Kane Winters, Shadowmere's Alpha, wasn't who I figured he'd be. We were driving to his territory on winding mountain roads in the back of his SUV, and I was rethinking everything I thought I knew about rival pack leaders. Nathaniel was all about sharp edges and barely controlled power, but Kane had this quiet, dangerous vibe.

He seemed younger than I thought-maybe early thirties, with messy dark hair and these sharp green eyes that just seemed to *see* right through you. He almost seemed like a scholar, someone more suited for a library than a boardroom. But the way he moved, that easy confidence, that was all Alpha.

"So..." he said, his voice low, breaking the heavy silence since we left the diner, "Sage says you want a *fresh start*."

"Among other things," I said, my voice tight, trying to sound professional. I might be desperate, but I wasn't about to spill my guts to a guy I just met.

"And what else is on your mind?" His eyes flicked to mine, searching.

I met his gaze, my heart pounding. "Depends on what you're *really* offering."

He smirked, but it was sharp, like he felt the weight of my words. "I like that. You're direct. It's a nice change from the Council's BS."

"I've had enough politics to last me a lifetime," I snapped, my voice betraying a flicker of exhaustion.

"Yeah, but everything's political when you're talking about packs," he said, his tone hardening. "Especially when you're talking about taking on someone as strong as Nathaniel Blackthorne."

The way he said it made me shiver, his words slicing through me. "Taking *down*?"

"Bad choice of words," Kane said quickly, but his eyes glinted, unapologetic. "Let's just say... evening the odds. Your ex has been grabbing power for years, taking over smaller packs, forcing others into deals they don't want. Shadowmere's stayed independent, but it's been *tough*."

I thought about Nathaniel's late-night calls, the papers on his desk when I brought him dinner. He was building something big-a network of loyalty that would make him impossible to touch in the next Council election.

"And you think I can help you stop him?" My voice wavered, a mix of doubt and defiance.

"I think you know his weaknesses better than anyone," Kane said, leaning in, his voice intense. "You were his Luna for five years. You saw how he works, his patterns, his plans. You know *everything* about our biggest threat."

"Threat?" The word stung, cutting deeper than I expected, even though I knew he was right. Nathaniel's ambition always came first, even if it hurt others.

"Tell me, Ella-" he paused, softer now, "can I call you Ella?-did you ever *question* what he did? Ever wonder if he was willing to hurt others to get what he wanted?"

I thought about the packs that had been swallowed up by Crescent Moon, their Alphas pushed aside. I thought about the secret deals, the favors traded, the way anyone who disagreed was shut down. My chest tightened.

"Sometimes," I whispered, the admission heavy.

"And did you ever say anything?" His voice was gentle but pressing, like he needed to know.

That hit hard. I was his Luna. My job was to back him up, not question him.

"Even when you *knew* he was wrong?" Kane's words were a quiet challenge, his eyes locked on mine.

"Yeah," I said, my voice breaking. "Even when I knew he was wrong." How many times had I kept my mouth shut, played the supportive wife, while he made choices that hurt people? I told myself it was loyalty, but maybe I was just *scared*.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked, my voice raw, searching his face.

Kane leaned back, those green eyes holding mine with fierce conviction. "I want you to help me protect the packs that can't protect themselves. I want you to use what you know to stop Nathaniel from becoming a *dictator*."

"And what do I get?" I shot back, my voice trembling with hope and fear.

"A home. A reason to be here. A chance to *matter* again," he said, his words steady, like a promise.

The offer hung there between us, tempting and scary at the same time. But there was something else I needed to know.

"Why *me*?" I demanded, my voice rising. "You could find anyone from his old pack who would talk about him. Why me?"

Kane's face grew serious, his jaw tight. "Because you're the only one who really *knows* him. The only one who's seen him when he's vulnerable, when he's human. And because..." He trailed off, his hesitation heavy, and I knew he wasn't telling me everything.

"Because *what*?" I pressed, my heart racing.

"Because Nathaniel Blackthorne's biggest mistake has always been not knowing what he has until it's gone," he said, his voice low, almost pained.

That gave me a weird feeling, part pain and part something I didn't want to name, twisting in my chest.

"You think he'll want me back," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I think he *already* does," Kane said, his gaze piercing. "The question is, can you resist him when he comes for you?"

