One week.Seven days of watching Ace lie motionless in that hospital bed. Seven days of praying to a Moon Goddess who seemed to have forgotten I existed.The doctor's words echoed in my mind like a broken record: *"Only a miracle can save him now."*I curled up next to Ace on the narrow hospital bed, my face pressed against his shoulder. His skin was cold, still gray. The machine kept beeping their a steady rhythm, but it felt like a countdown to goodbye."Why?" I whispered into his shirt. "Why does everyone leave me?"First my parents. Then James destroyed me. I lost my baby. Now Ace was slipping away, and I couldn't do anything to stop it."Maybe I'm cursed," I said, my voice cracking. "Maybe I'm not meant to be happy."The thought hit me like a physical blow. What if this was my punishment for surviving when others didn't? What if love was something I'd never be allowed to keep?I lifted my head to look at his face. Still peaceful, still beautiful. Still gone."Please don't leave
I was halfway to the car when the bond went completely silent.Not strained. Not distant. Gone.I hit the ground hard, my knees giving out. The absence of Ace's presence was like having my heart ripped from my chest."Lily!" Eva caught me before I could fall completely. "What's wrong?""He's gone." The words came out as a whisper. "I can't feel him anymore.""That doesn't mean—""Yes, it does." I looked up at her, tears streaming down my face. "The only way a mate bond goes silent is if..." I couldn't finish the sentence."No." Eva's voice was fierce. "No, he's not dead. He can't be."But I knew. Deep in my bones, I knew something terrible had happened."We have to go," I said, struggling to stand. "We have to go now.""Lily, if he's..." Eva's voice broke. "If something happened, it's not safe.""I don't care about safe!" I screamed. "He's my mate! He's my everything!"The silence where our bond used to be was deafening. I pressed my hand to my chest, but there was nothing—just empti
The highway stretched endlessly ahead, but my mind was already at Morrison's territory. Marcus sat shotgun, his knuckles white as he gripped the door handle. Behind us, three SUVs carried my most trusted warriors."You sure about this?" Marcus asked for the third time."It's a trap." I kept my eyes on the road. "I've known since the moment Kayla called.""Then why the hell are we driving straight into it?""Because sometimes the only way out is through."My phone buzzed. A text from one of the neighboring Alphas: *In position. Waiting for your signal.*Good. The pieces were falling into place."Ace." Marcus's voice was strained. "If this goes sideways—""It won't.""You don't know that.""I know Morrison. He's arrogant. He'll want to face me himself, prove his dominance." I flexed my fingers on the steering wheel. "That's when we strike."The mate bond hummed steadily in my chest. Lily was safe, probably driving Eva crazy with worry. I'd left one of my most trusted pack members, Derek
The house felt too quiet without Ace. I stood at the window watching his car disappear down the driveway, my heart hammering against my ribs. The mate bond stretched between us like a rubber band, and with every mile he traveled, it pulled tighter. *He'll be fine,* I told myself. *He's strong. He's smart. He'll come back.* But my hands were shaking as I turned away from the window. The pack house buzzed with activity around me, but I felt like I was watching it all through glass. Pack members moved through their morning routines, completely unaware that their Alpha had just driven into what might be a trap. I needed to do something—anything to keep my mind occupied. "Luna?" A soft voice made me turn. Maya, one of the younger pack members, stood hesitantly in the doorway. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine." The lie tasted bitter. "Just... thinking." "Alpha Ace will be back soon." News traveled fast in a pack. Of course, everyone knew he'd left. "I know." I forced a smile.
Lily's warm weight on my chest was the only thing keeping me grounded. Her breathing was soft, and her hair spilled across my skin like silk. She'd been sleeping in my room every night since the marking, and I still couldn't get used to waking up with her there. It felt too good to be real. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, the vibration cutting through the peaceful silence. I reached for it carefully, trying not to wake her, but the movement made her stir. "Sorry, baby," I whispered, settling back against the pillows with my arm around her. The caller ID made my jaw clench. Elder Edward. This couldn't be good. "Alpha Ace." His voice was formal, distant. "I hope I'm not calling too early." "What do you want, Edward?" Lily lifted her head slightly, her eyes still heavy with sleep. I ran my fingers through her hair, silently telling her to stay put. "The Council has decided on the Alpha King position." My blood turned to ice. "Have they?" "We're throwing our suppo
LILY The morning sun filtered through the kitchen windows as I stood at the stove, wearing only Ace's oversized t-shirt. The fabric hung to my mid-thigh, soft and warm against my skin, carrying his scent like a security blanket. Everything had been perfect since the marking ceremony days ago. Too perfect, maybe. I flipped the pancakes, ignoring the nagging feeling in my chest. This peace we'd found—it felt borrowed. Like the universe was holding its breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop. But why couldn't I just enjoy it? Why couldn't I let myself have this happiness without constantly looking over my shoulder? The bond hummed between Ace and me, stronger than ever. I could feel him approaching before his footsteps reached the kitchen. "Morning, beautiful," his voice was rough with sleep as his arms slid around my waist from behind. "Morning," I leaned back against his chest, savoring the solid warmth of him. His hands splayed across my stomach, fingers tracing l