Moon's Wrath

oom smelled

. Her ceremonial cloak-torn at the edges, spattered with blood-hung from her shoulders like a mockery. The weig

ch when they ca

n the council dema

y looke

mate. Her king

rs like it was made for him. His eyes-once soft with promises and

e devoid of regret. "You no longer

owerless against the bonds of the council's decree. She could tear the

chosen powe

ck had fol

like glass cracking under pressure. "You made me

"You were... until yo

for her. Not even her own blood. They watched, hollow-eyed, as

longer thei

the bles

ger hi

fted her chin. Pride wouldn't save

and dangerous. "You may have taken my crown

her back on the court-and

r body trembled from exhaustion, but she didn't stop. Couldn't. Wolves who were exiled

t floor, breath ragged, her wolf howling deep insid

idn't open. The

still br

ce, a presence stirred. Som

chi

----

t had tur

days-bloodied, hunted by nightmares she couldn't outrun. She didn't know

've made he

did

breath fogging in the cold. The world tilted-then darken

th

ot

ching snow. Not rushed.

ld returning in piec

d

or. His scent hit her before the details did-pine, smoke, storm. Alpha. Stro

eel, unreadable. His presence was cold. Dominant. Icy enough to mak

not

eding," he

two words, like he couldn't decide wh

ne muttered, voi

're

shed her jaw. He stilled. For a second, she thought he'd apol

iled like he'

aled remnants of a mate mark. Something shif

ses

wasn't denial. It was d

to stand

Then lifted her like she weighed nothing

napped, squirmi

did

ttle wolf," he said coldly. "Whether

't want

not one alr

lly not

idn't care wha

---

n heat and si

the wild

mth across stone walls. Furs blanketed her, thick and soft, and

didn't bel

wrapped around every inch

pain-and found her limbs trembling from

sa

escent

not

everything expensive. Strength in simplicity. And on a chair near the

th

ent

to his elbows, arms cut with sinew and power. Row

lled the room b

sp. Controlled. But watching her like a

ed her eyes.

ho

ve left me i

ust heat in his eyes that hadn't

eath c

ulsing, unfamiliar. His eyes raked her face, not lewdly, but intently, like he w

hy are you lookin

t be mine," he said,

inked."Ex

ontinued, jaw tight.

e." Her voice tremb

d to the mark on her neck

know it's

pacing once-his movements too fluid, too da

cold. "But I've never had a bond flare like th

hispered, like she co

n't been able to think straight since I touched you. Why I've wa

imself. Bit

t was

i

olf wasn't recoiling. It was pa

e. His hands flexed at his sides like he

tightly. "You'll need you

n't tru

n't wa

reamed truths neither of