THE CURSED MOON HEIR

NOAH’S POVThe words had barely left my lips when my wolf howled. Not a triumphant howl, Not the joyful cry of a wolf that had found his fated mate. It was a howl filled with fear. The sound ripped through Oakridge Forest, silencing the entire village in an instant. Every wolf froze. Every warrior stiffened. Even the wind seemed to stop. I stood rooted to the ground, my heart pounding violently against my ribs.Inside me… My wolf trembled. I had never felt him like this before. Not once in my twenty-four years. “What is wrong with you?” I demanded through our mind link. He didn’t answer. Instead, another wave of fear crashed over me. It wasn’t mine. It was his. I clenched my fists. Impossible. My wolf feared nothing. He had faced rogue Alphas twice his size without hesitation. He had fought in battles that left rivers stained with blood. He had stood before creatures spoken of only in legends. Never… Not once… Had he been afraid. Until today, Until her. I lifted my eyes.The young wo

ROSELYN’S POVThe pounding on the door grew louder.BANG!BANG!The entire cottage shook with every blow. Dust drifted from the wooden ceiling while the windows rattled violently. I clutched the crescent-shaped pendant against my chest. It was still warm from the vision, its silver glow pulsing like a heartbeat beneath my trembling fingers.Outside, the cold voice laughed. “You’ve hidden her long enough, Roland.” My blood froze. They knew his name. Roland stepped in front of me, the ancient silver sword gleaming in his hand. The runes carved into its blade began to glow brighter, filling the room with pale light. “You stay behind me,” he ordered. “But—”“No arguments.” His voice was calm, but I could hear the strain beneath it.“They’re here for me too, aren’t they?” I whispered.He didn’t answer. Instead, he tightened his grip on the sword. Another powerful crash splintered the front door. Cracks spread across the wood.“They’re going to break in!” I cried.“I know.” Roland’s eyes

ROSELYN’S POVThe stranger didn’t wait for my answer. He turned and disappeared into the darkness between the towering oak trees as though he knew I would follow. I didn’t, I stood frozen.Smoke billowed above the forest where my home had stood only moments ago. The faint clang of steel had faded, replaced by an unsettling silence.My heart clenched.“Roland…”I took a step toward the smoke. A low growl echoed somewhere behind me, Then another. It wasn’t just one wolf, It was several.The stranger stopped walking but didn’t turn around.“If you go back,” he said calmly, “you’ll die before you reach the cottage.”“I have to help him.”“You can’t.”“You don’t know him.”“No,” he replied. “But I know the men hunting you.”His words made me hesitate. The pendant beneath my dress suddenly felt warm against my skin. I looked down instinctively. The silver glow was gone. Only the cool crystal remained. Had everything that happened inside the cottage been real? Or had I imagined it?“Who are

ROSELYN’S POVThe Shadow Hunters charged, Six dark figures surged through the trees at once, their black cloaks billowing behind them like living shadows. Moonlight flashed across silver blades as they closed the distance with terrifying speed.“Stay behind me,” the stranger said.His voice remained calm as He stepped in front of me, drawing the twin curved daggers hidden beneath his cloak. Their polished blades reflected the pale moonlight, but there was nothing magical about them. They were simply well-used weapons in experienced hands. The scarred leader watched without moving, His crimson eyes settled on the stranger.“So,” he said coldly. “You chose her.”The stranger didn’t answer, The first assassin reached him,Steel clashed. The stranger twisted sideways, deflecting the blade before driving the hilt of one dagger into the attacker’s throat. The hunter stumbled backward, gasping. Another came from the right, The stranger spun, forcing him away with a quick slash that cut throug

ROSELYN’S POVThe strange feeling lingered for only a moment then I stopped walking and glanced back through the endless trees. Darkness stretched as far as I could see, the forest was silent except for the wind rustling the branches overhead. For reasons I couldn’t explain, my heart beat faster, Prince Noah’s face suddenly flashed across my mind. Not because I believed he was coming… But because I couldn’t forget the way he had looked at me. The fear in his golden eyes, the confusion on his face and the words he had whispered. “I’ve been looking for you.” I tightened my grip on the pendant beneath my dress. Who was he looking for? Me… Or someone he thought I was?“Roselyn.” Darius’s calm voice broke through my thoughts “We have to keep moving.” I nodded and hurried after him.The deeper we ventured into Oakridge Forest, the older the trees became. Their trunks were enormous, their roots twisting across the ground like ancient serpents. Thick vines hung from the branches, hiding much