Page 19 of Howling Love (Hunter’s Moon Ritual #1)

Gracie

If I hadn’t felt out of my comfort zone before, I certainly did now.

My gaze was riveted on my reflection, unsure if I was ready to face the day outside these doors. I wouldn’t have judged myself too harshly for wanting to stay hidden behind them…but Basir was waiting.

What would he think of how I looked?

There had been piles of clothes to choose from, all newly bought, and I’d made it through half of them before deciding what to wear. It hadn’t been easy. I didn’t even know what size I was anymore, and I was thankful that whoever had purchased these had guessed correctly.

But they couldn’t really be just for me, right? Basir said they’d rescued others, too, so surely these were meant to share.

A fitted cream-colored wrap sweater made of a material called cashmere wrapped around my torso, the long sleeves brushing over my palms. The threading at the edges was gold, with small moons that matched the belt cinched at my waist. My legs were covered in high-waisted dark gray pants that tapered down to my ankles and tucked into my socks to keep me warm.

Paired with flat, lace-up black leather ankle boots, I felt cozy and ready for the day.

I also felt like I was wearing clothes far too expensive for someone like me. My hair was loosely braided to the side with a leather tie, and I searched the mirror for something familiar. There was a faint echo of the girl I remembered from before the raids.

I could find it in the necklace and two rings my mother had left me—simple gold bands, one hanging as a pendant at my throat, set with a small amber stone that caught the light.

I was glad, at least, that they were safe.

When I’d been ripped away from the hotel room, I was sure I’d lost them forever.

But Basir had brought them back to me, and that meant more than I could properly express to him.

It wasn’t enough to be comforting, though, and I had a feeling that I would need to find myself—a version of myself that was no longer a prisoner. It was a notion that seemed impossible to consider.

Smoothing my fingers through the end of my braid, I marvelled at just how soft it was. I hadn’t even needed a shower. My skin and hair were already clean, freshly washed by someone else while I’d been unconscious.

Finally, slipping on a deep green coat that fell to the middle of my thigh, I took a deep breath and turned to face the door.

My hand wrapped around the handle. I refused to give myself more than a second to think about this.

I couldn’t hide from whatever waited for me out there.

If I did, it would spit in the face of anyone who sacrificed their life breaking into the compound.

I didn’t know if I was ready.

But I was going to do my best to try to live again.

The door opened with a soft whoosh. I squinted, direct sunlight beaming through a hallway window.

The cream-colored corridor was quiet and empty as I made my way past several windows, all peering down on the city.

I’d never been in a building so tall or large, and I hoped that Basir wasn’t far away and that I wouldn’t have to search for him.

My world had been so small for so long, the idea of trying to find him was intimidating.

The corridor led to a circular foyer with a domed glass ceiling, the bright blue skies making the marble floor glitter like diamonds were embedded within.

Three hallways led from the foyer all going in different directions.

The one opposite mine led to a series of closed doors that I had to assume were bedrooms, but the central one had a long skylight window that ran the length of the hallway until it opened up into a much larger living space.

Making my way slowly toward it, I was caught off guard by the beautiful scene in front of me, my eyes absorbing every element of the opulent yet understated luxury that these men lived in—assuming this was their house.

I wouldn’t think about how happy it made me to be in their house in the first place.

A floor-to-ceiling glass wall stood across the space, and between me and it were gorgeous pieces of polished wood furniture and soft, cozy sitting areas, all accented by rugs that made the space feel soft and warm.

Hesitating at the doorway, I looked around for Basir but didn’t see him anywhere, my brow dipping in confusion.

The door behind me in the foyer clicked open. I turned sharply, feeling a surge of panic at the surprise. Nothing good ever came of surprises.

Basir stood in the entrance, fresh air from outside drifting in as he looked at me in concern. “Are you okay?”

“Am I okay?” I asked softly, making my way toward him.

“I felt—” Basir cut himself off and shook his head, my heart racing. He had felt what? I needed to know. It was the closest I’d gotten to confirming our connection. “Come on, glow, let’s get you food.”

