Page 27 of Howling Love (Hunter’s Moon Ritual #1)

Thornar

I knew exactly why Esling looked afraid—because he knew his time was up.

The Ironsun territory had a culture of modern luxury that was unique, even in Thornfell.

It was something we were proud of. But there were areas that were purposefully left stained with blood from years of torture, stones that were wet with moisture, having stood on these grounds for centuries. This dungeon was one of them.

The building was an old soldier’s barrack at the edge of the city, used now as a prison and place to question pieces of shit just like Esling. The mountain wind howled through the battered windows, nearly extinguishing the firelit torches. It was a bleak place—perfect for this bastard.

Still, I found myself annoyed for so many fucking reasons, the main being that I wasn’t with my little flame.

On the way back from our date, I’d immediately contacted one of our captains to ensure that neither Esling nor his point of contact went anywhere.

They never stood a chance against the security measures we had throughout the city, but it was still amusing to know that both he and his point of contact had tried to run.

It illuminated a lot about what their objective had been.

I’d been watching Esling for some time now because I knew he had ties to the Grimfur Skulk.

We’d placed eyes throughout the city, waiting for him to mess up, and when Tilo informed me of his presence at a fucking sweet shop ?

With someone the old man didn’t recognize? I knew that he’d finally made his move.

The messenger was dead, and Esling’s communication had been intercepted—a note to Ivan about Gracie’s presence within the Ironsun territory.

Esling would die for his transaction, not only against our territory but against my mate .

He would have put her in direct danger without a thought, her life in threat, in order to curry favor in the Cold Moon Pack. Un-fucking-acceptable.

Which was why I hadn’t let him die yet.

“You know, I should be at home, asleep with my mate,” I said casually, knocking the ground with my boot as I sat on a chair facing the bastard in question.

He’d already been tied up and roughened up by the guards, his right eye swollen shut and lip split.

I bet he wished that was all he had to worry about, but I could tell how terrified he was.

Obviously, rumors about my treatment of traitors hadn’t gone unnoticed.

“I didn’t realize she was your mate.” His voice was gargled, as if underwater. Probably because of the blood in his mouth.

“It shouldn’t fucking matter,” I growled, smiling at the way he shrank in response. “But you’re right—you should have been way more fucking polite to her.”

“I didn’t even?—”

I kicked my foot out and sent the bottom of his chair off balance, the heavy piece of furniture—and himself—collapsing onto the floor.

“What was your plan?” I asked curiously, staring up at the ceiling. “Were you planning to tuck tail and run back to Ivan? You couldn’t possibly think we weren’t watching you.”

“I won’t tell you shit.”

I figured that would be the case. Standing, I rounded the bastard on the floor and put my boot on his throat, watching his face turn red with exertion. “It actually doesn’t matter what you tell me. I was already planning to kill you.”

A legitimate whimper left his lips.

“Do you know why?” He couldn’t fucking answer, so I continued. “You scared her. Gracie’s been scared enough. She doesn’t have to feel fear anymore—not from the world, and not because of me.”

I was responsible for the violence and rage Gracie had sensed through our bond. It was suppressed inside me until moments like this, and this bastard had pulled it out of me. Gracie had been forced to feel that part of me—a burden she should never have to carry—because of him.

I didn’t tolerate traitors. I didn’t tolerate spies. The Ironsun territory had sheltered my sister and me when we were exiled from our home, and I’d be damned if this bastard lived after trying to undermine our newfound home and, in the process, terrify my mate .

My mindset, my logic, may have been twisted. I could admit that. But I also didn’t care—not when it came to Gracie feeling safe. I would have never purposefully exposed her to that side of me, and the only thing that would restore the balance was punishing this asshole for it.

“She doesn’t belong here—she belongs to Ivan!”

Esling’s words were his last.

The syllables hit me one by one as I pulled my gun from the holster at my hip and fired, point blank. Once. Twice. A third time.

Silence filled the dungeon.

I stared down at his blank, wide eyes. The holes in the center of his skull leaked dark blood that looked black in the low lighting. And still—despite killing him—I couldn’t shake the feeling that he should have suffered more .

“You killed him.” Basir’s factual tone filled the silent chamber from the doorway. “ Already. ”

“He said Gracie belonged to Ivan.” He shouldn’t have any more questions or comments after that.

I cleared and put away my gun, walking to the far end of the room to grab a rag. Blood had splattered on me. I wouldn’t normally mind, but I planned on going back to Gracie right after this.

She was safe at home with Ravik, having fallen asleep on the couch almost the minute we got back, but I needed to be close to her. I needed to know that the darkness she’d felt leaking off of me had left her—that her thoughts were far away from that.

