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.

Ella's POV

The morning sun came in through the windows of the Shadowmere guest room, but I couldn't feel hopeful. I just kept thinking about Nathaniel finding out I was gone. Not just away, but that I'd picked someone else to protect me instead of him.

I put my hand on my stomach, feeling it stick out a bit. Soon everyone would see my secret. Eight weeks. Two months carrying a baby whose dad dumped me before he knew I was pregnant.

A soft knock pulled me out of my head. "Ella? It's Luna. Kane wants you to see Dr. Sarah now."

A doctor. Right. I needed baby checkups since I wasn't with Crescent Moon's doctor anymore. Telling my story to some stranger made me nervous, but I had to do it so my baby would be healthy.

"Coming," I said, grabbing a comfy sweater Kane's people gave me. All the clothes in the closet were picked to be comfy, not too flashy, and not sexy. Not like the fancy clothes I wore as Luna.

Luna Winters was in the hall, looking warm but studying me. She was pretty in a natural way, her dark hair in a braid and her eyes sharp.

"Did you sleep okay?" she asked as we walked to the medical area.

"Better than I thought." I lied easily. I mostly stared at the ceiling all night, wondering if I did the right thing. Wondering if Nathaniel got Harrison's report yet. Wondering what he was feeling and planning.

"Kane wants you to know you're safe here," Luna said carefully. "No matter what happens with your ex, Shadowmere will always protect you."

That should have made me feel better, but something in her voice made me stop. "Is there a catch?"

Luna smiled a little. "You're smart. That's good. You'll need it here." She stopped at a door with a medical symbol. "Dr. Sarah is amazing. She's been with Shadowmere for twenty years and has delivered most of the pack's babies. But Ella, she's going to ask tough questions about your mate, your bond, and what happened."

"I can take tough questions."

"Can you take the answers?" Luna asked quietly before opening the door.

The doctor's office didn't feel like Crescent Moon's cold clinic. It felt cozy, like people lived there, with plants and kids' drawings. A woman in her fifties looked up from her desk, her gray hair around a kind face with smile lines.

"You must be Ella," Dr. Sarah said, standing up to greet me. "Luna, thanks for bringing her. I've got it from here."

Luna squeezed my shoulder in a supportive way, then left me with the doctor who would tell me what I already knew.

"So," Dr. Sarah said gently, pointing to an exam table. "Kane says you might be pregnant. When was your last period?"

The medical question made it easier to answer. "Ten weeks ago. I took a test two weeks ago, and it was positive."

"And the father?"

I got nervous. "My ex. Alpha Nathaniel Blackthorne of Crescent Moon pack."

Dr. Sarah didn't show if she knew the name or judged me. "I see. And the mate bond? Kane said it was over."

"He dumped me. In front of everyone. Six weeks ago." It still hurts to say, like admitting I failed.

Dr. Sarah's eyes softened. "That must have hurt really bad, mostly if you were already carrying a child."

"I didn't know until later." It just came out. "He dumped me, kicked me out, and I found out the next day."

"Did you tell him?"

"No." I held my stomach. "He made his choice. I made mine."

Dr. Sarah nodded, writing on her tablet. "Okay. Let's do a checkup and an ultrasound. I want to see how the baby is doing and how you're handling being pregnant without a mate bond."

The checkup was careful but gentle. Dr. Sarah told me everything she was doing. When she showed the ultrasound, I gasped at the tiny shape on the screen.

"There's your baby," Dr. Sarah said softly, pointing to the small thing. "About eight weeks, like you said. Strong heartbeat, everything looks good."

I felt so relieved, I almost cried. "They're okay?"

"For now, yes." Dr. Sarah's voice changed, getting serious. "But Ella, I have to be honest about some worries. Ending a mate bond during pregnancy can cause problems. Your body is stressed and making hormones for a bond that's not there anymore."

I went from relieved to scared. "What kind of problems?"

"High blood pressure, early labor, and problems for the baby if the stress keeps going." Dr. Sarah turned to me. "Normally, we'd tell you to get counseling to fix the mate bond. But that's not an option for you."

"So what do I do?" I said quietly.

"Rest. Don't stress so much. Let yourself heal." Dr. Sarah stopped. "And think about if there's another way to balance your hormones."

"Another way?"

"A new mate bond. Eventually. When you're ready." She held up her hand before I could say anything. "I'm not saying you should hurry. But your body needs the balance that a mate bond gives. Without it, you and the baby are at risk."

It hung in the air. Find a new mate. Replace Nathaniel. Pick someone to be the dad this kid needs.

Someone like Kane, who offered to protect me without wanting anything back.

