Page 24 of Moonlit Fate

ATTICUS

The world ceased to exist outside the heated cocoon of Aria’s arms. Our lips met, unspoken longing igniting between us. I was lost in her kiss, a sensation so profound and all-consuming that it eclipsed every other touch I’d ever known, forever spoiling me for any other woman’s embrace. Her hands, fierce and tender, tangled in my hair, drawing me closer as if she could pull me into her very soul.

“Atticus,” she whispered, a desperate plea.

The sound of footsteps destroyed our stolen moment. With a start, she pulled back, her fingers trembling as she smoothed her long lair, her gaze darting anxiously towards the bedroom door as if she was expecting someone to burst in.

She pushed me in the direction of the balcony. “Go, now. It’s not safe.”

The warning shattered the spell, and I retreated, senses overwhelmed by the intensity of my passion. This kiss was more than just a fleeting connection; it was the rawest form of truth and vulnerability. Having been let down too often by those who promised love, I knew I was standing on a precarious edge. My heart yearned to stay, but self-preservation propelled me towardthe balcony, where the cool night breeze slapped some sense back into me.

I scurried down the side of the building, the rough texture of the bricks scraping against my skin. I jumped the last few feet and landed soundlessly, readying myself to integrate into the shadows until a snide, taunting voice shattered the stillness of the night.

“Quite the spectacle.”

Larkin Ranger emerged from the tree line.

Fuck, this was a bad omen.

I walked towards him, muscles tensed and alert, bracing myself for whatever awaited me. His existence was a reminder of the world’s harsh realities, a world where my kind of love was a liability.

“Spying now, are we?” I snapped.

“Merely ensuring my property isn’t defiled.” His voice dripped with a venomous intensity that made my stomach churn.

“Property?” The taste of Aria’s kiss still lingered, turning bitter with the intrusion of his contempt. “She’s not yours to claim.”

He stepped closer, fists curled with the threat of violence. “You’re playing a dangerous game, rogue, and I won’t hesitate to put an end to it. Remember, everything has its price.”

My pulse thundered, a war drum in my ears. The adrenaline and what remained of Aria’s kiss surged through me in an unfamiliar yet intoxicating way. As I stood my ground before Larkin, a newfound sense of fierce protectiveness lit in my veins, powerful and unstoppable. It was odd, this need to shield her not just from physical harm but from the likes of him.

“Careful,” I warned, my growl far more than a threat. “Underestimating me would be the last mistake you make.” I itched for a reason to let my wolf loose on the smirking idiot.

Larkin’s sneer widened, eyes glinting with malicious intent. He stepped into the pale wash of moonlight, and cruel joy danced in his gaze.

“You’re a bold one, climbing into the room of the alpha’s daughter,” he said. “Havingfunwith the future alpha, are you?”

That sparked a seething rage inside me. This asshole had the audacity to reduce Aria to a prize, nothing more than a stepping stone in his quest for power. My hands itched to wipe that condescending look off his face.

“Boldness plays no part in it,” I stated firmly. “What happens between Aria and me is none of your business.”

“Isn’t it?” he asked with dark amusement. “Just remember, rogue, she’s promised to me. But I can be charitable. Shall we come to a gentleman’s agreement? You have my permission to use her as much as you want until she and I are officially mated, then you’re done. That pussy will be mine… at least until she’s given me an heir or two. Do we have a deal?”

“Promises made under duress are as brittle as your ego,” I growled. “And ego has a way of shattering when confronted with reality.” I clenched my hands tight, my palms stinging as my nails dug into my palms.

He chuckled mirthlessly and moved away. “We’ll see. With each passing day, the Crimson Fang becomes more restless, leaving no neutral territory for you and your kind to hide in. I suggest you watch your back, rogue. Soon enough, you’ll be a lone wolf with nowhere to go, and if you dare entermydomainwithout my consent, I will take great pleasure in bringing about your demise.”

He turned and walked away from the manor, hands in his pockets as if he didn’t have a care in the world, leaving behind a loathing that lingered. Exhaling, I looked up at the balcony where I had left a piece of my soul behind.

Aria deserved freedom, the right to make her own choices. I was willing to fight with every ounce of my being to ensure she had both, even if I had to go against fate itself.

With a last glance up at the window, I formed a cloak of shadows and navigated the expansive grounds of the Silver Claw Manor.

It was strange that Larkin had brought up the Crimson Fang. The two packs had battled for dominance generations ago, and although Silver Claw had emerged victorious, there had been heavy losses on both sides. Since then, an uneasy truce had reigned between the packs. I’d never known the two packs to come together in any meaningful way. Something about his words unnerved me. I needed to probe him, search his mind for hidden malicious intentions toward the truce and his animosity toward Aria.

It would have been easier in wolf form, but our beastly counterparts didn’t think with the same intent as humans, and I would have received nothing useable. I had to enter his human mind, so with a focus honed by years of isolation and survival, I reached out, seeking Larkin’s twisted psyche. The tenuous connection was wispy and fragile, like cobwebs that could be brushed away with the faintest touch. What I found on the surface of his consciousness was a cesspool of self-serving aspirations and lewd fantasies, each more revolting than the last. He was an open book written in the crudest of prose.

Yet, beneath the filth lay something elusive and fragmented. Whispers of an alliance with Crimson Fang and schemes skittered through the dark corners of his subconscious, plotting moves on a chessboard obscured by darkness. There was a significance to these half-formed plans, suggestive of treachery far beyond petty power plays. There was depth, but I couldn’t see to the bottom of the chasm.

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