Chapter 2

The car fell silent for a second.

The howl of a lone wolf echoed in the distance,a reminder that he should be continuing his patrol of the territory.

Kyle restarted the engine,the vehicle crunching over the gravel road.

“I was just a challenger back then.It was just something I said to appease you.You actually took it seriously?”

He let out a short,dismissive laugh.

“Does the Howling Wind Pack now lack for a single,worthless stone?”

“Next month,I'll crush the Black Rock tribe.I'll give you their chieftain's skull as a wine cup.That's way cooler than some stupid rock.”

“Come on,don't get hung up on such trivial things.”

He was always like this.

Using the most domineering tone to casually crush every hope I held.

Five years ago,Kyle was still a challenger.In the forest,he had woven a bracelet for me from the fangs of some unknown beast.

He put it on my wrist,his eyes red with emotion.

“Ila,when I become Alpha,I will make my mother place the Moonstone around your neck with her own hands.”

“I want every wolf pack in the Northern Reaches to know that you are my one and only Luna.”

I still wore that fang bracelet.

It had been imbued with my scent,becoming as smooth and warm as jade.

The car pulled up to the wooden cabin in the woods.

Kyle unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to look at me.

“Tomorrow is the full moon.Want to go to Moonlight Falls?I'll spend the whole day with you.”

In the past,I would have eagerly prepared wine and food,looking forward to a whole night just for the two of us.

But now,I just felt tired.

“No,thanks.”I pushed open the car door.

“I have to tend to my herb garden tomorrow.”

Kyle got out,locked the car,and caught up to me in a few strides.

He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind,resting his chin on my shoulder and nuzzling the side of my neck.

“Are you really mad?”