Kade POV:

I caught her as she fell, her body limp and surprisingly light in my arms. Her scent, a dizzying mix of wildflowers and rain, filled my senses, and my wolf, Ares, howled in triumph.

*Mate! She is ours! Finally!*

I ignored him, my mind reeling. A mate. After all these years, after I had given up all hope, the Moon Goddess had finally seen fit to grant me one. And not just any she-wolf, but Debra, the daughter of Alpha Richard. A young, vibrant, and incredibly stubborn she-wolf who had just denied our bond.

I looked down at her face, peaceful in sleep. Her long, dark lashes rested against her pale cheeks, and a few stray strands of dark hair had fallen across her forehead. She was beautiful, even with the tear stains on her face and the sadness that seemed to cling to her like a second skin.

A wave of protectiveness, so fierce and primal it almost brought me to my knees, washed over me. I wanted to shield her from all the pain in the world, to slay her dragons, to be the one to bring a smile back to her face.

But she didn't want me. She had made that perfectly clear. *The Moon Goddess made a mistake.* Her words echoed in my mind, a sharp, painful sting.

*She is just scared,* Ares reasoned, his voice softer now. *She is hurting. We must be patient with her.*

Patience was not one of my virtues. I was used to taking what I wanted, to commanding and being obeyed. But with her, I knew I would have to tread carefully. I couldn't force her to accept me. The bond had to be accepted by both of us to be complete.

I carefully lifted her into my arms, her head resting against my chest. She snuggled closer in her sleep, a soft sigh escaping her lips. The simple, unconscious gesture sent a jolt of pure pleasure through me. It felt right, holding her like this. It felt like coming home.

I carried her away from the pack house, into the shadows of the surrounding forest. I couldn't take her back inside. Her father and his new bride would ask questions, and I was in no mood to deal with them.

I found a secluded clearing, a small patch of grass bathed in the soft light of the moon. I sat down, leaning against the trunk of an old oak tree, with Debra still cradled in my lap. I gently stroked her hair, marveling at its softness.

I had come to this wedding as a political obligation, a tedious affair I had been dreading for weeks. I had never imagined that I would find my mate here, in the heart of the Silver Ridge Pack.

I had known Alpha Richard for years. He was a decent leader, but he was weak, driven by ambition and a need for approval. I had met his first Luna, Eleanor, a few times before she passed. She was a kind, gentle soul, the complete opposite of her husband. I could see her in Debra – in her sad eyes, in her quiet strength.

And Marley… I had known her since she was a pup. She was the daughter of Alpha Clarkson of the Frosty River Pack, a spoiled, cruel she-wolf who had always gotten everything she wanted. I had no doubt that she was the one who had caused Debra so much pain tonight.

A low growl rumbled in my chest at the thought of it. Marley was the Luna of this pack now, but that didn't mean she was untouchable. If she ever laid a hand on my mate again, I would tear her limb from limb.

Debra stirred in my arms, her eyelids fluttering. She let out a small whimper, and I tightened my hold on her, murmuring soft, soothing words.

“Shh, you’re safe,” I whispered, my lips brushing against her temple. “I’ve got you.”

She settled back down, her breathing evening out. I watched her for a long time, the silence of the forest a peaceful backdrop to the storm of emotions raging inside me.

I had a mate. A mate who didn't want me. A mate who was surrounded by enemies. A mate who was hurting.

This was not going to be easy. But I was Kade Blackwood. I didn't do easy. I would win her over, I would protect her, and I would make her mine.

I looked up at the moon, a silent prayer on my lips. The Moon Goddess had given me a gift, and I would not fail her. I would not fail Debra.

I would move heaven and earth to be the Alpha she deserved.

Debra POV:

I woke up slowly, my head pounding and my mouth feeling like it was stuffed with cotton. For a moment, I was disoriented, unsure of where I was. The last thing I remembered was the overwhelming shock of the sparks, the terror of realizing Kade Blackwood was my mate, and then… nothing.

I blinked, my eyes slowly adjusting to the soft, dim light. I wasn't in my room. I was in a large, unfamiliar space, lying on a bed that was so comfortable it felt like I was floating on a cloud. The sheets were silk, cool and smooth against my skin.

The room was decorated in shades of black, grey, and deep crimson. It was masculine, elegant, and screamed of power and wealth. A large fireplace dominated one wall, a low fire crackling merrily in the hearth.

I sat up, my head spinning. I was wearing a large, black t-shirt that was definitely not mine. It smelled of pine and storms, a scent that was both intoxicating and terrifyingly familiar.

Kade’s scent.

