The Luna Shield

never spoken aloud. Deep breath Aria took let the breath of the woods flow her lungs. Tonight felt different, despite

t, though, a hunter. She had a little leather pouch at her waist loaded with water and a few herbs she

nged since her eighteenth birthday. Like unseen strings tying her body to th

ose it. The pull was just

er skin. She looked at her palm and there it was again. Th

man?" she mumb

e had She only knew he discovered her on his doorway, bundled in a soaked bl

ystal clear. Tonight it seemed different though she had been here many times. The

. His silver eyes mirrored the moon above, and his hair was black like a s

d not from fear. Not quite. S

ading her spirit. Then he spoke with a voi

ou in our t

broke. "I... I didn't understand thi

d finish. She could smell the wild forest clinging t

eathing became more intense. Aria backed away, but

ws. Aria's heart beat like a war drum. She was c

ostrils flared as he sniffed h

.. the moon,"

were still sharp, something had changed; he was now

merely human,

st, something else was replacing the panic she felt. An odd warmth fl

you?" sh

e answering, "Kael Thorne. Al

the tales of werewolves, of covert communities among mankind. S

ded, "Aria

as though looking for something still buried

er body quaked. Her breathing was fast

was never around at night; always gone on some indistinct business he r

ting in t

g trip, though. None meat. No skins. Just the li

newspaper, and inquired her how her day went as though nothing had cha

est. Although the supply was almost depleted and the evenings w

usual path deeper into the forest. This time,

he saw them from behind a dense bush men wearing hunting garb, rough faces

em murmured, loud enough for her

came from the o

llowed hard. She backed away slowly

ard us!

. Rain started to drop, making the ground slick. She slid more than once but ke

brown hair and eyes that burned like embers. With

dropped one after another. Those still standing

own hair and embers that burned like flames. H

by one the males fell. Those still standing f

d blood and mud still adhering to his

ood? Rowan here

e a little nod. She mumbled, "Thank you

re. Another person appeared from the trees calm, cold, autho

g here, Beta Rowan?

ha Kael... I was just..

used. "Don't waste your time. Fi

thout a second look, he Rowan exhaled a lon

ated in mud. Her arms had no firewood. Her body throb, an

sage. no indication Only silence. She headed for the bath, seeking to w

AN

ver. She grabbed the only weapon her father had ever given

it only when your life

d inside in dark apparel. Aria ducked behind the wall

ntered the main room and force

she kicked, bit, thrashed, they were too strong. She was

d her entire life was over as thunder boomed in t