Luna's POV
I wake up at 6 AM to the sound of Kael's phone ringing.
Through the wall, I hear his voice sharp, angry. What do you mean they're early? You said 8 AM!
I throw on clothes and run across the hall to his room. Kael is already dressed, his face grim as he talks on the phone.
How many? he demands. And they're at the territory gates right now? He curses. Don't let them through. I'll be there in ten minutes.
He hangs up and sees me in the doorway.
The Blackwoods? I ask, my heart pounding.
They arrived two hours early, Kael says, grabbing his jacket. Three of them. And Luna, they're not just any Blackwoods. They're the Alpha brothers the most powerful wolves in their pack. They're demanding to see you immediately.
My hands shake. What do we do?
We face them together. Kael takes my hand. But Luna, you need to understand something. These men are your family. Your mother was their sister. They have a legal right to know you exist.
I don't want to meet them, I say, panic rising in my chest. They abandoned my mother when she mated my father. They didn't care about her for twenty years. Why do they care about me now?
Because you're carrying an Alpha heir, Kael says bluntly. A baby with both Blackwood and Thorne bloodlines. That makes her incredibly valuable.
She's not a prize to be won, I snap.
I know. Kael pulls me into his arms. And I won't let anyone treat hero you like one. But we have to be smart about this. The Blackwoods are powerful. If they want to take you to their territory, they have pack law on their side.
What? I pull back. They can take me? Against my will?
You're unmated, Kael says, and pain flashes across his face. By law, you belong to your birth pack which is Blackwood through your mother. The only way to keep you in Silverpine is if you have a mate bond here.
Understanding crashes over me. But you rejected me. The bond is broken.
I know, Kael says, his voice rough. And that might be the biggest mistake I ever made.
Twenty minutes later, we're standing at the Silverpine territory gates. Tobias and ten enforcers flank us, all looking tense.
A massive black SUV idles on the other side of the gates. Three men step out, and my breath catches.
They're huge even bigger than Kael. All three have dark hair and ice-blue eyes exactly like mine. They move with predatory grace that screams Alpha power.
The middle one steps forward. He's wearing an expensive suit and his eyes lock onto me immediately.
Luna, he says, and his voice is deep and commanding. I'm your uncle, Marcus Blackwood. These are your other uncles, Adrian and Vincent.
I don't move. Don't speak. These men share my blood, but they're strangers.
Open the gates, Marcus orders, looking at Kael.
No, Kael says firmly. You're on Silverpine territory. I decide who enters.
Marcus's eyes narrow. That's my niece standing behind you. I have a right to speak with her.
She doesn't want to speak with you, Kael says.
Let her answer for herself, Adrian says, stepping forward. He looks at me with something like regret. Luna, we know we failed your mother. We weren't there when she needed us. But we're here now. We want to make things right.
By taking me away from my home? I find my voice. By trying to claim my baby?
By protecting you, Vincent says. His voice is gentler than his brothers'. We heard about the attacks. Someone is trying to kill you. In Blackwood territory, you'd be safe. You and your child.
I'm safe here, I say, moving closer to Kael. With my baby's father.
Marcus's eyes flick to Kael with contempt. Your baby's father rejected you. We know all about it. Kael Thorne declared in front of his entire pack that you weren't good enough to be his mate.
Shame burns through me. They know about the rejection.
That was a mistake, Kael says, his jaw clenched. One I'm trying to fix.
How noble, Marcus says sarcastically. Tell me, Alpha Thorne, have you restored the mate bond? Have you publicly claimed Luna as your mate?
Kael's silence is answer enough.
I thought not, Marcus says. Which means Luna is unmated. By pack law, she belongs with her birth family. The Blackwoods.
I don't belong to anyone! I shout, anger overriding my fear. I'm not a possession to be claimed!
Of course not, Vincent says soothingly. But Luna, you're in danger here. Let us help you. Come to Blackwood territory for a few weeks. Meet your family. Let us show you the life your mother gave up.
And if I refuse? I ask.
The three brother's exchange looks.
Then we'll have to take this to the Council of Alphas, Marcus says. We'll file a formal petition for custody. And Luna, you should know the council always rules in favour of blood family over rejected mates.
My world tilts. They can force me to go with them?
You can't do this, Kael says, and I hear the desperation in his voice. Luna is pregnant. The stress could hurt the baby.
Which is exactly why she should be with family who wants her, not an Alpha who threw her away, Adrian says coldly. You had your chance, Thorne. You rejected her. Now she's ours to protect.
She's mine, Kael says, and his wolf flashes in his eyes. That baby is mine. You're not taking them anywhere.
