All Chapters of Beneath The Moon's Bite: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

RAFEEverything became quiet after Kael's words, leaving us alone again. Luca stood by the bed, his back towards me, his shoulders were hunched and frail, he looked smaller than I’d ever seen him.I shifted closer to him, I didn’t know what to say, so I just put my hands on his shoulders and hugged him.“I’m scared.” he mumbled into my skin, his breath warm and shaky.“I know.” I held him tighter. “I’m here, I got you baby.”We stood there for a long time, just holding each other in the dark, the candles were gone. The only light was a faint grey glow from a crack under the door.Slowly, the hug changed, It wasn’t just comfort anymore, it was a need. A desperate need to feel that we were real, that we were here, together.Luca tilted his head back. In the dim light, I saw the track of a single tear down his cheek. I wiped it away with my thumb.He kissed me.It wasn’t like last time, the last time was fire and need. This was slow. Sad. Searching. His lips were soft against mine, aski

Luca's POVThe rogue's grip was so strong, like an iron vice. He dragged me through twisting tunnels, his breath hot and sour against my neck. The silver light from my skin, which had just filled the cavern with wonder, now felt like a beacon of my own stupidity."Let me go!" I twisted, trying to kick his legs."Quiet, little light." he grunted, shaking me hard enough to make my teeth rattle. "You're worth more alive, but I can make you wish you weren't."We rounded a corner into absolute darkness. No torches here. The air smelled different, instantly I understood we weren't in the Kindred's territory anymore.My heart hammered against my ribs, I needed to be at the eastern gate, Rafe was there waiting for me, but every step the rogue dragged me through was taking me farther from Rafe.The rogue stopped at a heavy wooden that was guarded with iron. He fumbled with the keys, and the door creaked open.He shoved me inside so hard that I stumbled and fell, my hands scraping against the

Luca's POV The waterfall’s roar was the only thing in my head. I stood knee-deep in the icy pool, water soaking through my clothes, but I didn’t feel the cold. I felt nothing.  The clearing was empty, Caleb was gone, his enforcers were gone. Rafe was gone. I stared at the spot where he had stood, where Caleb’s men had clamped silver cuffs around his wrists. I could still see the way he had looked back at me, his eyes holding mine until the trees swallowed him. “Are you just going to stand there and freeze?” I turned, and saw Zayne stepping out from behind the waterfall, water slicking his dark hair back. He looked tired, and had a fresh cut on his cheek. “You saw what happened?” I asked, my voice sounding tired and weak. “I did.” He nodded

Luca's POV The Haven was under attack, and we were trapped on the ridge above it. Below us, in the small valley, lanterns that had looked so peaceful moments before now swung wildly, casting frantic shadows. Shouts echoed up the slopes deep, commanding voices, not the gentle tones of sanctuary keepers. The scent of blood and aggression was sharp on the wind. Three Ironwood wolves still prowled between the outermost cabins. But now, answering howls came from within the settlement itself. They hadn’t just surrounded the Haven. They had infiltrated it. “They’re already inside.” Zayne breathed next to me, his voice tight. “They must have come in from the eastern pass while we were watching the west.” “We have to help them.” The words were out before I could think.   “Help them with what?&rdqu

Luca's POV “You asked the land for help.” Morwen said, her voice a low chant in the quiet edge. “And it answered, not by giving you a weapon. By giving you a choice.” I flexed my hands, still feeling the phantom vibration of the ridge stones softening. “It didn’t feel like a choice. It felt like… desperation.” “All true power begins in desperation.” She tilted her head.  “Tell me, at that moment, what did you want? To kill those wolves?” “No.” The answer came instantly. “I wanted them to stop, to leave us alone.” “Exactly, you wished for a cessation for peace. The land responded to that wish, not to your anger. That is the first lesson.” She pushed a chipped clay cup of bitter tea toward me.  “Your power is a mirror