All Chapters of Twin Moon Luna : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The second cave was smaller than the first, barely more than a hollow in the rock, but it offered shelter from the cold wind that had begun to blow down from the northern mountains. Sena had fallen asleep almost immediately in the far corner, her body curled into a tight ball, her breathing slow and even. Kael sat with his back against the stone wall, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the darkness, and Lyra found herself staring at him the way she had been staring for days now, unable to look away."You are doing it again," Kael said, his voice low so it would not wake Sena."I cannot help it," Lyra admitted."Neither can I," Kael replied, turning his head to look at her. "I have been fighting myself all day. Every time you walk ahead of me, every time your dress catches on a branch, every time you breathe, I cannot stop thinking about you."The bond pulsed between them, warm and insistent, and Lyra felt her wolves stir in response. The white wolf was patient, watching and waiting, b

The path through the forest widened after they crossed the border, the trees thinning out to reveal a valley stretched between two mountains whose peaks were white with snow. Lyra had never seen mountains before, and she stopped walking again, unable to help herself, because the sight of them stole the breath from her lungs.Kael waited beside her without rushing, letting her take in the view while the last light of the sun faded behind the peaks. "They are called the Twin Sentinels," he said after a while. "The valley between them leads to my fortress. We will reach it by midday tomorrow if we rest tonight."Lyra looked at the dark shapes of the mountains and felt something settle in her chest, something she could not name but that felt like the opposite of fear. "They look like they have been here forever.""Longer than any pack. Longer than any king," Kael replied, his golden eyes reflecting the last light of the sky. "They watched my ancestors build the fortress, and they will wat

The guest house was a small stone cottage at the edge of the village, separated from the other buildings by a narrow stream that flowed down from the mountains. Roran led them inside and lit a lantern, and the soft glow revealed a single room with a bed, a table, and a hearth that had not been used in months. Dust covered every surface, and the air smelled of cold ash and disuse."It is not much," Roran said again, almost apologetically. "No one has stayed here since the last trader passed through, and that was over a year ago. I will send someone with fresh linens and food."Kael nodded, his hand still resting on Lyra's back. "Thank you, Roran. I know this is unexpected."Roran's scarred face flickered with something that might have been concern. "Unexpected is one word for it. The pack is talking, Kael. You have been gone for weeks, and you return with a mate no one knew existed." He glanced at Lyra, then at Sena, who stood silently by the door with her grey eyes fixed on the floor.

Lyra sat on the edge of the bed and watched Sena pour hot water into a chipped ceramic basin. The steam rose in soft curls, carrying the scent of something herbal that the young woman had left with the bread, though Lyra could not name the leaves or flowers. It smelled clean, and that was enough."Wash yourself, Lyra," Sena said, gesturing to the basin. "You cannot face them looking like you just crawled out of a kennel."Lyra stood and crossed to the table, dipping her hands into the warm water. It stung her cracked skin, but she welcomed the pain because it reminded her that she was still alive, still whole, still here. She splashed water on her face and neck, scrubbing away the dirt and sweat of days on the run.Kael watched her from the bed, his golden eyes following her movements. "There is a stream behind the cottage. You can wash properly there later, if you want."Lyra dried her face with a cloth that smelled of lavender. "That would be later." She paused, gathering herself, t

The path to the fortress wound up the mountain in a series of switchbacks, each turn revealing more of the valley below. Lyra walked beside Kael, her legs burning from the climb but her pride refusing to let her slow down. He had offered to carry her twice, and she had refused both times. She would not arrive at his fortress like a wounded bird in his arms. She would walk in on her own two feet.The trees thinned as they climbed, giving way to rocky outcroppings and patches of hardy grass that clung to the mountainside. The air grew colder and sharper, and Lyra could see her breath in small puffs as she exhaled. She pulled her torn dress tighter around her shoulders, but it did little against the wind.Kael noticed. He shrugged off his cloak and draped it over her without a word.She opened her mouth to protest, but he silenced her with a look. "Take it. I do not feel the cold the way you do."Lyra pulled the cloak tighter and said nothing. It smelled like him, pine and smoke and some