Chapter 8: Moonfire and Messed-Up Hearts
398 Words
My hands were still shaking from the last training session.
Kayden’s voice echoed in my head:
“Don’t control the power. Let it know you.”
Easy for him to say — he didn’t almost blow up a tree today.
The air was cool that night. Too cool.
I sat on the stone ledge behind the old altar, staring at the bruises on my arms. Silver bruises — from my own magic.
I didn’t notice Kayden until he was right next to me.
He didn’t say anything. He just sat.
Close.
So close our knees touched.
“You’re getting stronger,” he said quietly.
“I almost scorched you today,” I muttered.
He chuckled — low and soft. “A little moonfire never scared me.”
I rolled my eyes, but inside… I smiled.
The silence stretched, warm and full of things unsaid.
Then he reached over, gently took my wrist, and traced the glowing mark on my skin — the one that had appeared during training.
“You know what this means, right?” he asked.
I swallowed.
“No.”
He looked up at me, eyes golden and full of something that made my heart stumble.
“It means you’re not just becoming stronger…”
“You’re becoming one of us.”
My pulse jumped.
Because "one of us" didn’t just mean wolf.
It meant... bonded. Chosen. Fated.
“You mean—”
“I mean,” he interrupted, leaning closer, “that whatever happens… I’m with you. No matter what.”
Then it happened.
His hand brushed my cheek.
My skin lit up under his touch — literally.
Moonlight shimmered over both of us like it had been waiting for this moment.
His lips were inches away.
But I pulled back.
“You don’t even know who I really am.”
His eyes darkened.
“Then let me find out. Bit by bit. Kiss by kiss.”
And I let him.
Just once.
Soft. Slow.
Like falling into fire without the burn.
We sat there under the moon, barely touching — but everything felt loud.
The world, the forest, the mark on my skin.
And somewhere far behind us…
Sienna’s voice broke the silence:
“Wow. What a lovely secret.”
We froze.
She stepped out from the trees, arms crossed, smile sharp.
“Guess I was right to follow you after all.”
- Writer
