fortress that felt more like a watchtower than a home. From up there, the pack looked li

awl its way across the morning sky. Fog still blanketed the trees below, curling like ghost

way from Aria in the woods, so

Moon Goddess herself. The moment he'd met her eyes under the lantern-lit sky, he'd

e been simple

again,

th two steaming mugs in hand. He looked every inch the wolf he was-grayin

offered mug.

Girl looks like you c

idn't

n silence for a moment.

es

nd

slowly. "I

n eyebrow. "Foo

lexed. "I'm

re you up here alone when your mate is down t

. "She didn't do

y push h

e my r

"You're just like your mother, you kno

fli

rarely sp

all. "You were ten when she left. Do you rememb

idn't

But I love myself more.' Then sh

ling harder, the mug

't hate her? But she was honest. She knew she couldn't be who I

e out tight. "Wh

e letting your fear stop you from having something real. Don't confuse protect

him, words caug

rne added. "If you're smar

ind her filled with practice daggers. The air was warmer now, sun breaking through the m

rejection or the whispers that followed her everyw

t even a

ally think sh

s. The Moon Goddess ma

rough the lies and assumptions. But instea

alled. Selene jogged over,

y?" Sele

a dry smile.

Still breathing. N

eah. I'

ome on. Let's spar. You look like you're two

field, where the grass grew tall a

ger. "Did you know?" she

ked. "About

ut Kael'

y what I told you. She lef

d of being

ad. "Or of becoming

softly. Aria's movements were shar

to do?" Selene ask

anding a tap on Selene's sho

ed. "That's

led into night, Kael st

eart beating far too fast. He'd practiced what he would say. Rehearsed it. Scrap

d a hand

ned before h

essed in a loose tun

been pacing for an h

er to

ed aside.

ire crackled softly. Herbs hung from the

the door, arms cr

n explanatio

ebrow. "You owe m

ded. "

wa

what it meant. My mother left because she couldn't handle being Luna. My fath

ting me would protect

es

g me was better than

ght I was broken. Th

de what I deserve, Kael. You're not broken.

d. "I don't know

ered. "But maybe... we ca

y looked. At the fire in her

opped h

hen their eyes met, the bond pulsed

to run anymo

y," she w

d