Lydia's POV
Sunrise.
I stand at the window watching the sun come up.
This is it. The deadline my father gave me.
Leave by sunrise or he tells Kade everything.
But I'm still here.
Still standing in Kade's house. Still pretending to be just Ash the rogue.
Still fighting.
My hands grip the windowsill. Waiting. Any second now, my father will realize I didn't run.
Any second, everything could explode.
Mama?
I spin around. Ember stands in the doorway, rubbing her eyes.
Good morning, baby, I say, forcing my voice to sound calm.
Why are you awake so early?
Just watching the sunrise.
Ember walks over. I pick her up, hold her tight.
If my father comes for us, I'll fight. I'll protect her with my last breath.
Mama, you're squeezing too hard, Ember giggles.
I loosen my grip. Sorry, baby.
A knock on the front door makes my heart stop.
This is it. My father coming to destroy me.
I set Ember down. Stay here.
But
Stay. Here. My alpha tone comes out. The one I use when danger is near.
Ember's eyes go wide but she nods.
I walk to the door. Every muscle tense. Ready to fight.
I open it.
Kade stands there. Not my father.
Relief crashes through me so hard I almost fall.
Good morning, Kade says. He's holding something behind his back. Did I wake you?
No. I was already up.
His eyes search my face. You look scared. What's wrong?
Everything. Everything is wrong.
Nothing. Just... not used to mornings yet.
Kade doesn't believe me. But he doesn't push.
I brought something. For Ember. He pulls out a stuffed wolf toy from behind his back. It's beautiful. Soft gray fur. Little black button eyes.
My throat tightens. You didn't have to—
I wanted to. He walks inside. Where is she?
Living room.
We find Ember sitting on the couch. When she sees the stuffed wolf, her whole face lights up.
For me? she gasps.
For you, Kade says, kneeling to her level. Every wolf needs a friend.
Ember takes the toy and hugs it tight. Then she giggles.
Actually giggles. Pure joy.
I haven't heard her laugh like that in months. Maybe years.
Thank you, Alpha Kade! She throws her little arms around his neck.
Kade's entire face transforms. The cold, commanding alpha disappears. What's left is just... soft. Gentle. Kind.
He hugs her back so carefully. Like she's made of glass.
You're welcome, little one.
My heart cracks watching them.
This is what Ember deserves. A father figure who cares. Who protects. Who makes her smile.
Not Marcus. Never Marcus.
Kade stands up. Looks at me. His golden eyes intense.
Can we talk? Outside?
My stomach twists. Okay.
We walk out to the back porch. Morning sun warming the air.
Kade turns to me. Steps closer.
I want to know you, he says quietly. The real you.
You already know me.
No. I know you're strong. Brave. An amazing mother. But I don't know your story. Where you came from. What made you this way.
I can't tell him. Can never tell him.
My past doesn't matter.
It matters to me. He takes my hand.
The mate bond explodes. Electric shocks racing up my arm. Through my whole body. Heat pooling in my stomach.
It feels so good it scares me.
I'm nothing special, I whisper.
Kade's grip tightens. You're everything.
The way he says it. Like he means it. Like I'm actually worth something.
My eyes burn with tears I refuse to cry.
You don't know me, Kade. If you did
Then let me know you. Give me a chance.
The mate bond begs me to say yes. To trust him. To let him in.
But I can't. The second he knows who I really am, he'll throw me out.
Just like everyone else.
I need time, I say.
I'll give you all the time you need. He lifts my hand to his lips. Kisses my knuckles gently.
The mate bond pulses. Warm. Safe. Everything I've never had.
Come on, Kade says. I have more surprises.
That afternoon, Kade brings boxes to the house.
What's this? I ask.
Open them.
I do. Inside: new clothes. Real clothes. Not the torn, dirty rags I've been wearing for years.
Soft shirts. Clean pants. A warm jacket. Clothes for Ember too.
You don't have to
I want to. Kade pulls out more boxes. Shoes. Toiletries. Everything you need.
My hands shake holding a new shirt. It's been so long since I had anything new.
Thank you, I whisper.
That night, Kade makes dinner. Real food. Hot and fresh and enough to feed an army.
Ember eats until her stomach is full. Then falls asleep on the couch, hugging her stuffed wolf.
I sit with Kade in the kitchen. Drinking tea. Almost feeling... normal.
Why are you doing this? I ask. All of this. The clothes. The food. The kindness.
Kade sets down his cup. Looks at me seriously.
Because you deserve it. Because you've been surviving for so long, you forgot what it's like to actually live.
Tears spill down my cheeks before I can stop them.
Hey. Kade moves closer. Wipes my tears with his thumb. Talk to me.
I can't remember the last time someone was kind to me. Actually kind. Without wanting something in return.
I don't want anything except for you to be happy. Safe. Loved.
Loved.
The word breaks something inside me.
You're supposed to be my enemy, I whisper.
Kade freezes. What?
No. I said too much.
I mean... I'm a rogue. You're an alpha. We're supposed to be enemies.
His face relaxes. We're mates. That makes us allies. Partners. Forever.
Forever with a man who doesn't know I'm lying to him.
Forever in the pack that destroyed me.
Forever pretending to be someone I'm not.
I can't do this. Can't keep lying.
Kade, there's something you should know
The front door slams open.
We both jump up.
A man stands in the doorway. Tall. Scarred. Angry-looking.
Alpha, he says. We have a problem.
Kade's whole body goes tense. Ryder. What's wrong?
Ryder's eyes flick to me. Then back to Kade.
Beta Thomas just filed an official complaint. He's demanding a full background investigation into your new mate. Says it's pack protocol for all new high-ranking members.
My blood turns to ice.
Background investigation.
They'll find everything. My real name. The banishment. The theft charges.
Everything.
He can't do that, Kade growls.
He already did. Presented it to the council an hour ago. They approved it. Ryder looks uncomfortable. I'm sorry, Alpha. But it's pack law. I have to start the investigation tomorrow.
Kade's eyes flash gold with rage. Thomas is overstepping.
He's following protocol. I can't stop it.
Kade turns to me. Sees my face.
Ash, what's wrong? You're white as snow.
Because it's over. My father won.
A background investigation will expose everything. Tomorrow.
Which means I have less than twenty-four hours before Kade learns the truth.
Before he discovers I'm the banished traitor Lydia Ashford.
Before he throws me out. Or worse.
The mate bond throbs between us. Kade reaches for me.
But all I can think is: I should have run when I had the chance.
Now it's too late.