Cursed Moon Rising

Unwanted Salvation

Luna woke to warmth and softness—two things she hadn't experienced in three years. Her eyes flew open, body tensing for flight, but pain immediately forced her back down. She was in a bed. An actual bed with clean sheets that smelled of lavender and... him. That storm-pine scent that made her chest ache.

"Don't move." A woman's sharp voice came from the corner. "You'll tear the stitches."

Luna turned her head slowly. A female with long black hair and familiar silver eyes sat in a chair, arms crossed. The family resemblance to Alpha Kai was unmistakable.

"I'm Zara, the Beta here," the woman said coldly. "And you're lucky my brother has lost his mind, or you'd be dead."

"The collar," Luna whispered, her hand flying to her neck. It was still there, but something was different. The burning had lessened.

"Our healer did what she could. Wrapped it in moon-blessed herbs to slow the drain." Zara leaned forward, her eyes hard. "But that's dark magic, death magic. It's killing you from the inside out. Who cursed you with it?"

"My... my pack's elder. After the trial." Luna's throat felt raw. "They said it was mercy. Better than immediate execution."

"Mercy." Zara laughed bitterly. "That collar will kill you within the year, probably less. It's eating your wolf first, then your life force. I've only seen one before, on a traitor who sold pack secrets to hunters."

The door opened, and Luna's entire body reacted to Kai's presence before she even saw him. Her heart raced, skin flushing with heat that had nothing to do with fever. The suppressed mate bond she'd felt in the forest roared to life, making her gasp.

Kai's eyes immediately found hers, and she saw his pupils dilate. He felt it too.

"Leave us, Zara."

"Kai, you can't seriously—"

"Go."

Zara stood, shooting Luna a warning look before departing. The door clicked shut, leaving them alone.

Kai approached slowly, like one might approach a wounded animal. "You said you were framed for killing your mate."

It wasn't a question, but Luna nodded anyway. "Three years ago. The night of my eighteenth birthday."

"Tell me what happened."

Luna closed her eyes, remembering. "Jason was the Alpha's son. We'd grown up together, and everyone assumed we'd be mates. When I turned eighteen, we discovered we were." Her voice cracked. "I was so happy. We were going to announce it at the celebration, but he asked me to meet him in the forest first. Said he had something important to tell me."

She opened her eyes to find Kai watching her intently. "When I arrived, he was already dead. Throat torn out, blood everywhere. I tried to help him, got covered in his blood. That's when the patrol found me."

"No investigation? No trial by combat?"

"There was a trial. My brother Marcus spoke for me, but the evidence..." Luna touched the collar. "Jason's blood under my nails from trying to help him. No other scents because it had rained. The Alpha was grieving, furious. He wanted me dead immediately, but Marcus convinced him to show 'mercy' with the collar instead."

Kai was quiet for a long moment. Then: "Your brother. He's Beta of Riverdale?"

Luna nodded, confused by the question.

"Interesting." Kai moved closer, and Luna's traitorous body responded, leaning toward him instinctively. "And you've been running ever since?"

"The collar makes me easy to track. Wolves can sense the death magic. I've been living among humans mostly, but sometimes packs send hunters. There's a bounty."

"How much?"

"Fifty thousand, last I heard."

Kai's laugh was dark. "Your Alpha must really want you dead." He sat on the edge of the bed, his weight dipping the mattress. Luna's whole being screamed to touch him. "But here's what puzzles me, little wolf. You're not lying. My wolf would know. Which means either you're the best actress I've ever met, or you're telling the truth."

"Why do you care?" Luna whispered.

His silver eyes flashed. "Because you're my mate."

The words hung between them like a physical thing. Luna's breath caught. "That's... that's impossible. I had a mate. He died."

"And yet here we are." Kai's hand moved to her neck, fingers hovering over the collar but not touching. "My wolf recognized you the moment I scented you. Weak as it was through this curse, it was unmistakable."

"Second chance mates are a myth," Luna protested, even as her body hummed at his proximity.

"Many things are myths until they're standing in front of you." His fingers finally touched the collar, and Luna gasped at the spark of connection. "This needs to come off."

"It can't. Only the one who placed it or their death can break it."

"Then Elder Margaret still lives?"

Luna's eyes widened. "You know her?"

"Every Alpha knows of the Riverdale elder who practices the old magic. She's lived far too long to be natural." Kai stood abruptly. "You'll stay here while I investigate."

"I can't. Your pack won't accept a rogue—"

"You're not a rogue. You're my mate." The possession in his voice made her shiver. "That makes you Shadowmoon now, whether either of us likes it or not."

A knock interrupted them. Zara entered without waiting, her face tense. "We have a problem. Riverdale envoys at the border. They're demanding we return their fugitive."

Kai's eyes never left Luna's. "Tell them no."

"Kai, they're threatening to involve the Council. They say she's a murderer—"

"She's innocent." His certainty was absolute. "And she's under my protection now."

Zara's shocked gaze went between them, understanding dawning. "Kai, you can't be serious. She's—"

"My mate." The words rang with Alpha command. "And someone went to great lengths to frame her. I want to know why."

He turned to leave, then paused at the door. "Luna, rest. Heal. Tomorrow, we start looking for real answers."

When he was gone, Zara remained, staring at Luna with a mixture of disbelief and calculation. "A mate bond. That explains his insanity." She moved closer. "But mate or not, if you bring danger to this pack, I'll kill you myself. Slowly."

Luna believed her. But as Zara left and silence settled, all Luna could think about was the feeling of Kai's fingers on her collar, the absolute certainty in his voice when he declared her innocent.

For three years, no one had believed her. No one had even tried.

Her wolf, buried deep under the curse, stirred slightly. Hope, Luna realized. For the first time in three years, she felt hope.

Then she heard the howls from the border, familiar voices from her old pack. They'd come for her. And leading them, she recognized her brother's distinctive call.

Marcus was here.

The collar began burning again, hotter than before, and Luna screamed.