Moonlit ruin

Chapter 20: The Aftermath

The threat was gone.

The borders were quiet.

The pack was safe.

For the first time in a long time… Elara breathed.

She walked through the Ridge, wolves nodding, smiling, calling her Luna like it wasn’t a question anymore — like it never had been.

She wasn’t afraid of being seen.

She wasn’t surviving.

She was living.

⸻

That night, the pack threw a celebration — food, fire, and laughter that cracked the cold edges off the past.

Kade stayed close, but gave her space — watching her with that quiet, reverent hunger like she was a prayer he still couldn’t believe came true.

But Elara?

She didn’t want space.

Not tonight.

Not anymore.

⸻

They barely made it through the cabin door.

⸻

Kade slammed it shut behind them and had her against the wall in seconds — not rough, but needy.

Her hands slid under his shirt, nails scraping his abs as she yanked it off.

“I thought you said you’d wait forever,” she teased.

“I lied,” he growled, voice thick. “I want you now.”

⸻

They didn’t make it to the bed.

He kissed her like it was the only language he knew — mouth hot and bruising, tongue deep and claiming.

She gasped as he lifted her, wrapping her legs around his waist, grinding against her until they were both panting, starved.

“You’ve ruined me,” he whispered against her throat, biting down just hard enough to make her moan. “No one else. Ever.”

She shoved her hips forward, teasing his length through his jeans. “Then show me how ruined you are.”

He did.

⸻

Clothes were torn. Skin burned.

He dropped to his knees, hands gripping her thighs as his mouth devoured her — slow at first, then faster, until her cries echoed off the walls.

She tugged his hair, begged, screamed his name.

And when she came, shaking and gasping, he didn’t stop.

He carried her to the bed, eyes glowing blue, and slid into her like it was home.

⸻

They moved like fire.

Fast.

Hot.

Unforgiving.

He kissed her like a sinner. Touched her like a worshipper.

Pinned her wrists above her head and whispered, “mine” as he thrust harder, deeper — until her whole body bowed into him.

“Look at me,” he growled.

She did.

And when they came — together — it felt like the world cracked open and rebuilt itself around them.

⸻

Later, tangled in sheets and moonlight, Kade brushed her hair back and murmured, “That was… a terrible goodbye to celibacy.”

She laughed into his chest. “We should probably try again. Y’know. For quality assurance.”

His eyes sparked. “Round three?”

“Round ten, wolf boy.”