The Rogue Alpha's Refuge

e touch didn't

ed to clean this mess," he said, his smooth voice b

only then spotting the shattered porc

er instincts pushing

ke of his head and assured

e accepted, though it w

and gently pulled m

feel the weight of his gaze o

like thorns. It was irrational, I knew

e didn't go after him maliciously, nor did

laid eyes on me. There was somethi

ush, I tried to

him once she found

ache in my chest. Didn't undo t

always c

t an afte

and the bitterness cur

only person the Moon Godde

attention in our home. I once told mys

ed her-not cruelly, not overtly-but with a kin

everything

mbled. Effortlessly magnetic

was quiet. People surrounded her

t being future Luna, the one everyo

he Luna's old

Talia-th

was

, I loved

od in our veins, but we walked differ

. She had always been kind to me,

as. It came naturally to her. She wasn't

ting her i

to her. It sounded ridiculous, bein

strength and grace I

of a kind-ju

diant-just

d was someo

he Moon h

meant to

time, jealousy sha

ies they had carved together, the ones they wer

uled or cast aside, but sometimes I w

elt something from the pa

ther loved nor hat

n. Un

mong my o

ulder, a quiet flush

the kitchen floor, frozen mid-motion, hi

Searching. My heart thudd

re Talia tugged again, pulling

d by a mounted flatscreen TV and three

chairs was alr

my father called out, r

barricaded yourself in your

as if we

wer

he seat opposite him. Our relation

eetings or interfere with the Duskwind cou

olitude, especially when it meant

s against tile br

ll tied snugly around her waist, speaking

s the girl I left behin

t about us. Not about the mate bond that had s

n she r

and a grin stretching

, navy-blue gift box in her hands

n and me," she sai

the gift into my lap, her eyes

r, Ronan ent

ed to l

oul

at him-into those deep, w

ght to Talia, maybe sit b

he d

ently against the door

t, the tight sleeves straining

ulse quicken. It felt like a punishment

e. I didn't know whether to open it or t

ll couldn