Moonbound Vengeance

ter Aria had known. Not because of the weather,spring had alrea

her chest. She had once imagined waking after her shift feeling stronger, more alive,maybe sore, but glowing with pride.

ad turned its

nly one who h

didn't know who

Behind Cl

d walked her home in tense silence, her father's ste

could hear them speak

saying, voice trembling. "Some wolves

and tight: "She's seve

t say

being re

osed he

their disappointme

s Dis

rm rolls from her mother's bakery in her hands.

hing sweet," she said, setting

she'd been curled benea

silence hun

she offered. "I mean, maybe your wolf's just shy. Yo

or the attempt. But something i

it p

e

side her like they used to and plan out their futures. But i

ama needs help

er throat thic

had once promised to be her Bet

's G

come the

he s

e path that led from the Alpha's house to the villa

truth wa

ad fa

Alpha, could not affor

und him in the woods, just beyond the clearing where the ceremony had taken pl

ed into t

ad sna

cond, neither

ike a breath caught bet

u were avoiding me,

s eyes didn't meet hers. "N

ftly. "Right.

linc

is," he said, stepping closer.

inished for him, her voice sh

sted. "That's n

you're thinking

ten in every line of his face. His hand hovered like he w

he d

ldn

ut you, Ari

ied, taking a step back. "

ime he looked at her wi

n, Kael became the

me the girl

ck Tur

ay when she passed,averting their gaze, unsure of how to ac

e weeks, the whispers returned

a lia

gerous. A

lf, no

was no longer invited to spar. No one wanted to risk bein

omeone muttered o

uch the water," a

urse, bloomed

st him with practiced flirtation. Her wolf,an

elena would say sweetly. "But we c

ne's

the current Luna, never sp

glance, every turned back, every whis

se than the

in how to hold her chin high like a Luna should. She had once tol

uldn't even

of everything,status,

nce seemed so clear were b

reams

er shift was supposed to happen. She would kneel

mistake. Let me feel

on was alw

visiting a

Brea

me sl

sinking int

ach moment of silence from Kael, each awkward half-smile from Lila, e

ke up and didn't recogniz

s were

lders, s

ice, q

till wore her training clothes, even though no one would train with

was disa

e seemed