Claimed Beneath the Blood moon

Inside the ancient stone walls, however, tension crackled like dry wood waiting for a spark. The full moon was three nights away, and with it came the mating ceremony that would

nape of her neck, strands escaping like rebellious threads she had no time to tame. The woolen dress she wore was patched at the knees and wrists, once a deep green but now faded to the color of ol

gh table. Her arms ached from the weight, but she kept her steps even, her gaze fixed on the flagstones. S

rely, his face a map of old scars and older grudges. Beside him sat Clara, radiant in a gown of midnight blue velvet embroidered with silver thread. The sacred crescent moon birthmark on her left collarbone glowed softly beneath the

e. Tall enough that even seated he seemed to dominate the space, shoulders broad beneath dark leather armor edged in wolf pelt, hair the color of raven wings falling loose past his collar. His face was sharp ang

back into the shadows. But the conversation pulled her to a halt behind the heavy tapestry that se

ce rough with satisfaction. "Clara carries the mark. The Moon Goddess herself

rites demand a claiming before the true bond. Blood and seed under the moon's peak to awaken t

urrowed. "You w

e ritual impregnation. Satisfy the requirement. Then discard her once Clara is bound to me. No one w

tray tilt in her hands. A goblet shifted, clinking softly a

d strained. "Father, please. Ashl

s to serve this house. If the ritual requires it, sh

es seemed to pierce straight through the fabric, locking onto hers. Ashl

ry hit her face like a slap when she burst through the door. She set the tray down har

ody to fulfill an ancient custom, fill her with his seed under the moon's watchful eye, then cast her aside like soiled linen once Clara was safely claimed. And Clara... gentle Clara, who had once slipped warm broth to Ashley when fever wracke

ed into fists. No. Sh

cloaks torn in hunts, swallowing every insult because survival demanded silence. But this was di

her sister, then Ashley would stand. Even if it meant bari

crunched b

sp

rk wings in the wind. Moonlight carved his features into stark relief, turning those

aid. The words we

e the tremor in her limbs. "I was delive

ing too cold to be called

: pine smoke, iron, and something primal that made her skin prickle and her blood heat

His voice dropped to a growl that vibrat

e desperation for wea

the way his pupils dilated slightly as he studied her. His gaze traced her face

rmured, almost as though spe

of liquid fire. Her breath hitched. Her heart slammed against her ribs in a rhythm tha

d, fingers hovering near her cheek. When they brushed her skin, the contact seared. A jolt rac

his hand back as though

did not ask

A connection forged by the Moon Goddess herself, unbreakable, undeniable. Between th

eed. She wanted to reach for him, to bury her hands in that dark hair, to taste

ck. His chest rose and fell

racked on t

erything," Ash

hing in those gray depths. Then he turned sharply and strode

she barely felt it. Loyalty to Clara burned bright in her chest. The pull toward Damie

remained unti

eavesdropping had awa

nd that should n

girl without a mark,

erved the crown and the ki

al alpha who was never s

rrying her quiet

let him dest