Moonbound :The Alpha's Curse

ly, the forest sighing like an old friend. For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, no chains clinked at her ankles, no eyes watched her with hatred, and no orders barked in her direction, i

cabin itself had no bed, only splintered floors and rotting furniture. She had found an old fur cloak in a chest and used it for warmth. There was no firewood, no wate

It was starvation. And worse herself. Her powers had grown unpredictable. The first time she touched the broken mirror in the cabin, it cracked in her hand without warning. Water from the stream near the

e child needed nourishment. So she clutched the sharpest broken wood she could fashion into a spear,

s scanning. A rabbit emerged from the underbrush, its ears twitching. Small, pale, unaware of her presence. Aria's hand shook around the makeshift spear. She hated the thought of killin

ayed hidden behind a tree and watched. A figure knelt beside a small fire, face hooded, body cloaked in worn leather. Their movements were slow, deliberate. They stirred a pot over the flames, pausing to sniff the air, a pause that made her freeze. Wolves could smell better than any being alive. This one was no exception, the figure stood, tilting their head. "I know you're there," a deep, calm voice said. "You've been stepping heavy for the past twenty steps."Aria cursed under her breath. Before she could run, the figure raised a hand. "

like hell,

've been through it." "

r head. "No.

ngr

The man took a ladle and scooped some soup int

said. "If I wanted you dead, I

asked, still not

h a rogue band. Got out. Too much blood,

happen to be

said, voice even.

pite herself, a tired laugh escaped her lips. Kael didn't smile, but something in his eyes softened. "I'm not your enemy," he said. "But I've s

tepped closer

ia," sh

a death sentence o

ing lik

from a man...

hesi

ot

long moment. Then he

," he said, "you

hy

ead toward the

owing your scent. And t

round, hear

. She had no strength left for a fight. Her body still ached from her last surge of power. Her stomach felt too empty, too fragile. But she couldn't run again. Not yet. Not with this man so calm, so still, as though he was waiting for something. "Why aren't you moving?" she asked. "If they find me, they'll kill me. Maybe you, too." Kael glanced up, his golden brown eyes unreadable. "Let them try." A howl split the air. Close now,Angry,Hungry. Aria's breath caught in her throat. Kael finally stood. He wasn't tall, but there was something about the way he moved, deliberate, graceful, prepared, that made him seem like someone used to being underestimated. He reached into a satchel at his side and pulled out two silver-edged blades. "You got a choice," he said to her. "Stay and stand your ground... or run and keep running until

behind her. This one didn't announce himself. He went straight for her throat. Aria turned just in time, but not fast enough. His claw grazed her shoulder, tearing into skin, she cried out and fell hard, Pain flared, and with it, the light in her blood erupted. A pulse of moon-born power exploded from her chest. The attacker was blasted backward, hitting a tree with a sickening crack..Ka