Bound by the Blood Moon

Chapter 5 The Lunar Power Awakening

I ran deep into the wild woodland until my legs burned and my lungs screamed for air, never daring to glance back at the looming black silhouette of Stormfang Castle behind me. Dawn was just starting to tint the sky pale gray when I stumbled into a quiet hollow hidden between ancient oak trees, collapsing onto soft moss to catch my breath.

The mate bond’s dull throb never faded, a constant, bitter reminder of Ronan and all the pain he’d brought me. I curled my knees to my chest, silent tears soaking the frayed fabric of my cloak. I’d lost my mother, been trapped by a forced mate bond, wrongfully punished and locked in a dungeon—there was nothing left tying me to the wolf clans. All I craved was ordinary peace among humans.

A distant, agonized wolf howl split the quiet woods hours after sunrise. It carried the distinct scent of Stormfang blood, sharp and panicked. Curiosity warred with my hatred, but my half-wolf instincts dragged me toward the sound before I could stop myself.

Through a thick line of bushes, I spotted three injured Silverthorn wolves surrounded by a dozen brutal Stormfang hunters. Mia stood at the front of the raiding party, her voice cold and venomous as she ordered her men to strike. “Finish them off. Any Silverthorn stray we find will weaken the false Moon Maiden prophecy once and for all.”

One young Silverthorn she-wolf crumpled to the ground, bleeding heavily from a gash across her shoulder. The hunters raised their iron blades to deliver the final blow. Without thinking, I surged forward, stepping between the injured packmates and Mia’s warriors.

“Leave them alone.” My voice shook, yet carried unshakable resolve.

Mia’s lips twisted with rage when she laid eyes on me. “The runaway half-blood? Perfect. I’ll kill you alongside your pathetic pack, and Ronan will never know the truth about my schemes.”

She snapped her claws and lunged straight at my throat. The second her sharp nails nearly grazed my skin, a blazing silver light burst from every vein in my body. Warm, lunar magic wrapped around me like a shield, pushing Mia flying backward several yards with a shrill cry of shock.

I stared down at my glowing palms in shock. The old prophecy my mother whispered to me as a child echoed in my mind: the half-human Moon Maiden’s hidden lunar power awakens when her pack faces mortal danger.

Gentle silver light flowed from my fingertips to the wounded Silverthorn wolves, stitching their gashes closed and soothing their burning pain. As the magic surged through me, fragments of hidden truth flickered across my mind’s eye: Mia had stolen the lunar relic, planted my torn cloak as evidence, and lied to Ronan to tear us apart. Every cruel scheme the she-wolf had woven was laid bare before me.

My heart twisted with sorrow. Ronan had sentenced me to suffering based on fabricated lies, blind to Mia’s jealousy and treachery. Now I held all the proof I needed to expose the villain who had ruined both our lives.