Wild Moon

Chapter Seven

The forest felt different now, as though the earth itself knew what had changed between them. Lila walked beside Kieran, their steps in sync, the bond between them unspoken but undeniable. The weight of the decision ahead pressed down on her like a storm cloud, but as they made their way through the trees toward the edge of Crescent Moon territory, she knew there was no going back.

She was bringing him to her pack.

She was bringing him to her father.

The thought made her stomach twist. Lila had never defied her father before, never openly challenged him in any way. But this... this was different. She had never known a love like this. Kieran was her mate, and that connection meant more than her duty to the pack. It was something primal, something that surged through her veins like a tide she couldn’t fight.

Kieran walked a few steps behind her, staying just out of sight of the pack’s border. She could feel the tension radiating off him, could see the flicker of doubt in his eyes whenever they met. He knew what bringing him here would mean, knew the consequences better than anyone. He was a rogue—a wolf without a pack, an outcast. To most of her people, he was a danger.

“I’m not sure this is a good idea,” Kieran said quietly, his voice low, as if he were afraid the trees might overhear.

Lila stopped, turning to face him. “You knew this was coming,” she said firmly, though her voice softened. “And so did I. I won’t hide from it anymore.”

He hesitated, the muscles in his jaw twitching as though he were holding something back. “I don’t want to put you in danger.”

“You already have,” she said, her words more biting than she intended. But then she softened, stepping toward him, her voice barely a whisper. “But I’ve made my choice. I can’t run from it anymore.”

He studied her for a long moment, his golden eyes searching hers, as if trying to understand if she truly meant what she said. He seemed to find the answer there, because the tension in his body eased, and he took a slow step closer to her.

“Then I’ll follow you,” he said quietly, his voice full of resignation and something else—something that almost sounded like relief.

Lila nodded. She wasn’t sure what would happen when they reached the pack, when her father found out what she’d done. But there was no turning back now. Not after everything they’d shared. Not after the bond that had been sealed between them.

The pack’s border was just ahead, the familiar scent of wolves lingering in the air. The scent of home.

With one last glance at Kieran, she crossed the threshold.

The moment they stepped into the pack’s territory, the tension in the air thickened. The scent of other wolves grew stronger, more familiar, as her pack’s presence began to surround them. She could feel their eyes on her, could almost hear their questions as they caught sight of Kieran.

But she wasn’t afraid. Not anymore.

Kieran stayed close behind her, his presence like a shadow, but he didn’t move forward until Lila gave him a small nod. With a deep breath, she stepped into the center of the clearing where the pack had gathered. The chatter of her packmates immediately quieted, the energy shifting from casual to wary as the wolves around her caught sight of the rogue standing at her side.

“Lila,” her father’s voice called, sharp and commanding. The Alpha had been watching from the edge of the clearing, his intense gaze already locked on her.

She swallowed hard, taking a step forward. “Father, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Her father’s eyes flickered to Kieran, and his expression darkened. He said nothing, but his presence alone radiated authority. He was sizing Kieran up, assessing him with all the scrutiny of an Alpha who had seen more than his fair share of rogues.

Lila took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn’t keep the truth from him. Not anymore.

“This is Kieran,” she began, her voice steady despite the storm brewing in her chest. “He’s my mate.”

Her father’s eyes narrowed, his body stiffening as the words hit like a physical blow. There was a beat of silence—an eternity that stretched out in front of her, where she could feel every wolf in the clearing holding their breath.

“You what?” her father growled, his voice barely contained with rage.

Lila stood her ground, her chin lifting in defiance. “He is my mate. And I brought him here because I will not hide from it anymore. I’ve made my choice, Father.”

The pack was silent. No one dared to speak, though she could feel their disapproval, their confusion, swirling around them like a cloud.

Her father’s gaze flicked to Kieran, then back to her, and his lips curled into a snarl. “You expect me to accept this?”

Lila stepped forward, her voice unshakable. “I don’t expect anything from you, Father. I’m telling you what is. Kieran is my mate. And I won’t turn my back on him.”

The Alpha’s gaze hardened, but the fire that burned in his eyes softened when they landed on her. His daughter—his only heir. The weight of her words landed on him heavily, and Lila could see the conflict in his eyes.

For a long moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, with a heavy sigh, her father nodded.

“This doesn’t change anything,” he muttered. “You still have a place in this pack, Lila. But you will have to prove to me that this rogue is worth your loyalty.”

Lila didn’t hesitate. “I will. And I’ll do whatever it takes to prove that he belongs here.”

The tension didn’t ease completely, but there was a shift. Her father didn’t speak again, and the wolves around them began to murmur among themselves. Kieran remained silent, his golden eyes never leaving her father, never breaking the tension.

Lila didn’t know what would happen next. But as she stood there, her heart beating in her chest, she knew one thing for sure: This was her fight. And Kieran? He wasn’t going anywhere.