Try to stop us, Marcus challenges. We have fifty Blackwood warriors waiting ten miles from here. One phone call and they enter Silverpine territory. Are you ready for war, Alpha Thorne?
The enforcers behind us tense. This could turn into a bloodbath in seconds.
Stop! I shout. Everyone just stop!
All eyes turn to me.
I'll go, I say quietly.
Luna, no Kael starts.
I'll visit Blackwood territory, I continue, my voice shaking. For one week. To meet my family and see where my mother came from. But I'm coming back to Silverpine. To Kael. Because this is my home.
Marcus smiles. One week. That's all we ask.
Luna, you can't trust them, Kael says desperately. Once they have you in their territory, they won't let you leave.
They're my family, I say, even though I'm terrified. I have to try.
Kael looks at me with such pain that my heart breaks. Then I'm coming with you.
No, Marcus says immediately. This is family time. You're not invited, Thorne.
Then Luna's not going, Kael says flatly.
Actually, she is, a new voice says.
We all turn to see Jason walking up, carrying official-looking documents. My brother looks sick, but determined.
What are you doing here? I ask.
Trying to save you from making a huge mistake, Jason says. He hands the papers to Kael. I did some research last night. Pack law is clear. The Blackwoods have the right to request a custody hearing for Luna. And the council will rule in their favour unless...
Unless what? Kael demands.
Jason looks at me sadly. Unless Luna is mated. The only way to keep you in Silverpine legally is to restore your mate bond with Kael.
But that takes time, I protest. We'd need a Moon Priestess, a ceremony
No, Tobias interrupts, stepping forward. There's an emergency provision. If both parties consent, an Alpha can perform a temporary bond restoration immediately. It lasts thirty days, gives you time to do the full ceremony properly.
And it would be legally binding? Kael asks.
Completely, Tobias confirms. The Blackwoods couldn't touch her.
Marcus's face darkens with anger. You can't force her into a bond she doesn't want.
We're not forcing anyone, Kael says. He turns to me, his golden eyes intense. Luna, I know I don't deserve another chance. I know I hurt you. But I'm asking will you let me restore our bond? Even temporarily? To keep you and our daughter safe?
My mind races. Restore the bond with Kael? After everything he did?
But the alternative is being taken by the Blackwoods. Away from Silverpine. Away from Elena. Away from the chance to learn the truth about my parents.
Away from Kael.
If I agree, I say slowly, it's just temporary. For protection. Not because I forgive you.
I understand, Kael says.
And after thirty days, if I want to break it again
I'll let you go, Kael promises, though the words clearly hurt him. I'll never force you to stay with me, Luna. This is your choice.
I look at the Blackwood brothers, at their cold, demanding faces. Then at Kael, with his desperate, hopeful eyes.
Okay, I whisper. Restore the bond.
Marcus snarls. This is a trick! She's being coerced!
No one's forcing me, I say firmly. This is my choice.
Kael takes my hands in his, and even through my fear, I feel the rightness of his touch.
I, Kael Thorne, Alpha of Silverpine Pack, request emergency restoration of the mate bond with Luna Hartley, he says formally. Do you accept?
I accept, I say.
Power explodes between us.
The mate bond snaps back into place like a rubber band that's been stretched too far. I gasp as Kael's emotions flood through me fear, love, desperation, hope.
Kael staggers, clearly feeling the same thing. Luna, he breathes.
No! Marcus roars. You can't do this!
It's done, Tobias announces. Luna Hartley-Thorne is now officially bonded to Alpha Kael. The Blackwoods have no legal claim.
The three brothers look murderous.
This isn't over, Marcus says. That bond is temporary. In thirty days, we'll be back. And Luna, you'll see Kael Thorne will break your heart again. He always does.
They get back in their SUV and drive away.
The moment they're gone, my legs give out. Kael catches me.
Are you okay? he asks frantically.
I can feel you, I whisper. Your emotions. Your wolf. Everything.
I know, Kael says. The bond is strong again.
Too strong. Overwhelming. I can barely tell where I end and he begins.
What have I done? I ask, tears streaming down my face.
Before Kael can answer, my phone buzzes.
One more message: You just made the biggest mistake of your life, Luna. The bond you restored is cursed. Kael's mother didn't die in childbirth by accident. She was murdered. And now that you're bonded to him again, you'll die the same way. In exactly thirty days. On the night of the Blood Moon.
Attached is a photo of a death certificate.
For Kael's mother.
Cause of death: Murder by Silver Poisoning.
Not childbirth complications.
Murder.