All Chapters of Beyond The Moon's Promise: [The Forsaken Luna]: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The apartment smelled like cheap pine cleaner and someone else's life.I stood in the doorway of what the landlord had generously called a "cozy two-bedroom," watching Ezra explore the space with the fearless enthusiasm of a child too young to understand that cozy was code for cramped. The kitchen was barely large enough for one person, the bathroom had tiles from the 1970s, and the view from the single window overlooked a parking lot with more potholes than pavement.It was perfect. At least, it was mine. No pack elders monitoring my every move. No Vivienne's scent in every corner. No Damien's mother helpfully suggesting I might be happier if I just tried harder to be the Luna the pack deserved."Mommy, look!" Ezra had discovered that the second bedroom, barely larger than a closet had glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling. "It's like sleeping outside!""Just like it," I agreed, pretending to be excited, even though I wasn't. Back in the pack house, Ezra had an entire wing to himself

"Mommy, you're squishing me."Ezra's muffled voice cut through my spiral, and I realized I'd been clutching him to my chest for a solid three minutes. I loosened my grip, pressing a kiss to his dark hair."Sorry, baby. Just missed you.""I was only gone for like two hours," he said, wiggling free with the brutal honesty of five-year-olds. "Mrs. Chen said I was a perfect angel and gave me cookies. Three cookies, Mommy. She said angels deserve treats."Despite everything, I smiled. "Did she now?""Uh-huh. And she said you looked like you needed a nap, and that I should be extra good today so you can rest." He tilted his head, looking at me carefully with those eyes like his father's—Damien's eyes, a voice whispered traitorously. "Are you sick?""No, sweetheart, just tired. Moving is alot of work.""Oh." He accepted this with a child's easy trust, then brightened. "Can we go to the park? I saw one on the way here. It has swings and everything!"The park. A normal, safe, with human activi

The smell of winter and blood woke me up and for a moment I lost my sense of direction. I couldn't remember where I was. Then reality hit me. My apartment, my new life, the pendant still warm against my throat like a brand. Then I remember “The Bond”I quickly sit up with my head spinning. The connection hummed under my skin, a constant awareness of Kael that hadn't been there yesterday but I could feel him somewhere in the forest, patient and waiting and utterly certain of my surrender."What the hell did I do?" I murmured to the empty room.My wolf's response was pure contentment, the satisfied sound of a creature who'd finally found what she'd been missing. She didn't care about the implications, the danger, or the fact that I had bound myself to an immortal predator who'd admitted he wanted everything from me.She only cared that the bone-deep ache that had plagued us since Damien's rejection was gone.Ezra's laughter filtered through the thin walls—he was up already, probably wat

"Fuck." Marcus ran a hand through his graying hair. "If Damien knows you've bonded with someone else, especially something as powerful as a Silverblood, he might have contacted the wrong people. Pack Alphas have connections. Resources.""You think he sent hunters after Kael?""I think a jealous Alpha who just lost his mate to an ancient predator would do a lot of stupid shit." He pulled out his phone again. "I'm calling in favors. We need to know who hired these hunters and stop any backup they might have sent."The bond flared again, and this time I felt triumph mixed with the pain. Kael had won. Whatever fight he'd been in, he'd won.I'm coming for you, his voice rasped through the connection. Stay where you are. I'll find you."He's okay," I gasped. "He's alive."Lydia's shoulders sagged with relief. "Good. Because if he'd died, the blowback through that bond would have killed you too.""Wait, what?""Silverblood bonds are symbiotic. His life is yours, yours is his. It's why they w

"You're shaking."Kael's voice cut through my panic as we stood at the edge of the ceremonial circle. Candles flickered around us. Wolves watched from the shadows. Marcus stood ready with the ancient bowl."I'm terrified," I admitted."Good. Fear means you understand what's at stake." He took my hand. His skin was warm despite the winter night. "But Sera? Once we start this, there's no going back. Are you sure, you wanted this?"I looked at the gathered witnesses. At Marcus's grim expression. Then I looked back at Kael. Silver eyes, dark hair falling across his forehead. Three hundred years of loneliness etched into every scar on his body."I'm certain.""Then we begin."Marcus stepped forward with the bowl. "The ceremony requires blood. Yours and his, mixed. Then the marking. Then..." He glanced at the watching crowd. "Privacy for the rest.""Thank god," I muttered.Kael's mouth twitched. Almost a smile.Marcus pulled out a silver blade. "Your hand."I held it out. The cut was quick,