Wild Moon

Chapter Four

Lila’s pulse hammered against her ribs as she stared up at Kieran. His golden eyes held hers, unreadable yet impossibly intense. She needed to think—to push past the overwhelming pull of the mate bond and remember who she was.

She was the Alpha’s daughter.

And he was a rogue.

"You’re hiding something," she said, her voice steadier than she felt.

Kieran didn’t flinch. "A lot of things, actually."

Lila narrowed her eyes. "Then start talking."

He arched a brow. "And if I don’t?"

Her wolf bristled. "Then I’ll turn around and walk straight back to my pack, tell them you’re here, and let my father deal with you."

For the first time, something dark flickered across Kieran’s face—anger, maybe. Or something else. Something wounded.

"That’d be a mistake, princess," he murmured, voice tight.

"Stop calling me that."

"Then stop pretending you’re not exactly what they’ve made you to be." His voice was quiet but sharp, cutting through her defenses. "The perfect little heir, loyal to the pack, to your father. Do you even think for yourself, or do you just follow his orders?"

Lila sucked in a sharp breath, rage curling in her gut. "You don’t know anything about me."

Kieran tilted his head. "Don’t I?"

She hated how much those two words got under her skin.

The rain came suddenly.

A cold, heavy downpour that broke through the canopy of trees, drenching them in an instant. Lila flinched as the icy drops struck her skin, sending a shiver through her body.

She needed to leave.

This was dangerous—he was dangerous. The longer she stayed, the more tangled she became in something she couldn’t control.

Without another word, she turned on her heel and sprinted into the trees.

She didn’t make it far.

The ground was slick, mud pooling in uneven patches where the rain had softened the earth. She barely had time to register the danger before her foot slid out from under her.

A gasp left her lips as she lost her balance, her body tilting forward.

Before she hit the ground, strong arms caught her.

Kieran.

She crashed against his chest, the impact knocking them both down into the wet leaves and mud.

Lila sucked in a breath, her hands fisting in the fabric of his shirt. The scent of him—wild and warm despite the storm—wrapped around her, and suddenly, the cold wasn’t as biting.

She shivered, her body involuntarily pressing closer to him.

Kieran didn’t speak. He just moved, shifting beneath her until he rolled them both, pulling her into his embrace, shielding her from the rain.

Then, in a fluid motion, he shifted.

The warmth of fur replaced the cool fabric of his shirt, and when Lila opened her eyes, she found herself curled against a massive black wolf.

His body curled around hers, solid and strong, blocking the wind and rain. She should have pulled away, should have fought against the instinct to lean into him.

But she was too cold. Too exhausted.

So instead, she let herself stay.

Just for a moment.

Just until the storm passed.