Howling at the Same Moon

-Robert-

I stood outside Carina's apartment, my heart pounding harder than I cared to admit. Being away from Silverpine for the past few days had left me restless, and now, as I raised my hand to knock on her door, I wondered why I suddenly felt like a teenager asking his crush to prom.

The door swung open before my knuckles touched the wood. There she was, smiling up at me, her eyes sparkling like opals in that way that always managed to disarm me. Her chocolate curls were tied back, a few loose strands framing her face, and the apron around her waist was dusted with flour.

"Bobby! I'm glad you're back!" she said warmly, standing on her tip toes to give me a kiss before stepping aside to let me in.

I was greeted by the rich, savory aroma of garlic, mushrooms, and wine--a meal that promised to be as incredible as the woman making it. My stomach growled in response, but my wolf stirred for a different reason entirely. Beneath the inviting smell of chicken marsala, I caught

his

scent.

My jaw tightened as I followed her into the kitchen. The scent was vaguely familiar and distinctly male, and far too fresh for my liking. It clung to the air, to the couch, to her. Another man had been here recently.

It was faint, just enough to ignite a spark of jealousy that burned in my chest. He'd been here, in her space, where his scent didn't belong. I pushed the thought away, determined to enjoy the evening without letting my emotions get the better of me.

"This smells amazing," I said, closing the door behind me and forcing a smile as I took in her cozy apartment. She had cleaned up and had a couple candles lit around the space.

"Thanks," she said, brushing her hands on her apron. "I thought you deserved a home-cooked meal after being away."

Her words melted me, and I momentarily forgot about the threat in the room. "You didn't have to go through all this trouble," I said, my tone softened as I took the seat she gestured to at the small dining table.

My wolf was both calmed and agitated by the domestic intimacy of the scene. The candles, the thoughtful meal--it felt like something more, yet her easy demeanor reminded me that she still didn't know the truth about me. Or him. I took my seat at the table, trying to shake the unsettling feeling. The food smelled incredible, but my wolf wouldn't let me fully relax. Whoever he was, he'd been here long enough to leave his mark. I couldn't ask her about it without sounding like a jealous idiot, so I shoved the thought aside.

When she finally sat across from me, we dug into the meal. My first bite had me blinking in surprise.

"This is incredible, Babe," I said, savoring the tender chicken and rich sauce. "No, you've been holding out on me. This is phenomenal."

She laughed, brushing a curl from her face. "You're just saying that."

"I'm not. You've got skills, Baby." I laughed, the tension in my chest easing just a little. "Well, you nailed it. If dentistry doesn't work out, you've got a solid backup plan."

The sound of her laughter settled something in me. For a little while, the conversation flowed naturally, the faint traces of another man's presence fading into the background. Until she shifted the mood with one word.

"Robert," she started, her voice softer now.

I looked up, her tone tugging my full attention away from my plate.

She set her fork down, folding her hands on the table. "I just wanted to say... I'm really happy you're in my life. You've been so kind and supportive, and I don't take that for granted."

Her words warmed me, but the way she shifted in her seat told me there was more.

"That means a lot," I said carefully, watching her. "I'm happy to be here too."

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I also think we need to talk about... well, about the fact that I'm still dating someone else. I just--I want to make sure you're still okay with that. And if you're not, we should talk about it now."

The jealousy I'd been shoving down all evening surged to the surface. My wolf bristled, every fiber of me wanting to claim her, to erase the scent of the other man from her apartment and her life. But I knew better than to let those instincts show.

I leaned back in my chair, keeping my expression neutral. "I appreciate you bringing it up," I said evenly. "I'd be lying if I said it wasn't on my mind, but I told you before, I'm willing to see where this goes. You've been honest about it from the start."

"I know you did, but I just..." She paused, searching for the right words. "I don't want to hurt you, Robert. That's the last thing I want. And I want to see where this goes too, I really do."

Her sincerity cut through my jealousy, but it didn't erase it. "You won't hurt me," I said simply, even though I didn't know if that was true.

"I've been thinking about all of this," Carina said after a long pause, her tone shifting again. "And I feel like it might help if we set some... boundaries. Ground rules."

