If we do this... th

ook a

epped

"I remember the fire. I remembe

as placed i

ut he

Kae

in a shared chal

her collar

apped back

it came

Ly

len

ng in agony as a ripple of

al had

t inside him

Contin