The Alpha's Moon Chosen Mate

The forest behind Blackwood village was not safe after sunset. Everyone knew it. The old women said wolves the size of horses lived there, and the Duke who owned the forest — Duke Zane Blackwood — never let anyone enter. But I went anyway. I am Ariaa, twenty years old, and I knew every herb in this forest. Since Mama died last winter, I lived alone in my small hut at the edge of the village. I was not rich, but Mama had taught me healing, and I had saved a little money by selling herbs to Doctor Ellis in the village. It was not much — just a small pouch of coins I kept under my bed for winter — but it was mine. My own saving. I was proud of it. I was innocent, maybe too innocent. The village girls said I trusted everyone too much. But Mama always said, "A kind heart is worth more than gold, Ariaa." Today I was picking feverfew. Doctor Ellis paid well for it, and I wanted to save more for new healing books. The air smelled like rain and wet earth. It was too quiet. No birds. Then I heard it. A low, painful whimper, from behind the big bushes. "Hello?" I called. No answer. Only another whimper, louder. I should have run. But I am too soft for animals. I pushed the bush aside. And I saw him. He was huge. Bigger than any wolf I had ever seen. His fur was black as night, but matted with blood and mud. He was lying on his side, breathing fast. His eyes were closed. Blood on his leg. And his lips were dark blue. Poisoned. Nightshade poison. I knew it from my herbs. He tried to lift his head. His eyes opened. Gold. Pure gold, like melted honey. Intelligent. Human-like. Full of pain. "Hey... shhh," I whispered, kneeling slowly. "I am not going to hurt you." He growled low, but it was pain, not anger. "I know it hurts." If I left him, he would die in hours. But if I saved him, I would need my best herb — moonflower. It was very expensive, worth all my little savings. I was supposed to sell it next week. Mama's voice came in my head: "Kind heart is worth more than gold." I made my choice. I took off my shawl and pressed it to his wound. He flinched but did not bite me. His golden eyes never left my face. "Good boy... good wolf." It took me an hour to drag him to my hut. My arms burned. My dress tore. I left my feverfew basket behind. By the time I locked my hut door, the sun was gone. He lay on my rug, panting, taking up half my room. "Wait here," I said. I ran to my herb shelf and took the moonflower — my whole saving. Worth twenty coins. I boiled water, crushed it into paste. My hands shook. He was so big, so beautiful even bloody. His paws bigger than my hands. "Drink this," I said, holding his big head up. His cold nose touched my hand. He lapped charcoal water weakly. His golden eyes looked into mine. I felt a strange pull in my chest, like my heart recognized him. "You are poisoned. Who would poison a beautiful wolf like you?" He whined and closed his eyes. I worked all night. I cleaned his wound, put my precious moonflower paste on it — all my savings gone — and wrapped it. I wiped his fur clean. I kept the fire burning. I fell asleep next to him on the floor, my hand on his warm fur. Despite being a wild animal, I felt safe. Safer than I had felt since Mama died. I dreamed of golden eyes. I woke up cold. The fire was low. The weight next to me was different. No fur. Warm skin. My eyes flew open. Not a wolf. A man. A completely naked man, on his side where the wolf was. Pale skin, black wet hair, same bandage on his leg. Lips still dark from poison. But his eyes — when they opened — same gold. Melted honey gold. I screamed and hit the wall. "Who are you?! Where is my wolf?!" He tried to sit, groaned in pain. His voice was low, rough, deep. "Your... wolf is here, little innocent healer." I grabbed my fireplace poker with shaking hands. "Did you kill him? That moonflower was my whole saving!" He coughed dark blood. Still poisoned. "Did not kill... I am him. You... spent your savings to save me." "Impossible!" He inhaled deeply, smelling me, and shivered. "Moon Goddess... after all these years..." "Who are you?" He lifted his weak hand, eyes never leaving mine. "Zane," he breathed. "My name is Zane. You spent your little savings for a wolf you didn't know, Ariaa. Innocent girl with a kind heart... now you are mine to protect, my Luna." My blood went cold. "How do you know my name? I never told my name!" He smiled, painful, beautiful. "Your mother prayed to Moon Goddess to protect you, Ariaa. I heard it. And now... I found you." Then his eyes closed. He passed out. Bandaged leg, golden eyes, black hair, my name on his lips, and my empty herb jar — my whole saving gone. The wolf I healed was a man. And he knew my mother. Outside, the forest wolves howled, calling for their Alpha ___________