Three days after the announcement, Blackmoon Castle was still far from calm.
Rumors spread like wildfire: The Alpha has lost his mind to love.
That omega has cast a spell on him.
That child is not his at all.
Kael heard every word.
And every time he did, one more mouth vanished by dawn.
“They are only afraid of you,” Luna said that evening.
They sat together on the balcony.
The snow had melted, replaced by the soft breezes of early spring.
“They ought to be,” Kael replied, draping his cloak over her shoulders.
“So no one dares lay a hand on you ever again.” Luna leaned against him.
“Kael I do not want anyone to die because of me.” “They die because they can not keep their tongues still,” Kael said coldly.
Then his voice softened.
“But very well.
I will hold back.” Nine days remained until the deadline.
No one seemed to remember it anymore.
MIDNIGHT 2:17 AM Luna woke to a strange sound.
Not a howl.
Not the wind.
Footsteps, moving slowly across the roof above them.
“Kael,” she whispered, shaking him.
“Kael, wake up.” Kael’s eyes snapped open, glowing bright gold.
“I hear it.” Suddenly, every light in the castle went out.
Total darkness.
Then the alarm blared: “INTRUDERS!
INTRUDERS IN THE EAST WING!” Kael was on his feet at once.
“Stay here.
Lock the door.
Do not open it for anyone but me.” “Kael.” “Promise me,” he cut in, kissing her forehead quickly.
“I will come back.” He was gone, moving with the blinding speed of a full Alpha.
Luna locked the door.
Her heart hammered wildly.
Her hand flew to her stomach.
It is all right.
Our baby is safe.
Ten minutes passed.
Twenty minutes.
No sign of Kael.
Then a knock came.
“Luna?
Open up.
It is me.” The voice sounded like him.
But it was too soft.
When Kael was alarmed, his voice dropped lower, rougher.
Luna backed away.
“What is our code?” Silence.
“Luna, stop this.
We have no code,” the voice said.
Luna’s blood ran cold.
She grabbed a heavy vase from the table.
The door crashed open.
And it was not Kael standing there.
It was Riven, wearing Kael’s face.
An illusion.
Whitefang magic.
“Hello, Luna,” Riven purred, still using Kael’s voice.
“Miss me?” Luna hurled the vase.
He dodged easily.
“Did you really think he would come running?” Riven sneered.
“He is busy fighting twenty of my men in the east wing.
While I come to claim the real prize.” He stepped closer.
Luna backed toward the window.
“Don’t!” Riven lunged.
He caught her wrist.
Pain shot through her arm.
But Luna bit down as hard as she could.
Riven roared and let go.
Luna threw herself out the window.
Two stories down.
She landed hard in a drift of leftover snow.
Her old arrow-wound flared with fresh agony.
“AFTER HER!” Riven screamed from above.
Luna limped and ran toward the woods behind the castle.
IN THE EAST WING Kael killed the seventh attacker, his hands stained red.
“Where is Riven?!” he snarled, gripping the last man by the throat.
“I do not know.” The man’s neck snapped before he could finish.
Then Kael felt it.
Their bond.
Tugging sharp and painful.
Luna was hurt.
“Bastard,” Kael growled.
He raced back to their chambers.
The door was shattered.
The room empty.
The window wide open.
He saw her blood on the snow below.
“LUUUUNAAAA!!!” His roar shook the very stones of the castle.
IN THE WOODS Luna hid behind a tree, gasping for breath.
She could hear three sets of footsteps drawing near.
Suddenly a hand clamped over her mouth.
She tried to scream, until she smelled him.
The scent of pine and storm that was only Kael.
“Hush,” he breathed against her ear.
“I am here.” Luna broke down sobbing, clinging to him.
“I thought I thought you were gone.” “I know,” Kael said, lifting her gently into his arms.
“I am sorry I was late.” They ran.
Behind them, three men gave chase.
Kael set her down behind a large boulder.
“Wait here.
Do not move until I come for you.” “Kael, please.” “Stay,” he commanded, kissing her quickly.
“I promise I will return.” He shifted.
Bones cracked and reformed.
Thick black fur rippled over his skin.
Claws burst from his fingertips.
Full Alpha form.
Two minutes of snarling, steel, and blood.
Then silence.
Kael returned, a fresh gash on his arm, but his eyes calm.
“It is done.” He carried her all the way back.
BACK AT THE CASTLE Healers tended to Luna at once.
Her shoulder had been wrenched again, and her leg was cut and bruised.
Kael never left her side for even a second.
“Elder,” he ordered.
“Triple the guard.
And find out who opened those gates for them.” “It shall be done, Alpha.” Once everyone had left, Kael finally broke.
He sank to his knees beside the bed, pressing his forehead to her hand.
“I almost lost you,” he whispered, his voice raw and broken.
“I was a fool.
I left you alone.” “This is not your fault,” Luna said, stroking his hair.
“It was Riven.
He is cruel and cunning.” “I will kill him,” Kael snarled.
“Slowly.” Luna cupped his face in her hands.
“No.
Do not let him turn you back into that monster again.
I want you, the man who is gentle now.” Kael looked at her for a long time.
Then he nodded, pulling her close.
They slept like that: Kael on the floor, his head resting beside her, his hand never letting go of hers.
THE NEXT MORNING Worse news came.
Riven had escaped the dungeons, helped by two guards who had been his spies all along.
And he had taken something with him: the silver locket Luna had lost when she jumped from the window.
Inside the great hall, Kael slammed his fist down so hard the table split in two.
“FIND HIM!
TEAR THE WHOLE LAND APART IF YOU MUST!” The Elder stepped forward.
“Alpha there is a letter.” It was addressed to Kael.
Written in Riven’s own hand: Kael, Thanks for keeping my pet safe for me.
This locket is lovely, perfect for making a necklace out of her bones later.
If you want her back, come alone.
No soldiers.
The ruins of the old Whitefang temple.
Tomorrow night, full moon.
Bring an army = she dies.
Come alone = maybe she lives.
The choice is yours, King.
– R Kael crumpled the letter in his fist.
“Tomorrow night is the full moon,” he said quietly.
“Three days from now.” “You cannot go alone,” the Elder warned.
“It is a trap.” “I know,” Kael replied.
“But I am going anyway.” That night, he sat beside Luna and told her everything.
“I have to go,” he said.
“I am coming with you,” Luna said firmly.
“No,” Kael said, his voice hard.
“It is far too dangerous.
You and our child will stay here, guarded by thirty of my best warriors.” “Kael, I can help.” “You already have,” he cut in softly.
“By staying alive.
By trusting me.” He knelt, pressing his forehead to her stomach.
“Listen closely, little one.
Daddy is going to bring your mother home.
Wait for me here.” Luna wept.
“Promise you will come back?” “I promise,” Kael swore.
“On my life.” Before they slept, he taught her how to hold a dagger.
“If anything happens, strike.
Do not hesitate.” Luna nodded.
She had learned well from him.
Later that night, Kael lay awake watching her sleep.
“Eight days left,” he whispered.
“That deadline means nothing now.
You were mine long before that.” He kissed her forehead, slow and lingering.
“Wait for me,” he murmured.
Tomorrow night, he would walk straight into hell itself, if that was what it took to bring his world back.
He would not let Luna follow him.
It was too dangerous.
He would not risk her, or the child she carried.
He had to end this.
He had to finish Riven once and for all.
No more delays.
No more letting anyone threaten the life he had found.
Luna was his new beginning.
And their child was the strength that had kept him going all this time.