Page 23 of Howling Love (Hunter’s Moon Ritual #1)
Gracie
The soft, distant sound of a television brought my heavy eyes to open—the world around me bathed in heat, comfort, and confusion.
The first two probably had to do with the proximity of a very warm, masculine chest underneath my cheek.
Something I didn’t allow myself to process just yet, because I knew my face would turn bright red.
Thornar’s deep, rhythmic breathing and solid heartbeat removed any trepidation as I tried to piece together the past few hours. Or maybe it had been longer than that.
Following the revelation in the Solspire, both Ravik and Thornar had brought me back to their home before all but barricading the doors.
Of course, it hadn’t been that extreme, and I was pretty sure I could leave at any moment—but why would I want to?
Especially when we’d spent most of the afternoon and evening just… being .
After everything I’d been through, it was impossible to ignore the simplicity and pleasure of existing without pain—without fear. But that was what they provided: a structure I felt like I could finally breathe into.
After a few hours of Thornar’s amusing comments and Ravik’s intense yet comforting presence, my cheeks had even hurt from smiling.
We’d played several board games and even watched a few shows, one of which Thornar found particularly amusing.
And when Ravik made a dinner of steak and soft, seasoned potatoes, I hadn’t hesitated to eat second servings, because even the little I knew from the men made me aware that was what they would want.
But the evening had been missing an essential element: Basir.
He’d never come back, and while we hadn’t spoken about Solenne or Isara’s revelation or what had brought us to them in the first place, I had a feeling they were concerned about Basir’s absence as well.
It had been less than a day, but it was obvious how close the three men were.
Essentially brothers. The guilt of playing a part in Basir’s absence weighed heavily on me, especially since he still hadn’t returned by the time I’d fallen asleep on the couch.
The last thing I wanted was for Basir to feel like he couldn’t be in his own home.
Trying to shake myself from that thought, I slowly shifted away from Thornar and his large chest. I looked down at the gorgeous man, a wash of embarrassment filling my cheeks.
I was in bed…with Thornar. His massive frame was spread out, an arm behind his head and his chest rising in slow, even breaths. It was unfair how beautiful he was, and I found myself staring, almost in awe, before I forced myself from bed.
I had no idea how we’d gotten from the couch into the bedroom, but if he woke up, I’d have no idea what to say to him. I was glad, in a way, that it was just him. I didn’t know where Ravik was, but the idea of both of them in bed with me was almost too much to bear.
I quickly made my way into the closet, grabbing a pile of clothes and taking them into the bathroom attached to the suite. I breathed out a small sigh as I closed the door and leaned my body against the surface. What in The Eight was I doing?
Turning toward the large vanity mirror, I wrapped my arms around my waist, noticing that I looked…
different. My hair hung loose around my shoulders, and I was wrapped in an oversized shirt that Ravik had given me.
It felt surreal to see myself standing in a bathroom so opulent and gorgeous, while being so relaxed and comfortable.
This wasn’t the life I’d ever thought I’d live.
I had to make sure not to take this for granted. I had no idea what the future would hold. This could be a temporary reprieve, so I would enjoy it as much as possible.
Thankfully, Ravik had shown me how to turn on the shower yesterday.
The many dials and knobs had confused me at first, much to my embarrassment, but this morning I was able to take a quick shower.
There was no way I’d have been able to fall back asleep—not with so much on my mind.
The clock on the vanity read nearly six in the morning, but I felt energized, my body not used to the amount of sleep—nor the quality—I’d just been given.
Within fifteen minutes, I was ready for the day, dressed in an oversized green sweater with velvet bows on the shoulders. The rest of my clothes were simple—black pants and black boots—but the sweater entertained me as I fixed my hair with a similar ribbon to keep it out of my face.
When I stepped out of the bathroom, I was relieved to see Thornar still sleeping. I would have felt guilty for waking him, especially after our long and eventful day yesterday.
Leaving the bedroom and walking down the corridor toward the foyer, I thought about everyone I’d met.
Elowen had been amazing, and though I hadn’t been able to talk to her after the ritual in the temple, I knew I’d probably see her soon.
