When The Moon Hides Her Crown novel Chapter 158

SERAPHINA

Dressing back into my clothes and spraying perfume over my skin, I stepped out from behind the wide trunk of the tree. Ronan was waiting by the river we had crossed earlier, his tall figure illuminated faintly by the moonlight.

The moment my heat subsided and I regained my strength, I hadn’t wasted another second in that cave. Shifting into my wolf, I carried my clothes carefully in Phina’s jaws. Since my wolf form was larger, the water never reached high enough to soak them as I swam across.

Now, standing before him, Ronan’s sharp eyes swept over me from head to toe. “Will you be able to walk?” he asked in that low, steady voice.

The memory of our thigh fuck flashed vividly in my mind, making it impossible to meet his gaze. “Yes,” I whispered, stepping forward quickly.

Not that it mattered, he caught up in just two strides, fingers brushing against my cheek. “Your blushing face is luring me in for another kiss,” he murmured, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, his playful tone making my heart stumble. I turned my face away to hide my smile, staying silent, while he continued to watch me with that knowing grin. Goddess, now that I had finally admitted my feelings for him, it was impossible to control my expressions. Everything about him seemed magnified, his smile more intoxicating, his eyes more intense, his every movement sharper, more seductive. Butterflies churned in my stomach, and worse…I still couldn’t push away the memory of his cock between my thighs when we lay together. The image alone made my wolf stir eagerly, her desire igniting at the mere thought.

I was absolutely going to hell for this.

Before I could drown further in my shameful thoughts, I noticed Ronan’s gaze fixed on my hair. My natural scent had vanished, cloaked entirely by the perfume’s effect. And thankfully rain had stopped completely an hour ago.

My neck warmed under his intense stare, and I stammered, “Umm, what time is it now?”

“One a.m.,” he answered casually.

My eyes nearly leapt from their sockets. My stomach hollowed out. “One a.m.?! Are you serious?”

Chapter 158 Blueprint

The sky was still black, leaving me with no sense of time, but his words crushed me. If I counted from the moment we fell into the river to when my heat overtook me, at least half an hour had passed, maybe more. Which meant…we had been out of the trial for four, perhaps even five hours.

“Goddess, why did I have to slee

I that long?” I slapped my hand over my mouth in horror. “Everyone must have already returned to the Academy, the task must be over! What if the gates have been closed?” Panic flared, and i broke into a frantic pace, like a rabbit fleeing into the night.

Until Ronan’s hand caught mine, halting me. His voice was calm, unshaken. “The gates will not be closed.”

I whirled on him, desperate. “How do you know that?”

A shadow of a smirk played on his lips. “Because I hid two of the Alphas‘ pages. This task won’t be over before morning.”

I froze, staring at him wide–eyed. So…he hadn’t jumped into that river recklessly. He had planned everything. Every move had been calculated from the very beginning.

“Something to say, princess?” he teased, his brows arched playfully.

I rolled my eyes, refusing to give him the satisfaction of an answer, but a small smile curved my lips as I turned away. This Alpha was always several steps ahead of everyone else’s thoughts. That mysterious edge of his both infuriated and drew me in.

After a while, I glanced at him sideways and asked, “Where did you find that herb?”

“Just around the forest,” he replied a little too casually.

I nodded, though suspicion gnawed at me. Could such a potent herb really be found so easily in these woods?

Our conversation carried us to the bottom of a cliff. It wasn’t far, perhaps the height of a ten or twenty storey building, but with the rocks still slick from rain, the climb was far more dangerous than it looked.

Minutes later, breathless and scraped, we reached the top. My heart thumped when I realized we had crossed into Academy territory.

“We should hurry” I said, already jogging ahead, but Ronan’s voice stopped

1. me.

“You go first. I’ll catch up.”

I paused, blinking at him. “Why?”

“I have to be somewhere,” he said, his expression unreadable.

My brows furrowed, “Where?”

“Do you want to come with me?” he tilted his head, almost taunting.

A bad feeling prickled my chest. “Where?” I repeated firmly.

His lips curved into that mischievous grin, “To pee.”

Before I could react, he caught my hand and tugged me off the path.

My entire face flamed red. I yanked my hand free with a sharp glare. “You’re crazy!” I spun on my heel and bolted into the forest, my voice echoing after

1. me.

His laughter followed me, deep and unrestrained, only fueling my

embarrassment. My teeth clenched as I quickened my pace. I should have punched him.

Smiling, I noticed a bird in the tree on the side. It had red eyes and it seemed to be looking straight at me. What kind of bird it was? Strange. I tore my eyes from it and ran to the academy.

Unknown to me, the bird’s

yes narrowed as my form vanished from view. Through its gaze someone watched a small smile curled at his lips. Silas.

–

“So she’s still in the Lupine Academy.” His smile faded, dark eyes hardening. “Now this is not fuckin‘ good.”

RONAN

I bit my lip as I watched her vanishing back. That slender, tempting frame…l didn’t know how long I could withstand her charm. Especially when she blushed.

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