The SUV slowed as we passed through this fancy iron gate with Shadowmere's symbol-a silver wolf howling at a crescent moon. The land inside was amazing: rolling hills covered in forest, a clear lake that looked like a mirror, and this big set of buildings that looked both new and old.

"Welcome to Shadowmere," Kane said, his voice warm as we parked in front of what had to be the pack house-a huge place made of stone and wood that felt more like a home than a fortress.

"It's beautiful," I said, my voice soft with awe, and I meant it.

"We believe in living with nature, not controlling it," he said, a hint of criticism in his tone, like he was jabbing at Crescent Moon's aggressive moves.

As we got out, I noticed the difference in the air. Crescent Moon always felt tense, like there was anger just below the surface. Shadowmere felt... peaceful. Balanced.

"Ella?" Kane stopped at the entrance to the pack house, his voice serious. "Before we go in, are you *sure* about this? Once you're in, there's no going back. Nathaniel will see this as a betrayal."

I thought about the pregnancy test in my purse, about the baby growing inside me that needed a safe place. I thought about Harrison's words: *He loves you. He's always loved you.* My throat tightened.

Maybe that was true. Maybe Nathaniel did love me, in his messed-up way. But love without trust, without respect, without putting you first-what was the point?

"I'm sure," I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.

Kane nodded, his eyes softening, and opened the big wooden doors. "Then welcome to your new life."

The inside of the pack house was as impressive as the outside: high ceilings with wooden beams, walls covered in books and art, comfortable chairs that made you want to talk.

It was the opposite of Nathaniel's cold mansion.

"Kane?" a woman called out, her voice curious yet warm. I turned and saw this elegant woman walking toward us, her eyes bright with interest. "Is this our mystery guest?"

"Ella Montgomery, meet my sister and Beta, Luna Winters," Kane said, his tone proud. "Luna, this is Ella."

"Luna," I said, the name hitting me hard. "Nice to meet you."

"You too," she said, her smile warm but strong. "We've been hearing a lot about you. We've heard you were the best thing that ever happened to Crescent Moon. Too bad their Alpha couldn't see it."

That kindness caught me off guard, a lump rising in my throat. I was so used to being criticized that it felt weird to be supported.

"Come on," Kane said, his voice gentle, sensing my emotions. "Let's get you settled in, and then we can talk about the future."

He led me up a wide staircase to the second floor, down a hall with windows that showed off the mountains. We stopped at a door halfway down the hall.

"This will be yours, if you decide to stay," he said, opening the door to this big suite that was way better than the room I had at my dad's pack. Big windows, comfortable stuff, a little sitting area, and a sense of peace that felt like it was coming from the walls.

"It's *perfect*," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

"Bathroom's through there, and there's a little kitchenette if you want to eat alone sometimes," Kane said, walking to the windows, his gaze distant as he looked out at the forest. "Ella, I want you to know-you're *safe* here, no matter what. Nathaniel can't reach you in Shadowmere."

Safe. When was the last time I felt that? My eyes burned.

"Thank you," I said, my voice trembling as I joined him at the window. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," he said, turning to me, his voice soft but earnest.

"Why are you *really* doing this?" I asked, my voice cracking. "Don't tell me it's just about stopping Nathaniel's political ambitions. There's something else."

Kane was quiet for a minute, his jaw tight, thinking. "Have you ever watched someone you care about make choices that you *know* will destroy them?"

That hit close to home, a stab of pain in my chest. "Yes," I said, my voice barely audible.

"My brother," Kane said, his voice low and raw, "my older brother, James. He was supposed to be Alpha of Shadowmere, but he got obsessed with power, with being stronger than everyone. He made choices that hurt innocent people, even our own pack."

"What happened to him?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"I had to challenge him. For the pack," Kane said, his voice steady but heavy with pain. "I *killed* him, Ella. I killed my own brother because he couldn't stop himself from becoming a monster."

That confession hung there, raw and honest, stealing my breath.

"I see something like that happening with Nathaniel," Kane went on, his voice fierce now. "He's so focused on getting power that he's forgetting what's important. And someone's going to have to stop him."

"And you think that someone is you," I said, my voice thick with emotion.

"I think that someone might be *us*," he said, turning to face me, his eyes burning with resolve. "But only if you're ready to fight back against the man who threw away the best thing in his life."

I put my hand on my stomach, feeling the little bump that would soon be obvious. Nathaniel had thrown away the best thing in his life, but he'd also thrown away something he didn't even know existed. My heart ached.

