Maria’s eyebrows knitted together. Her weariness was evident rather than anger. “You and Kyle are from enemy packs. He’s the Moonlight Alpha heir. You two can never be together, Leah. My advice is a kindness in the long run.”
A dark smile turned up the corners of my mouth. “Kindness? Yeah, because you Moonlights are really known for that, aren’t you?”
Maria’s demeanor shifted as she looked me over intently, her hazel eyes softer now, as if searching for understanding. “Kyle's mission is an arduous one. No matter what you feel, becoming entangled with him will only hinder his career and ideals.”
For a fleeting moment, I drowned in the memory of being entangled with Kyle. His strong arms had lifted me effortlessly,laying me down on his desk, where his hands, lips, and tongue had swept my body with a fire that had matched mine. I longed for his embrace now, to feel that overwhelming sense of intimacy envelop me.
But Maria’s words lingered like a bitter aftertaste. Nor was she done. “You must see that with the grievances between our packs, becoming involved with each other will only endanger yourself and the Blood Moons.”
My throat tightened, and the truth of her warning clawed at me. My wolf’s defiant spirit whispered that we’d risk everything to be withour mate. Maria had a bond with Kyle; he’d called herTlaak’w, Auntie. They’d used the ancient language of the moon goddess. And she’d even called himIrniq, son. I yearned to know their history, to understand that closeness. In a kinder world, I imagined Kyle’s low voice calling meIlak, mate. But in this world, with all its complexities, wasn’t Maria right? Such a hope was foolish.
“Some of the Moonlights, especially the traditionalists on the council, believe that Kyle’s reforms toward your pack are only the result of your influence,” Maria continued, her eyes earnest and imploring.
Confusion and anger whipped through me. “Kyle’s a good man who believes in the reforms he’s implementing,” I defended, my voice growing stronger now.
“I know that, Leah,” she replied, her tone softer again. “But you must see that his reforms will be easily dismissed, even destroyed, if it becomes known he was involved with a Blood Moon.”
I ground my teeth, restlessness running through my body. The pulse of anger surged, desperate for an outlet, yet Maria’s warning about the repercussions for my people gripped me tight. I clamped my mouth shut, the truth of her words quelling my urge to argue.
For a moment, silence enveloped us, the air thick with emotions. I watched as Maria pottered around the infirmary, performing her routine tasks before returning to my bedside, this time bringing me medical rather than relationship advice. “Your estrus, Leah, needs to be controlled. I’m prescribing you three capsules daily.” She held out a small bottle, her voice unwavering. “It’s vital if you don’t want to be ruled by your wolf’s urges not to forget to take them. I can give you a month’s supply, which is the highest dosage that the council currently allows me to prescribe to Blood Moons. I’ll book you in for a month’s time to come back and get a refill. You’ll need to take this high dosage to suppress the symptoms this first heat cycle, then we’ll work on lowering the dosage for next month.” She paused and then added, “This will help you manage your estrus symptoms and prevent anyone from discovering your relationship with Kyle.”
My heart thudded against my ribs. I remembered Maria’s earlier words to Kyle regarding the high level of hormones coursing through my veins—signs of my readiness to mate. The reality sank in that Maria understood that Kyle and I were fated mates. With this medicine, she intended to preserve our secret for the sake of our packs.
Although her advice pierced me, I sensed something kinder beneath her stern exterior. Resignation settled in as I silently accepted her goodwill.
As I lay in recovery over the next few days, the medicine slowly dulled the effects of my estrus, and acceptance washed over me. I could endure this. The knowledge that the pills would help me manage my symptoms brought me comfort, even as the thought of not being near Kyle left an ache in my heart. Perhaps this separation would give me the clarity I needed. Without his intoxicating presence nearby, I could grow strong again.
Soon enough, Maria deemed me well enough to leave. She informed me that my belongings had already been gathered from Kyle’s home and returned to my cabin in the Blood Moon territory.
Pushing open the door to my cabin felt like stepping through time—both an eternity and a fleeting moment since I had been her last. The familiar, well-worn space greeted me, steeped in memories like a sunlit day. It wasn’t the only greeting either.
“Oh my goddess!” Lucy squealed, her slim arms almost immediately around me as I entered.
Phoebe lowered her wooden flute from her lips, her face lighting up, too.
But my heart caught in my throat as I spotted Mary. She sat cross-legged on her bed, aglow with health, wearing her belovedMinerals Are Magicjumper, a remnant from happier times before the war. Mary was skilled in metalwork and had loved making jewelry from unique minerals and metals gleaned from our lands and the surrounding pack lands. The Nightwing Pack’s lands were her favorite place to get her materials. Some of the rarest ores were found there—not that she’d been able to indulge her craft since the start of the war.
Mary was halfway through plaiting her golden hair, and the braid fell slack from her fingers. “Leah!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with joyful disbelief.
In an instant, I was across the room, pulling her in for a fierce hug. Tears glistened in our eyes as we breathed in the familiarity of each other.
“You look so good,” I murmured, slowly releasing her.
“All thanks to you,” she said, her face warm with gratitude. “If you hadn’t—” she began.
“You’re safe and well. That’s all that matters,” I interjected, not wanting to think about what might have happened or about how Kyle had been the one to help save her. If it hadn’t been for his order for Blood Moons to get medical treatment, Mary likely wouldn’t be here.
The shadow must have shown on my face though because she asked, “What’s wrong, Leah?”
I shook my head, the last thing I wanted to do was go into what had happened over the past month between Kyle and me. Besides, Maria’s serious words about keeping my relationship secret from others was foremost in my thoughts. So, instead, I explained, “I had to go to the infirmary because of complications due to malnourishment.”
“That asshole,” Phoebe exclaimed.
I took in her indignant expression. “What do you mean?”
“That Alpha heir, while reforming the portions for the rest of us, has been starving you,” Phoebe said.
I shook my head vehemently. The soft thought of how Kyle had lingered in his study door, surreptitiously checking that I was taking my full meals, came back to me. “It was complications from long-term malnourishment,” I explained. “Like you, I’ve been eating well. Healer Maria has given me extra vitamins to take every day, so as long as I remember to take them, I’ll be fine.”