Chapter 35. The Pull of Love and Duty

The moon hung like a silent sentinel in the sky, casting silver light across the forest, painting the trees and river in an otherworldly glow. The night was still, the air cool and sharp, as though the world itself was holding its breath. But inside Ella’s chest, a storm raged—untamed and unrelenting.

She stood at the edge of the riverbank, her reflection rippling in the moonlit water. Her body ached from relentless training, muscles sore, bones heavy—but her spirit thrummed with a strange, wild energy. Her wolf stirred beneath her skin, no longer just a whisper, but a rising force.

Yet with that power came something more dangerous—feelings she couldn’t suppress, emotions that surged every time Damian drew near. The way his gaze lingered on her… the brush of his fingers… the quiet strength of his voice. Her pulse would quicken, her spirit would blaze, and her soul—gods help her—would tremble.

She shut her eyes tightly, chest constricting with a mix of longing and f