The Moss-Kissed Contract by Mira Monstro

Length: 20,000 words

When overworked botanist Nora Clemont inherits her late aunt’s remote woodland cabin, she expects a quiet refuge to heal and rediscover herself. Instead, she awakens an ancient contract binding her to Bramble, a towering forest guardian who has protected the land for centuries.

Seven feet tall with bark-like skin, moss-covered shoulders, and luminous antlers, Bramble is both terrifying and mysteriously gentle. At first, Nora’s fear drives her to resist the shared stewardship of the home and forest. Yet as days turn to weeks, his patient kindness and quiet loneliness begin to mirror her own hidden vulnerabilities.

Together they navigate the delicate balance of trust, mutual care for the enchanted woods, and the slow unraveling of emotional walls. When external threats endanger the land they both cherish, Nora must decide whether to flee back to her solitary life or embrace a profound connection that promises healing, purpose, and a love rooted in the deepest magic of nature.