Luna's POV
I'm throwing the last of my clothes into the bag when I hear it.
Glass shattering in the living room.
My heart stops. Storm explodes forward in my mind, screaming danger.
Kael! I shout, dropping the bag.
He's already moving. In one smooth motion, he shifts into his massive black wolf bigger than any wolf I've ever seen. His golden eyes glow in the darkness as he charges toward my living room.
I follow, my hands shaking. Through the broken window, I see three figures in black masks climbing inside. Rogues.
They came for me. Just like Kael warned.
Kael's wolf launches at the first rogue with a vicious snarl. Blood sprays across my white walls as his teeth find the rogue's throat. The man goes down screaming.
The other two rogues shift into their wolf forms scraggly brown wolves with red eyes that mark them as pack less. Dangerous. Desperate.
One charges at Kael. The other turns toward me.
Terror freezes me in place. I can't shift pregnant wolves who shift risk killing their babies. I'm defenceless.
The rogue wolf lunges. I scream and grab the only thing near me heavy camera tripod and swing it with all my strength.
It connects with the wolf's head with a sickening crack. The rogue yelps and stumbles back.
But he recovers fast. He crouches, ready to spring again, and I know my camera equipment won't save me this time.
Then Kael is there.
He hits the rogue like a freight train, his black wolf so full of rage that the air crackles with Alpha power. The rogue doesn't stand a chance. Within seconds, he's running for his life, jumping back through the broken window and disappearing into the night.
The third rogue is already gone apparently deciding this fight wasn't worth dying for.
Kael shifts back to human form, breathing hard. There's blood on his hands, his chest, his face. His eyes are still glowing gold.
Are you hurt? he demands, grabbing my shoulders. Did they touch you? Did they
I'm fine, I gasp, but I'm shaking so hard I can barely stand. The baby
Is the baby okay? Kael's hands move to my stomach, and even through my fear, I feel the shock of his touch.
I think so. I press my hands over his, checking for pain, for cramping, for anything wrong. But Storm says the baby is safe. For now.
Heavy footsteps thunder up the stairs. Four huge men burst through my door pack enforcers, I realize. They must be the security team Kael called.
Secure the perimeter, Kael orders without taking his eyes off me. I want those rogues found and questioned. Now.
Yes, Alpha. The men scatter to follow his orders.
Kael turns back to me. Get your bag. We're leaving right now.
But
No arguments, Luna. His voice is pure Alpha command, and my wolf wants to submit even though I hate it. They found you in less than four hours. They broke into your home. They tried to kill you and our child. We're not waiting around for them to try again.
He's right. I know he's right. But everything is happening so fast.
I grab my half-packed bag with shaking hands. Kael takes it from me and slings it over his shoulder, then wraps his other arm around me.
Can you walk? he asks more gently.
Yes.
Good. Stay close to me. Don't let go.
We make it to his truck a huge black SUV parked illegally in front of my building. Kael practically throws me into the passenger seat and climbs in the driver's side.
As he starts the engine, one of his enforcers runs up to the window.
Alpha, we caught one of the rogues. He's talking.
Kael's eyes flash with interest. What did he say?
He said someone hired them. Paid them five thousand dollars to kill the pregnant she-wolf in this apartment. But he doesn't know who. The payment came through an anonymous account.
My blood runs cold. Someone paid to have me killed. This wasn't random rogue violence. This was planned. Organized.
Keep questioning him, Kael orders. Find out everything he knows. I want a name.
Yes, Alpha.
Kael peels out of the parking lot so fast the tires squeal. I grip the door handle, my mind racing.
Who would want me dead? I ask quietly.
I don't know. Kael's hands are tight on the steering wheel. But I'm going to find out. And when I do, they're going to wish they'd never been born.
We drive in tense silence. I watch Seattle disappear in the rear view mirror my safe life, my photography career, my freedom. All of it gone in one night.
How long until we reach Silverpine? I ask.
Four hours.
Four hours trapped in a car with the man who broke my heart. Four hours thinking about someone who wants me and my baby dead.
I must fall asleep because when I wake up, we're pulling through massive iron gates with a sign that reads: SILVERPINE PACK TERRITORY.
My stomach twists with dread. I'm home. The place I swore I'd never return to.
The pack lands look exactly like I remember tall pine trees everywhere, mountains in the distance, and the enormous pack house sitting in the center like a fortress.
But Kael doesn't drive to the pack house. Instead, he heads to a small cottage on the edge of the territory. It's isolated, surrounded by trees, with only one road leading to it.
Where are we? I ask.
Somewhere safe. Kael parks and turns to me. This cottage belongs to me. No one knows about it except my most trusted enforcers. You'll stay here until we figure out who's trying to kill you.
I thought you were taking me to pack housing.
I was. Then someone tried to murder you in your own apartment. Kael's jaw clenches. Until I know who hired those rogues, I'm not taking any chances. This cottage is off the books. Secure. Safe.
He gets out and comes around to open my door. I slide out on shaky legs, and Kael catches my elbow to steady me.
Thank you, I say quietly. For saving me. For bringing me here.
Kael looks at me with those golden eyes, and something intense passes between us. I told you I'd protect you. I meant it.
He unlocks the cottage door and ushers me inside. It's small but cosy one bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a living room with a fireplace.
There's food in the kitchen, clothes in the bedroom, and security cameras covering every approach, Kael explains. My enforcer Tobias will be stationed outside. If you need anything, call him or call me.
You're leaving? I don't know why I sound so panicked.
I have to coordinate the investigation, Kael says. But I'll be back before morning. You're safe here, Luna. I promise.
He starts to leave, but I grab his arm without thinking. Kael, wait.
He turns, and we're standing so close I can feel the heat from his body.
That message, I say. The one about debts paid in blood. What do you think it means?
Kael's expression darkens. I think someone from your past wants revenge. Someone who blames you for something.
But I haven't done anything!
Maybe not. But your parents did. Kael hesitates, like he doesn't want to tell me something. Luna, when your parents were executed for treason twenty years ago, a lot of wolves died because of the information they supposedly leaked. Those wolves had families. Friends. People who might still want revenge.
My legs go weak. You think someone's trying to kill me because of what my parents did?
I don't know. But I'm going to find out. Kael's phone buzzes. He checks it and his face goes pale. I have to go. Lock the door behind me. Don't open it for anyone except me or Tobias.
What's wrong? I ask, seeing the tension in his shoulders.
One of my enforcers just sent me a photo they found on the rogue they captured. Kael shows me his phone.
It's a picture of me. Not from tonight from three years ago. At the Blood Moon Festival. The night Kael and I were together.
Someone has drawn a red X over my face.
Written across the bottom in blood-red letters: THE TRAITOR'S DAUGHTER MUST PAY.
I stagger backward, my hand flying to my stomach. Who would have this picture? Who
I don't know, Kael says grimly. But whoever it is has been planning this for a long time. They've been watching you, Luna. Maybe for years.
He leaves before I can respond, and I hear him giving orders to Tobias outside. Then his truck drives away.
I lock the door with shaking hands and sink onto the couch.
Someone wants me dead. Not just because I'm pregnant. Because of who my parents were.
Because of crimes committed twenty years ago that I had nothing to do with.
My phone buzzes. Another unknown number. Another message.
My blood turns to ice as I read it:
Welcome home, Luna. Did you really think you could hide forever? Your parents took everything from me. Now I'll take everything from you. Starting with that baby.
There's a photo attached.
It's a picture of this cottage. Taken from the woods outside. Taken less than five minutes ago.
Someone followed us here.
Someone knows exactly where I am.
And they're watching me right now.