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  "Stay back!" Ben ordered, waving a hand at Shane. "The wolf's in control."

  Shane didn't listen. He snagged his mate's ruff and called on his wolf, using the Alpha power he'd been given at birth. The animal inside him rose, eager to link to its mate, experiencing profound relief that the moment had finally arrived. He recognized her with that first jolting connection as he held her, feeling it settle in his gut.

  He had to be stern but wished it wasn't necessary. "Let her go."

  Luna complied straight away, releasing the vampire. He prepared to calm her, relying on inborn his nature, instructing his wolf to assert control and serenity over his female. He wasn't at all prepared for what happened next. Shane jerked when she came at him with her fangs bared. He prevented the attack out of sheer luck, latching onto the fur by her ears, keeping her at a safe distance. As she snapped at his face, her teeth only inches from his nose, he saw her eyes.

  Glorious gold was muted by a veil of silvery-white.

  She couldn't see him. She truly was blind.

  He sensed her rage. Her violence. Her desperation.

  More than that, the chaos wasn't coming from Luna.

  This was all wolf.

  The animal was out of control, fighting for its very life in the only way it knew how. He could sense the emotions coming from the beast, understanding its thoughts, and what he found broke his heart.

  There were no friends, family, or pack to protect her.

  To survive, she had to protect herself. She'd done so before and she would again. The wolf would attack anyone or anything that came at her, even if there was a remote chance it was someone her human-half cared for.

  The animal within his female was completely feral.

  She's been through so much.

  I wasn't there for her. I should have been.

  That was then; this is now.

  I'll never fail her again.

  Ben flipped the plastic cap off a syringe, rushed over to them, and slammed the needle into the wolf's back flank. Luna yelped, trying to flip her head around, revealing her outrage and pain. She snarled when she didn't find her target, trying to rip her head from Shane's hands, thrashing like the trapped animal she was. Shane growled at Ben, infuriated by the male's rough treatment.

  "Luna!" Gertrude wrapped her arms around her granddaughter's midsection, trying to hold her still. "It's okay, sweetheart. I'm here. I've got you." The older woman started humming, rocking back and forth, stroking Luna's chest. "Easy, sweetie. Calm down. Listen to me. Come back. It's okay."

  "Move aside," Ben said and tried to take Luna from his arms.

  "No," Shane responded, holding his mate tighter.

  The drugs were working.

  Luna's struggles became uncoordinated, her legs unbalanced.

  When she stopped fighting, he released her head and pulled her close, whispering in her ear, "Easy now, lovely. I've got you."

  Her scent was a balm, blanketing him in peace, making him whole.

  "I'm sorry." The vampire appeared, holding her forearm. The skin was torn, a sliver of bone visible. "The steering wheel cracked my skull, and I needed to stop the bleeding. I've taken from Max before. He's always been fine with it. He's never freaked out before. Maybe he was hurt or scared. I don't know what happened."

  "It doesn't matter," Gertrude said. "We have to move. The engine is on fire." After a pause, she added, "We have to call the pack and get Luna to the doctor. If she changed, she must have been hurt. The wolf must have risen to protect her. We have to get her somewhere safe until Luna's back in control."

  Shane rose, cradling his mate in his arms.

  She hadn't reverted to her human form, meaning her beast was strong. In fact, he suspected the animal was the dominant one in the mix, not the young woman who was also part of the equation.

  Ben stepped forward and extended his arms. "I'll take her."

  "No, you won't," Shane stated, clinging to the female.

  The older man froze, a frown on his face.

  Let him stare.

  Old Ben would know the score soon enough. Shane had lost nearly everything to find his female. Now that she was here, in his arms, he knew he'd made the right decision when he'd left everything behind to find her.

  She was the only future he wanted or needed.

  I'm never letting her go.

  Chapter Two

  Luna turned from the doctor, gazed at the wall where a window was located and tried to focus on the vibrations outside the house. There wasn't enough sound to generate color or shadow through the glass. Despite that, she clearly heard her Papaw yelling in a way that indicated he was well and truly pissed.

