Crimson Howl: The Luna's Tale

ARD'S

ce, my knuckles had gone white, buried in the folds of my cloak, nails pressing crescent moons into my palms. On

on. Sharp. Measure

the. It pressed tighter, like th

st

on stone scraped louder in my mind than their entire discussion. Let th

cking up into my bones. I didn't feel the steps-I only heard them. A rhyth

d my ears, a ghost of laughter still caught in the folds of my hair. Spiced wine. Roa

the cloak

light and voices. Their voi

something

ry, m

dn't

ould find someone, or at least partici

eshold. My jaw tightened l

ll condescending. "I understand, elder. B

ince his wolf awakened. Twenty-one years old and still no bond. At this rate, I'd push him to choose a match-an un

cross my skin like a

t. Not one of them

a tired sigh. "Even his half-brother, Alpha of Fro

y throat, d

d over the roo

?" I asked, voice calm, too calm

stood. "Yo

end formality will erase the fact you were discu

only worry for the kingdom, Prince Bernar

?" I stepped closer. "

ir silence was lou

t for agreement." My voice dropped, heavy. "You speak of

You were never meant to c

But fate doesn't ask perm

ed-slightly

to live without one? You think I enjoy waking to cold sheets

dared

retched over the first Lycan king. My father once stood beneath t

voice cracked. "How do you expect a man to believe in fa

ed. "We lost the

ueen. I lost my parents. My brother." My thr

linche

en I returned?" I laughed bitterly. "All I heard were whispers-about my brother's unfini

ps, omegas, alliances... as though I'm some breeding s

lower this time. "We

reated me like a brother." My voice dropped. Tire

o leave, b

my father. I am not him. And I will n

er until the door sh

ce pulled memories from the wa

ders. Twenty years old. I'd give anything not to

s about mates or heirs, something sharp

rif

aside to keep this pack from fa

when it shook. No one knows how many nights I've broken down quietly

shut every do

is a disease-one I watched devour my father when he had that affair with the Frostmoon Alpha's daugh

e only one living

ther, my beast, my sha

ut the elders? They

ing again," his voice rumble

, locking the office door for

I muttered silently. "I don'

pped. "But I'm not. I'm your Lycan. I have instincts. Needs.

ue and resumed sc

ignori

wa

ittle prince trying to prove you're not sh

ut

s this about the bar girl from

. I slammed my

chool! I was being polite. She was a political pup, pa

mate, dumbass! I want joy in lif

n't r

ight, a knock echoe

sed a

ed, rattled.

already knowing the a

oon-and his Luna... they're dead. Car accident. The birt

uiet. A strange pres

" he finall

I whispered. "Arrange transp

Your M

morning, something str

I saw

her, h

and steel, sorrow and fi

side me, "Mate..

She turned, eyes swo

I wanted was to wrap her in my arms. To hold

I hea

Merlin

property. Planning her future

ld think, before

like lightning sna

arry her, Alpha

hing s

o it