LOGINThe estate glowed under silver light. The moon wasn’t full tonight, just shy of it, hanging like a curved blade in the indigo sky, but the Moonridge pack never wasted a reason to gather. Lanterns lined the courtyard, each flame swaying softly in the wind. Laughter drifted between clusters of guests, mingling with the smell of roasted meat and wildflower wine. The half-moon celebration, as they called it, was meant to honor balance, light and shadow in harmony. But for Amanda, nothing about her life lately felt balanced. She stood near the edge of the gathering, her hands clasped together as she watched Celeste chat politely with a pair of older women of the pack. Across the courtyard, Skylar was talking with a group of warriors, his dark hair glinting faintly in the torchlight. Every so often, she felt his gaze find hers, when it did, she had to look away. It wasn’t like before, not the raw tension or open pain. It was quieter now, subtler. A fragile thread of understanding that neith
"You missed a spot." Amanda turned sharply, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face, only to find Skylar leaning casually against a post, his arms crossed. She had been brushing down one of the horses in the stables. "Do you ever not sneak up on people?", she asked, unable to hide the faint smile tugging at her lips. "Not when it’s this easy", he replied. She rolled her eyes, returning to her work, but he stepped closer. The air between them shifted, charged and electric, the faint hum of the bond rippling beneath her skin. He reached out, brushing a bit of straw from her hair. "There. Now you look like less of a stable hand and more of a Luna in disguise", he murmured. Amanda froze. The word hung between them like a spark. He realized it a beat too late. "Sorry", he said quietly. Amanda swallowed, trying to keep her composure. "Don’t say things like that, Skylar. If people heard, they'd start talking again." He smiled faintly. "Let them." "Easy for you to say. They're
Skylar was gone, handling training drills for the younger pack members somewhere in the woods. Celeste was in town for a gathering with some of the women of the pack. Amanda stayed behind, tucked away in the library, the one place in the mansion that still felt safe. Samuel was in his study. The council had gathered, six of them, all older wolves, men and women whose loyalty to Moonridge stretched back decades. The meeting had been called quietly, with no announcement. Marco, Samuel’s right hand, stood by the fireplace, arms folded. Councilor Darius, the eldest, gray-haired and sharp-eyed, sat opposite Samuel, his voice steady but probing. "With respect, Alpha many of us are still… unsettled by your decision regarding Alpha Rufus’s daughter", Darius said. Samuel didn’t look up from the papers he was signing. "Unsettled?" "Alpha, we had an alliance", Darius continued carefully. "A strong one. Rufus’s army was our assurance should rogue attacks increase. Now, that bridge—" "—isn’t b
Amanda stood on the training field just behind the main house, her palms raised, chest heaving. Sweat slicked her skin beneath her simple training gear, the fabric clinging to her shoulders and spine. She exhaled slowly, centering herself. "Good. You’re not dropping your guard as much anymore", came Skylar’s voice from behind her. Amanda turned, strands of silver-blonde hair sticking to her face. Skylar stood a few paces away, hands on his hips, his own training shirt clinging to the lean lines of muscle beneath. The early sun gilded him in gold, catching on the faint scars that marred his forearms, reminders of years spent learning to lead, to fight, to protect. He smiled faintly, and for once it wasn’t tense or strained. "You’re getting faster." Amanda tilted her head, panting. "Or you’re getting slower." That earned a quiet laugh. They hadn’t spoken much since the dinner, not really. There had been glances, small exchanges, moments where the bond between them had hummed quietl
Tessa had a talent for appearances. By the time the sun sank behind the pines, the Moonridge estate had been transformed into a vision of charm and civility. Candles burned in tall glass vases along the dining table, their light glimmering off polished silverware and crystal goblets. The air smelled of roasted herbs and honeyed wine. Soft music drifted from a corner where a young pack member played the violin, his bow trembling slightly under the heavy tension cloaked in beauty. Tessa had organized a "small dinner" she had called it. And now she stood at the center of it all, radiant in pale gold silk, her smile glowing as though nothing dark had ever passed between her and anyone in the room. "Thank you all for coming", she said brightly, her voice carrying across the table. “After such a long and… intense conference, I thought it would be nice for us all to share a peaceful meal. No politics, no tension. Just family and friends." Family and friends, the words sounded bitter in Ama
Amanda was sparring with Cassian, her movements sharp, deliberate. Her body moved with newfound strength, a quiet confidence she’d honed through pain. Cassian grinned, ducking a punch. "Not bad. You’re really hitting like someone who means it", he said. "Maybe I do", Amanda shot back, breathless but smirking. They circled each other. Cassian feinted left, but she caught the motion and swept his leg out from under him. He hit the ground with a grunt, then laughed as she offered her hand. "Okay, that one hurt", he admitted, taking it. From across the clearing, Skylar watched, his golden eyes unreadable. He hadn’t been training, he’d been observing quietly. But every laugh, every easy glance between Amanda and Cassian, made something coil tight inside him. When Amanda helped Cassian up, her fingers brushing his arm, Skylar’s expression hardened. "I'll take over", he said suddenly, his tone calm but clipped. Cassian raised a brow. "Why? We were doing fine." Amanda hesitated, glanc
Dinner at the Blackthorne estate was like a formal affair. The long mahogany table stretched down the center of the grand dining hall polished so clean it gleamed in the candlelight. The chandelier above flickered with golden fire and servants in muted tones moved like ghosts between courses. Amand
By the end of her third day at Moonridge High, Amanda knew exactly where she stood, beneath everyone. It didn't matter that her new stepfather was practically the richest man in Moonridge. It didn't matter that she wore the same uniform or walked the same polished halls, she sat alone at lunch, eve
The road twisted through a tunnel of low-hanging trees, their bare branches clawing at the sky like crooked fingers. Amanda leaned her forehead against the glass and exhaled, fogging it slightly. Beyond the mist, the forest seemed alive, like it was watching their car ride by."Almost there", her m
Dinner at the Blackthorne estate was usually a stiff, awkward formal affair, but tonight the tension could have split the long mahogany table in two. The chandelier overhead gleamed, servants moved like shadows pouring wine and setting silver trays, but none of that polished elegance could disguise







