ELARA AND THE MOONLIGHT REDEMPTION

owing ghost-light over everything. The place reeks of old power: gnarly trunks, bark gashed up from who-knows-what, branches moaning like they're bored or just want to tell you to shov

s the battered wood a soft sort of glow-almost makes the whole place look cozy, if you ignore the way the shadows gather underneath the eave

er an ugly, silvery scar on her wrist-a little habit, like reminding herself that yeah, it happened, and yeah, she's still alive. That scar's not just a scratch; it's history. Four years back, the pack ditched her like garbage. The words are still burned into her br

not hunting. Soft hands when everyone else went for claws. Pack didn't care that fixing broken

once, before life stomped on her dreams. Twenty-four, and already she's rebuilt her world out here on the edge, scrap by scrap. That rickety cottage isn't much on the outside, but inside, hell, it's magic. Her l

Ago: The Re

one cared. Her pack, you know, people she'd grown up with, looked at her like something sticky on their shoes. Friends, family, all of them stone-faced. A

ot some daycare. You're not worthy of the bloodline." Ouch. The crowd muttered, but God, nobody stuck up for her. Not her parents, solidly pretending

e managed, "But I can- I

ice, "Enough!" He glared like he co

ors us. From now on, you're nothing to this p

ion, of course, required extra cruelty. Dominic came over, grabbed her wrist way too tight, and with one s

r arm, scalding, and the shame felt even hotter. But when she looked up, she caught Lira's

ut she said it anyway: "I'm with Elara."

squeezed. Together, without looking back, they just walked. Out into the dark, away from home and everything they ever

er Th

across the old wood floor. Elara, camped out by the hearth, was grinding herbs. Back and forth, thump-thump, totally lost in the groove. Honestly

t let's not kid ourselves-she didn't miss much. Elara j

About

hing, maybe? Or nothing. It's been four years, Lira

s place? The clinic, your life-that's yours. No one can snatch that away." Elara tried a smile. "Yeah, but y

"Then let's just be louder. We'll drow

g on fire with your brooding," Lira joked, flashing that crooked grin. Suddenly, everything felt lighter. They finished prepping their little herbal witchery, elbows bum

covery

a's head jerked up, ears praying for another hint. The woods had their normal song: leaves rustling, some tin

her like a magnet. She dodged brambles at the edge of her land, heart whamming, and-yikes-there it was. A wolf, big as a small horse, tangled up in thorns. Bloody, ragged, gorgeous in a tragic way. Wou

ilver, way too clever. That look?

y old wolf either-Kae

lackthorn pack-that lot with claws always out for her people in Wolf's Hollow. Whole areas acted like just whispering his name might drag him out of the shadows or something. C

t just... what the hell? This shouldn't be happening. Her instincts scrambled all over the place. Enemy-big red, flashing warning sign. The kind of enemy he

copper in the air. Chest rising and falling, barely hanging in there. She stepped in closer, kind of on autopilot. Bloody gash on the side, fresh claw rakes tear

ed a joke? Her healer's heart screamed at her to do something, but h

d, cautious but not backing off. The uni

managed, though inside she felt like lo

ke she'd touched a live wi

han she meant), eyes locked on the guy who could

terror-as she reached for him. Probably the stupidest, bravest move she'd ever make, but she knew it'd reshape her world. And all she could