Willow's POV.

“You shouldn’t be hiding things in this house.”

Evelyn’s voice slices through the room.

I froze, having just returned from the infirmary to discover Evelyn looting my room.

I was too hurt by Silas's rejection, and now Evelyn is trying to make things worse. I exhale, trying not to cry.

When I noticed Evelyn pulling the tiny bottle of scent blockers from my drawer, my eyes grew wide.

Fear took hold of me like a curse, making my heart race and my mind go blank. Rolling against her fingers was the tiny bottle.

She smiled eerily, as if she had won.

"I_" My throat tightened. "I was just..."

She walked closer, each step she took was slow like she was targeting a prey.

"Why do you seem shocked?" She chuckled, holding the bottle up.

My fists clenched tightly as my blood ran cold.

"You should be careful, surrogate," she said lightly. "These kinds of liquid are extremely dangerous,"

My wolf curled into herself, trembling.

"How did you find it?"

Evelyn chuckled,

"I smelled it. Don't tell me you forgot who I am,"

She inhaled it slowly,

"You have been hiding something big,"

I didn't answer, I knew if I were to talk, I would beg for her mercy and I wasn't ready to give her that.

She placed the bottle down, moving closer to me,

"You know, the pack has traditions,"

My hands tremble as she stops in front of me. My emotions are trying to give in.

"Old traditions," She continues. ''I told you, I won't let you be until I find out your secret."

Her tone changed to a deadly one. She turned her head to look at me,

"We're overdue for a hunt."

Fear crawled inside me,

"A hunt, But..."

"Sheesh.." she whispered, placing her finger on my lip.

"It's a ceremonial hunt, Guests are included," she continued.

My heart slammed hard against my ribs,

"I am pregnant," I whispered.

Evelyn laughed.

"Exactly," she replied, "let's head over there right now. It will soon begin.

She tightened her grip on my hands and laughed. My heart was pounding quickly as I considered what to do.

"Is the Alpha aware of this?" I followed her footsteps and asked.

Evelyn stopped and giggled.

"What I do with you doesn't matter to him. I'm the main focus. "Don't forget your place," she said, putting her hands in her hair.

She grinned once more and kept dragging me in the direction of the door. I gulped as I was dragged into the car, rubbing my sweaty hands on my jeans.

My heart skipped a beat the farther the car traveled from the estate.

“Will Silas be there?" I asked, knowing I'd be safe if Silas was present.

Evelyn smiled.

"Silas does not come to our hunting sessions." She turned to face me and asked, "Do you think he'd come just for you?"

“I never said that, Evelyn. And I'm only going with you because of Silas."

"Oh, really. You'd better know your place. I am the chosen Luna, you will not like what will happen to you..." she paused and looked at my stomach. "Most especially your baby,"

I clutched my stomach in terror, and sweat began to form on my forehead, hoping she wouldn't harm my children. I wouldn't tell her I was carrying twins.

If she finds out, she will become enraged.

I felt shivers run down my spine as the car pulled up at a crossroads, and I tightly gripped my body. My heart was uncomfortable. I went to a forest with Evelyn, but it was too quiet.

Evelyn said she wanted to get something, which I assumed was a lie, and before I knew it, I was the only person still in the forest.

Instead of me taking part in the hunting session, my mind kept telling me that I was the prey they wanted to hunt.

Torches line the clear edges, blinding my eyes. I staggered as I saw wolves with Evelyn circling the edges, murmuring softly. They were watching me like I was acting in a movie.

I stood at the center with no protection. A guest, that was what Evelyn called me and Silas wasn't here. That fact hurts worse than the cold night air.

Evelyn raised her hand. “This is a simple run,” she announces. “No shifting for guests. Just endurance.”

I could hear the hounds before I saw them. They sounded dangerous, they never sounded like pack wolves.

My wolf panics.

"Run!" My wolf screamed.

I took a step back.

Evelyn leans close. “Don’t embarrass yourself,” she whispers. “If you fall… that’s fate.”

Evelyn went back to her designated seat and blew the horn. A satisfied smirk showed on her face.

The ground started shaking and the hounds were released. Without a second thought, I turned and ran.

I felt pain in my legs immediately when I started running. I knew it was the aftereffect of the scent-blockers. My lungs screamed, air wearing out of me.

Branches tore my arms, loud growls echoed behind me, they were coming too fast and close.

My legs tripped over and I fell hard to the ground, dirt filled my mouth, I tried standing up, but I felt too weak. I started sobbing, my heart pounding so hard that I thought it might burst.

I couldn't shift, I tried all I could but to no avail. My wolf curled inside me, desperate and useless.

I felt helpless that I hit the ground so hard, putting out my frustration. Tears clouded my face like a heavy rain.

The hounds burst out of the trees, their growl loud and ferocious. They walked towards me like they had seen their meal.

One snapped inches away from my leg.

I screamed,

"Silas!"

