Luna’s Forbidden Blood

Translation of Chapter 3

The forest swallowed them whole, the darkness pressing in like a living thing, the rain a relentless drumbeat against the leaves above. Selena’s breath came in ragged gasps, her legs trembling with exhaustion as she stumbled over roots and rocks, Ryder’s hand the only thing keeping her upright. His pace was unyielding, his amber eyes sharp and focused, scanning the shadows for any sign of the Order of the Crescent, the cloaked figures who had turned her life into a nightmare in a single night. The howl they’d heard earlier still echoed in her mind, a chilling reminder of the danger that hunted them, but the heat in her veins burned brighter with every step, a strange energy that both terrified and exhilarated her.

“We’re almost there,” Ryder growled, his voice low and steady, cutting through the chaos of her thoughts. He pulled her down a narrow path, the trees thinning slightly, revealing a small cave carved into the side of a rocky hill, its entrance hidden by a curtain of ivy. He pushed the vines aside, guiding her inside, the damp air cool against her skin, the scent of moss and earth grounding her as she collapsed against the cave wall, her chest heaving.

Selena’s ice-blue eyes darted around the small space, the faint glow of her gaze illuminating the rough stone walls, the shadows dancing in the dim light. Her body ached, her mind a whirlwind of fear and confusion, Noah’s betrayal a raw wound that throbbed with every heartbeat. She looked at Ryder, his broad frame filling the entrance, his leather jacket slick with rain, his amber eyes watching her with an intensity that made her heart stutter. “What… what do we do now?” she asked, her voice trembling, her hands clutching her jacket as if it could hold her together.

Ryder turned to her, his expression softening, a flicker of something tender beneath the hard edge of his Alpha demeanor. He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, the heat of him drawing her in despite the fear that still gripped her. “We rest,” he said, his voice rough but gentle, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of silver hair from her face, his fingers lingering against her cheek. “You’re safe here, Selena. I won’t let them touch you.”

The words sent a shiver through her, the heat in her veins flaring, a primal pull toward him that she couldn’t ignore. She didn’t understand it—the “fated mate” bond he’d spoken of, the power in her blood, the way her body responded to his touch—but she felt it, a connection that made her feel alive in a way she never had before. “I don’t even know what I am,” she whispered, her ice-blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears, her voice breaking as she looked up at him. “A Luna? A descendant of the Moon Goddess? It sounds… impossible.”

Ryder’s hand slid to the back of her neck, his thumb brushing against her skin, sending a jolt of heat through her that made her breath catch. “It’s not impossible,” he said, his amber eyes holding hers, his voice steady, grounding. “You’re special, Selena. Your blood, your power—it’s tied to the moon, to the goddess who created us. I’ve seen it before, in the stories my pack tells, but I never thought I’d find a Luna… never thought I’d find you.” His voice softened, a vulnerability in his tone that made her heart ache, and she felt the bond between them pulse, a warmth that steadied her nerves.

Before she could respond, a rustle outside the cave made Ryder’s body tense, his amber eyes narrowing as he turned toward the entrance, his senses on high alert. “Stay here,” he growled, his voice low and commanding, his hand dropping from her neck as he moved toward the ivy curtain, his movements silent, predatory. Selena’s heart leapt into her throat, her body trembling as she pressed herself against the cave wall, the heat in her veins surging, her ice-blue eyes glowing brighter in the darkness.

She heard a low growl, followed by the sound of snapping twigs, and then a cloaked figure burst through the ivy, his yellow eyes gleaming with malice, a ritual dagger in his hand, the blade glowing with that same sickly red light she’d seen in the warehouse. “The Luna’s blood is ours!” he hissed, lunging toward her, but Ryder was faster, his form shifting mid-air into the massive black wolf she’d seen before, his claws slashing through the air, tearing into the man’s chest with a sickening crunch.

The cloaked figure screamed, his body collapsing in a heap, blood pooling on the cave floor, the red glow of the dagger fading as the life left his eyes. Ryder shifted back, his chest heaving, his amber eyes burning with fury as he turned to her, his voice a low growl. “Are you okay?” he asked, his hands reaching for her, pulling her into his arms, his touch both protective and possessive.

Selena nodded, her body trembling, the heat in her veins surging as the adrenaline of the fight mixed with the strange energy inside her. But before she could speak, the heat became unbearable, a silver light erupting from her hands, the glow illuminating the cave as a wave of power surged through her, slamming into the cave wall with a crack that echoed through the forest. She gasped, stumbling back, her ice-blue eyes wide with shock as she stared at her hands, the silver light fading, leaving her trembling, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

“What… what was that?” she stammered, her voice shaking, her eyes darting to Ryder, searching for answers. He stepped closer, his amber eyes wide with awe, his hand reaching for hers, his touch grounding her as the heat in her veins settled, the glow in her eyes dimming.

“That was your power,” he said, his voice low, almost reverent, his amber eyes holding hers with a mix of pride and concern. “Your Luna blood—it’s awakening. You’re stronger than I thought, Selena.” He pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her, his warmth a lifeline in the aftermath of the chaos, and she felt the bond between them pulse, a connection that made her feel safe, even as the world around her crumbled.

The adrenaline faded, leaving her exhausted, her body trembling as she leaned into him, her hands gripping his jacket, the scent of rain and leather filling her senses. But the danger, the fight, the power that had erupted from her—it had ignited something else, a primal need that surged through her, amplified by the bond, the closeness of him. She looked up at him, her ice-blue eyes shimmering with a mix of fear and desire, her voice a whisper. “Ryder… I need you.”

His amber eyes darkened, a low growl rumbling in his chest as he cupped her face, his thumb brushing against her lips, the touch sending a shiver through her. “I need you too,” he growled, his voice thick with lust, his lips crashing against hers in a kiss that was all fire and desperation, the cave fading away as the heat between them consumed everything.

Ryder’s hands slid down her sides, gripping her hips as he pressed her against the cave wall, the rough stone cool against her back, a stark contrast to the heat of his body. His lips claimed hers, his tongue delving into her mouth, tasting her with a hunger that made her moan, her hands sliding beneath his jacket, her nails raking down his back as she arched into him. The bond between them surged, amplifying every sensation, the danger they’d just faced intensifying their connection, their need for each other a lifeline in the darkness.

He tugged her jacket off, the damp fabric falling to the ground, his hands roaming her body, the heat of his touch igniting a fire in her core. “You’re mine,” he growled against her lips, his voice thick with possession as he lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist, the rough stone digging into her back as he pressed himself against her, the hardness of him making her gasp. His lips trailed down her neck, his teeth grazing her skin, the sensation sending a shockwave of pleasure through her, her moans echoing in the cave as the rain outside poured harder, the world fading away until it was just them, their bond, their desire.