Basir was quiet for a long moment, but I knew what he was going to say before he opened his damn mouth. We both had violent tendencies, but he was less reactive than I was. That was just the truth of it. I also knew that Esling’s words would have infuriated him as much as they did me.

“You still should have waited until we were able to extract more information.”

There it fucking was.

“We got everything we could out of him. Besides, he scared Gracie. She could feel my anger toward him through our bond.” I hesitated. “She was terrified.”

I had a feeling that something similar had happened to Basir in front of the temple—that the screams and pain she’d felt had been a reflection of him, a shadow of the emotion he kept buried.

Basir’s voice was a bit sharper when he responded. “So you scared her.”

My chuckle was dark as I turned toward him, feeling a flare of annoyance. “I would have never scared her if he wasn’t a traitorous piece of shit.”

Basir shook his head. “That’s some twisted fucking logic, Thornar.”

I shrugged, because he wasn’t wrong— but now I knew better. Now I could work to keep that part of me so locked away that it didn’t touch my mate, even through our bond.

“If we want to talk about twisted logic,” I drawled, voice low, “let’s talk about you dodging Gracie every chance you get—so scared to be alone with her that you end up hurting her feelings. But you’re always watching her. Always.”

“Damn right she shouldn’t be alone with me,” he hissed, a flash of intense panic crossing his face. “You and Ravik, of all fucking people, know she shouldn’t be alone with me.”

“No.” I crossed my arms. “You’re more scared of yourself than Gracie is, and she sees right through that shit.”

I was filled with rage and darkness, but I also had no problem owning that— admitting to it.

The silence stretched between us for a long moment before Basir deflated, shaking his head. “It doesn’t matter. I couldn’t stay away from her, even if I tried.”

Because Gracie was absolutely everything.

“Let’s get back.” I nodded to the door. “We’ll let the crew clean up.”

The tension between us faded as we walked side by side up the stairs and out of the old barracks. It was a somewhat long walk home, and once we were under the lights of the city, the familiar sights and sounds grounding me, I felt like I could think past the cold rage I’d just experienced.

“I wonder how many more Eslings exist in the territory. I know we have eyes on a few potential spies, but something about how he acted felt… wrong. ” My voice was hushed, but Basir nodded in agreement. “He didn’t panic. Or beg. Not really,” I continued, frowning.

“Paired with the radio silence from the Cold Moon Pack, it just doesn’t sit right,” Basir agreed. “Ivan is planning something. We need to get a shadow placement on the ground to get a good gauge on what it is and how bad it is.”

“I know that Deegan wants to meet Gracie tomorrow. We can suggest the move forward then. I’m sure Ravik will agree.”

“Ravik was asleep when I left.”

I stopped in my tracks. “He fell asleep ? I didn’t think the bastard could sleep.” Obviously that wasn’t completely true, but Ravik was known for being up at all hours of the night.

“Gracie.” Basir’s one-word answer was enough for me to understand. Gracie brought something to the three of us I hadn’t even realized we needed. A softness, sure. But also a lightness that I relished in. Every hour I spent with her—the more I learned about her—the more fascinated I became.

By the time we made it back home, it was well past midnight. We entered the house silently, and without a word, I made my way toward my bedroom. Although, I didn’t plan on sleeping in here often anymore. After last night, I never wanted to sleep away from Gracie.

A low rumble broke from my throat at that thought as I removed and stored away my weaponry, then did the same with my clothes.

Sleeping in the same bed with Gracie was both paradise and a true test of my willpower.

She had spent most of the night spread out on top of me, her long, silky legs intertwined with my own and her fingers gripping my chest.

I was just so fucking thankful for the oversized clothes she’d been wearing.

Not that it helped how hard I was. Just her scent had done it for me, let alone the feel of her soft body tangled with mine.

I knew, I fucking knew , that she would make the sweetest sounds when I had the chance to explore her perfection.

Not yet, though.

When I had Gracie underneath me, I wanted her to feel completely comfortable. I wanted to wring every ounce of pleasure from her body without hesitation. I knew the day would come—I felt the need our connection inspired in her through our bond—but until she was ready, I would wait.

After an ice-cold shower, trying to shake those particular thoughts of Gracie from my head, I got dressed and made my way to the bedroom.

I was unsurprised to find Basir and Ravik talking quietly on the balcony, Basir likely filling Ravik in on the night’s events.

I didn’t waste time on that, instead moving to the side of the bed that Gracie seemed to favor.

Sinking into the sheets, I pulled her toward me with an arm around her waist.

Instantly, the coldness I’d felt in my bones seeped away, replaced by a luminous warmth. My eyes grew heavy as I gave in to sleep, knowing that when I woke, I would get to do it with her in my arms.