Page 54 of Moonlit Choosing Ritual

I tried to placate her by offering her some water, but she didn’t accept it, stood up, and rushed back to her tent, leaving me confused as hell.

Taking a deep breath in, I waited for Talon to return. To be honest, even I was feeling like something ominous was about to happen. Needing to distract myself, I picked up a novel I had brought and started reading. I heard the heavy footsteps of people running outside. Clutching the book to my chest, I peeped outside to see what was going on. It seemed like the Viking pack royal had arrived.

In the distance, our warriors surrounded a large tent, along with some Viking pack warriors. I couldn’t help staring at them.

Their looks were unmistakable with pale blond hair and high cheekbones. They looked like shadows of the gods they worshipped—Odin, Thor, and Tyr—moving with purpose and quiet strength. In the dark of the night, they appeared as shadowy, formidable figures with rugged forms. Tall and broad-shouldered, their silhouettes were outlined against the faint light of a distant fire or the glow of the moon. Some had long hair braided or wild, giving them an almost mythic, elemental presence—like ancient spirits emerging from the earth and sea.

Something inside me goaded me to go to them. Like an invisible thread was pulling me toward them. I clasped the tent’s flap and clenched my jaw. Sensations overwhelmed me. Like I needed to go to them, open them up, and see their souls. Like my soul resembled theirs. Cold sweat broke and I let out a rough exhale. Probably, it was because Talon was inside the tent. Goddess! My mouth turned dry and my heart hammered against my chest.

Suddenly, I heard a commotion outside. I lifted my tent’s flap again to see that the Viking royal had come out, sniffing the air with Talon right behind him. I stared at the Viking with my breath lodged in my throat. His gaze snapped right to mine and, before I knew it, he was striding toward me with rage in his eyes, his pale blond hair streaming behind him, his muscles bulging, and his eyes flashing golden even in the darkness.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Talon growled. The warriors stood to attention. It looked like Talon would command them to attack the Viking royal.

But the Viking didn’t stop. Within a few seconds he was in front of me. Our gazes locked, and something slammed in my heart. Like I knew him. Every damn warrior, ours and theVikings, surrounded us. The tension was so palpable that at the drop of the hat, I knew there would be bloodshed.

“Vandil!” Talon growled from behind and came to stand behind me. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, in a clear display of who owned me, and pulled me against his chest. “This is my Luna, Kimble.”

Vandil continued to look at me with a mysterious gaze. “Kimble…” he murmured. “Or Ylva?” His eyes went to my hair that was just as pale as his, and he brought his fingers to touch it.

Talon growled again as a warning, his chest vibrating with a dangerous rumble that resonated through my body. “She isn’t Ylva,” he snarled. “And if you touch her, I’ll make sure that each and every one of you bastards are killed. She’s mine!”

His reverie broken, Vandil’s gaze snapped to Talon. “She’s yours? What do you mean?”

“It means that we’re mated!” Talon replied, his voice laced with venom. “She’s my Luna and my wife. I claimed her in the Choosing Ritual.” He snaked his other arm around my belly possessively. “Don’t you fucking touch her. Just leave, and I’ll forgive your insolence. If you won’t leave, I’ll be compelled to kill you.”

Vandil stared at me again. Then he suddenly turned and marched to the large tent. Talon sagged in relief against me.

“What was that?” I asked, unable to stop the trembling in my body.

“He’s an ass!” Talon remarked. “Don’t come out of the tent. I don’t like the way he was looking at you. If it hadn’t been for the damn talks between our packs, I would have gouged his eyes out and severed those fingers from his hand by now! How dare he touch you?”

“He said I’m Ylva,” I murmured as Talon turned me toward him.

“Don’t bother about him,” he grumbled. “This meeting is coming to an end!”

All of a sudden, I heard a deafening sound. Like many wolves roaring together, the noise reverberating throughout the forest. And then, a painful howl followed by heavy footsteps.

“There’s an attack!” Kenzie shouted into the tent. “Liam has attacked us!”

Chapter 29

Kimble

“What the fuck!” Talon hissed. “How did he know we were here?”

My heart thundered in my chest. All I could think was that Jackie must be the connection. Before I could speak a word, Talon snarled. “It’s Jackie. She must have told him. Catch her!”

“Talon—” I breathed. “I didn’t—”

“Save your breath, Kimble!” he growled at me. He was so angry his anger was palpable. I actually winced as my eyes went wide.

“Do you suspect me?” I asked, disbelief blasting through me.

“No!” he said in a jarring voice. “Come with me!”

But why was it that I couldn’t believe him? His words, his tone were cutting through me like a knife through ice. He caught my hand and pulled me out of the tent. As soon as I stepped out, I saw the enemy wolves, their coats brown as earth, eyes burning with a fiery orange hue. They moved behind their massive Alpha, Alpha Liam, who was standing at the forefront. His growl reverberated through the ground, sending ripples through the air.

My body trembled when his eyes fell on me. Talon clutched me to his side, his teeth bared, a low snarl escaping his throat, promising savage violence. He leaned over and whispered, “Go back to the tent. I’ll send warriors to protect you.” He shoved me behind him.

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