Wild Moon

Chapter Three

The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine. Lila moved through the trees in her wolf form, her silver fur gleaming in the early dawn light. She hadn’t planned to come back to this part of the forest.

She shouldn’t have come back.

And yet, here she was.

Sleep had been impossible. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him—Kieran. His golden eyes, the way his presence sent shivers through her body, the undeniable pull between them. She had told herself it was just curiosity, that she needed to make sure he was gone.

But deep down, she knew the truth.

Her wolf had brought her here.

Lila slowed, her ears pricking forward as she scented the air. The forest was still, almost too quiet.

And then—there it was.

That scent.

Wild spice and earth.

Her heart stuttered.

Before she could react, a dark blur moved between the trees.

Kieran.

He was faster this time. Or maybe she was slower—maybe some part of her wanted to be caught.

In a matter of seconds, he was behind her, his large wolf closing in. She growled, leaping forward, trying to escape the inevitable. But he was relentless.

A powerful force crashed into her side, knocking her off balance. They tumbled together through the leaves, a chaotic mix of silver and black fur, until she landed on her back, pinned beneath him—just like before.

Kieran shifted first, his wolf melting into human form with effortless grace. His golden eyes locked onto hers, intense and unyielding.

Lila forced herself to shift as well, ignoring the way her body responded to his closeness.

"You really don’t listen, do you?" she snapped, her breath coming fast.

Kieran smirked, his hands planted on either side of her. "I could say the same about you."

Lila glared. "I came to make sure you were gone."

"Is that what you’re telling yourself?" His voice was low, knowing.

She clenched her jaw, refusing to acknowledge the truth in his words. "You can’t stay here. If my father—"

"—finds out, he’ll kill me." Kieran’s smirk faded. "Yeah, I got that part."

"Then why are you still here?"

For a moment, he didn’t answer. His gaze softened, and something unreadable flickered across his face.

"Because you’re here," he admitted, his voice quieter now.

Lila’s heart skipped.

She wanted to deny it. To say that none of this mattered, that she would reject him, that fate had made a mistake.

But when she looked into his golden eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

A mate bond was unbreakable. Even if she fought it, even if she ran, it would always pull her back to him.

Kieran exhaled, like he could sense her inner battle. "You can keep running, Lila. But we both know how this ends."

Her name on his lips sent a shiver through her.

She was in so much trouble.

And she wasn’t sure she wanted to escape.