The fork in my hand felt heavier than it should have, and I set it down carefully. My wolf didn't like the sound of this.

Boundaries.

But I kept my face neutral, leaning back slightly in my chair. "Ground rules?"

She nodded, fiddling with her napkin, her cheeks flushing the faintest pink. "Yeah. I know it sounds kind of... I don't know, cold? But I've never been in this kind of situation before, and I want to make sure no one gets hurt. And I've got to look out for myself too, ya know."

My chest tightened, but I didn't interrupt. If this was how she needed to navigate things, I'd hear her out.

She took a deep breath and continued. "I'm still figuring out what I want, and I don't want to string anyone along. So, I think it would be best if we were honest about things, always. No secrets. If something feels off, or if one of us starts feeling uncomfortable, we say it. No holding it in until it turns into something bigger."

Honesty. Though the irony of her asking for honesty, while I kept the biggest part of myself hidden, wasn't lost on me.

"Okay," I said, my voice calm. "That's fair. What else?"

She glanced at me, her eyes soft but serious. "I also think it's important that we respect each other's time and space. If I'm spending time with... with him," she hesitated, her voice lowering slightly, "I'll make sure you're not left waiting around. And I hope you'd do the same for me."

I didn't respond right away, my wolf snarling silently at the idea of her with someone else. Someone who wasn't me. But I forced my human logic to the front, nodding slowly. "Makes sense."

"And I want you to know," she added quickly, "this doesn't mean I care about you any less. It's not about choosing one person over the other right now. It's just... trying to figure out what feels right. I'm still trying to find out what I want in life now."

Her words landed softly, but they still stung. She was kind--far kinder than I probably deserved. I'd known what I was walking into with her, and yet, every moment I spent with her made it harder to imagine stepping away.

"Is that everything?" I asked, my voice steady despite the storm churning inside me.

"Yeah," she said softly, studying my face. "Does it sound okay to you? I mean, if it doesn't, we can talk about it more--"

"It's okay," I interrupted, offering her a small smile. "I appreciate you being up front about this. It's better to have clear expectations than to fumble around in the dark."

She looked relieved, her shoulders relaxing. "Thank you. I know this isn't easy, but I don't want to lose what we have, Robert. I really don't."

"You won't," I said firmly, though a part of me wondered how much longer I could keep this up.

But the truth was, I was already hurt and angry. And I had no one to blame but myself for letting someone else get this close to begin with.

Carina gave me a warm, grateful smile. "Thank you, Robert. For being so understanding about all of this. I know it's not easy, and it means a lot to me."

I nodded, forcing the tension in my shoulders to ease. "I told you I'm here for you. I meant it."

Her smile widened slightly, and she leaned back in her chair, the flickering candlelight dancing in her eyes. "Enough of that, though. Can I just say, the moon on Saturday night was

gorgeous

? Did you see it?"

The moon. My wolf stirred at the mention, an unwelcome reminder of what the moon meant to me--what it meant to all wolves. But I kept my expression light.

"Yeah," I said, my voice even. "I caught a glimpse while I was out of town. It was... something else."

"It was," she said wistfully, her gaze growing distant for a moment before she turned her attention back to me. "It just made me feel so... peaceful, you know? Like everything's going to be okay, even when life feels complicated."

Her words struck a chord in me, though I didn't let it show. She didn't know how close to home she'd hit, didn't know the moon's pull wasn't just poetic for me.

I managed a small smile. "I think I get what you mean."

We eased back into lighter conversation, laughing over old stories and talking about her day at work. By the time we finished dinner, my plate was practically licked clean. I insisted on helping her clear the dishes, but she swatted me away with a laugh, shooing me toward the couch.

"You cooked," I said, trying to argue.

"And you're my guest," she shot back. "Go get comfortable. I'll be there in a minute."

I relented, sinking into the couch as she tidied up. A faint trace of the other wolf's scent clung to the cushions, igniting a growl deep in my chest. I shoved it down, hard. This wasn't the time.

Carina joined me a few minutes later, carrying a bowl of popcorn and wearing a pair of cozy socks that made her look ridiculously cute. "Okay, I picked a comedy tonight," she said, holding up the remote. "Who doesn't love a good Sandler movie?"

