Moonborn: Rise of the Wolfless Luna

rozen in the circle, her chest rising and falling with angry breaths, her unfinished shift flickering in and out of her skin. Bella, meanwhile, wavered on her feet. Every muscle in her body ac

and carry her away from this madness. But the way Bella stood-swaying but steady, fragile but unyie

ou yiel

he sounded hesitant. His eyes darted toward Lydia's

lood from her lip

"N

sn't loud, bu

again. Lydia smirked, rolling her shoulders a

t's finis

Bella ducked under, narrowly missing the strike. She moved by instinct now, every dodge and stumble guided not by skill but by something stirring deeper inside her. The

u li

uscle and bone. Bella tried to roll away but L

hard, the air rushi

ay d

ring over her. "Yo

ever be o

going to let her decide what you are? Bella's fingers dug into the dirt. No. She pushed herself to her knees. Her hair clu

d your permiss

ady. Lydia snarled and lunged aga

ear it all-the simmering discontent, the doubt spreading like wildfire. "End this," Elder Thomas muttered under his breath to Marcus, but Alfred caught it. His wolf snarled in his chest. They weren't just testing Bella. They were testing him. In the circle, Bella staggered again. Her lungs burned, her vision blurred at the edges. But she refused to fall. Every taunt from Roland, every cold stare from the elders, every cruel word that had ever branded her as less fueled her legs to move. Stand, the voice inside her urged. Stand, because you are mine. Her heartbeat thundered. A warmth spread from her chest to her veins, flooding her arms, her legs, her bones. For a

won't s

nvisible hands guided her. She dodged Lydia's swipe, countered with an elbow to her ribs, and when Lydia stumbled, Bella seized her chance

g up again, her fury boil

give in. She lunged again, claws flashing. But Bella caught her wrist mid-air. And this time, when their eyes locked, Bella's go

"Did you se

power-what

ed ou

demand answers, but all he could do was watch. Lydia, breathing hard, tried to wrench f

you yi

o chaos. Cheers, shouts, arguments, disbelief. Some wolves bowed their heads in respect to Bella, others sneered in outrage. But no one could deny what they had just witnessed. Bella released Lydia, lettin

lenge has

ugh the words burned his tongue-"

hing Bella just as her body swayed. She collapsed into his arms, her eyes fluttering shut, exhaustion overtaking her.

ught carved itself into his mi

Far stronger. And if the elders had been afraid of her b