MOONBOUND Beauty under a curse

The night before

*UPDATED CHAPTER 13: NIGHT 5 OF 6 - 1 FOOT*

_SHADOWLAND - THE NIGHT BEFORE_

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*6A - ANA POV*

The storm over *Shadowland* wasn’t natural.

I knew it. Lucian knew it.

1 foot between us.

And outside, wolves were moving in the trees. Not attacking.

Waiting.

“They’re here,” Lucian said. No looking back from the window.

“Frostwood?”

“No.” His voice was flat. “Elder Rowan’s escort. For my birthday.”

My blood went cold.

“Birthday... collection?”

“Correct.” He finally turned. Gold eyes. Tired.

“Tomorrow I turn 22. If the bond isn’t complete by sunrise, Frostwood has the right to take you back. For the ritual. Contract signed 29 years ago.”

29 years. The day he was born. Shadowland sold me before I was even born.

My scars flared. “I’m not going back.”

“I know.” 1 foot. His hands were fists.

“But if I touch you tomorrow and you’re not my mate... I can’t stop them. Law of the packs.”

The wind howled. Somewhere out there, I heard it.

A low voice in the storm: _“Happy early birthday, Alpha. We’ll be here at dawn.”_

Not a threat. A reminder.

I swallowed. “So Night 6 is it.”

“Night 6 is everything.”

He sat on his bed. 1 foot away.

“If we fail, they take you at sunrise. If we succeed, Shadowland lives and they leave empty-handed.”

He looked at me. Really looked.

“Are you scared, Ana?”

“Terrified.”

“Good.” A ghost of a smile. “Means you’ll fight.”

Lightning hit. For a second I saw them.

Shadows at the tree line. 6 of them. Frostwood’s crest on their cloaks.

Not here to fight. Here to _take_.

Night 5. 1 foot.

And dawn was coming with a cage.

*6B - LUCIAN POV - ALPHA OF SHADOWLAND*

They didn’t cross the border.

That would be war. And Shadowland isn’t ready for war.

They’re just... waiting.

6 Frostwood enforcers. Camped at the edge of my land.

For my birthday. For her.

_Lucas, calm._

1 foot from Ana and I couldn’t touch her. Couldn’t tell her how scared I was.

The contract was old. 29 years. Signed in blood the day I was born.

_"Should the Alpha of Shadowland fail to complete the bond by age 22, the half-fae child of [REDACTED] will be surrendered to Frostwood for the Ritual of Renewal."_

They think she’s the key to breaking their own curse.

They don’t care that it will kill her.

“Lucian?” Her voice was small.

“They won’t take you,” I said. Lie. Or prayer. I didn’t know.

“But tomorrow...”

“Tomorrow is 0 feet.” I met her eyes. “Tomorrow we find out if you’re mine. Or if I lose you and Shadowland.”

Outside, another howl. Closer.

_“Dawn, Alpha.”_

My birthday.

My death sentence. Or hers.

I laid down. 1 foot away.

And stayed awake all night listening to Frostwood breathe in my forest.

*End Ch 13*