Lydia's POV
The mate bond pulses between us like a living thing.
I can feel Kade's heartbeat. Sense his emotions. The shock. The wonder. The joy.
He thinks this is a blessing.
He has no idea it's a nightmare.
You're hurt. Let me help, Kade says again. His voice is softer now. Gentler. Like I'm something precious.
He reaches for my shoulder where the silver bullet is still lodged.
I should pull away. Should refuse his help.
But Ember coughs behind me. A wet, terrible sound.
I spin around. My daughter is so pale. Lips turning blue. The fever is killing her.
Your daughter? Kade asks.
I nod. Can't speak past the fear choking my throat.
Kade moves past me to Ember. Touches her forehead.
She's burning up. How long has she been sick?
Three days, I whisper.
Kade's jaw clenches. She needs a healer. Now.
I don't have— I start to say I don't have money. Don't have a pack. Don't have anyone.
I'll take care of it, Kade interrupts. Both of you.
The mate bond flares at his words. Warm. Safe. Everything my wolf craves.
No. I can't trust this. Can't trust him.
Men always promise to take care of me. Then they destroy me instead.
Why? I force out. Why would you help us? You don't know me.
Kade looks at me. Really looks at me. His golden eyes see too much.
Because you're my mate, he says simply. I've waited my whole life for you.
Those words. They're almost the same words Marcus said to me six years ago.
Before he rejected me for my stepsister. Before he threw me away pregnant and alone.
Mate bonds can be broken, I say harshly.
Pain flashes across Kade's face. Not by me. Never by me.
He moves closer. Slowly. Carefully.
I know you're scared. I can feel it through the bond. Something hurt you. Someone broke your trust.
If only he knew.
But I'm not him, Kade continues. Whoever hurt you before. I'm not that person.
I want to believe him so badly it physically hurts.
But I know better.
Ember coughs again. Blood stains her lips this time.
Please, Kade says. Let me save her. Then you can decide if you want to stay or go. But right now, your daughter is dying.
He's right. Ember won't last another hour without help.
I look at my daughter. Then at the massive alpha kneeling in front of me. Then at the cliff edge behind us.
My choices are simple: Trust Kade and go with him. Or refuse and watch Ember die.
Not really a choice at all.
If you hurt her— I start.
If I hurt her, you can kill me yourself, Kade says seriously. I swear it on my alpha blood.
The most sacred oath a wolf can make.
Maybe... maybe he's telling the truth. Maybe he's different from Marcus.
Or maybe I'm just desperate enough to believe anything.
Okay, I whisper.
Relief floods Kade's face. Thank you.
He gently pulls the silver bullet from my shoulder. I bite my lip to keep from screaming. The silver burns coming out just as badly as going in.
Blood pours from the wound. But already I feel better. Stronger.
Kade rips a piece of cloth from one of the dead hunters' shirts. Wraps it around my shoulder as a bandage.
His hands are so gentle. So careful with me.
The mate bond hums with approval.
Can you walk? he asks.
I try to stand. My injured leg immediately gives out.
Kade catches me before I hit the ground. I've got you.
He lifts me easily. One arm under my knees, one behind my back. Like I weigh nothing.
Then he carefully picks up Ember with his other arm. Holding both of us.
Where are we going? I ask.
My territory. Silvermoon Pack. I'm the alpha there. We have healers. Food. Safety.
Silvermoon.
The name hits me like a punch to the gut.
No. Not Silvermoon. Anywhere but Silvermoon.
That's where my father is. Where Marcus rejected me. Where they all betrayed me.
I can't go back there. Can't
But then I look at Ember. Her breathing is so shallow. Her skin so pale.
She's dying.
And Silvermoon has healers.
How far? My voice shakes.
Twenty minutes.
Twenty minutes until I'm back in the place that destroyed me.
Twenty minutes until I'm face to face with my father who framed me for theft.
Twenty minutes until I'm walking into enemy territory with my new mate who has no idea who I really am.
This is insane. Suicidal.
But what choice do I have?
Okay, I say again.
Kade starts walking. His steps are steady. Strong. Never stumbling even though he's carrying both of us.
What's her name? he asks, looking down at Ember.
Ember.
It's beautiful. Like her mother.
The mate bond pulses. I feel his sincerity. His genuine care.
Maybe... maybe this could work. Maybe I can go to Silvermoon, get Ember healed, then leave before anyone recognizes me.
Five years changed me. I used to be soft. Innocent. Well-fed. Now I'm thin. Scarred. Hard.
My father might not even recognize me.
It's a terrible plan. Full of holes.
But it's the only plan I have.
Thank you, I whisper. For saving us.
Kade looks down at me. His golden eyes are soft.
You never have to thank me. Protecting you is my honor. My purpose. He pulls me closer. You're mine now. And I protect what's mine.
Mine.
The word should scare me. Should remind me of Marcus claiming me then throwing me away.
But when Kade says it, it feels different. Safer.
Maybe I'm just fooling myself.
The trees start thinning. I see lights ahead.
Pack territory.
My heart pounds. Fear and rage mixing together.
I'm going back to Silvermoon.
The place where I lost everything.
But this time, I'm not the Beta's daughter. Not the future Luna.
I'm just a rogue. A stranger.
Kade's mate.
And nobody knows who I really am.