Chapter 3

Dorian’s POV. 

“Come on, Dorian,” Luka’s voice crackled through the Bluetooth speaker. “You’ve been holed up for weeks. One drink won’t kill you.”

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, eyes on the winding road ahead. “I’m not in the mood,” I replied flatly. 

Luka’s been trying every attempt to get me out to drink with him but I avoided it as much as I could. I don’t have the luxury of leisure time anymore. 

“You’re never in the mood,” Luka muttered, then sighed. “Fine. But don’t pretend like you don’t feel it.”

The call ended, but the words lingered. Don’t pretend like you don’t feel it. 

Preventing me from wallowing too much in Luka’s words, a call came in. A perfect distraction. I picked the call to hear a distorted voice over the call. I gripped the steering wheel in frustration. 

“I’m a busy man, Andrew. Call me when you find your spine,” I said coldly. 

“That’ll be all.” I ended the call and turned my eyes back to the road, driving down the narrow stretch without a second thought.

A sharp scream pierced the night, followerd by rustling sounds picked by my heightened senses. 

I rolled down the window slightly, seeing wolves chasing something at this time of the night. Except, that something was a someone. The woman being chased gripped her belly with one hand as she ran through the woods, glancing back occasionally to see the werewolves catching up with her until a wolf tackled her out of nowhere to the roadside while the others slowed down, trotting towards her. 

Bandits. 

Without a second thought, I got down from my car and shifted, unleashing Ash instantly as I ran with full force to tackle the black werewolf looming over her. 

Sinking my fangs into his jugular vein, I felt his grip weaken as he dropped dead in an instant. Another lunged at me, claws slashing my back while the other hopped from a height in an attempt to attack. 

The two wolves circled me, growling and snarling. I hopped on one, quickly pinning him to the ground as my claws tore through his back, my fangs sinking into his neck. 

He whined as life drained out of him while the others retreated, leaving the woman bleeding out, her gray gown dyed red wth her own blood. She’s pale already and not healing fast enough. She’d need a hospital. 

I shifted back and bent to carry her, only to see her face well under the moonlight. 

A chuckle escaped my lips as I recalled her identity. What in the goddess’s name was Aaron Moonstone’s mate looking for all alone near the borders of Moonstone Pack? 

Ash reared his head in my head, cockiness oozing from him and I chuckled in response. “Careful, boy. This one’s claimed.” I flicked my thumb over her neck, feeling the mark on it—faint, but still there. “I think.”

I carried her gently in my arms to the car before changing into a clean suit in my trunk. 

Upon starting the car, I realized she’s still out and drove her straight to a private clinic in my Pack. 

“See that she’s okay.” I ordered the healer who took her from my arms. I retreated to let them do their job. 

“Alpha Dorian Valehart?” The healer called calmly, ushering me into her office and I followed.

She offered me a seat, a small smile plastered across her face as she began, “I’m delighted by the fact that you made it here as fast as possible. They’re out of the woods now. So she should be discharged by morning and you’ll be able to take her home. However, coupled with her situation and the attack, she might need as much time to fully heal. I believe you will see to that.”

I nodded briskly, but something caught my attention. “They?” I asked, suddenly intrigued. 

The healer’s brow shot upward as if puzzled, but she returned her small smile almost immediately. 

“Ah, yes. Well, she’s with a child. If you’d gotten here any later, she might’ve lost the baby. Even later than that and might’ve lost her own life.”

It all didn’t seem right to me. Like there’s a missing piece yet to put in place. Why would Aaron let his mate wander around when she’s pregnant?

“Uhm… Alpha? Are you with me?” 

Jolting me out of my thoughts were the Healer’s words as I returned my gaze to her. “Yes, of course. Thank you, Healer Estel. I’ll go see her now, if that’s fine with you.”

She nodded briskly and I found myself walking into her ward. 

In there, Lillian slept on the bed almost lifeless except for the faint rhythmic rising of her chest that showed an extremely slow breathing. Long dark hair sprawled over the pillow, a round face dusted with freckles and a heart shaped lip that seemed almost as pale as the sheets itself. She’s…undeniably beautiful. 

I quickly shook the thoughts of her out of my head after realizing what I was doing. Fawning over my rival’s mate was definitely not my style. 

My mind darted to a moment she’d accompanied the Moonstone prick as Luna to Nightspire Honor Night, an annual gala hosted by the Alpha King of Nightspire to recognize business tycoons and powerful Alphas. She looked elegant in her bold red dress and I struggled to believe the regal woman of then was the one casted out and barely clinging to life. 

Usually, I don’t like to get my hands dirty. Especially, not with other people’s mates. Not after Ellie’s death. But I couldn’t just watch Lillian bleed out at the hands of wolves. 

Ash growled in my head. He hated meddling just as much as I did and I responded mentally. “I hate it too. But we don’t have any choice right now.”

I took a seat adjacent to her bed, watching her sleep soundly as thousands of questions ran through my mind. Why was she out there, pregnant yet as prey for bandits?

Could he have casted her out? There’s no telling what boundaries Aaron Moonstone might have issues crossing. I shook my head, watching her stir in her sleep. 

Lillian Moonstone’s in my care, and now, I want answers.