Lydia's POV
I wake up to sunlight on my face.
For one perfect second, I forget everything. Forget where I am. Forget the danger.
Then I remember.
Silvermoon Pack. Kade's house. Enemy territory.
I sit up fast. Too fast. My bandaged leg throbs.
Ember! I call out.
In here, Mama!
Relief floods through me. She's alive. She's okay.
I practically fall out of bed getting to the living room. My leg barely holds my weight but I don't care.
Ember sits at a large table eating pancakes. Her fever is completely gone. Color back in her cheeks. She's smiling.
My baby is alive.
Kade sits across from her. Watching her eat with the softest expression I've ever seen on an alpha's face.
The mate bond slams into me the second I see him.
Stronger than yesterday. So much stronger. Like a rope wrapped around my heart, pulling me toward him.
Kade's head snaps up. Those golden eyes lock onto mine.
You're awake, he says. His voice is rough. Deep. How do you feel?
Fine. I force myself to look at Ember instead of him. Baby, are you okay?
I'm all better! Ember grins. Syrup covers her face. Alpha Kade made me pancakes! They're so yummy!
She's eaten five already, Kade says proudly. Like feeding my daughter is the greatest accomplishment of his life.
Something cracks in my chest.
Thank you, I whisper. For healing her.
Maya did the healing. I just made breakfast. He pulls out a chair. You should eat too.
I want to refuse. Want to keep distance between us.
But I'm so hungry. And the food smells amazing.
I sit down. As far from Kade as the table allows.
He notices. Hurt flashes across his face.
Good. He should hurt. Everyone hurts eventually.
Kade slides a plate toward me. Piled high with food. More food than I've seen in months.
My hands shake as I pick up the fork.
When's the last time you had a real meal? Kade asks quietly.
Does it matter?
Yes. Everything about you matters to me.
The mate bond pulses at his words.
I shove food in my mouth instead of responding.
We eat in silence. Ember chatters happily about how good she feels. About the soft bed. About the nice healer lady.
She's so happy. Happier than she's been in months.
This is what she deserves. Safety. Food. Comfort.
Not running through forests. Not starving. Not living in fear.
There's a pack gathering this afternoon, Kade says suddenly. I need to introduce you both. Officially.
I choke on my pancakes.
What? I cough.
You're my mate. The pack needs to meet you. Accept you as their future Luna.
Future Luna.
The title I was supposed to have. The title Celeste stole.
No, I say firmly.
Kade's eyebrows raise. No?
I don't... I don't like crowds. Can't we just... stay here?
Ash. Kade's voice goes serious. You're my mate. That means you're part of this pack now. They need to see you. Know you.
I said no.
This isn't optional. Alpha command creeps into his voice.
I stand up. Too fast. My chair falls backward.
You can't force me.
I'm not forcing you. I'm asking you to meet your new pack. Is that so terrible?
Yes. Because someone will recognize me. My father. My stepmother. Anyone who knew me before.
Kade, please
What are you afraid of? He stands too. Moves closer. What aren't you telling me?
Everything. I'm afraid of everything.
I'm just... not ready, I whisper.
Kade's face softens. I'll be right there with you. I won't let anyone hurt you. I promise.
More promises I can't trust.
But I look at Ember. She's watching us with worried eyes.
If I refuse too strongly, Kade will get suspicious. Will start asking questions I can't answer.
Better to go. Keep my head down. Pray nobody looks too closely.
Fine, I say quietly. But just for a little while.
Kade smiles. Thank you.
Three hours later, we walk toward the pack house.
My heart pounds so hard I think it might explode.
This is where it all happened. Where Marcus rejected me. Where my father framed me. Where they all threw me away.
I keep my head down. Hair falling forward to hide my face.
Kade holds Ember's hand. She skips happily beside him, chattering about everything.
Will there be other kids? she asks.
Yes. Lots of them.
Will they want to play with me?
Kade looks down at her with such gentleness. Of course they will. You're wonderful.
Ember beams.
We reach the pack house. Same stone walls. Same massive doors.
Same nightmare.
Inside, the great hall is packed. Hundreds of wolves. All turning to stare at us.
At me.
I keep my head down. Don't make eye contact with anyone.
Please don't recognize me. Please.
Kade leads us to the front of the room. Every eye following our movement.
Thank you all for coming, Kade says. His alpha voice fills the entire hall. I have important news.
My hands shake. I clench them into fists.
Two days ago, I saved two rogues from hunters. A mother and her daughter. He pulls me close. The entire pack sees. And I discovered the Moon Goddess blessed me with a fated mate.
Gasps. Whispers. Shock on every face.
This is Ash. My mate. Your future Luna.
More whispers. Louder now.
A rogue? As our Luna?
She has a bastard child!
This is disgraceful!
The words hurt. Same words they said five years ago.
Kade's eyes flash gold. Anyone who disrespects my mate disrespects me. Choose your next words carefully.
Silence falls.
Then a voice from the back. Cold. Familiar. The voice that haunts my nightmares.
Alpha Kade, with all due respect, perhaps we should be cautious about accepting unknown rogues into our pack.
My blood turns to ice.
I know that voice.
Beta Thomas Ashford.
My father.
Footsteps coming closer. Heavy boots on stone floor.
I keep my head down. Don't breathe. Don't move.
Please walk past. Please don't look at me.
Thomas, my Beta, Kade says. What's your concern?
Just pack safety, Alpha. Rogues can be... unpredictable. Perhaps background checks would be wise.
He's right in front of us now. I can smell him. Same cologne he always wore.
Look at me when my Beta speaks to you, Ash, Kade says gently.
No. I can't.
But everyone is watching. Waiting.
I have no choice.
Slowly, I raise my head.
My father is staring at someone else. Hasn't looked at me yet.
I just want to ensure this woman is worthy of being our Luna, he says. If you'll allow me to—
His eyes slide to me.
Time stops.
His face goes completely white. All the blood draining away.
Pure terror flashes across his features.
Because he knows.
He recognizes me.
His daughter. The girl he framed. The girl he threw away pregnant and screaming.
I stare back at him. Let him see the rage in my eyes.
I'm back.
And this time, I'm not leaving.