"Howling Hearts: When Hunters Love the Beast"

en – Moonli

ing into the rustle of sleeping bags and zipped tents. But a few students still lingered,

couldn

their walk, the way his gaze lingered not just on her face but into her,

hoodie zipped up to her chin,

the sky. His jacket hung loosely from his shoulders, sleeves pushed back. He didn't l

ep either?

quiet. Like I'm waiting for

m. "Or something

ng silver shadows across the camp. It made everything feel softer, more intimat

voice rough around the edges. "He left when I was a kid. D

urned to

he left, but because of what he left in me. There's something I can't explain

d gently touched his ha

she said. "You're s

what I'm suppo

ming you. Th

with tension. But it wasn't the dangerous kin

htly-his hand brushing her

fall apart, would

dn't h

es

t-gentle, exploratory, aching with everything

t like

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k to a tree, sketchbook in his lap. He wasn't dra

efoot, her flannel wrappe

?" she asked, cro

," he said. "I was t

beside him.

it 'discipline,' but it always felt like fear. Like she

tly. "Do you think she k

g something. And I t

while, then laid her

said. "Of what's com

ead against hers.

him, eyes soft. "Saf

thing in him eased. "Then ma

_____________

found herself unable to

w Selene returning from the woods. Their eyes met across

without a word and

lk for a long

to be someone," Amara said eventua

ybe who we're meant to be isn't deci

oked. And Selene's expression-usual

chest ache,

me?" Amara a

n't hesita

hing inside Amara settle. Like a th

didn'

t

each other, fingers in

re intimate tha

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ke a slow breath-sh

at the edge of the forest, low to the ground,

t wasn't

about

g it would ha

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