Our kid would grow up in this world, surrounded by pack politics and power struggles. I could raise them to be weak, to just accept whatever they were given. Or I could raise them to be strong, to know what they were worth, to never settle for less.

The choice was mine.

"When do we start?" I asked, my voice firm, a spark of determination igniting inside me.

Kane's smile was sharp, his eyes gleaming with approval. "How about *now*?"

As if she'd heard us, Luna appeared in the doorway. "Kane, we have a *problem*," she said, her voice urgent. "A group from Crescent Moon is at the gates. They want to meet."

My blood ran cold, my heart racing. "Nathaniel?" I asked, my voice barely steady.

"No," Luna said, her face grim. "Beta Harrison and two guards. They want us to give back 'stolen pack property.'"

Kane looked at me, and I saw a challenge, a question, and a promise in his eyes, his gaze fierce.

"Well, Ella," he said softly, but with an edge of defiance, "looks like your new life is starting early. Ready to send a message to your ex?"

I thought about the scared woman who'd been sitting in that diner, reading ads and trying not to cry. She was gone. Now there was someone tougher, angrier, someone who had everything to lose and nothing left to fear. My hands clenched.

"Let's go show them what stolen property looks like," I said, my voice hard with resolve.

As we went back downstairs to face them, I felt something I hadn't felt in months: excitement, sharp and electric.

Nathaniel wanted a war?

He was about to get one.

Ella POV

Harrison stood in Shadowmere's hall like he owned the place, his two goons right behind him, hands on their weapons. The nerve of the guy!

"Ella Montgomery," he said, using that formal Beta voice I'd heard a million times for pack stuff. "You need to get back to Crescent Moon, now."

*I need to.* Not a request. Not an invite.

"I don't exactly take orders from you anymore," I said as I walked down the stairs, Kane right beside me. Everyone in the hall watched us-Shadowmere pack members gathering to see what was going to happen.

Harrison's jaw tightened. "Technically, you're still part of Crescent Moon. The Alpha can demand you come back."

"The Alpha rejected me." I got to the bottom of the stairs, looking Harrison straight in the eye. "In front of everyone. He broke our mate's bond and kicked me out. You were there, Harrison. You took me to the border yourself."

For a second, I saw something on his face. Maybe guilt, maybe shame. But it was gone fast, and he put his professional face back on.

"That rejection was a mistake, based on wrong info." He pulled out a piece of paper from his jacket. "Alpha Blackthorne sent a formal retraction to the Council. The rejection is now null and void."

Those words hit me hard. *Void.* Like the worst moment of my life could be erased with some paperwork and politics.

"That's not how mate bonds work," Kane said quietly, but with total authority. "You can't undo that, Harrison. Too much has happened."

"Stay out of this, Winters. This is a Crescent Moon thing."

"It became a Shadowmere thing when you showed up here making demands." Kane moved a bit, standing between Harrison and me. He was being protective, and everyone saw it. "Ella Montgomery is under my pack's protection now."

"She's stolen goods," one of the goons growled.

That shut everyone up quickly.

"Goods?" I stepped around Kane, my voice shaking with anger. "Did you just call me *goods*?"

The goon looked uncomfortable, but Harrison was still stone-faced.

"Bad choice of words," Harrison said. "But the point is, you left Crescent Moon with pack secrets: defenses, alliances, how things work. The Alpha's worried about who you might tell."

Oh. So that's what this was actually about. Not feelings or anything. Nathaniel was afraid I'd spill the beans and mess up his political games.

"You mean he's scared I'll tell people the truth about him." I laughed, but it sounded sad even to me. "About the shady deals, the way he bullies smaller packs, how he gets rid of anyone who disagrees."

"Ella." Harrison's voice was soft, almost begging. "Don't do this. Don't make this harder."

"Harder?" I exploded. "You wanna talk about hard? How about being rejected in front of your whole pack? How about being thrown out of your home with nothing? How about your own father telling you to disappear because you embarrass them?"

My voice broke on the last part, and I hated myself for showing weakness. But I was tired of having to be strong, tired of everyone else making decisions about my life without even asking me what I wanted.

"The Alpha wants to fix this," Harrison said, and I actually heard real emotion in his voice. "He knows he messed up. He wants you to come home."

*Home*. That word was a joke.

"Crescent Moon stopped being my home when Nathaniel put his ambition before us." I hugged myself, trying not to touch my stomach, where our baby was growing and didn't know about any of this. "I have nothing to go back to."

