RISE OF THE LUNA

ing. I'd been summoned after dusk, a folded note slipped under the door of the linen closet where I'd

it wa

I

owed Damon S

-small, spiteful, aching-ne

e enough to feel the weight of Silver Hollow pressing in on all sides. Moonlight broke thr

n when I step

n't s

ood there like ghos

ice cut the

u c

question. It

d. "You su

etrayed him. He looked tired. Not physically. Not in the way warrior

ucked behind the cold s

we speak where no o

sn't enough?" I said, sharper than I

d. "That wasn't

e in front of t

oice low. "I did

him. "Then w

en, and it wasn't

ach

lve. A puzzle that didn't fit into t

to reject

lin

. Or maybe it was just some

nt me t

es

se you

er. Which was

nce, hollow

blue. "You think I'm enjoying this? You think I haven't tor

en

t supposed to be

t held it

kept going, words tumbling out like p

y decision I've made, every sacrifice-it was all for th

ask for th

should've walked away

lk away from the bond. You know

oked

rt more tha

who I wanted to be. But I didn't make this choice. Neither did

't know how they look at you now? How they talk? The

ou should've stood by me instea

us, and for once, Dam

through the trees. Somewhere

aid finally. "I'm trying to s

e sparing

-sharp, furious. "You th

ing closer. "You want me to be the one who breaks it. You want me to be the

derstand what

explai

he d

e he c

wasn't about str

as f

, ruthless warrior, powe

e me. Afraid of what the others would say. Afraid to ad

as tired of

o it," I s

darkene

e words. Sever the bond. Look me in the eye

ed away

ost l

my wolf

stepped

very inch of him

just shy of

ween us hum-torn, f

aid. And for the first time,

it softened s

at I still

a whisper. "You've alread

, he let the wall fall. I saw it then-th

id, voice hoarse. "I hear you in my dreams. Ev

d my eyes. I refus

them. Not from the weight of what being mine wo

ned hi

with something danger

ve better

hat I bel

im for be

I took h

but didn't

en I s

nox, reject

nched. My wo

breath

wasn't

mate. And I release you from what t

est wen

ond s

ing pulled

breaking und

k a step. Cold

didn't

me like I'd

e I

d asked

Luna you want," I

dn't

urn

me, he didn

clearing, from the man

dn't

ached the edge

as sure he co

sob that broke free

as r

the Moon

Dam

mys

beneath the ache, so

ee

Hollow.

nd was

hat remai

ui

unbr