The Alpha's Star: Fated to the Moon

gged, the sharp sting of branches whipping her face. The trees loomed like si

in her chest was like a hook stuck in her ribs, dragging her deeper

instinct, a primal call, urging her forward. She couldn

lantern swung wildly in her hand, casting flickering light over the dark expanse ahead. She strained

called, her voice t

e oppressive still

each of her lantern's light. Its fur, dark as night, glist

turn and run, but the pull in her chest kept her rooted in place. Slowly, s

rce and intelligent, holding a mix of pain and warning. It growled weak

ia whispered, her vo

between them-an understanding, primal and unspoken.

nsformed before her eyes. Asteria staggered back, the lanter

fell unevenly, and his dark hair was matted with dirt. But even in his battered sta

sped, his voice

r his shoulder. "You've been shot," she said, her eyes darting to the wound ju

y told her about it, but treating one was beyond anything she'd done as the p

urged, shaking him gently.

wound to staunch the bleeding. Her mind raced for a solut

, she opened it, praying for something-anything-that could help. Her fin

e and the man's pale face. "I'm sorry, if I end up ki

sion near the wound. Black liquid oozed out, the poison dripping onto the f

aid, her voice shaking.

from her cloak and tied it tightly around his chest. His breat

od. Exhaustion threatened to overtake her, but she forced her

murmured, more to h

and something metallic. Asteria shivered, not from the cold but from the gr

intensity that made her breath catch. Slowly, he raised a trembling

u," he said, his voi

d, his eyes closed agai

hing was clear-this was no ordinary man. She admitted in her mind that he had somehow called out to her, making her come to him. Despite the d

o him, and whatever fate had tied t