Page 38 of Moonlit Fate

The question pulled me back to when our thoughts had intertwined, an intimacy beyond the physical. “That ability,it’s not something I use lightly,” I said. “It’s not unlike the communications we form with pack members, but it’s a deeper connection. Normally, it’s like trying to push through a raging river, but with you, it was effortless. As natural as stepping into my own home.”

“Is there something wrong with me?” Her brow furrowed.

“Definitely not,” I said. “If anything, it speaks of a connection. A resonance between us that defies explanation.”

“Can you read minds, then?”

“Not exactly.” I searched for the right words, the simplest truth. “It’s more of a transfer of information directed toward those I choose.”

She nodded, absorbing the revelation. My eyes, sharper than even most shifters’, didn’t miss the quickening of Aria’s pulse, the delicate thrumming at the base of her throat. The mutual attraction between us was palpable. She wanted me as much as I craved her, and I wasn’t strong enough to resist skirting temptation.

“About that kiss at your window,” I said. “It took me by surprise.”

She looked down before meeting my gaze once more. “I wasn’t in my right mind,” she apologized with the faintest tremor. “I’m sorry.”

“Ah.” I sighed, pressing my back against the wall, hoping to cool down the flames she had stirred inside me. “So, kissing you now would be a bad idea, then?”

She hesitated, a small crease forming between her brows. “I’m just really confused right now,” she said in a whisper that only a shifter’s ears could catch. “Being pulled in so many directions. I’m technically spoken for, even though I hate the bastard. Especially after what you told me. I just don’t want to act rashly or selfishly. We need to keep a distance between us to avoid more complications. Isn’t that what you just remindedSeren and Hale of? We can’t stay focused if we’re all over each other.”

“Understandable,” I said, my tone steady, though my wolf howled to close what was left of the gap between us.

Her fingers danced across the buttons of my shirt, igniting a wave of desire. “The timing is all wrong, Atticus.” The words barely came out, as if she was holding herself back. Her lips were dangerously close to mine as she spoke, creating a deliciously intimate moment. “This is a really bad idea.”

Then her lips were on mine, re-igniting the blaze that threatened to consume us both. Her soft curves pressed against the hard lines of my body, and our breaths mingled as we explored the connection that grounded us.

With a will that was almost Herculean, I broke the kiss and pulled back to look into her face. Her eyes were wide, alive with a fiery passion that mirrored my own.

“I should have respected what you said,” I said.

“I’m the one who kissed you,” she countered, her tongue darting out to lick her lower lip.

I smiled as my lips brushed hers once more. The taste of her brought a comforting peace from the chaos, a healing balm for the soul. Even with fate conspiring to entwine us, the rebellion in her kiss promised a freedom neither of us had dared to dream.

“Why don’t you get some sleep?” I said. “I’ll pack some supplies and get the route from Hale.” I hurriedly made up my messy bed, tucking in the sheets and smoothing out the blankets.

Before I shut the door, I watched her settle into my bed. A profound feeling ofrightnessfilled me. Whatever happened tonight, whatever predictions the seer made, we’d face it together.

10

ARIA

Chaos reigned over the world, a maelstrom of fire and darkness that danced to the howling winds carrying the scent of terror. The cries of the desperate clawed at me, each a jagged shard piercing through the cocoon of my slumber. I was submerged in great torrents of water; I stood vulnerable during a merciless deluge. The furious tides stole my breath, threatening to engulf everything in their way.

“In the dance of light and shadow, heed the silent song of the heart. The true path lies where courage and brokenness meet.”

Above the chaotic noise, the words floated like an intricate melody, both foreign and strangely nostalgic. The cadence of it pulsated against my very being, a pressing plea that echoed with a truth I couldn’t ignore, as if it were a prophetic message or a cautionary tale. I couldn’t tell which.

I bolted upright, gasping for air. The unfamiliar walls disoriented me, as did the elongated shadows on the rugged walls from the moonlight seeping in through the shadows. The remnants of the dream clung to me, almost suffocating. I was in Atticus’s bed, in his hidden cave. But even knowing that, the dream’s grip remained strong.

I willed the nightmare to dissipate. I was in no position to be distracted. I couldn’t afford to falter. But the dream lingered on the periphery of my consciousness as I tied my boots with swift, purposeful movements.

Moments later, there was a gentle knock on the door, and Atticus entered. The sleep should have chased some of the shadows away, but now I was more wiped out than when I’d climbed into his bed.

“Ready?” Atticus asked.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

We walked through to the common area where Hale waited for us.

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