THE BANISHED LUNA
The courtyard emptied slowly, the murmurs of the warriors fading into the snow-flecked dark until only the three of them remained: Aria, Kieran, and the Alpha.
The Alpha’s gaze lingered on her with that same strange intensity that made her feel both examined and weighed. Then, as though dismissing her from his attention, he turned to Kieran.
“Take her,” he said, his voice low, edged with command. “She’s proven enough for now. But keep her close. I’ll call for her again when I decide the next bite is due.”
Without waiting for a response, he stepped away, disappearing into the shadows of the keep. The warriors followed, until the air grew eerily still, as though the world itself was listening