My heart started to hammer against my ribs as the memories of last night came flooding back. The sparks. The bond. My denial. My collapse.

He had brought me here. Wherever ‘here’ was.

I scrambled out of bed, my bare feet sinking into a thick, plush rug. I looked around for my dress, but it was nowhere to be seen. Panic started to bubble up in my chest. What had he done to me?

Just then, a door opened, and Kade himself walked in. He was carrying a tray with a steaming mug and a plate of toast. He had changed out of his suit and was now wearing a pair of low-slung grey sweatpants and a tight black t-shirt that stretched across his broad chest. He looked even more formidable in casual clothes, more primal, more dangerous.

His golden eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of something in their depths – relief, maybe?

“You’re awake,” he said, his voice a low, calm rumble. “I was starting to get worried.”

“Where am I?” I demanded, my voice coming out as a hoarse whisper. I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly very aware of the fact that I was only wearing his t-shirt.

“You’re at my hotel suite,” he replied, setting the tray down on a small table. “You fainted last night. I didn’t think it was a good idea to take you back to the pack house.”

I eyed him suspiciously. “What happened last night? After I… fainted?”

A muscle flexed in his jaw. “I carried you out of the forest and brought you here. That’s all.”

I didn’t know whether to believe him or not. He was the Blood Moon Alpha, a man with a reputation for taking what he wanted. But he didn’t seem to be lying. His gaze was direct, his posture relaxed.

“Why am I wearing your shirt?” I asked, my cheeks flushing.

“Your dress was… well, it was covered in wine and dirt,” he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “I had it sent out to be cleaned. It should be back this afternoon.”

So, he hadn't done anything to me. The relief was so profound, my knees almost buckled.

“I brought you some coffee and toast,” he said, gesturing to the tray. “You should eat something.”

I was starving, but I was also wary. I didn’t want to accept anything from him. I didn’t want to be indebted to him in any way.

“I’m not hungry,” I lied, my stomach choosing that exact moment to let out a loud, embarrassing growl.

Kade’s smile widened, and this time it reached his eyes, making them crinkle at the corners. The sight was so unexpected, so disarming, it stole my breath away.

“Your stomach disagrees,” he said, his tone amused. “Come on, Debra. Eat. We need to talk, and it’s better to do it on a full stomach.”

I hesitated for a moment, then gave in. I was too tired, too hungry, and too confused to argue. I sat down in one of the plush armchairs by the fire and picked up the mug of coffee. It was black, just the way I liked it.

I took a sip, the hot, bitter liquid a welcome shock to my system. I nibbled on the toast, my eyes darting around the room, taking in every detail. This suite was bigger than my entire apartment at the pack house.

Kade sat down in the chair opposite me, watching me with that same unnerving intensity from last night. He didn’t speak, just let me eat in silence.

When I was finished, I set the plate and mug down and finally met his gaze. “What do you want to talk about?”

“Us,” he said simply.

My heart skipped a beat. “There is no ‘us’.”

“Yes, there is,” he countered, his voice firm. “The Moon Goddess has chosen us for each other, Debra. You can’t deny the bond.”

“I can and I will,” I said, my voice rising. “I don’t want a mate. I don’t want you.”

The words were harsh, and I saw a flicker of pain in his eyes before he masked it. It gave me a small, petty sense of satisfaction. I wanted to hurt him, to push him away, to make him leave me alone.

“Why?” he asked, his voice dangerously soft. “Are you afraid of me?”

“No,” I lied. I was terrified of him. I was terrified of the power he held over me, of the way he made me feel, of the bond that was already starting to weave its way around my heart.

“Then what is it?” he pressed. “Why are you so determined to fight this?”

“Because I’ve seen what mating does to a she-wolf!” I burst out, the words I had held back for so long finally spilling out. “It makes you weak. It makes you dependent. My mother loved my father, and he forgot about her the moment she was in the ground. I will not be another forgotten Luna, Kade. I will not let my happiness depend on a man who could discard me at any moment.”

The silence that followed my outburst was deafening. Kade just stared at me, his expression unreadable. I had laid my heart bare, exposed all my fears and insecurities. Now he would laugh at me, call me a fool, and leave.

But he didn't. Instead, he leaned forward, his golden eyes boring into mine.

“I am not your father,” he said, his voice a low, solemn vow. “And you, Debra, are nothing like your mother. You are a fighter. You are strong. And I would never, ever discard you. You are my mate, my other half. Forgetting you would be like forgetting how to breathe.”

His words were a balm to my wounded soul, a promise of a future I had never dared to dream of. But I couldn't let myself believe him. It was too soon, too fast, too dangerous.