"You have your mate," Harrison said. "You'd be Luna. You'd have a life that a ton of other she-wolves would kill for."

"I'd have a title nobody respects. A mate who threw me away. A life built on lies." I looked him in the eye, and he could see I meant it-the pain, the anger, the fact that I would never go back. "That's not a life, Harrison. That's a gilded cage."

"Then what's this?" He gestured around Shadowmere's hall. "You think Kane Winters is just being nice? He's been trying to take down Nathaniel for years. You're just his latest weapon."

"At least he's honest about it."

Ouch. Kane didn't say anything, didn't pretend this wasn't about pack politics and power. Maybe that honesty meant something.

"Ella." Harrison stepped forward, and Kane blocked him right away. They stared each other down, the tension building.

"Too close, Beta," Kane said softly. "You're in my territory. My rules."

"Your rules don't overrule the Alpha's claim on his mate."

"His *rejected* mate," Kane corrected. "Or did you forget that part? The part where your Alpha publicly dumped her and humiliated her? Because the Council won't forget it when this goes to them."

Harrison clenched his fists. "The retraction changes things."

"The retraction doesn't mean anything if she doesn't accept it." Kane was calm, but he was serious. "And she doesn't want to go back to a guy who treated her like garbage when it was convenient."

"You can't keep her here if she doesn't want to."

"I'm not keeping her. I'm giving her a choice." Kane looked at me, and I saw calculation in his eyes, but maybe also some real concern. "Stay here, with Shadowmere, and help me build something better than the messed-up system your ex-mate represents. Or go back to Crescent Moon and wonder if he'll dump you again next time he feels like it."

It should have been impossible. Stay with a guy I barely knew, in a pack I didn't know, or go back to the mate who'd hurt me but was familiar.

But then I touched my stomach, feeling the tiny bump that would soon give away my secret, and my decision was clear.

My kid wasn't going to grow up watching their mom begging for affection from a dad who was too busy with politics to care. They weren't going to think that love was about putting up with betrayal. They weren't going to think they were only worth something if they were useful to someone else.

"I'm staying," I said, and it felt like jumping off a cliff. "Tell Nathaniel that some things can't be fixed with paperwork."

Harrison's face turned white. "Ella, please. You don't know what you're doing."

"I know exactly what I'm doing. For the first time in my life, I'm making my own choice." I stood up straight, finding strength I didn't know I had. "I'm done being a pawn."

"The Alpha won't accept this."

"Then he can take it to the Council." Kane's voice was final. "Along with explaining why he publicly rejected his mate and then tried to get her back when it was politically smart."

Harrison looked back and forth between us, looking frustrated and maybe a little impressed. Finally, he pulled out his phone and started typing.

"I need to call him. Now."

"Make your call," Kane said. "But do it outside my territory. You have five minutes to leave Shadowmere before I see you as a threat."

He meant it. Harrison nodded and told his goons to follow him. They left, but at the door, Harrison stopped.

"He loves you, Ella. He's always loved you. This isn't about politics. He's a mess without you."

Those words should have meant something. They should have made me think twice. Instead, they just made me angry.

"If he loved me, he would have chosen me when it mattered," I said quietly. "Tell him I hope Vivian was worth it."

Harrison flinched. Then he was gone, taking his goons and their demands with them.

The hall was silent for a moment. I could feel everyone staring at me, wondering what kind of woman would turn down her mate and Alpha for some uncertain protection from a rival pack.

"That was brave," Kane said, and I heard real approval in his voice.

"That was terrifying," I said, my hands shaking now that it was over.

"Come on." He touched my arm and led me to a smaller room. "Let's talk about what's next."

It was his office, with books and maps of the territory. He closed the door, blocking out the whispers.

"You need to know what you just signed up for," Kane said, pouring two glasses of water. He gave me one, and I saw he didn't offer wine. Did he know? "Nathaniel won't let this go. He'll see this as a declaration of war."

"Maybe it is."

"War needs weapons. Strategy. What do you bring to this besides knowing Crescent Moon's business?" Kane leaned against his desk, looking at me hard.

He was being blunt, almost mean. But I liked the honesty.

"I know his weaknesses," I said slowly. "Not just the pack stuff, but his personal weaknesses. What he's afraid of. What he'll never admit."

"Like?"

I thought about those times when Nathaniel had let his guard down and showed me who he really was. The guy who'd held me during storms and said he was scared of failing his pack.

