MARKED BY THE MOONFIRE

had been waiting for this moment her entire life-waiting for the one who was meant to be her mate, the man whose scent would fill her lungs and whose touch would ignite something deep

ring amongst themselves. The moonlight cast long shadows, creating a

there

adows, his powerful presence immediately commanding attention. His dark hair fell in waves, framing his sharp, chiseled face. Ar

ection that would draw them together in an overwhelmi

ing almost foreign-disinterest, perhaps? Or was it... disgust? Aria's heart stuttered in

it before. The words felt like a slap in the face, though t

felt like an eternity. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, but she brus

oftly, her voice trembling despite

s softened, but it was only for a second-long enough to give her a f

ds coming out like a blade cutting t

t. "What are you talking about?" Her voice was barely ab

s cold and final. "I've felt it for a w

dn't process them. Her mouth went dry, and her vision blurred as she struggled to breathe. The ground beneath her feet s

for him, her fingers tremblin

irm. "I can't force something that isn't

pread through her chest, making it hard to think, hard to move. She could feel her wolf inside her, ho

bly say? What could she do when the one person she had trusted her ent

ore. "I'm sorry, Aria. I truly am. But this

ss. She was numb, her heart shattered into jagged pieces. The mate bond-the one that was supposed to be

with pity, others with indifference. Their gazes pierced through her like sharp arrows. She couldn't bear to look at an

d to g