She seemed set on being friends, and I hoped I could be a good one. I’d never really had that before.
Then there was Solenne and Isara. Even with everything else going on, I couldn’t help but notice how easily they finished each other’s sentences—almost magnetic in how naturally they fit together as mates.
Solenne reminded me of a priestess from an old text, her white silk dress flowing around her short curvy frame marked with gold-painted sigils.
She carried a calm, familiar warmth, and the way she treated Isara—always checking in before acting—was undeniably sweet, the kind of steadiness anyone would want in a mate.
Isara had a willowy frame wrapped in sapphire fabric, her copper skin marked with silver sigils that echoed Solenne’s.
Silver rings gleamed on her long fingers and through her onyx braids, catching the light when she moved.
There was something protective in the way she watched her mate, her brown eyes softening every time Solenne spoke—like a wolf content to guard what mattered most.
I felt lucky to have witnessed such an authentic display of love.
The front door opened with a whoosh as I slipped out into the early morning air. I hesitated for only a second before letting the door fall shut, hearing the lock click into place.
Well…I supposed it was good that I was dressed and ready for the day.
Standing in the morning stillness with the eerie silence of the Ironsun castle surrounding me, I couldn’t help but wonder why I’d left the suite.
Was I trying to prove to myself that I could be on my own?
Or maybe it was because I’d been fighting the urge to search for Basir for too long.
His expression, agonized and guilt-ridden, was still vivid in my mind.
Basir believed his touch had hurt me, but I was more certain than ever that it hadn’t been him.
After learning about the god scar on our bond, I had a feeling it was simply a reaction—an intense, divine reaction—triggered by our mating connection.
It could have happened with any of them; it just happened to be him.
And I could feel that it had awakened something in him too—something that was keeping him away.
Or maybe it was bigger than that. Maybe Basir understood exactly what existed between us and didn’t want it.
Thornar and Ravik hadn’t looked surprised when the bond was confirmed, but I couldn’t tell if they were happy about it, so it wasn’t hard to imagine that Basir might be uncertain, maybe even afraid.
I’d tried so hard to hide my own reaction—how thrilled and relieved I’d been that the bond I felt was real—but I wasn’t sure I’d succeeded. That joy had bloomed…until fear crept in.
What if none of them wanted this?
They hadn’t asked for the bond, or the tether that came with it. And they certainly hadn’t asked to be marked by a god—bound to a goddess who, to me, still represented bloodshed and pain.
Nyxarra was the reason so many had died in the Cold Moon Pack. Why had she chosen me, now expecting us to serve her as champions? Had I been rescued only to fall under a new master, dragging my mates into a future dictated by the gods?
Guilt surged like a wave, hot tears burning behind my eyes. Maybe the reason Basir stayed away and the other two hadn’t brought it up last night was the most obvious one:
They might be considering rejecting the bond .
Forcing myself to walk forward, blinking away tears, I made my way down the open-air hallway in search of something to occupy my mind. I knew the only thing that would fix this was asking them, but I realized pretty quickly I had no idea where to look.
After thirty minutes of wandering the first two floors, I made my way to the nearest living space I could find—a floor down and opposite the dining room from yesterday.
There was almost no one around except soldiers in training gear.
I tilted my head, thoughtful. I bet that was where Ravik had gone.
The room was cozy, with chairs and soft surfaces arranged around a fireplace, its embers faintly glowing.
Morning sunlight poured through a series of glass doors on the far wall, framing a view of the mountains.
I was drawn to the balcony, stepping outside and catching my breath—not just from the altitude but from the view.
My fingers tightened on the railing as I looked down, then back up, a wave of nausea rising in my throat. Heights made my skin crawl, and standing here only proved it.
“You eventually get accustomed to it.”
A jolt of adrenaline surged through me as I tensed, snapping my head to the side. A woman stood several feet away, in almost the same position as me. Her gaze was fixed on me with polite interest, then she offered a small smile.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” I said quickly. Humor sparked in her navy-blue eyes, softening her sharp, elegant features.