  Another, far deeper voice, was challenging him.

  It didn't sound like any pack member she'd spoken with over the phone. Of course, the drugs in her system were making it hard to think clearly. They'd given her a dose that worked quickly but didn't last long. In another hour, she'd be back to herself again. A car door slammed closed, and she heard a truck engine roar to life.

  "What's the ruckus about? What's going on?"

  "I'm not sure." The doctor's voice was further away, indicating he was leaving the room. "Don't get out of the bed. You need to rest." Her bedroom door opened with a creak, and he said, "I'll speak to Gertrude. Maisy's bringing Max home. The vet gave him the all-clear. They should be here in the next hour."

  Thank God. She'd been terrified. She thought she might actually lose him. Her relief was short-lived. Maisy. Oh shit. She remembered sinking her teeth into the vampire's arm. Then she'd heard a loud snap and knew her jaws had broken bone. She hadn't meant to hurt her.

  "How bad is she? Is she going to be okay?"

  "Don't worry. That girl's hard as nails. Get some sleep."

  The door closed with a snick.

  She sank into the pillows and closed her eyes.

  What a nightmare.

  At least Maisy was all right. And Max. The van had been totaled but could be replaced. All things considered, she'd been lucky. Everyone had. Things could have been much worse. If her grandparents hadn't shown up when they did, her wolf wouldn't have stopped. When she'd shifted the first time, the beast hadn't been so bloodthirsty. The feral portion of her had been lonely, eager for a mate. Then the mating heat had come, and he hadn't arrived to ease the agony raging inside of her. Other males had shown up, forcing the animal to defend itself as it refused to be touched by another, creating havoc and chaos in the wolf.

  After that, the beast changed.

  The wolf no longer had an ounce of control.

  Just as she started drifting to sleep, she recognized footsteps approaching her door. Her grandmother had a soft and steady walk. When she wasn't wearing shoes, she could easily sneak up on anyone.

  The door opened and Gertrude said softly, "Luna, honey?"

  "I'm awake, Gramma."

  "I need to talk to you before your grandfather finishes up with the doctor." There was tension in her voice. When Luna sniffed the air, she smelled the older woman's anxiety. "Something's happened. It's important, and you need to know, but I'm not sure where to start."

  Trying to lighten the mood, she offered, "The beginning?"

  "Do you remember what happened?"

  Bits and pieces. "Mostly."

  "When your wolf took over, were you aware of your surroundings? Did you know what was taking place?"

  "Yes, when I first came to. At least at a little." Lowering her head, she continued, "I didn't want to hurt Maisy. I really didn't. I wanted to let go. I tried to. The change came too fast. I didn't have a say in anything."

  "What about after?"

  Something in her grandmother's voice worried Luna. "After?"

  "After we got there. When we made it to you. Do you remember anything?"

  Vaguely. "Someone else was there. He tried to stop me. He used influence." The wolf hadn't liked it—at all. She froze, recalling more than she wanted to, cringing as she remembered snapping at him when he'd pulled her from
Maisy. "I tried to attack him. He had to hold me back." Then there'd been a hard, painful jab in her hip. An injection. In seconds, the wolf lost momentum, and she'd become groggy. She remembered losing control of her muscles and being lifted from the ground. "I think he picked me up."

  "He did."

  Was there more? "I don't remember anything else."

  Gertrude hesitated, drawing an uneven breath. "He brought you home."

  That didn't make sense. "He did?"

  "He wouldn't let you go. Even when the doctor got here."

  Luna recalled the fight she'd heard coming from outside. "Was he the one fighting with Papaw?"

  "He was."

  Which begged the question. "Why?"

  "He says he's your mate, Luna."

  That got her attention. Sleepiness evaporated and she was immediately alert. "He what?"

  "He said he came here to find you. He's been searching for you for months. He seemed genuine."

