reaks of gold, but it did nothing to chase the weight pressing on my chest. Every glance at the mark on

me silently, always nearby, his eyes calculating, steady. I could feel the pride and approval in his gaze, but my heart was e

se. Every time I closed my eyes, every time I tried to meditate or connect with the Moon, his image surged f

d day, the v

s. A scent on the wind, faint but unmistakable. Then it escalated. At night, I would awaken to the s

. I thought perhaps the Moon w

tether me to him, was amplifying every thread of life I had touched in the moment of danger. T

e pack slept soundly, unaware of the turmoil roiling beneath my calm exterior. Even Dariu

ce whispered.

in. I hear it in the way you move-your wolf. She's rest

uch to reveal. "I... I do

im

tted, voice barely audible.

idened. "Lyra

s like he's inside me. The Moon-something a

closer. "You need

e doesn't know, and if he did-if anyone di

Then be careful. Wolves can sense more than you t

. The silver moon bathed the trees, illuminating every leaf and shad

l, not a memory, not a dream. He stood across a clearing, his eyes bright against

as a

step was a pulse of fear and longing, my wolf urgi

," I br

It was a mix of relief, disbelief, and something else... s

id, voice low. "I didn

d no clear reason why. "You...

ng. The rogue pack I was running from... th

y wolf beneath the sk

id, taking a step back

inst his chest. "No one can find out," I wh

ow sound that spoke of both surrender and trust. "Alright," he said.

. "I und

abandoned shelters. Each time we stopped, the pull between us grew stronger-an undeniable magnetic tension that made every h

cause of the Moon. Impossible because I was

sible didn't m

ainting the forest gold and silver, Kieran looked at me,

he said softly. "I've ne

be Luna," I whispered. "I'm supposed to... b

ecause you choose it. And right now... right here... you're saving me. Th

ted to stay, to fall into him, to ignore everything else,

, like love, is