The name ripped out of me raw and broken. Something shook inside my chest. The mate bond ignited, it became alive, wild and violent.

Power struck through the forest like thunder. The hounds whine, and then a loud roar answers mine.

it sounded close and furious like they had taken something precious from him. The ground trembles as something massive moves through the trees. It was Silas.

Willow's POV.

Alpha Silas lunged at us, his wolf bigger than any I've ever seen.

His fur was black with tons of silver, and his eyes shone like molten fire. He smashed the hounds with brutal force, his jaws snapping each one.

His claws ripped them apart, spraying blood all over the branches. He didn't spare the hounds, tearing one apart in midair and slamming another into a tree, causing bones to crack.

The final hound attempted to flee, but Silas was faster; he grabbed it like a piece of meat and snapped its spine. Silas hurled the body like trash.

When he was finished with the killings, he turned and stopped in front of me.

The pack members emerged from the woods, shocked to see the dead hounds. No one could speak or even breathe.

Evelyn had turned pale, and her expression was terrifying.

Silas raised his head and growled loudly at his pack.

That sounded like a warning. I tried to move, but my body refused; pain shot through me. I knew it was the scent-blockers doing their job.

My stomach twisted violently, and my wolf cried out weakly inside me; I knew Silas could sense it. He turned to face me, then lowered his gaze to my hands.

He noticed the broken bottle of scent-blockers.

The bitter scent oozed out. He let out a loud and terrifying growl. Suddenly, he transforms into his human form, naked and furious.

A man appeared out of nowhere and handed him a robe, Silas's gaze fixed on me as he wrapped it around his body. He knelt beside me, took the bottle, and crushed it with his fist, while gritting his teeth.

"I told you not to use this again," he said coldly.

"I didn't use it; it just happened to be with me," I snapped, "as if you would mind if I used it."

Silas clenched his fist.

"I only care for the babies. "Do not harm my babies.”

Lies, I assumed it was all lies. If truly he didn't care for me, why would he be here? My heart ached, hoping he would say he can because of me and not the babies.

"I know, and I will not dare to harm them." I heaved out, "I didn't use the scent-blockers."

Silas closed his eyes, relieved. He took me into his arms and cradled me against his chest.

My heart is racing slowly as my face presses against his neck, his scent hovering over my nose.

Silas walked down the path that leads to the estate. The pack separates instantly, allowing him to pass without saying anything.

No one dared to speak; I could feel their fear. Evelyn took a step forward, her sharp, calculative gaze fixed on me.

"Silas," she warned, "you're going overboard. Willow is simply a...

Silas turned his head, his eyes fixed on hers. His stare was icy and deadly.

"She won't take the scent-blockers again," He said, his voice strong and absolute.

"And if I smell them on her again..." he continues, "someone will die." Silas muttered, walking past her.

My heart raced, I wasn't sure if it was out of fear or satisfaction. Silas didn't mention who, it sounded like a threat to the whole pack.

Evelyn's nails dug into her palms, her teeth clenched against each other.

"Then you're announcing it," She said, sharply.

Silas halted his steps and turned to face her,

"What?"

"Yes, Silas. You're announcing her." Evelyn said, "You're announcing her scent and her claim."

Evelyn gestured towards me. "The pack will suspect. They will smell it and I think they already do."

I realized she was right, the mate bond doesn't seem hidden anymore, it's obvious and people were staring, whispering and sniffing the air to get the mate scent.

Silas didn't utter a word, he held me tighter and left, his move was louder than words.

We got to the estate and he didn't allow my legs to touch the ground. I felt uneasy, not because of his warmth but for the pack members who followed us to his estate.

I knew it was all Evelyn's plan. Silas didn't care, as if this wasn't the pack member's first time at his estate.

We reached his chambers, not the infirmary but his room. He placed me gently on his bed and knelt beside me.

I gasped when he pressed his forehead on my stomach, my heart racing slowly. His hand shakes slowly as it follows his forehead, placing his hands on my stomach.

"I forbid it," he whispers. "You hear me? I forbid you from getting hurt like this again."

Tears filled my eyes,

"I thought you didn't care," I whispered, wiping my tears.

He flinched, raising his head to look at me. Before he could talk, we were interrupted from outside his room.

Outside his room, voices rose. I knew it was Evelyn's voice, it sounded angry. She stormed into the doorway, her eyes blazing like fire.

She turned to the pack members gathering behind her.

"Our Alpha has been bewitched!” she shouts. “By his surrogate!”

Everyone gasped, murmuring to each other.

"Look at them," She spat out, "see how he is wrapped around her fingers,"

I knew Evelyn won't stop at nothing. She wasn't someone to be joked with. My heart leaped as the pack members' faces were changing to a furious one.

“She’s manipulating the bond,” Evelyn continues. “She’s trying to steal Luna's throne!”

Everyone gasped like she had said something forbidden.

Silas stands slowly, his gaze cold and dangerously.

And the pack held their breath as they saw his eyes.