Page 73 of Moonlit Fate

“I don’t know if I’m strong enough for this.” Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

I cupped her face, my thumb stroking her cheek, absorbing the heat of her turmoil. “Hey.” I pulled her closer until she was resting against my chest. “You’ve carried more than anyone should, and you’re still standing.”

As she looked up at me, the dam broke, and tears cascaded down her cheeks. “My father doesn’t believe in me. It’s tearing me apart. How can I lead if my own blood doubts me?”

I knew too well the sting of being cast aside by those meant to stand beside you. “I understand,” I said. “Having the ones you love doubt you is devastating. I am so sorry you have to endure that pain.”

“Thank you,” she said. “I know I’m repeating myself, but I can’t tell you how much it means that you’re here, that you believe in me when everyone else won’t. Atticus, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

We remained there by the window, the book forgotten as I pulled Aria into my arms. I was helpless in her anguish. “Let it out, love,” I said softly, my lips brushing the crown of her head. “Let me carry some of this. You don’t have to bear it alone.”

A sudden movement outside the window caught my attention, pulling us both back into the reality that awaited beyond these walls. I twisted slightly to see Larkin and his friends, their forms unmistakable as they trekked toward the Crimson Fang territory.

“Look.” I nodded toward the figures marching with purpose.

Aria followed my nod and tensed. “Larkin,” she said darkly.

We watched as Larkin and his entourage vanished into the dense foliage. My mind raced with possibilities, each more foreboding than the last.

“What do you think he’s planning?”

I turned to Aria. “I’m not sure,” I said. “But they’re definitely up to something. We can’t ignore the fact that he’s deliberately moving toward Crimson Fang territory with members of your pack. Who knows how many people are listening to his rhetoric and believing it?”

The implications were dire. The rival pack lands were a tinderbox of tension, and Larkin’s presence there was akin to striking a match. My wolf stirred, ready to defend, to challenge any threat to Aria or her people. But to act hastily now would only play into their hands.

“Could it be an alliance? Or a provocation?” Aria asked, her fingers trailing over the cold surface of the windowsill.

“Either way, it spells trouble.” I stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on her back. “We need more information. Perhaps we should follow them.”

Aria nodded, her lips pressed in a thin line. “Yes, let’s do that. We can’t afford to be caught off-guard.”

Despite my fears of inadequacy, of being seen as less for my rogue status, I would lay down my life for this woman. Aria had become my world.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, breaking the tension like a sharp exhale. Seren stepped inside. She didn’t speak, but the urgency in her posture spoke volumes, pulling us from our purpose and back to reality. Her eyes flashed with the luminescence of panic.

“I can’t… they’re everywhere.” She gasped and collapsed to her knees.

Aria rushed to her friend’s side and coaxed her onto the bed, cradling Seren’s head against her chest as she whispered words meant to soothe savage fears.

“Shh, you’re safe here,” Aria said, stroking Seren’s hair with a tenderness that could tame the wildest of beasts. Yet, even as she comforted, she looked at me over the top of Seren’s head in a silent plea for action.

“Love, I’m going to follow Larkin,” I said.

Aria nodded slightly. “Please, be careful.”

“Of course.” I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. A promise. The taste of her skin lingered on my lips, a sweet reminder of all that was at stake.

As I turned from Aria, leaving her to comfort her friend, Seren’s anguished cry remained with me, an echo of distress that clawed at my chest as I retreated from Aria’s chamber.

Silver Claw Manor became nothing more than a shadow at my back, a stronghold that contained my future in its walls as I shifted and raced across the grounds. My paws found familiar purchase, the cool soil soothing me as I welcomed the wildness of my rogue side.

As the terrain grew rougher, I allowed my wolf to guide me. His senses sharpened mine, his vigor fueled my steps. We were one and the same, united in our quest to shield Aria.

I moved among the trees, every muscle tight, ready to spring forth or retract at a mere hint of danger. It wasn’t long before a hushed conversation brushed against my ears, as fleeting and elusive as the wind through the leaves. My pace slowed, an involuntary response as I homed in on the source.

There, sheltered by the copse of large oaks, I came to a halt, allowing the shadows to swallow me. With each passing second, the distant murmurs swelled into discernible words, the low, guttural tones unmistakably belonging to Larkin and his cohorts.

Creeping closer, I wove through the trunks, silent as a ghost, my every movement calculated to avoid detection. The words grew clearer, tinged with arrogance and the smug satisfaction of men too confident in their perceived dominion over others.

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