"He's afraid of being weak," I said. "Of showing anything that people can use against him. That's why he dumped me. That's why he'll team up with anyone to look stronger."

Kane nodded. "And if we wanted to use that?"

"We'd make him look weak. Make him question himself. Force him to choose between his pride and his pack."

"And you'd do that? Work against your mate?"

I touched my stomach again, thinking about my baby, who deserved better than a dad who cared more about politics than people.

"He stopped being my mate when he put his ambition before us," I said. "Now he's just another Alpha who needs to know that people aren't chess pieces."

Kane smiled, and it was almost scary. "Then let's talk terms. Shadowmere will give you safety, a place to live, and resources. You'll be my advisor on Crescent Moon and help me with politics."

"That's it? That's all you want?"

"That's all I'm asking *now*." He moved closer. "But you need to know something. When Nathaniel realizes you're really not coming back, he's coming for you himself. Not Harrison with papers. Him. With everything he's got."

"Let him come."

"You say that now. But when he's standing in front of you, using that mate bond to make you feel everything you used to feel..." Kane stopped. "Can you handle that?"

That hit me hard. Because I didn't know. The bond was broken, but not gone. And even after everything, part of me still felt something for him.

"I'll do what I have to do to protect myself," I said, hoping I sounded sure.

Kane looked at me, and I felt like he could see right through me.

"Alright," he said. "Welcome to Shadowmere, Ella Montgomery. Your new life starts now."

He put out his hand, and I knew what it meant. A partnership. A choice that would change everything.

I thought about Harrison's words. *"He loves you. He's always loved you."*

I thought about Nathaniel's cold words. *"You were fun, nothing more."*

I thought about my kid, who deserved a parent who would choose them.

I took Kane's hand, sealing the deal.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"Don't thank me yet," Kane said, holding my hand tight. "You have one hour to decide if you're really staying. Because when Nathaniel gets Harrison's call, he's going to do anything to get you back."

He let go of my hand and went to the door.

"And Ella? When he comes, you have to choose. Really choose. Not between him and me, but between who you were and who you're becoming."

He left, and I was alone with my thoughts.

I sat down in his chair, touching my stomach.

"We're going to be okay," I whispered. "I promise. I'll keep you safe no matter what."

But I still remembered Kane's warning.

*When he comes, you have to choose.*

And I had no idea what I would do when I saw the man who'd hurt me but still had a piece of my heart.

Chapter 5: Crossing Enemy Lines

Nathaniel's POV

Vivian's laptop glared at me from my desk, the screen showing proof I should've noticed months ago. Emails to unknown people, details about patrol routes, area weaknesses, alliance talks I'd told her about in secret.

My mate. My carefully picked political move. A spy.

I slammed the laptop shut, the sound cracking in the quiet office. It was 3 a.m., and I was alone with the mess of every choice I'd made this past year, each one worse than the last.

Security footage filled in the gaps. Vivian met with reps from the Northern Coalition, the packs I'd been trying to beat for land. Her dad wasn't joining forces with me; he was using his daughter to take me down from the inside.

And I dumped Ella for this. Turned away my true mate, embarrassed her in public, treated her like she was nothing because I fell for Vivian's act. I thought power came from political marriages instead of real feelings. What a damn idiot.

"Alpha?" Harrison showed up in the doorway, looking as beat as I felt. He'd driven straight back from Shadowmere, bringing news I didn't want to hear. "The Council's waiting for your statement about reversing the rejection."

"Tell them to wait." I opened another file, this one with money info my head of security tracked down. Cash moving from Vivian's accounts to info sellers, to hired guns, to anyone who could mess with Crescent Moon. "Tell them we have bigger problems."

Harrison walked to my desk, his eyes going wide as he read the files. "How long has she been doing this?"

"Since before we got engaged. Maybe since before she even came back from Europe." I gave a sad laugh. "She fooled me well. Made me think I was winning when I was letting the enemy in."

"What about Ella?"

Her name stung. I'd spent the time since Harrison got back trying not to remember her face when I rejected her. The way her scent changed from sweet vanilla to something bitter with hurt. The sound of her heart breaking as our bond fell apart.

"Ella was the only real thing I had," I said slowly. "And I blew it for nothing."

Harrison looked uneasy. "She won't come back. Kane Winters offered her protection."

Of course he did. Kane had been looking for any opening for years, any way to mess with my power. And I gave him the perfect weapon by throwing away the one person who actually cared about me.