“I don’t believe you,” I whispered, my voice thick with unshed tears.

“Then I will spend the rest of my life proving it to you,” he said, his voice filled with a conviction that sent a shiver down my spine.

He stood up and walked over to me, kneeling down in front of my chair. He gently took my hands in his, his large, warm palms engulfing my smaller, colder ones.

“I know you’re scared,” he said, his voice soft and gentle. “But you don’t have to be. I will protect you, Debra. I will cherish you. I will be the mate you deserve.”

He lifted my hand to his lips and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to my knuckles. The simple, tender gesture was more intimate, more profound than any kiss I had ever imagined.

And in that moment, for the first time in a very long time, I felt a flicker of something I thought I had lost forever.

Hope.

Kade POV:

I held her hand, my lips still tingling from the contact with her soft skin. Her scent was all around me, a heady perfume of wildflowers and rain that was quickly becoming my favorite scent in the world. I could feel the bond between us, a fragile, shimmering thread that was slowly starting to strengthen.

She was still wary, her beautiful brown eyes filled with a mixture of fear and a longing she was trying desperately to hide. But she wasn't pulling away. She was letting me touch her, letting me in, even if it was just a little. It was a start.

*She is starting to trust us,* Ares said, his voice filled with a hopeful pride. *We must not fail her.*

I wouldn't. I would do whatever it took to earn her trust, to make her see that I was not the man she thought I was.

I released her hand, not wanting to push her too far, too fast. I stood up and walked over to the large window that overlooked the city. The sun was high in the sky, a golden orb in a sea of blue.

“What are you thinking?” I asked, my back still to her.

I heard her shift in the chair. “I’m thinking that this is insane,” she said, her voice a little stronger now. “I’m thinking that I should be running for the hills right now.”

I turned to face her, a small smile on my lips. “But you’re not.”

“No,” she admitted, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. “I’m not.”

“Good,” I said, my smile widening. “Because I’m not letting you go.”

Her blush deepened, and she looked away, her gaze falling on the fireplace. “What happens now?”

It was a good question. I hadn’t really thought that far ahead. I had been so focused on finding my mate, on the initial shock and joy of it, that I hadn’t considered the practicalities.

She was the daughter of an Alpha, a member of the Silver Ridge Pack. I was the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack. Our territories were hundreds of miles apart.

“Now,” I said, walking back over to her, “we get to know each other.”

She looked up at me, a skeptical expression on her face. “And how are we supposed to do that? Are you planning on moving to Silver Ridge?”

The thought was absurd. I couldn’t leave my pack. It was my responsibility, my life.

“No,” I said. “I was thinking you could come back with me to Blood Moon.”

Her eyes widened in alarm. “What? No! I can’t just leave my pack, my home.”

“It’s not your home anymore, Debra,” I said gently. “Not really. Your father has a new mate, a new Luna. You are not wanted there.”

The truth of my words was harsh, and I saw the pain they caused her in the way she flinched. But it was the truth. She was an outsider in her own pack, a painful reminder of a past her father was trying to erase.

“I have Vicky,” she said, her voice a defiant whisper. “She’s my family.”

“Vicky can come with you,” I said immediately. “I will give her a place of honor in my pack. She will be well taken care of, I promise you.”

She stared at me, her mind clearly working through the possibilities. I could see the appeal of my offer in her eyes. A new start, a place where she would be wanted, where she would be the Luna.

But there was also fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of me, fear of the bond.

“I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s too much, too fast.”

“I know,” I said, my voice soft. “But we don’t have a choice, Debra. We are mates. Our place is with each other.”

I knelt down in front of her again, taking her hands in mine. “Just give me a chance. Come to Blood Moon for a week. See what you think. If you still want to leave after that, I won’t stop you.”

It was a lie, of course. I would never let her go. But it was a lie she needed to hear.

She looked at me, her brown eyes searching my face, looking for any sign of deception. I met her gaze without flinching, my expression open and honest.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she let out a long, slow breath and gave a small, hesitant nod.

“Okay,” she whispered. “One week.”

A wave of triumph, so powerful it was almost dizzying, washed over me. Ares howled in my mind, a joyous, triumphant sound. She had agreed. She was coming home with me.

“Thank you,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. I lifted her hand to my lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles, a silent promise of all the things I couldn't yet say.

The bond between us flared, a warm, golden light that filled the room. I could feel her emotions, her fear and apprehension, but also a tiny, fragile flicker of hope.

It was enough. For now.

I would take her to my home, to my pack. I would show her what it meant to be a Luna, to be cherished, to be loved.

And by the end of the week, she would be mine.