Moonlit Redemption: Chasing the Alpha's Heart

thick m

air thick with unspoken

They remained pressed aga

en of this rogue pack on th

naged; her heart pounded o

to give t

contin

utes, irritation growing

Their voices came back sh

but crystal clear in tone:

the unmistakable command

their footsteps fading as

o the for

aited u

ement disappeared into

nged stillness. Then, an

breath, sagging back ag

're g

ed, his voice

odded,

word. She could feel the

ken hold of her during th

almost had, swirl

tirred b

y free of the crevice. "

an't afford to be ca

owed him

into the early morning s

ss the plateau. The fores

away, but Kiera knew bet

re d

sked, stil

head

rian said, his voice ev

where we can lie low for a

t isn't safe

owned, n

what about them? What if

st walking

s in Adr

d out to give her shoul

t we do need to get movin

a. It's just too dangero

uld have

solution, but a resolutio

ce. She nodded, swallow

the w

upwards

l swing; the general geo

Kiera slipped on loose b

p her balance while Adria

rroundings, his body taut

of da

s if the

the weight of their histo

es when all was going righ

ne another complete. Now,

to remain was the sting of

n't make i

she star

than a whisper: "why d

? Why did you k

idn't sa

o hold onto hers. An expr

so much, held so much g

hought that I can handle

nging you into this. I wa

o

t at her

helmed her. "But we're

trust each other. How can

shuttin

stepped

low and solemn. "I know

that, I'm sorry. But I am

rust. What I do promise is

ym

ched his

s, wanting to believe hi

ld from shattered pieces

ll ever be able to trust y

ythi

slumped

nerability was written

oing to give up fighting

for you and for us u

's ch

s, her heart in battle ag

man she once loved, in th

f getting hurt again sto

said finally, flat. "

out l

odded, b

The sting in the words w

first. Everythin

ssive si

em, wordless tension carri

continued its remorsele

cky terrain; though its wa

which had seeped dee

loser

they went; thus, the for

and narrow ledges. Altitud

breath caught in gasps. Sh

austion and the doub

what f

mall plateau nestled again

the rock-a cave quite inv

on the boulder and o

aved tow

afe for now. We'll rest

t m

nodd

ollowed Adrian inside the

om the heat outside. It w

m huddled together, with

all

nk back

gainst the rough stone wal

t. In the act of such m

s of memories past, what

at besid

confusing. He said nothin

a knew his eyes were upon

see what that em

ence st

unspoken words and unre

all had gone so wrong, be

red the warmth in Adrian'

e haven once

se memo

one moment of pain because

mends with the man she lov

her in danger by

u ever

sked suddenly, the questi

d st

watched

e time. I think about w

out how I mess

throat w

de her, threatening to s

simple, when we didn't h

eaned fo

ver hers. "I miss them

we can do is go forward

hed his

ng a spark of electricity

otect herself from the hur

a longing for what they lo

heir way back-kep

ifferen

of sadness tinging her t

to the way t

clasp t

s firmer, steady, resolu

ng new, something better.

t

ks into

ht of his words. She wants

t is that fear of getting

if I am ready for th

odded kn

"I understand, not aski

to know that I'm here, y'k

w.

eyes sof

turned sober, and some la

at Kiera hadn't seen it i

ord of it, wouldn't rest u

ere too raw, the

ppre

; her voice rounded with

going to take some time

de my head, to find out what

bout an

odded on

tion crossing his face.

waiting. And in the meanti

h-toge

ve a sma

te reach her eyes. "T

gile on her tongue, like

me

in sile

s of their conversation we

thoughts was tumultuous. H

mething uncomfortably like

was ready to face trials

with Adrian. For now, th

ave to

wore on,

reprieve from the danger

rested, the other watche

the silence that lay betwe

nderstanding that battle

risoner

afternoo

shadows being cast across

her gaze out to the land

presence

ve to

t," he said, bre

rned to

out to the view outside

let out

ough his hair. "Nothing

rever. Sooner or later we

em

heart fa

ht. "You mean,

nodded

at they want, why they'r

e way to stop

shiver

ht finally hit home. It wa

their pursuers-but deep

forever. "But how are we

e or where they'

s jaw c

people who may know mor

goals. It is a risk, bu

ot

owned sl

ole idea of involving more

worse again: to keep runn

What if we aren't

s eyes

"Then we keep fighting.

her

ched his

wavering, and found determ

t of the man she'd fallen

t had happened between them

everything was that Adria

r

e,"

hard. "We go to your c

then... we will find

odded, t

his features. "Thanks,

ou, we are going to m

could

tive smile.

t at the

hile the sun swirled its

aze to them. Still danger

he first time in her memo

ey had a chance to pull t

ybe, just maybe, build som

they h

the sha

formed, in the stillness

to bring them, together th

the term could be len