Page 29 of Moonlit Choosing Ritual

He stared at me, his expression like still waters after a storm—calm, steady, his anger gone, as if the dam that held back his rage had finally burst, letting him flow smoothly again. “No, she’s gone. Forever. You’ll stay here,” he said, his voice soft as a whisper carried on the wind.

My heart pounded in the silence, fear and uncertainty creeping over me like cold shadows. “What do you mean?”

He stepped closer, his thumb grazing my cheek like a feather brushing against glass. “I know you want to settle your debt and be free.” His voice was unexpectedly tender. “I have a proposition for you.”

I swallowed, tension coiling tight in my shoulders as I waited for the rest.

Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, he said, “Sleep tonight. When you feel better, I’ll explain.”

“Sleep with you?” I asked, my breath catching in my throat.

“No,” he said, pointing to the couch by the mantel. “I’ll sleep there.”

His words caught me off guard, and I licked my lips, trying to find something to say, but he made it easy for me. “You need a hot bath,” he said gently. “I’ll draw you one.”

How could he shift so quickly, from a storm of rage to the calm eye of a hurricane, while I was still drowning in the chaos of my emotions?

“Kimble,” he whispered, “just take a bath and rest. I know you’re dealing with a lot…” His words trailed off, unfinished, as he turned away. I didn’t argue; I was too drained to fight. But seeing this side of him—so soft, so unlike the Talon I knew—left my mind spinning.

He prepared the bath and then left, giving me privacy. Talon was an enigma, a man of contradictions. He brought me back from the Eclipse pack to cage me, yet here I was, free to bathe in peace. No chains, no restraints—just warm water and silence.

After a long bath, I curled into the bed, pulling the covers tight around me like armor. Sleep came quickly, but with it, nightmares—wolves with golden eyes chasing me through the dark.

When I finally woke, it was late, and Talon sat at the edge of the bed, watching me like a sentinel. I bolted upright, pulling the sheet over me. “Talon,” I mumbled groggily.

“There’s breakfast for you,” he said with a faint smile. “Eat, and then we’ll discuss the deal.”

The deal. Right. After getting ready, I sat at the table, breakfast laid out—scrambled eggs, toast, fresh fruit. I noticed Talon perched on the bed, his eyes closed, inhaling the scent of my sheets, looking… relaxed.

“Talon?” I called, breaking the moment.

He opened his eyes, startled.

I filled my plate. “I don’t have much choice, so tell me about the deal.”

He didn’t waste time, and came to sit with me. “I’ll waive ten thousand dollars of your debt for every night you spend with me.”

I froze, my toast halfway to my mouth, a gasp escaping me.

“I know you’re not eighteen yet, and I won’t touch you until then. But you’ll stay in this room with me.”

I wasn’t shocked by the strange proposition—Liam told me that werewolves didn’t care about age. If I had let him, he would’ve taken me already. But this… this was different.

Talon leaned back on the couch, watching me.

“I know you hate me, Alpha Talon, but this—” I began. His finger pressed against my lips, silencing me. His touch sent a spark through me, an electric current that raced to my toes. I felt I was going mad.

“You have no other choice, Kimble,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, the way he said my name sending my heart into a frenzy. “I won’t let you stay anywhere else. But I’m offering you a lifetime deal.”

“You won’t touch me?”

“Not unless you want me to.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

For some reason, his promise washed over me like a warm tide, melting away the tension, the weight I’d been carrying for so long. Talon didn’t make promises lightly, but when he did, I knew he’d keep them.

---