ya

olden Alpha eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in fury. But I didn't stay to see the fallout. I t

adows across the training grounds. He came up behind me, his familiar scent of pine and winter air wrappi

st time, he felt the icy wall I had erected between us. Our mate bond, wh

began, his

aid, my own

al voices a confusing mix of birthday congratulations and awkward pity. "Happy birthday, Luna." "Ar

n entered, already dressed in his leather tunic for the day's duties. He looked at

is tone casual, as if last night had

My voice was flat, devoid of all emoti

fore he masked it with his usual indifference. "I've already had the steward deliver this y

a shattered soul. My mocking gaze seemed to unnerve him, striking a ch

aking on the edge of the Alpha's Command, a tone meant to brook no argument. "

t, a fire destroyed Fiona's family castle. Her parents died protecting her, and the trauma supposedly left her wol

ved in the Moon Goddess's plan. I had accepted our bonding ceremony, thinking

nown then what I know now, I would have run from this castle and never looked back. The pain of rejec