Fading with the Moon

I sat alone on a stone bench in the Sanctuary, my gaze fixed on the empty ceremonial altar. In the moonlight, the statue of the Moon Goddess looked stark and cold.My hand drifted to the nape of my neck. Logan’s mark should have been there, a symbol of our bond, but my skin was bare.The pack healer’s words echoed in my mind: “If the mating bond isn’t completed before the moon is full tomorrow, your wolf spirit will fade completely, and you will die.”My phone buzzed, and I saw my mother’s name. When I answered, her voice was effervescent with excitement. “Aria! Is it done? The hotel has called a few times. Our families are all here, waiting to celebrate with you.”I drew a shaky breath. “Mom, we didn’t finish.”“What?” Her voice shot up an octave. “What did Logan do this time?”“Lila was attacked by a rogue. He’s with her.” My voice was so calm it was unnerving.I could hear my mother's furious growl through the phone, and I could almost feel her own wolf stirring with rage. “That dam

It was late when Logan’s name lit up my screen. I hesitated for a long moment before finally answering.“Aria, I…” Logan began, his voice weary. “I wanted to explain about tonight.”“Logan, I’m so, so sorry!” Lila’s voice, thick with sobs, cut in from his end. “I didn’t mean to! I just wanted to see how beautiful Aria’s dress was, and I knocked over the wine glass…”My heart didn’t break. It just sank, heavy and cold, into the pit of my stomach.“Aria? You still there?” Logan’s voice returned. “Lila accidentally ruined your mating dress. She feels awful about it. But it’s okay. Since the ceremony is postponed anyway, I’ll buy you a new one, something even more beautiful.”The hand holding my phone trembled.It wasn’t anger. It was utter resignation.“It’s fine,” I said, my voice unnervingly level. “If it’s ruined, then I don’t want it.”There was a pause on the other end.“Okay. I knew you’d understand.” Logan’s voice was filled with a familiar mix of relief and satisfaction. “You’ve a

My hand trembled as I answered the call.“Aria, I’m downstairs. Come down for a minute. I need to see you.”Wasn’t he… supposed to be in Canada by now? Could he have remembered my condition and decided to stay and complete our mating bond after all?I struggled out of bed. My fading wolf spirit made me so weak I could barely stand, but I slowly, deliberately, made my way outside.Maybe this would be the last time I ever saw him.Downstairs, Logan was waiting for me, bathed in the cool light of the moon.“Aria, I wanted to apologize for last night,” he began, his brow furrowing as he took in my appearance. “You look terrible. Are you sick?”I just shook my head, conserving my strength.“I know you’re probably disappointed, but Lila’s situation is really serious,” Logan continued, his voice earnest. “The healer said the wolf toxin in her system is a rare type. She needs a special serum from Canada and has to get there within forty-eight hours, or she could die.”My last glimmer of hope w

Three days later, I woke up in an unfamiliar, sun-drenched room.Light streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating a large, soft bed where I lay tucked beneath a plush woolen blanket.Best of all, my wolf spirit felt steady and strong within me. The profound weakness that had plagued me for years was gone.“You’re awake.”Gabriel’s deep voice came from the doorway. He entered carrying a tray laden with a plate of sizzling lamb chops, my favorite. He wore a simple white shirt and black trousers that did little to hide the powerful lines of his body, looking even more handsome in the light of day.“Where am I?” I struggled to sit up.He immediately set the tray down and was at my side, gently helping me and propping a pillow behind my back.“My private villa in Manhattan,” he said, perching on the edge of the bed. “You’ve been unconscious for three days. Your parents were beside themselves with worry.”“My parents? Where are they?”“I’ve settled them in the Manhattan pack ter

A week later, I had mostly recovered my strength. Gabriel took me on long walks every day, acquainting me with the Manhattan pack’s territory. It was a world away from my old home—gleaming, modern, and prosperous, the werewolf community here was powerful and sleekly organized.“Aria!” My mother’s friend, Sarah, scurried over, her face alight with gossipy glee. “Have you heard the latest about Logan and that human, Lila?”I glanced at Gabriel, who gave a subtle nod. Sarah was the biggest news source in the entire community; if it happened, she knew about it.“What is it?” I asked.“Well, Logan launched a full investigation into Lila and found out she didn’t just fake the wolf attack—she’s been pulling scams her whole life!” Sarah lowered her voice conspiratorially. “I heard that when he confronted her, the little viper finally showed her true colors!”Gabriel listened quietly beside me, a placid expression on his face.“What did she say?”“Admitted everything! Called Logan an idiot to h