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I bit my lip, “you don’t look fine and you’re drained. The attack, the rogues, me running… it’s a lot.”
He leaned back against the headboard, arms crossed, “it’s pack business, I handle it.”
I scooted closer a little, “Kade pulled something today. He found a crying pup and told
me to comfort her, then he ordered me to shift. In front of everyone. Like I was his beta or something. Linda tried to stop him and he snarled her down. It was bad.”
His eyes sharpened. “He did what?”
I nodded fast. “He said shift, rght there in the hall. People were staring, whispering, phones out. I told him he was disrespecting me. He backed off after but it was intense. The pup calmed down when I held her. But Kade… he was testing me. Hard.”
Damien’s jaw ticked. “I’ll deal with it.’
I looked at him, brows furrowed. “What do I do next time? If he pulls that again it someone else this time?”
“Nothing. You call me or Linda or any beta. He doesn’t touch you, he doesn’t order you. If he tries, you walk away.”
I exhaled shaky. “Okay. I can do that.”
He stared at the wall again. “He’s been pushing since you got here. Smell shit, human shit. He wants to prove you’re weak. Prove the bond’s fake. Prove the pup’s not real. I let it slide too long.”
hugged my knees. “He’s scary. That scar, that snarl… it felt like he wanted me to fail.” “He wants the pack to doubt you,” Damien said.
“Doubt me. If you’re weak, I’m weak. If the Luna can’t shift, the Alpha’s mate is broken. He wants chaos. wer grab.”
I swallowed. “So what happens now?”
He looked at me. “We travel tomorrow, elders in the north territory. They need to help and confirm everything.”
I nodded slow, “okay.”
He leaned forward, elbows on knees again, “and you’re coming with me.”
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I stood in the bedroom packing the duffel bag on the bed. Jeans, hoodies, boots, a couple dresses Linda insisted on. I didn’t know how long we would be travelling but I wanted to be safe.
My hands shook a little while I folded a shirt. I kept glancing at the door, waiting for him to come back from whatever alpha meeting he was in.
Linda knocked once and walked in. “Hey. Need help?”
I nodded fast, raking fingers through my hair. “Yeah. I’m freaking out.”
She sat on the edge of the bed, watching me stuff socks in the side pocket. “About the elders?”
“Everything.” I zipped the bag halfway, then unzipped it again. “What if they hate me? What if they see I’m human and freak out? What if they say the pup’s not real or the bond’s fake? Damien’s taking me there like it’s no big deal but I’m losing it.”
Linda reached over, squeezed my wrist. “Breathe. They’re old and traditional but they’ re not stupid. They feel the bond and they sense the pup. You show up, stand next to Damien, let them see you together, that’s enough.”
I bit my lip. “But what if it’s not? Kade already thinks I’m fake. What if the elders agree?” “They won’t.” She stood up, pulled me into a quick hug. “You’re Luna. The pack feels it, the elders will too, just be yourself, hold your head up, you’ve got this.”
I hugged back tight. “Thanks. I just… I don’t want to mess this up for him or the baby.” “You won’t.” She pulled back, smiling small. “Pack a jacket. It’s cold up north.”
I nodded, stuffing one more hoodie in. “Okay. I’m trying.”
Damien walked in then in black jeans, dark hoodie, boots. Hair still damp from the shower. He looked at the bag. “Ready?”
I zipped it closed. “Yeah. I think so.”
He grabbed it from me, slung it over his shoulder. “Let’s go.”
We walked downstairs and then I saw them, Elias, Rafe, the quiet one whose name I forgot, and Kade. All standing by the middle
My stomach flipped.
I stopped. “They’re coming too?”
Damien glanced at me. “Yes.”
I furrowed my brows. “All of them? Even Kade?”
He nodded once. “Elders request Successfully unlocked!
ck reps, they all go.”
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I crossed my arms. “Kade hates me.”
“He won’t touch you.” Damien’s voice stayed cold. “He’s under orders.”
I looked at Kade. He stared back, scarred face blank, but his eyes were hard. I swallowed. “This feels like a bad idea.”
Damien put his hand on my lower back, pushing me forward. “It’s happening.”
I leaned close to Damien. “We’re really walking? Not… Driving or something?”
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He looked at me. “We use cars when we deal with humans, roads, borders, cameras, shifting draws attention. We stay human and blend in.”
I nodded slow. “Makes sense. Just… didn’t expect it.”
He rested his hand on my thigh. “It’s a long walk, ket me know if you get tired.”
I whispered, “You think the elders will be mean?”
He didn’t look at me. “They’ll test you. Answer honest and don’t back down.”
I bit my lip. “Okay.”
He squeezed my thigh once. “You’re Luna. Act like it.”
I exhaled shaky. “Trying.”
And we were on our way.
*
The fire crackled low, sparks popping every few seconds.
We were camped in a clearing, blankets spread on the ground, the four alphas sitting in a loose circle around the flames.
Elias passed me a stick with roasted meat skewered on it. I took it, blew on the hot piece, then bit in.
Rafe leaned back on his elbows, grinning.
“Remember when we tried to sneak into the human bar last year? Thought we could blend in. Ended up scaring the bartender so bad he dropped three beers.”
Elias laughed loud. “You growled at him! Like a full-on growl. Dude thought we were robbers.”
I snorted. “You guys are terrible at blending.”
The quiet one, Theo, smiled small. “We got free drinks though. He was too scared to charge us.”
I laughed, real this time. “That’s awful.”
Rafe shrugged. “Worked.”
I took another bite, chewing slow. They kept talking. Stories about hunts, stupid bets,
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times they almost got caught shifting in public. I listened, smiling more.
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They weren’t just scary alphas right now,they were guys, joking, laughing and teasing each other. It felt… normal.
Elias nudged my knee. “You ever pull dumb shit like that with your friends?”
I thought about it, “Yeah, we snuck into a concert once. Fake IDs, got caught halfway through. Security dragged us out laughing.”
Rafe raised his brows. “You? Breaking rules?”
I shrugged. “Sometimes. When it mattered.”
Theo nodded. “I like that.”
Kade sat on the far side, arms crossed, staring into the fire. Silent. His scar looked deeper in the firelight. He didn’t laugh or join, he just watched. I ignored him while the others kept going.
Rafe leaned in. “Okay, truth, worst date you ever had?”
I groaned. “This guy took me to a fancy place. Spent the whole time talking about his
- Then asked if I could ‘help him get over her’ by sleeping with him. I left him with the bill.”
Elias barked a laugh. “Savage.”
Theo grinned. “You should’ve thrown the drink in his face.”
“Valmost did,” I said. “Next time.”
We kept talking. Stories, hkes. I laughed until my stomach hurt. L
After a while I leaned back on my hands, staring up at the stars. “You guys aren’t as scary as I thought.”
Rafe smirked. “Give it time.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks.”
Damien sat quiet beside me. Not talking much. Just watching and listening.
His knee brushed mine. I didn’t move away.
Elias yawned. “We should sleep. Long walk tomorrow.”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
I lay down on my blanket, pulling the jacket over me. The fire popped. Voices died down. I closed my eyes, then a sharp light flashed in the trees suddenly.
Pain exploded in my side.
I gasped, hand flying to my ribs. Wet with blood.
Damien’s voice cut through the dark. “Sienna! Are you okay?”
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