The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and something wild that made Luna’s wolf stir impatiently beneath her skin. The moon hung low and bright over Silverpine, casting silver light across the forest and bathing the small town in quiet shadows. Luna had walked these woods countless times since arriving, but tonight felt different. Every sound seemed sharper, every shadow deeper.
She slowed, her breath misting in the cold air, and felt the familiar pull in her chest—the pull that always drew her toward Ethan. His presence had become more than a comfort. It was a need, a magnetic force she could no longer ignore.
A rustle behind her made her turn.
“Luna,” Ethan’s voice called softly, and she exhaled, relief and longing mingling. He emerged from the trees, tall, powerful, and