“Glow?” Basir may have been looking right at me, only inches away, but he was throwing walls up between us. I could almost feel his trepidation, as if he hadn’t meant to confirm our connection or call me glow.

“Yeah, glow,” he confirmed, running a hand through his hair.

“Why glow?” I asked seriously.

“Your hair.” His answer was immediate. “It reminds me of…it doesn’t matter. Come on.”

With a gentle tug of my hand, Basir led me through the door and into the open-air hallway. A smile tugged at my lips, and I pulled him to a stop, unable to help myself.

“I…like it. I like glow. You can call me that.” My voice was barely a whisper, a nervous energy invading my chest. I couldn’t ask him to confirm our connection, fearing rejection, but the nickname? I could tell him I liked that.

I couldn’t even begin to express how good it felt to give my opinion on something without fear.

Basir’s emerald gaze deepened and the gold streaks within seemed to grow brighter, his fingers tightening in mine before he offered a single nod.

I didn’t mind when he led us forward this time, because even with the awkwardness between us, it felt like he might understand what I was feeling and trying to express.

Maybe I should have felt uncomfortable holding his hand, but I didn’t.

“This is a huge building,” I whispered, looking up at the top floor we’d just left.

The building had to have at least thirty floors, and while it appeared to be square, the center of it was open all the way to the bottom, with staircases and elevators leading to each level.

The top three floors seemed to have less access points, and considering we were coming from the very top, it was pretty easy to see how few people there were up here compared to the bottom.

“It’s more of a castle,” Basir admitted roughly. “Although it took a while before I could think of it like that without feeling…”

“Overwhelmed?”

He gave a sharp nod, and I felt a sense of accomplishment that I’d been able to understand his feelings.

I squeezed his hand as we reached the second-highest floor.

I understood what he meant about it being a castle.

While it looked like a skyscraper, there was an air of majesty to it that couldn’t be denied.

Glass, steel, and stone covered every surface, and the open air made the Ironsun Pack flags shift in the wind in flashes of red and gold.

The furniture that decorated even the open corridor was finely crafted and luxurious, with lighting along the wall that seemed to be powered by something more than just electricity, their glow a soft gold that seemed to sparkle.

The place offered a sense of awe and security, but I still couldn’t help but worry that none of this was real.

I couldn’t possibly be safe. I wanted to ask Basir what had happened to Ivan, but I was scared of the answer.

If he was dead, I would feel nothing. But if he was alive, which I assumed he was based on Basir’s earlier comment about him, then I couldn’t truly live without fear.

Ivan had wanted me dead, and the man was never refused.

“Sit. Let me get you some food,” Basir said as we made our way into a massive dining hall.

It was mostly empty, with the exception of a few small groups that looked our way, but the smell of food in the air was heavenly.

I nodded as I took the seat he offered, wrapping my arms around myself and watching as he moved across the space with an ease and confidence I envied.

“Three-one-four. You’re up.”

My eyes widened as I snapped my head to the left, watching as Ravina of all people walked toward me, her words softened by the slight smile on her face.

“Ravina?” I sat up straighter. “You’re here—you made it out!” I hadn’t realized how much that mattered to me as my eyes stung. Ravina and I may not have been friends, but I wouldn’t forget the way she kept showing up those last couple days in the compound.

As she sat down across from me, I immediately noticed a difference in her. There was a glow to her skin, and her dark hair hung in a silky wave to her waist. She was dressed similarly to myself but in all black, the coat wrapped around her shoulders like a shield against the world.

“Of course I did,” she scoffed. “The minute they blew those walls in, I was running. That asshole Colyn tried to stop me, but I managed to get away. When Zev saw me make it through the wall and over the rubble, he offered me a spot on his helicopter. Woke up here.”

“Zev?” I asked curiously, noticing the way she’d hesitated over his name before continuing on.

“Yeah, he’s some captain.” She waved the thought of him away with her hand, but her ears turned pink.

He was someone important to her—or was becoming someone important to her.

“He’s shown me around the past few days.

I’d always heard the Ironsun Pack territory was beautiful, but this place is something else. ”