The Luna Shield

that had never been spoken aloud. Aria inhaled deeply, letting the forest's breath fill her lungs. This place was never

ut Aria wasn't a hunter. She carried no weapon, only a small leather pouch at her waist, filled

, something inside her had shifted. A call wordless, ancient, and primal had star

st it. But tonight, t

her skin. She glanced at her palm and there it was again. That sof

an?" she whisp

All she knew was that he found her on his doorstep, wrapped in a soaked bla

stones. She'd been here before, many times, but tonight it felt unfamiliar. The air thrum

aveler. His hair was black as a starless sky, and his silver eyes reflecte

not out of fear. Not entirely. Ther

to read her soul. Then, with a voice like

ou in our

cracked. "I... I didn't know this be

ches from her face. So close, she could feel the heat

reathing deepened. Aria took a step back but stop

aws. Aria's heart pounded like a war drum.

ls flaring as he inhaled her s

.. the moon,

still sharp, but something had shifted no l

st human," he

fear that gripped her was fading replaced by something else. A strange

you?" she

e replying, "Kael Thorne. Al

gends of werewolves, of hidden clans living among hum

replied. "Ar

arching for something still hidden. Then, without a s

ody trembled. Her breath came shall

father was never around at night, always off on some vague business he r

ing in th

hunt. No meat. No skins. Only the lingeri

, read the old newspaper, and asked her how her day was going. The sk

rewood. She didn't like being out when the weather turned, but

ods, eyes scanning for dry branches. But thi

a thick patch of shrubs, she spotted them a group of men dressed like hunters, ro

tty little thing," one of them mut

uckled darkly

nsing. She stepped back slowly, but

rd us! G

an to fall, turning the ground slick. She slipped more than once but didn't st

brown hair and eyes that burned like embers. With

dropped one after another. Those still standing

and blood clinging to his coat. H

okay? I'm Rowa

a faint nod. "Thank you..." she murmured, th

. Before long, another figure emerged from the trees calm, col

here, Beta Rowan?" K

a Kael... I was just...

rcing. "Don't waste your time. Fi

hout another glance. Rowan lowered his head and

oots. Her arms were empty no firewood. Her body ached, and

sign. Just silence. She headed for the bath, ready to wash away

A

ng in. She grabbed the silver dagger hidden behind the ki

r life is truly in da

thes, eyes wild and glassy. Aria ducked behind the

he main room, she pounced, driv

kicked, bit, thrashed but they were too strong. She

he sky above, and Aria knew whatever life she had kn