  Luna tried to recall him, hoping she could recollect a scent.

  She couldn't.

  At the time, she'd been trapped in the beast's madness. The wolf hadn't cared about scents or logic. It had risen to protect Max and herself. The only thing the beast wanted was to lash out. It vented its anger without regard for the consequences. It had been that way since her first season when the mating heat had come and changed everything.

  Was it possible? Could it really be him?

  Hope flared, and it was a dangerous emotion.

  Just as quickly, doubt manifested.

  This wasn't the first time she'd been duped.

  The moon had been full. She'd shifted. Despite not actively being in season, a hint of the scent would remain for several more weeks. The male might have reacted to that. It didn't mean shit. Besides, her mate didn't want her. She knew that. Even if it hurt to admit, she'd been forced to come to terms with the truth. He'd have come to her otherwise. He wouldn't have let her suffer for so long, experiencing so much on her own. In her dreams, he never touched her. He didn't even try. She called out to him over and over again, only to sit in the dark in silence.

  Mortification swept through her, making her queasy.

  She'd experienced the first moon heat, thinking he'd come to her. How could he not? She'd known it could cause problems with unmated men in the pack, but she hadn't been prepared for her mate's absence, followed by the single male onslaught. The sexual ache had been agonizing, driving her mad with need. The wolf lashed out with deadly force if any male aside from her mate tried to touch her. Judging by the response to his nearness, the beast felt his advances were most unwelcome.

  "He's wrong." He had to be. "My wolf didn't respond to him."

  "Are you sure?"

  Was she? She reached out for her other half.

  The animal was exhausted, barely registering in her mind.

  "It doesn't matter." Her grandmother approached the bed, took a seat beside her, and grasped her hand. "He made it clear he's not going away. He's coming back with his Alpha and formally making his claim."

  Damn. No wonder her grandfather had been outraged.

  Other males had done the same, claiming she belonged to them. It had been the prince looking for Cinderella with a shoe. She had to meet each one, determine if they were the right fit, and send them on their way when they weren't.

  Luna felt something soft brush her palm, and her grandmother said, "I took this from his truck when no one was looking. Hold it. Smell it. See if anything happens."

  Again, hope surfaced. She felt the object, moving it around until she could identify it. She'd been given a glove. "It's his?"

  "Yes." When Luna didn't lift it toward her nose, her grandmother gave her a nudge. "Go on. It won't bite."

  No, it wouldn't. But her response to it could.

  If it was him, things could change for the better.

  If it wasn't...

  Giddy with excitement yet full of fear, she brought the soft material to her nose and inhaled. Beneath the vague scent of leaves and motor oil, she centered on a deeper fragrance. It wasn't offensive. A mixture of the outdoors spliced with something masculine.

  "Well?"

  Well, nothing. Fuck you hope. Fuck you.

  Luna fought back tears. "It's not him," she said, lifting the glove, indicating her grandmother should take it back. "He's wrong."

  "Oh no. I'm sorry, honey." The older woman sounded horrified. "I shouldn't have given you this. I wouldn't have. But..." She exhaled softly. "I really believed him. He was so worried about you. He stayed at your side until the doctor told him he was getting in the way and had to go. He didn't want to leave."

  Luna didn't know how to respond. She was not going to cry unless she was alone. "I'm really tired, Grandma." She laid down, tucking her arm under her head. By now, she'd learned to master outward emotion. Even if a werewolf could smell it, Luna refused to show it. "I think I should get some sleep."

  "Of course." She felt her grandmother's lips graze her temple. "Call if you need anything. I won't be far away."

  When she heard the door open and close, indicating she was finally alone, she wept silently, grieving for something she wanted but would never have, mourning the loss of something that hadn't been hers in the first place. Her eyes were burning. Her throat on fire. She wanted to scream.

  The wolf finally stirred, sensing her misery.

  Nothing was up to them.

  They were pawns on a chess board.

  Yearning to take the king but destined for sacrifice.