She nestled against me easily, her head resting on my shoulder as the movie started. The feel of her body pressed against mine was intoxicating, a balm for my frayed nerves. If I closed my eyes, I could almost forget the other scent lingering in the room, but not entirely. It gnawed at me, a reminder of what I couldn't control.

Still, I focused on her laugh, the way she leaned into me during the funniest scenes, her genuine joy lighting up the room. It was worth every ounce of restraint I had to hold my wolf back.

When the credits rolled, she stretched lazily, looking up at me with that easy, soft smile of hers. "Thanks for coming over tonight, Robert. I really needed this. I missed you"

I walked with her to the door, lingering as she stood in the warm glow of her apartment light. Her gaze met mine and like magic, everything else fell away.

Leaning down, I captured her lips in a kiss, slow and intentional. I savored the taste of her, the softness of her mouth, letting the world fade into the background. She was mine. She might not know it yet, but she was mine.

When I finally pulled back, my hand lingered on her cheek, and I memorized the way she looked at me--warm, trusting, unaware of the storm raging inside me.

"Goodnight, Babe," I murmured.

"Goodnight, Bobby," she said softly, her smile lingering as she closed the door behind me.

Walking to my truck, I clenched my fists at my sides, willing my wolf to stay calm. The taste of her, the feel of her against me--it was all I needed to remember why I was doing this.

I tried to relax my fists as I walked to my truck, my boots scaping against the asphalt in the parking lot. The faint breeze did nothing to cool the heat rushing through my chest. No wolf was going to get close to her without me knowing who they were--or what they wanted.

It realistically could be anybody, but certainly not anyone from my pack. They would have scented me immediately and done the right thing, not to mention I would recognize their scent.

Sliding into the driver's seat of my truck, I started the engine, the low rumble doing little to calm me. My fingers gripped the steering wheel for a long moment before I reached for my phone. I didn't even give Darren a chance to say

hello.

"I need to know who the fuck has been with Carina," I said, my voice low and steady, though every word felt like gravel grinding in my throat.

There was a brief pause on the other end. "I've already been on it, pal." Darren's voice was sharp.

"There's a wolf around her. I've smelled him more than once now. I want to know who the hell he is and why he's so close to her. Find out everything you can--without her knowing."

"I already have."

"Who is it?" My blood was rushing at the thought. I had asked him to keep an eye on her while I was gone, but I didn't realize he would be so productive so quickly.

"Amarok. Alpha of the Frost Moon Pack."

With that my blood ran cold.

That motherfucker.

Victor Amarok.

The name landed like a punch to the gut.

I clenched the steering wheel, my pulse hammering against my skull.

Victor wasn't just some random alpha. He was dangerous--calculating. He never did anything without a reason. If he was circling Carina, it wasn't by accident.

Darren's voice echoed in my head. "Victor's been spotted at her apartment multiple times."

My fingers curled tighter around the leather. She had no idea. No clue what she was walking into.

I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to think.

This isn't just jealousy. This is a threat.

Victor had played these games before. He'd use charm, gifts, smooth words, pretending to care--until he got what he wanted.

And what if Carina didn't see it coming?

"I need surveillance on Carina," I told Darren, my voice low, steady.

Cold.

"Full-time. Discreet as hell."

Darren hesitated. "You got it."

"Find out everything. And Darren?" My grip tightened.

"If he even

thinks

about touching her--I want to know first."

I ended the call, shoving the phone into the cupholder before resting my forehead against the steering wheel. The fury simmered in my veins, but there was something else, something that gnawed at me even more.

She was my mate. He was just playing some political game.

---

-Carina-

By Wednesday evening, the rhythm of my week had settled into its usual hum. Work at the office, then straight home to bury myself in textbooks. Between managing patients all day and the coursework for my degree, I barely had time to think about the... complicated parts of my life. And honestly, that was probably for the best.

It was Wednesday night when I found myself sitting cross-legged on my living room floor, surrounded by a fortress of notes, highlighters, and sticky tabs. My latest purchase, a shiny new book on recent dental health advancements, sat propped open on the coffee table. But my attention kept drifting to the older book resting beside it, its worn leather cover looking out of place amidst the modern chaos of my study materials.

