Hearts bound by Moon

bite or rash. But when she finally gave up on sleep and dragged herself out of bed, what she saw in the mirror made her heart skip.Right over her collarbone, just where her skin met the edge of

't or wouldn't it. And just like that, things between them changed.Kael became more distant. He didn't meet her eyes when they crossed paths. He threw himself into training, into planning, into anything that let him avoid being near her for too long. Luna didn't understand why he was acting like it was a curse instead of something important. Something beautiful.She had so many questions, but no answers.She barely had time to think about it before the attack happened.The rogue wolves struck just before dusk. It started with a howl on the wind-long, deep, and wrong. Then the sentries at the border raised the alarm, and everything went into motion.Kael was shouting orders, organizing defenses, and Luna found herself shoved into a group of younger fighters, clutching a blade she barely knew how to use. "This is real," she thought. "This is actually happening." Her heart thundered as the rogues broke through the treeline. They moved fast-lean and scarred, teeth bared and snarling. Chaos exploded around her. People shouting, growling, metal clashing. Luna tried to remember what Kael had taught her, but everything became instinct.One of the rogues lunged for her. She barely dodged, slicing its shoulder before it could tear into her. She stumbled, caught her balance, and then swung again, her blade connecting this time. It wasn't clean. It wasn't pretty. But it worked.Something inside her rose up. Not rage-something older. Deeper. She could feel the Moonmark burning on her skin, hot with power, like it was awake. Luna fought with everything she had.When the dust settled, the pack had managed to hold their ground. Several were injured, some badly, but no one had died. The