MOON'S REBELLION

Sweat beaded on my forehead as I circled Axel, his muscular body coiled ready to stri

hing stopped me. Some gnawing little voice in the back of my

flipping me onto my back. The impact of the fall knocked

a, "Axel said offering me a h

should have been there - the spark between mates. "Just tire

ut of the corner of my eye. Her warm brown eyes met mine for

id, dropping

p. We circled again and the air was heavy with the unspoken tens

stumbled backward, surprise etched across his face. Pressing my adv

rst to the forefront, relishing the show of authority. This wa

nked, finding I had him pressed against the train

art pounding. What

wide with awe and wariness.

nonchalant. "Just got caugh

that's what you've been holding back all this t

too much, shown him a part of me that I was trying to conc

id, turning away. "We should re

g in but not hurting. "Not so fast, Lyra. I believe

versation that was due but not look

oaching, and I am having the suspicion that you are not as invested in

Sorry to interrupt," she said, her voice soft but firm

guilt. I nodded to Maya, then turned back t

ded. "Fine. But we can't keep p

into my back. The weight of expectations-from him, from the

I murmured to Maya once

e creased with concern. "Anytime. But Lyra. he'

eat. "I know. I just. I don't know how to tell

pectedly jolting sensation through me. "Maybe you need to stop worrying ab

ertainly. Duty, always. But beneath that, there was something else-a longing n

a fully. The setting sun cast a warm glow on her skin, highlighted th

football play

snapped me back to re

e strange moment. "Yeah,

y skin. "You know you can talk to me about anythi

it made my chest tighten. I opened my mouth to respond-to

had decided to continue training and was now sparring with three younger pack members all at once.

eone gets hurt," I said, alre

and not altogether unwelcome flashed through me as her skin co

the wish to avoid another Axel confrontation

ays am." She squeezed my hand on

aya might not have been a warrior like Axel or me, but she had her own kind

ed Axel, and in turn the others, as my mind started questioning-if I do not feel the mate

it aside, not ready to take too much of a closer look. I turned and headed toward

ged. The well-ordered world I had always known was beginning to crack, and whether m