LUNAR RECKONING

ies I wasn't prepared to hear. My suitcase, battered and scraped from long years of overuse, was the main natural thing I had left. All th

lk. My destination was clear: the house my auntie had left me in her

ssively near the forest," he mumbled, eyes shooting to the d

the skyline, creating long shaded areas that caused the woods to appear to be alive. The actual house was frightfully gorgeous,

entryway squeaked open, uncovering a faintly lit entra

mured, stepping inside. The

he sections of flooring under my feet took my heartbeat leap. The rooms were faultless but cold, as though nobody had lived her

garded it, zeroing in on unloading the fundamentals. In any case, the sensation developed further, per

f the counter to steady my nerves. Be that as it may, even as I said it,

sharp raps on the weighty oak entryway. My breath caught, and I froze, heart

to have a place with the actual shadows. He was tall, with wide shoulders and a stance that shouted

profound, a low thunder that

g the word out past t

ed, his look cleared over me, evalu

" I squinte

ithout waiting for an invitation, the scent of pine an

ace him, feeling the first sparks of anger ign

as his expression. "Alpha of the Silverthorn Pack. A

lming. "There's been a mistake," I said, crossing my arms.

nt was one of us," he said b

ed. "That's impo

nterrupted. "Part human,

e. I laughed, the sound high-pitched and shaky

think you would have been left th

stepped closer. The intensity in his gaze was

asked quietly. "The pull of the

d. "That doesn't

"You belong to this world, Eve

t the wall. "This is insane. You can't just show up

t quite a smile. "You're not part

My voice was steadier now, my an

a choice. The Lunar Council will demand your al

ed, the words foreign a

ined, though his tone suggested he didn't enjoy an

hy

ortant to them. To us. You have a powe

pressing down on me like a physical force

"And when they surface, th

en truths. I wanted to laugh, to scream, to run. Bu

nt kept you hidden for a reason. She knew this

what?" I demanded

om the people who will come for y

berated from the forest. My blood ran cold,

," he muttered,

" I asked, my voic

look fixed on the trees. "Rema

t,

paused with his hand on the handle, glancing back at me. "We'l

ne, disappearing into t

rl actually reverberated in my ears, and the house out of nowhere felt too huge, excessively un

hat feeling of being watched, of something - or s

es. My auntie's picture lingered above me, her gr

red. Be that as it may, the room of

ound the first claw m