Lydia's POV
I fly through the air toward the lead hunter's throat.
His gun goes off. The silver bullet burns past my ear—so close I feel the heat.
Then my teeth sink into his neck.
Blood explodes in my mouth. Hot. Metallic. The hunter screams.
I rip my head sideways. Tearing. His scream cuts off.
He falls. Dead before he hits the ground.
One down. Two to go.
Pain suddenly erupts in my shoulder. Fire spreading through my entire body.
Silver bullet. It hit me.
I scream and let go of the dead hunter. Fall to the ground. The silver burns like acid in my flesh. Poisoning my blood.
Got her! the second hunter yells. He aims his gun at me again. One more shot and she's done!
No. Not yet. I'm not done yet.
I try to stand but my legs won't work. The silver is spreading too fast.
The third hunter walks past me. Straight toward Ember.
No. NO.
Well, well, he says, looking down at my unconscious daughter. She's a pretty little thing. Alpha bloodline too, from the smell. She'll be worth a fortune.
He reaches for her.
I try to move. Try to get to her. But I can't. My body won't respond.
The hunter picks up his gun. Aims it at Ember's small head.
Better put her down first. Can't have her shifting and causing problems.
Tears pour from my wolf eyes. This can't be happening. I didn't come this far just to watch my daughter die.
The hunter's finger moves to the trigger.
I howl. A mother's desperate cry.
The hunter laughs. Shut up, mutt. You'll see her soon enough in—
Suddenly, the forest explodes.
Something massive crashes through the trees. Moving so fast it's just a black blur.
A wolf. The biggest wolf I've ever seen in my entire life.
Black fur like midnight. Muscles like carved stone. Fangs as long as my fingers. Eyes that glow pure gold in the darkness.
An alpha. A real alpha.
The hunter with the gun doesn't even have time to scream.
The massive black wolf hits him like a truck. Jaws closing around his entire head. One bite. One violent shake.
The hunter's body drops. Headless.
The second hunter—the one who shot me—tries to run.
The black wolf moves faster. Jumps on his back. Claws tearing through flesh and bone.
More screaming. More blood.
Then silence.
All three hunters are dead. Their bodies torn apart. Blood everywhere.
The black wolf stands in the middle of the carnage. Not even breathing hard.
Then those golden eyes turn toward me.
I try to move. Try to protect Ember. But the silver in my shoulder has paralyzed me.
The massive wolf walks closer. Each step making the ground shake.
I whimper. A pathetic sound. But I can't help it.
This alpha could kill us both with one swipe of his paw.
He stops right in front of me. Sniffs. His nose touches my injured shoulder.
I flinch, expecting pain.
Instead, he makes a soft sound. Almost... sad?
Then he shifts.
I watch in shock as the massive wolf shrinks. Bones cracking and reforming. Fur disappearing. Body reshaping.
A man stands where the wolf was.
And he's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
Dark hair that falls across his forehead. Golden eyes that glow even in human form. Tall—at least six and a half feet. Muscles everywhere. Broad shoulders. Strong arms. Scars across his chest that tell stories of battles won.
He's completely naked. But he doesn't seem to care.
You're hurt, he says.
His voice is deep. Rough. But somehow gentle.
I try to back away. Protect Ember with my body.
The man raises both hands slowly. I'm not going to hurt you. Either of you.
I don't believe him. Everyone hurts us. Everyone.
He takes one careful step closer. Like approaching a wild animal.
That silver needs to come out. If it stays in much longer, it'll kill you.
I know. I can already feel the poison spreading toward my heart.
Let me help, he says quietly. Please.
I want to refuse. Want to fight. But I'm so weak. And Ember needs me alive.
Slowly, painfully, I shift back to human form.
I'm naked too. Covered in blood and dirt. The silver bullet hole in my shoulder bleeds freely.
The man doesn't look at my body. Just at my face. My eyes.
What's your name? he asks.
Ash, I whisper. My throat is so dry.
Ash. I'm Kade. He kneels beside me. This is going to hurt.
He reaches for my shoulder. His fingers touch my skin.
And the world explodes.
Lightning strikes through my entire body. Every nerve ending on fire. My heart stops and restarts. My wolf howls inside me.
The mate bond.
I gasp. Stare at him in shock.
No. This can't be happening. Not now. Not him.
Kade's eyes go wide. Gold flaring brighter.
He feels it too.
Mate, he whispers. Like a prayer. Like a miracle.
My second chance mate. The one the Moon Goddess chose to replace Marcus.
But this is wrong. All wrong.
Because I know who this man is. I've heard the stories. The rumors.
Kade Blackthorn. The Rogue King. The exiled alpha's son who survived fifteen years in the lawless lands.
And six months ago, he was appointed to lead Silvermoon Pack.
My old pack. The pack that destroyed my life.
This beautiful, powerful alpha who just saved us... is my enemy.