"She's still my mate." It was a weak, desperate comeback.

"You rejected her, Nathaniel. In front of everyone. You can't just undo that."

"The Council approved the paperwork to reverse it."

"Paperwork doesn't fix a broken bond." Harrison was gentle but firm. "You know that. The damage is done."

I stood up fast, heading for the window that looked out over the land I'd screwed everything up to protect. Dawn was hitting the forest, the gold color reminded me of Ella's eyes.

"Then I'll do whatever it takes to get her forgiveness."

"Even if that means war with Shadowmere?"

It hung heavy between us. Pack law was clear about land rules, about one Alpha butting into another's... what? Guest? Prisoner? I didn't even know what Kane was calling Ella being there.

"I'm not starting a war." I turned to Harrison. "I'm going to talk to my mate."

"She won't listen. She made her choice clear."

"She made that choice thinking I picked Vivian over her. I have to tell her the truth." I grabbed my jacket from the chair. "She needs to know that everything I said was based on lies."

Harrison looked sorry for me, which was worse than if he'd been mad. "You think that makes it better? That you didn't mean to hurt her, you were just too dumb to see you were being used?"

That hit hard because it was true. I'd been so into building power, making alliances, and one-upping my rivals that I missed the plot happening in my home. I let ambition blind me to the only thing that mattered.

"I have to try," I said, hearing the desperation in my voice. "I can't just let her go."

"You already let her go. You threw her away." Harrison's voice was hard. "And now she's found somewhere that makes her feel safe. Maybe the best thing you could do is leave her alone."

Leave her alone. Let her start over with Kane Winters, let her forget the jerk who promised forever and then broke it in the worst way. Let her heal without me.

I should do that. I should be strong enough to walk away.

But I wasn't. I was a selfish jerk who wanted his mate back even though I didn't deserve her forgiveness.

"Find out everything you can about her situation at Shadowmere," I told him. "I want to know who she's talking to, what she's doing, if she's..." I stopped, not sure what I was asking.

"If she's moving on?" Harrison finished quietly.

Moving on. It made my wolf growl with anger. She was mine. Always would be, no matter what papers we signed or what bonds we broke. The connection might be messed up, but parts of it still tugged at me, telling me where she was and that she was upset.

That worried me more than I wanted to say. Even with the bond damaged, I could feel her mood. And she was scared, worried, something more than just hurt from being rejected.

"Get me everything," I repeated. "And tell the Council I'll make my statement about Vivian tomorrow. They need to know they're protecting a traitor."

Harrison nodded and left, his footsteps fading. I turned back to the window, watching the sunrise-it would never look the same without Ella to see it with me.

My phone buzzed. Unknown number. I almost skipped it, but something made me check.

The photo that came up made my blood run cold.

It was Ella, a sneaky shot taken through a window. She was standing to the side, her hand on her stomach like she was protecting it. And there, under her loose shirt, was a small curve that hadn't been there before.

No.

No way.

But even as I tried to deny it, I knew. It made sense. The way she looked so broken during the rejection, the way she signed those papers shaking while crying.

She'd been pregnant. With my kid. And I threw her out without even knowing.

The phone buzzed again. Another text from the same number:

*Time's running out, Alpha. Some things can't stay secret forever. Who else knows?*

I crushed the phone, plastic breaking as rage and fear fought in my chest. Someone knew. Someone had been watching Ella close enough to see what I'd missed!

And if they knew, how long before Kane Winters found out? How long before he realized that Ella carried not just any child, but the heir to the Crescent Moon pack?

I was moving before I knew it, grabbing keys and heading for the garage. Harrison could handle the Council, deal with Vivian and her lies. All that mattered was getting to Shadowmere before Kane knew the truth.

Before he used my child as a bargaining chip like Vivian had used her connections.

The drive to Shadowmere felt like forever, every mile reminding me how far I'd pushed Ella away. My wolf paced under my skin, wanting me to hurry, to get to our mate and protect what was ours.

Our child. Our baby. The family I broke before it even started.

The sun was up when I got to Shadowmere, and I could see guards moving to stop me. Kane would know I was here the second I crossed the line. Would probably be waiting with that smug look that made me want to rip him apart.

But I couldn't think about pride now. Couldn't worry about showing who was boss.

My mate was pregnant, in danger, surrounded by wolves who had every reason to use her against me.

And I was done making the wrong calls.