Mag-log inJaxon stood on the training grounds, watching his warriors run drills, but his mind was elsewhere. It had been ever since he'd left Elara's cabin last night, ever since he'd held her hand and promised to protect her. He'd meant every word, but now, in the harsh light of day, he was starting to realize just how complicated that promise was going to be. Kael Donovan wasn't just any Alpha. He was one of the most powerful wolves in the region, ruthless and uncompromising, and if he truly believed Elara was carrying his child, then convincing him otherwise was going to be nearly impossible.And the worst part, the part that kept Jaxon up at night, pacing his office and questioning every decision he'd made since Elara arrived, was that he didn't want to give her up. Not to Kael, not to anyone. It wasn't just about duty or honor or protecting a vulnerable omega. It was something deeper, something he hadn't felt in years, if ever. He cared about her. More than he should. More than was wise
That's impossible," Elara whispered, shaking her head. "I'm nobody. I'm just a rogue omega with no pack, no family, no power. If I had this bloodline you're talking about, someone would have noticed before now. Someone would have said something." Helena's expression remained firm, unyielding. "Not if it was hidden," she said. "Not if someone, maybe your mother, maybe someone even further back in your line, sealed it away to protect you. The Moon Omega bloodline is powerful, yes, but it's also dangerous. Throughout history, omegas with that blood have been hunted, captured, forced into mate bonds with Alphas who wanted to control that power. If your bloodline was sealed, it would have kept you safe, kept you invisible, until something triggered it to awaken."Elara's mind was spinning, her thoughts a chaotic mess of denial and fear and a tiny, terrifying spark of hope. "And you think the pregnancy triggered it?" she asked. Helena nodded. "Pregnancy is one of the most powerful catalyst
The morning after Jaxon's visit, Elara woke with a strange heaviness in her chest, like something was pressing down on her lungs, making it hard to breathe. She sat up slowly, her hand moving instinctively to her belly, and felt the baby kick in response, strong and insistent. The movement should have comforted her, should have reminded her that they were both still alive, still fighting, but instead it only made the heaviness worse. Because now, with Kael Donovan coming to Silverclaw, everything was about to change. The fragile safety she'd found here, the tentative hope that maybe, just maybe, she could build a life for herself and her child, all of it was hanging by a thread that could snap at any moment.She dressed slowly, her movements mechanical and automatic, and made her way to the small mirror hanging on the wall. The woman staring back at her looked tired, dark circles under her eyes, her skin pale and drawn, but there was something else too. Something in her eyes that ha
But Jaxon didn't care. He'd meant what he said. He wouldn't hand Elara over. Not to Kael, not to anyone. Even if it meant putting his entire pack at risk. Even if it meant going to war. Because the alternative, letting her be taken, letting her and her child be claimed by a man who saw them as property, was unthinkable."Then we prepare," Jaxon said, his voice hard and decisive. "We double the patrols on the borders. We make sure every warrior is armed and ready. And we send word to our allies, let them know that we might need their support. If Kael Donovan wants a fight, we'll give him one." The council members exchanged uneasy glances, but no one argued. They knew better than to challenge Jaxon when he spoke with that tone, when his Alpha authority filled the room like a tangible force."What about the girl?" Garrett asked. "What do we tell her?" Jaxon's expression softened slightly. "I'll talk to her. I'll explain what's happening and what we're doing to protect her. She deserves t
Elara couldn't stop shaking. Even after Jaxon had helped her back to her cabin, even after Mira had wrapped her in blankets and forced hot tea into her trembling hands, the fear still clung to her like a second skin. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at nothing, her mind replaying Damon's cold words over and over again. He knew. He'd smelled the Alpha blood in her baby, had recognized something in her scent that connected her to his Alpha, and now it was only a matter of time before the truth came crashing down on her like an avalanche she couldn't escape."Drink the tea," Mira said softly, sitting beside her and pressing the warm cup into her hands. "Helena made it special for you. It'll help calm your nerves." Elara looked down at the steaming liquid, the scent of chamomile and something earthier, something she didn't recognize, rising up to meet her. She took a small sip, letting the warmth spread through her chest, but it did nothing to chase away the cold knot of dread tha
Elara barely slept that night. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the masked Alpha from the Moon Festival, his silver eyes glowing in the darkness, his hands on her skin, his voice whispering promises that had meant nothing in the light of day. She saw Rowan's face, twisted with pain as he fought Kade, and heard his final words echoing in her mind like a ghost that refused to leave. And she saw her baby, small and helpless, being ripped from her arms by faceless wolves who claimed it belonged to someone else, someone powerful, someone who would never let her go.When dawn finally broke, pale and cold through her window, Elara was already awake, sitting on the edge of her bed with her hands pressed against her belly. The baby was restless too, kicking and shifting as if it could sense her fear, and she whispered soft, meaningless words to calm them both. "It's going to be okay," she murmured, even though she didn't believe it. "We're going to be okay. I won't let anyone take you.







