Luna's Cruel Fate

a's

e wax seal bit into my palm as I ran with all my might along the narrow path. Running messages between the packs wa

'd sneered at, "so go on

ask through without complaint. It was my life, a life of suffering in silence, a life of surrender. Even then, however, I

he floor of the forest. I decided to hasten my pace because I wanted to make it to the next camps before nightfall. Th

shapes ran down the path with w

eered, a cruel smile curling his lips. "A

my angle. Instantly, my heart began to pound, my mind racing for an escape.

eration edging into my voic

hissed, his eyes traveling do

e, slamming into one of the rogues with a force that sent hi

e of death where a mistake meant a loss of life. I just stood there watching him; he kicks

ning down his forehead. "Are you all right?" he said, his

ith the strange warmth that he'd come to my rescue again. It was the second time he'd sav

et with blood. "You're hurt," I said, steppi

ed weakly and brushed

eed to rest," I insisted, looking for shelter. It was darkening and the fo

y trees. We sat down in the silence between us, which was heavy yet somehow comforting. The suspense of th

art racing with every passing moment. There was a gentleness about him now, a vulnerability that I had

, my voice small. "Fo

smile playing on his lips. "I told you, Luna. NOB

been. "I said, "Tough." The word hardly left my lips. "Since my parents were taken, I've been nothing but a burden and treated as a

n't budge, still listening to me with intent. He didn't interrupt me; he did

ht of my years of longing. Somebody, anyone, that would notice me, that would s

ips of his fingers merely grazed mine, and a hot sensation coursed up my arm. "The Moon Goddess hasn't forgotten you,

ess I'd grown so accustomed to. I just looked at him, searched his face, searc

don't know, maybe your mate i

e. Was he saying what I thought he was? The warmth of his hand against mine and

't know what to say, didn't know how to process

eaving mine. If Luna Goddess perm

ght. Was this an offer of himself as my mate, the one I'd prayed for all those years? Or was thi

anted to; I wanted to believe in him, wanted to trust the smile, the warmth of it, those eyes, those eyes that seemed so honest. But the scars

yes, one thing kept running th

y