Moonbound Desires

Episode 13

The Call of Blood

Lila sprinted after Dante’s disappearing figure, her heart pounding in her chest. She could hear the howls growing louder, the pack responding to the distress call. Despite the exhaustion still clinging to her from the day’s training, she pushed forward, determined not to be left behind.

As she broke through the thick underbrush, she stumbled upon a scene that made her stomach drop. In a small clearing, three wolves lay injured, their dark fur matted with blood. Around them, the air was tense, filled with growls and snarls as the pack formed a protective circle.

Dante stood at the center, his golden eyes blazing as he surveyed the c*****e.

“What happened?” Lila gasped, rushing to his side.

Dante didn’t answer immediately, his gaze locked on the wounded wolves. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and dangerous. “An ambush. Rogues crossed the border again.”

Magnus, who was crouched beside one of the injured wolves, looked up with a grim expression. “This wasn’t a random attack. They were waiting for us.”

“Waiting for us?” Lila echoed, her stomach churning. “Why?”

Dante’s jaw tightened, but it was Magnus who answered. “Because of you.”

Lila froze, her breath catching. “Me? I didn’t—”

“You didn’t have to,” Magnus interrupted. “Word’s already spreading. They know there’s something unusual about you, and they want to test our strength. See how far we’re willing to go to protect you.”

The weight of his words hit Lila like a blow. She looked around at the injured wolves, guilt clawing at her chest. This was her fault—her presence had put the pack in danger.

“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” she whispered, her voice shaking.

Dante turned to her, his expression softening slightly. “This isn’t your fault, Lila. The rogues made their choice.”

“But they wouldn’t have attacked if I wasn’t here,” she said, her eyes stinging with unshed tears.

“You can’t think like that,” Dante said firmly. “This is our world, and this is what we do—we protect our own. You’re part of this pack now. That means we fight for you, just like we’d fight for anyone else.”

The pack murmured their agreement, their loyalty a tangible force in the air. Despite her guilt, Lila felt a flicker of warmth at their support.

“What do we do now?” she asked, forcing herself to focus.

“We retaliate,” Dante said, his voice cold and unyielding.

---

The Hunt

Night had fallen completely by the time the pack set out. The forest was alive with the sounds of their movements, the soft padding of paws against the earth blending with the whispers of the wind.

Lila followed closely behind Dante, her human legs struggling to keep up with the wolves’ pace. Despite her exhaustion, she refused to slow down.

“Stay close to me,” Dante said, his voice low. “If anything happens, you run. Understand?”

Lila nodded, though she had no intention of running. She had caused this—she needed to see it through.

The pack moved like a well-oiled machine, their senses heightened as they tracked the rogues’ trail. Lila could feel their collective focus, the bond between them strengthening their resolve. It was awe-inspiring and intimidating all at once.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached a rocky outcrop overlooking a narrow ravine. Dante held up a hand, signaling for the pack to stop.

“They’re close,” he murmured, his golden eyes scanning the shadows below.

Lila strained her ears, but all she could hear was the distant rush of water. She was about to ask how he knew when a low growl cut through the silence.

From the darkness, a group of figures emerged—six wolves, their eyes gleaming with malice. Unlike the pack, these wolves were rough and wild, their fur unkempt and their movements erratic.

The rogues.

Dante stepped forward, his posture commanding. “You’ve crossed into our territory,” he said, his voice carrying through the night. “Leave now, and we’ll let you go.”

One of the rogues—a massive wolf with a scar running down his muzzle—snorted. “You think we’re scared of you, Alpha?” he sneered.

“You should be,” Magnus growled, his eyes blazing with fury.

The scarred wolf bared his teeth, his gaze shifting to Lila. “We didn’t come for you,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. “We came for her.”

The pack growled as one, their fury palpable. Lila’s heart pounded as she stepped closer to Dante, her fear battling with her determination.

“You can’t have her,” Dante said, his voice cold and deadly.

The rogue wolf laughed, a harsh, grating sound. “We’ll see about that.”

And then chaos erupted.

The rogues lunged forward, and the pack met them head-on. The clearing exploded into a frenzy of growls and snarls, bodies colliding with bone-crunching force.

Lila pressed herself against a tree, her heart racing as she watched the battle unfold. She wanted to help, but she didn’t know how. She was a liability—a weak link in a chain of strength.

A rogue broke through the fray, his eyes locked on her. Lila’s breath caught as he charged toward her, his teeth bared.

Instinct took over. She ducked at the last second, grabbing a fallen branch and swinging it with all her strength. The wood connected with the rogue’s side, and he stumbled, giving her just enough time to back away.

But he recovered quickly, his snarl sending a chill down her spine. He lunged again, and this time, she knew she wouldn’t be fast enough.

A blur of black fur intercepted the rogue, slamming him to the ground. Dante stood over him, his golden eyes blazing with fury. With one swift movement, he ended the rogue’s threat, his teeth sinking into the wolf’s throat.

Lila stared, her chest heaving as Dante turned to her, his expression softening.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, his voice rough.

She shook her head, her legs trembling beneath her. “I’m fine.”

The battle ended moments later, the remaining rogues retreating into the night. The pack regrouped, their injuries minimal compared to the damage they had inflicted.

But as they stood in the aftermath, Lila couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The Shadow Alpha was out there, watching, waiting.

And she knew, deep down, that he wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted.