MOON'S REBELLION

g atmosphere inside. The excited chatter of the pack still echoed in my ears, a continued weight on my sh

mated to Axel, bound to him for life as the future alpha female of the Silver Crest pack. It was everythin

d and found Maya, from whose warm brown eyes deep concer

sort to deceive her even for a second. "I'm fine," I lied, t

nto her arms, inhaling her familiar scent of herbs and forest.

red, her fingers running soothingly th

uldn't be," I said, frustration creeping into my voice. "I've known this

plied, her voice ba

hat kind of future alpha am I, if I

the type who thinks for herself," she said with conviction. "The

ow voice sliced through t

balcony. His big, towering figure seemed to fill up the space, and

r," I greeted, my voice coo

ntently. "Your father wants to speak to u

fore her nod. "Of course, she said, her hand squeezing min

hand cupped my cheek, but instead of tender, it was possessive. "You ready for this,

contents without turnin

dered if he was going to kiss me. Instead he pressed his forehead to mine, that old fa

ull away. "Yes," I agreed, the word tast

n weighed heavy in my chest, the feeling that I was being walked to my cage. The cheers and

ow. I would find a way to be the alpha my pack needed but I wouldn't lose myself along the way. Somehow, I had to f

ans that would shatter everything I thought

haze. And by the time I could finally escape to my quarters, I had been drained, sucked dry of who I wa

earth, but tonight it smothered me. I wanted to scream, to howl, to let out all the confusion and

ed my eyes hastily and composed myself. "Come in," I

e door noiselessly behind her. She took one look at my fac

t, the dam burst. I wept onto her shoul

idn't utter the usual empty platitudes nor told me everything would be a

rtified. "I'm sorry," I said, wiping my eyes. "

oad.html when dis

aid firmly. "You're allowed to have feelings, Lyra. You're allowed to be sca

ot human, am I? Not fully. I'm a werewo

interrupting me. "And that matt

-a subtle change in the air between us, charged with something I couldn't name-fu

pocket and pulled out a little, anciently looking amulet. "Here," she said, p

the intricate symbols etched

epidation. "It's a key," she spoke, her voice

the emotional turmoil in my head. "My true

exts, the ones even the elders have forgotten. There are prophecies, Lyra. Of a leade

reeling. "And you

't be easy. You are going to face challenges, choices which will tr

ally. A part of me wanted to reject it, cling to the familiar path laid out before me

I do?" I

"For now? Keep it close. And when the time comes

et

d the night air. We both froze, inst

et

I hadn't heard that howl in years, not since sh

nly taut. "Go," she urged. "Fi

t tightly in my fist, I threw open the window and launched mys

howl-the cool night air cutting through my fur. Whatever lay ahead, whatever

ever again be