Moon Bound

as small and bare, only with a bed and one window opening to the alley view below. Not much, but it was a temporary sanctuary. She maintained awarenes

least her thoughts. The innkeeper downstairs was sharp-eyed-if a look on her face was an indication-and could be a useful ally or, at least, provide a lookout for

had to be smarter and quicker, though-more ruthless than Ryder-if she was going to get them both out of this alive. A soft knock at the door shook her out of her thoughts. Luna froze, tensing every muscle in her

t's me.

ated for a moment but slowly unlocked the door with her heart in her

y of Ryder's. He seemed taller with the same gaze-calm, st

he could do to keep her voice from ris

arded her with a look of concern. "I've been following Ryder, keeping an

r, he hadn't always been that way. The two of them, he and Luna, were close-closer

help me? Ryde

hat he has become, and I know that he is wrong about you. You did not betray the pack, Luna. I have been gatheri

e real? Was Ryder chasing her because of lies? It doesn't keep the f

w but urgent. "He hasn't got his head in the right place. I'm here to help yo

ose eyes, she saw a sincerity that she couldn't overlook, an inter

hurry. My daughter is still inside the factory, and

out of town that Ryder won't suspect. We'll go through the woods and circle back to t

as her mind clicked into

nts dulled and void of light, Caleb led scouting ahead. Close behind, Luna padded through, listening and f

. Luna inhaled deeply, bracing herself for what lay ahea

s stride but went on with long, smooth strides on the thin trail. For every snap of a

hadows in the moonlight. Luna's heart quickened as they dr

ted to the darkness as she began to scan the interior, so familiar to her. She

ight, the face peaceful in the low light, asleep. And Luna's heart welled with

e," she whispered as she dre

, though his eyes softened when he saw the child. "

ow they needed to get out of there. She followed Caleb as he

d to boom through the air, and they stopped. Luna's blood went cold as she turne

oice laced with all the venom of b

round her crying-over-parents child, slowly moving backward. Standing between the

oice was firm, "you've been deceived. Luna didn't betray you; the r

ger. "Never mind that. Don't you stop lying to me, Caleb. She left me

r. There were enemies you didn't know of, threats that would have destroyed us both.

rds of Caleb. He advanced a step, his voice low and dangerous. "I don't know what

d to reflect her own. But in her position, with her child to look after, she could

r you can come with us to find the truth. Be aware, Ryder, the real enemy is o

n a staring competition. It was incredibly tense, like the thickness of butter. Thick and yellow-an essence with which to swim or dro

d to the side as anger meadows gave way to a deep, worn-out sadness; fiery pits supplan

error as she nodded and slowly stepped towards him. "We'll figure this one

to Caleb, then his eyes locked on to Luna's again. In their glance, there was an unsa

nstances-so many memories, so much hurt, and Luna f

ahead still uncertain - but for the first tim