Moonbound Hearts

Pack Pressure

Aidan barely slept that night. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Victoria's face, heard the soft melody of her voice, felt the phantom warmth of her presence beside him on that fallen log. His wolf paced restlessly beneath his skin, whining and scratching to be let out, to run back to the creek and wait for her return. The intensity of his reaction to her was unlike anything he'd ever experienced, and it terrified him almost as much as it thrilled him.

By dawn, he was up and moving, trying to work off his restless energy with a punishing workout in the pack's training grounds. The Crescent Moon Pack's compound was nestled deep in the Cascade Mountains, a collection of rustic cabins and modern buildings that housed nearly two hundred wolves. It was a thriving community, one that had existed in secret for over three centuries, and Aidan had never questioned his place in it.

Until now.

"You look like hell," his brother Marcus observed, joining him at the heavy bag where Aidan had been taking out his frustrations for the better part of an hour. As the pack's Alpha, Marcus commanded respect from every wolf in their territory, but to Aidan, he was still the older brother who had taught him to hunt, to fight, and to understand the weight of responsibility that came with their supernatural gifts.

"Couldn't sleep," Aidan muttered, throwing another vicious combination at the bag.

Marcus studied him with the keen intelligence that had made him such an effective leader. At thirty-two, he was in his prime, his dark hair showing the first hints of silver that marked him as an Alpha in his power. His mate, Sarah, had given him two cubs, and the contentment of a bonded pair radiated from him like warmth from a fire.

"Want to talk about it?" Marcus asked.

Aidan's hands stilled on the bag. More than anything, he wanted to confide in his brother, to share the confusion and longing that was eating him alive. But how could he explain what had happened without revealing his contact with a human? How could he make Marcus understand the pull he felt toward Victoria without sounding like he'd lost his mind?

"Just pack business," he lied, hating himself for the deception. "Thinking about the territorial disputes with the Silver Ridge Pack."

Marcus nodded, accepting the explanation, though Aidan caught a flicker of something in his brother's eyes that suggested he wasn't entirely convinced. "Speaking of pack business," Marcus said, "Mother wants to see you. Something about the Harvest Moon celebration next month."

Aidan's stomach dropped. The Harvest Moon celebration was one of the pack's most important traditions, a time when unmated wolves were encouraged to find their partners and begin the bonding process. His mother, Elena Stormwood, had been increasingly vocal about her desire to see her younger son settled with a suitable mate.

"I'll talk to her later," Aidan said, turning back to the punching bag.

"Aidan." Marcus's voice carried the subtle authority of an Alpha, and Aidan found himself stopping despite his desire to avoid the conversation. "You're twenty-five. Most wolves have found their mates by now. Mother's not wrong to be concerned."

"I know," Aidan said quietly. "I just haven't found the right wolf yet."

The lie tasted bitter on his tongue, because the truth was that he had found the right one. She just wasn't a wolf at all.

Marcus clapped him on the shoulder, the gesture both supportive and warning. "The pack needs strong bloodlines, strong partnerships. You're one of our best, Aidan. Your cubs would be powerful additions to our numbers."

"I understand my responsibilities," Aidan said, though the words felt like chains wrapping around his chest.

"Good," Marcus said. "Because there are several unmated females who would be honored to be considered as your mate. Celeste Moonrunner, for one. She's been asking about you."

Celeste was beautiful, powerful, and came from one of the most respected families in the pack. She was everything a wolf could want in a mate, and the thought of bonding with her left Aidan feeling completely cold.

"I'll keep that in mind," he said, hoping his brother couldn't hear the lack of enthusiasm in his voice.

Marcus studied him for another long moment, then nodded and walked away, leaving Aidan alone with his churning thoughts and the growing certainty that he was walking toward a cliff with his eyes wide open.

The day passed with agonizing slowness. Aidan threw himself into his duties as the pack's head of security, reviewing patrol schedules, checking the perimeter sensors that helped keep their territory secure, and training the younger wolves in combat techniques. But no matter how busy he kept himself, his thoughts kept drifting back to Victoria, to the way she'd looked in the moonlight, to the promise of seeing her again.

As evening approached, his wolf became increasingly agitated, pacing and whining with an urgency that made it difficult to concentrate on anything else. He tried to tell himself that he wouldn't go, that meeting her again would only make things worse, but even as he made the resolution, he knew it was a lie.

He was going to see her again, consequences be damned.