ountain roads in the back of his SUV, and I was rethinking everything I thought I knew about rival pack leade

eyes that just seemed to *see* right through you. He almost seemed like a scholar, someone more su

the heavy silence since we left the din

g to sound professional. I might be desperate, but

ur mind?" His eyes flic

ounding. "Depends on what

weight of my words. "I like that. You're dire

me a lifetime," I snapped, my voic

ks," he said, his tone hardening. "Especially when you're talki

shiver, his words slicing t

.. evening the odds. Your ex has been grabbing power for years, taking over smaller packs, for

n I brought him dinner. He was building something big-a network of loyal

stop him?" My voice wavered,

, his voice intense. "You were his Luna for five years. You saw how he work

ected, even though I knew he was right. Nathaniel's

Ella?-did you ever *question* what he did? Ever wonder

their Alphas pushed aside. I thought about the secret deals, the favors

whispered, the

?" His voice was gentle but pr

Luna. My job was to back

ng?" Kane's words were a quiet c

mes had I kept my mouth shut, played the supportive wife, while he made choices

do?" I asked, my voice

want you to help me protect the packs that can't protect themselves. I wa

hot back, my voice tremb

hance to *matter* again," he said

ing and scary at the same time. But th

g. "You could find anyone from his old

s* him. The only one who's seen him when he's vulnerable, when he's human. And because

?" I pressed, m

has always been not knowing what he has until i

pain and part something I didn't

back," I said, my voice

his gaze piercing. "The question is, c

howling at a crescent moon. The land inside was amazing: rolling hills covered in forest, a cl

ed in front of what had to be the pack house-a huge place mad

aid, my voice soft wi

it," he said, a hint of criticism in his tone, like

cent Moon always felt tense, like there was anger just b

serious. "Before we go in, are you *sure* about this? Once you're

wing inside me that needed a safe place. I thought about Harrison'

his messed-up way. But love without trust, without

y voice steady despit

and opened the big wooden doors

ide: high ceilings with wooden beams, walls covered in boo

ite of Nathaniel

I turned and saw this elegant woman walking toward us, h

d Beta, Luna Winters," Kane said, h

name hitting me hard

ng a lot about you. We've heard you were the best thing that ever

sing in my throat. I was so used to being cr

nsing my emotions. "Let's get you settled

down a hall with windows that showed off the moun

that was way better than the room I had at my dad's pack. Big windows, comfortable stuff,

whispered, my voic

," Kane said, walking to the windows, his gaze distant as he looked out at the forest. "Ella,

last time I felt th

embling as I joined him at the w

turning to me, his v

cracking. "Don't tell me it's just about stopping Nat

ing. "Have you ever watched someone you care abou

of pain in my chest. "Yes," I

upposed to be Alpha of Shadowmere, but he got obsessed with power, with being stro

o him?" I asked,

ady but heavy with pain. "I *killed* him, Ella. I killed my own

there, raw and honest

his voice fierce now. "He's so focused on getting power that he's fo

one is you," I said, my

, his eyes burning with resolve. "But only if you're ready to fig

obvious. Nathaniel had thrown away the best thing in his life, but he'

s. I could raise them to be weak, to just accept whatever they were given. Or I cou

oice w

my voice firm, a spark of det

is eyes gleaming with app

, we have a *problem*," she said, her voice urgent. "A gr

racing. "Nathaniel?" I ask

Harrison and two guards. They want u

hallenge, a question, and a prom

of defiance, "looks like your new life is start

and trying not to cry. She was gone. Now there was someone tougher, angrier,

en property looks like," I sa

m, I felt something I hadn't felt in m

el want

bout to