"I can't think about that now," I said, shaking. "I just need to keep this baby safe."

"That's smart." Dr. Sarah printed some ultrasound photos. "But Ella, don't wait too long. The longer you're without a stable bond, the bigger the risks."

I looked at the blurry pictures of my baby, so small and needing me to make the right calls. Calls I didn't know how to make.

Someone knocked, and we both looked up. Kane was at the door, looking worried. "Dr. Sarah, you wanted to see me?"

"Come in, Alpha." Dr. Sarah invited him in. "I was just talking to Ella about her situation."

Kane looked at me, and I saw real worry. "Is everything okay? The baby?"

"The baby is okay for now," Dr. Sarah said carefully. "But there are problems we need to fix. Problems from the ended mate bond."

Kane's jaw tightened. "What kind of problems?"

As Dr. Sarah told him about the medical risks, I watched Kane go from worried to serious. His hands turned into fists. When Dr. Sarah said I might need a new bond, his eyes flashed with something I couldn't read.

"What can I do?" he asked, and his voice made my heart skip. "How do I help her?"

"Now, just make sure she doesn't stress and that she rests and eats well." Dr. Sarah looked at both of us. "She'll need to make choices about her future."

Kane nodded, then turned to me. "Ella, can we talk? Alone?"

Dr. Sarah took the hint and gathered her stuff. "I'll leave you two alone. Ella, I want to see you next week for a checkup. And call me if you have any cramps, bleeding, or feel really nervous."

She left, and the room felt small with just Kane and me. He came closer, strong but not scary.

"I heard what she said," he started quietly. "About the risks. About what you might need."

"Kane, I can't think about finding a new mate. It's too soon, too hard-"

"I'm not asking you to." He held up his hands. "I just want you to know you have options. That you're not alone."

His kind words made me feel weak. "Why are you doing this? Why do you care about helping me?"

Kane's face changed, looking sad. "Because I know what it's like to lose someone you love. To feel like you can't do anything as they slip away."

"Your mate," I said softly, remembering what Luna said. "The one you lost."

"Lyra." He said her name like a prayer. "She died when she gave birth. Our son too. I was the Alpha of a strong pack, and I couldn't save the two people who mattered most." His voice broke a little. "I promised I'd never feel that weak again. If I could protect someone, I'd do anything."

His honesty made me feel sad. "Kane, I'm not Lyra."

"I know that." But his eyes said something else, like he saw her in me, my voice, and my situation. "But you need help. Someone I can save this time."

The word "save" made me shiver, but I ignored it. I needed to be protected. My baby needed to be safe. And Kane was offering both without wanting anything I wasn't ready to give.

"Thank you," I whispered. "For everything."

Kane slowly reached out, giving me time to move away, and tucked my hair behind my ear. It was gentle, almost like he was devoted. "I won't let anything happen to you, Ella. Or your baby. I promise."

I should have felt better, but his strong voice and the way his fingers stayed a bit too long made me worry about something I didn't want to think about yet.

"Kane?" Luna called from the hall. "We have a problem. Nathaniel Blackthorne is at our border."

My heart stopped. He came. After everything, after he dumped me and the divorce and me leaving, he came for me.

Kane looked dangerous. "How many wolves did he bring?"

"Just Beta Harrison and two guards. He wants to meet. Says it's important." Luna was at the door, looking serious. "He knows she's here, Kane. And he won't leave until he talks to her."

I touched my stomach. Nathaniel couldn't know I was pregnant. Not yet. Not when I was finally settling with my child.

"Tell him no," Kane said. "Ella's under my protection. He can't-"

"Let him come," I said, surprising them. "Let him say what he wants to say."

Kane turned to me, angry and worried. "Ella, you don't have to see him. Not after what he did."

"I know I don't." I stood up, feeling strong. "But I want to. I want him to see I'm not weak. That him dumping me didn't break me."

It tasted like a lie, but I needed to think about it. I needed Nathaniel to think about it.

"Are you sure?" Luna asked.

I thought about the ultrasound in my pocket, about my baby needing me to be strong. About Dr. Sarah's warnings about stress.

I thought about Nathaniel's face when he dumped me, the coldness in his voice when he called our love fake.

"I'm sure," I said, stronger than I felt. "Let him come. Let him see what he lost."

Kane watched me, then nodded. "Okay. But I'm staying with you. And if he upsets you, he's gone."

His protectiveness should have made me feel safe. Instead, I wondered what I was trading for Nathaniel dumping me.

But as we went downstairs to see the man who hurt me, I let it go. I had bigger things to worry about than Kane.

I had to see the father of my child and make him think I moved on.

Even if I knew I never would.