After finishing a particularly tedious chapter on clinical trial design, I finally gave in to the urge. I pushed aside my academic notes and reached for the book, running my fingers over its cracked spine. The leather was soft and cool under my touch, the intricate embossed designs feeling almost alive. Lucy had said this book would guide me, help me learn what it meant to be a witch. At the time, I hadn't been sure whether to laugh or run away, but now... now I wasn't laughing.

I opened the book slowly, half-expecting the blank pages from before, but they weren't. The words were back, glowing faintly, as though they had been waiting for me. "What are you?" I murmured, more to myself than to the book.

To my shock, the text on the page seemed to shimmer faintly, as though responding. My heart skipped a beat, and I blinked, wondering if I'd imagined it.

"Did you... did you just respond?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Several pages turned before laying still again.

"Okay," I said cautiously, leaning in closer. "Let's try this again.

What are you

?" The words shimmered, several pages flipping before settling on a blank page. Slowly the words materialized.

To the witch awakened, the path is set. Let the power of the moon guide you.

Not this again. The phrase pulsed with a soft light, and the pages shifted again, the book practically alive in my hands. I traced the edge of one page, careful not to press too hard, and whispered, "But, what is my path?"

The ink shimmered and rearranged, forming a simple response:

You hold the key. Ask, and I will answer.

The knot in my stomach loosened, replaced by a cautious curiosity. I took a deep breath, biting my lip as I thought about what to ask. "Okay," I said, voice steady. "What is this... energy I've been feeling lately?"

The candle on the coffee table flickered again, the flame dancing in sync with the words that formed on the page:

The energy is your connection. The magic of the moon stirs within you. You are awakening, Carina.

My name. Seeing it written there made my breath hitch.

"How do you know my name?" I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

The book responded immediately, the words appearing in bold, unyielding script:

Because you are meant to hold this power.

I stared at the page, my fingers trembling. "Lucy," I said aloud, remembering her cryptic smile when she'd gifted me this book.

I tilted my head, staring at the book as if it might blink back at me. Its answers so far had been straightforward, eerily precise, and entirely unhelpful when it came to making me feel less... awkward about talking to a

book.

But if it was going to listen and talk, I couldn't just keep calling it "the book."

"Do you have a name?" I asked, unsure if I'd sound ridiculous asking the question.

The words shimmered into view, their reply frustratingly matter-of-fact:

I do not. I am simply a grimoire.

"Simply a grimoire?" I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Well, that's boring." I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes at the page. "If we're going to be spending time together, you should have a name."

The candlelight flickered, but no new words appeared. Apparently, the grimoire wasn't interested in the idea--or it just didn't care. I pursed my lips, deciding I cared enough for the both of us.

"All right," I said, tapping a finger on the edge of the cover. "Let's see... how about Frank?"

The candle dimmed slightly, and I couldn't tell if it was a coincidence or if the book was offended.

"Not a Frank, huh?" I smirked, leaning back against the couch. "Okay, what about Celine? Taylor? Maybe Alex? You could be an Alex--kind of neutral, very modern for an ancient... magical book."

No response. I frowned, my fingers drumming on the book's cover as I thought harder.

"Or maybe something more dramatic," I said, warming to the idea. "Like Theodora! Or Barnabas!" I paused, scrunching my nose. "No, too stuffy. I don't want to feel like I'm talking to someone's great-great-grandparent."

The book remained silent, its pages still, but I could've sworn the hum of energy felt amused.

"Fine," I sighed, throwing my hands up. "If you're not going to help, I'll just keep guessing." I glanced at the flame dancing on the coffee table. "What about Ember? That's got a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"

The candle flickered brighter, and for a split second, I wondered if I'd hit on something. But when no words appeared on the page, I sighed.

"You know," I said, narrowing my eyes at the grimoire, "this would be a lot easier if you'd just tell me what you prefer. I mean, are you... male? Female? Or do books not have genders?"

The flame seemed to steady, its light unwavering as the book finally responded.

I am a grimoire. I require no name.

"Of course you don't," I muttered. "But

I

require something, so you're getting a name whether you like it or not."