  Jackson Donovan was having one of the worst nights of his life.

  First, he'd had to wait to address the new members of his pack.

  Then he'd been interrupted by the car crash in the distance.

  Things had been chaotic and shaky, but eventually, everything sorted itself out. Desiree—a bitch who'd threatened his mate and was to be put to death by the pack—had been struck on the road and killed. That meant one less headache. As a bonus, everyone in the vehicle had survived unscathed.

  Now he was dealing with something else.

  A small, yet equally dangerous, clusterfuck.

  Shane Heyward—a male who'd become Jackson's temporary Beta only recently—had found his mate. A female that Jackson knew nothing about until a few hours ago. And Shane was determined to claim her now. Without hesitation or question. He wasn't willing to wait. He'd already confronted Luna's guardian. He'd returned to the hunting grounds to face the pack and the Alpha in charge.

  He expected Jackson to make the mating official.

  "What are you waiting for?" Shane sounded frantic. Infuriated. Nothing at all like his normal self. "I told Ben I was coming back with you. He can't keep her from me. Pack law dictates the protocol."

  "I want to speak to Wade first," Jackson replied, trying to keep his cool. Since Wade was preparing funeral services for Desiree, it could be hours. Even those with a death sentence were formally laid to rest. She had family somewhere, and they had the right to mourn her passing. Also, technically, Luna was part of Wade's pack, not Jackson's. He had to approach the other Alpha as a courtesy unless he wanted blood on his hands. "I barely know Ben or Gertrude. They might not listen to me, even if I pull rank. They'll go to Wade and plead their case. That could create more problems than solutions."

  Movement caught Shane's attention.

  Jackson turned, braced for more bad news.

  Declan approached, holding his mate's hand. That was one relief. The young woman had been bitten by a rogue werewolf and was forced to become something she feared. From the looks of things, her first shift had gone smoothly. Rachel caught his gaze. Her face flushed, cheeks turning red. Her eyes darted down, her shuffling feet revealing her anxiety.

  Because she'd changed?

  He called on his wolf, allowing it to come to the front. Everything focused, magnified, and became clear. The air shifted, and he scented the pair. Both had shifted recently, and they'd mated, sealing their bond. As a human turned werewolf, of
course she was nervous.

  She'd be experiencing all kinds of things she didn't understand.

  When she glanced up, he shot her a smile. "Welcome to the pack."

  "Oh, uh." She tried to pull her hand from Declan, but the male wouldn't allow it, keeping her close. With a scowl directed at her mate, she said, "Thank you."

  Another scent crashed into his nostrils. Chloe.

  His female. His pack's Lupa.

  The center of his world.

  "I've been looking for you." She approached him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He tugged her closer, lowering his head to nuzzle her curly blonde hair, and she sighed and leaned into him. "You said you'd be right back. What's wrong?"

  "Shane." Jackson lifted his head and ordered, "Enlighten her."

  "Luna Lowe is my mate. I want Jackson to validate the claim."

  "No shit? Really?" Declan joined the conversation, speaking before Chloe could respond. A shit-eating grin appeared on his face. "Are you sure? You found her?"

  Found her? Jackson rounded on his friend. "You knew about this?"

  "Not everything," Declan responded and clarified, "I knew his mate was in the area, but I didn't know who she was. He didn't even know who she was." He sobered as he met Jackson's gaze. "He came here to find her. He's been looking for her for months. I told him I'd help if he took over my responsibility as Beta to help you and the pack." After a sidelong glance at Rachel, he said, "I know how he feels, and so do you. I'm bound to my word, Jackson. If he wants to validate his claim, I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen. As his Alpha, you have to do the same."

  Son of a bitch. This couldn't wait.

  Shane wouldn't relent. Neither would Declan.

  "How does she feel about it?" Rachel asked, no longer edgy or nervous. She was addressing all the men but had turned her attention to Shane. "She might not want to be mated. She might be terrified of you."