Page 129 of Moonlit Fate

Behind me, the sound of combat faded, a distant echo swallowed by the roar of my own escape. Safety was ahead, somewhere beyond the next bend, past the next thicket. I had to believe that. With one final burst of energy, I pushed forward, away from the violence, away from the night’s darkness.

32

ATTICUS

Ijolted out of my deep sleep. Aria’s panic was like a siren in my head. I bolted upright, instinct overriding thought. Not a second to waste. My bones cracked, skin stretched, and fur sprouted. Paws hit the ground, and I was out the door, racing through the night.

The forest rushed past me, the branches whipping and tugging at my fur as I navigated over fallen logs, veering off the path to take the straightest route. Her distress yanked me toward her. I pushed harder, faster, to my max endurance.

The world around me went black. No stars, no moon, nothing. Terror clawed at my insides. What was this? An attack? My gut twisted with a sharp, pulling sensation, like there was a hook behind my belly button. Prepared for a pain that never came, the metallic taste of nausea filled my mouth and sent my senses reeling.

The darkness receded as quickly as it had enveloped me. Rain hammered down and the rumble of thunder filled the sky. I glanced around, trying to find my bearings. I was still in the forest, but much further along the path from when the darkness descended.

Aria’s wolf form, her silver coat contrasting against the dark night sky, was suddenly just in sight. Our paths intersected, and I felt the fear wash over her as she met my gaze. As soon as she recognized my wolf, relief coursed through our shared bond, but her underlying dread urged us on, quickening our pace.

“Keep going,” I projected into her mind. She acknowledged me with a brief bob of her wolf’s muzzle and pushed on, her muscles rippling as she pushed her lithe body to the limit. We didn’t dare slow down.

We blazed a trail through the dense forest until the imposing structure of Aria’s manor came into view—the only safe haven we had. My mind raced faster than my heart. What the fuck was going on? What had frightened her so badly? Had the Crimson Fang made a move? Larkin?

Also, how thefuckdid I get to Aria so quickly? One second, I was racing through the woods near my den, the next I was by her side. How had I crossed the distance so instantaneously? Had the shadows somehow defied the laws of nature and bent themselves to my will, transporting me to her side? Was it any different to the shack that had appeared in the forest, equipped with everything we needed at the exact moment we were in need?

“Safe,” I told her. Talking could wait. Something had changed tonight, something big.

We burst across the manor’s threshold, gasping as we transformed back into our human skin. Her chest heaved, her breaths sharp and uneven. Body tensed like a bowstring, she fought to take in air.

“Hey,” I said softly, rubbing her upper arms. “Breathe with me.”

She stared at me and slowly matched my rhythm. In. Hold. Out. The terror in her eyes ebbed away, and the rigidity ofher muscles gave way. The anxiety and fear hadn’t left her, but they’d dulled to a more manageable amount.

“I’m okay,” she said, though her ashen complexion and the quiver in her voice betrayed her somewhat.

I slid one hand down to intertwine our fingers as we walked to her rooms together. She promptly closed the door behind us and darted across to shut the windows and draw the drapes. The dim light of the small carriage lamps on the walls made a feeble attempt to cast a warm glow in the room.

Giving her a moment to collect herself, I went into her bathing chamber and turned on the water to fill her tub. I glanced at the array of bottles lining the tub and silently expressed gratitude to Mia for the wisdom she had imparted over the years. I knew what combination of salts and oils to use to soothe any aches Aria might have. The scent of chamomile, lavender, and something wild like the forest after a rainstorm rose in the stream.

I returned to the bedroom. On a table beside the door sat a pitcher of water and a few glasses. I filled two, then moved across the room and handed one to her Aria. Her hands shook as she took the glass from me. Keeping my eyes on her, I gulped my water down, its coolness soothing my parched throat.

I waited for her to finish drinking. “Tell me what happened,” I said once she was a bit steadier.

She swallowed hard, then whispered, “There were these… masked figures in the woods. Masked figures. They said I’d outlived my usefulness...” She paused, shuddering. “That I had to die. I couldn’t fight. I was outnumbered and they surrounded me too fast. I don’t really know how to explain it. They were chanting, then moved in to attack. My magic tried to respond to the threat. I could sense it brewing inside me, but I don’t really know what it does or how to use it. How do I let loose what I don’t comprehend?”

I scanned her face, looking for injuries. “Did they hurt you?”

Aria shook her head but winced when she moved her arm. “Just some scrapes,” she said, trying to downplay it, but the blood on her skin ignited a fury within me. Her arms were scratched. This bond held a deeper significance than mere empathetic connection; it was a vital tool, allowing me to protect and ensure her safety.

“How the hell did you get away?”

“Some woman just appeared out of nowhere and told me to run. She was so incredibly powerful.”

She was still shaking. I gathered her in my arms, providing the same comfort she had given me during my nightmare. I trailed my fingers along her spine to ease her trembling.

“Good. I’m glad you listened to her.” I tilted her chin up, so she had no choice but to look me in the eye. “You’re safe. That’s all that matters.”

“Trying to use my power... it might not have been very effective, but it felt right. This is going to sound crazy,” she whispered, shaking her head. “When I tapped into my magic, I felt like my true self for the first time since the ritual.”

“Focus on that feeling,” I told her. “Remember it. We’ll figure this out.”

“Okay,” she whispered. We stood there, the world momentarily narrowed down to just us two.

---