Page 8 of Moon Guardian
Who, then?
I hadn’t scented anyone or anything else aside from the typical forest creatures. No other wolves, that I could tell, and none would be able to hide from me, not with my level of training. While I was only a temporary Alpha until the Goddess cemented my claim, sealed with the bond of a mate, I still held her magic. No wolf would be able to hide his or her scent from me.
None that I had ever met, anyway.
Not that any wolves should have been out here, regardless. I had been drawn by the lure of my mate, and it seemed my mate preferred to befriend her prey. That explained why she was out here, at least.
Everyone else with some semblance of a brain should have been participating in the ceremony by now. I fully admitted to thinking with my cock on occasion. My wolf struggled against the need to claim and the call of our Goddess so that I could indulge him to shift, to roam free and properly claim our mate together. We would first hunt her in wolf form, fulfill his craving with the chase until she allowed capture. A worthy mate would be faster than I could ever be, the claim would be a willing one.
Then I would bite.
With her trapped in my jaws, I would change, become human so that we could mate like only shifters could, locking together as our souls merged under the High Moon.
I nearly panted at the vivid images that played out in my mind as her scent drifted over my senses, making my wolf go mad.
Yet, when I reached the spot where the mortal boy had fallen, I found only his mangled remains with his blood tracking off into the distance.
Not south.
But north.
Katlyn
No choice.
North.
I didn’t let myself think about the level of madness it would be to venture further into wolf territory.
I didn’t care.
My eyes burned as I swiped away tears, not ready to grieve. Instead, I channeled my shock and sadness into rage.
Somehow, the wolves would pay for this. I’d make sure of it.
This wouldn’t have been the first time the wolves had taken someone I loved away from me. Luna hadn’t been my only sister. I’d had an older one, a beacon of my childhood that scarred me so deeply, I couldn’t even utter her name without breaking.
Then they’d taken Charlie’s father.
Now, they’d taken my best friend, too.
I couldn’t go on like this. I couldn’t just stand by and watch the wolves devour everything good in this world.
Plus, there was no alternative anymore. What Moon Blossoms I’d gathered now rested as crumpled bits of ash in my bag, crushed after the lightning strike. Perhaps it had been the storm, or the effects of what had happened to Charlie, but the Moon Blossoms’ protective magic was gone.
And it was clear we didn’t have three days. The storms were gathering and they’d reach my village tonight.
Which meant the only way I could protect my sister, my family, and all those who were left was to go straight to the source.
And end it.
My heartbeat thundered in my ears as I ventured deeper into unknown territory. My village hadn’t mapped the forest, at least not this far. It was suicide to get anywhere near the city.
My senses worked on overdrive, allowing me to slip undetected into the night. I kept out of the moon rays, slipping between shadows behind trees as I made my way north.
I stopped when a bush rustled.
Crouching, I knocked an arrow and aimed into the deepest part of the shadow.
