Chapter 2

Lyra howled inside me, torn between the mate bond and the sound of our pack dying. I looked down at my mother's lifeless body, her blood still warm on the floor, then back into the eyes of her killer.

I laughed, the sound sharp and hollow, disbelief cutting through the ache in my chest.

“So I go with you either way,” I said, fists clenching at my sides. “That’s not much of a choice.”

“Those are your only options,” he replied with a careless shrug.

I stared at him, rage simmering beneath my skin.

“And how am I supposed to trust that you’ll keep your word? That you won’t come back and finish what you started?”

His expression didn’t change. “I’m an Alpha,” he said. “I don’t break my word.”

The weight of it pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating. I let his words sink in, knowing the truth even as I hated it. This wasn’t a choice. It never had been. I would do anything to protect my pack.Slowly, I lifted my head and met his gaze.

“I accept your terms,” I said, squaring my shoulders, forcing confidence into my voice even as everything inside me fractured. 

A faint smile touched his lips. “Good.”Then he continued, casually, as if he hadn’t just shattered me.

“You will also announce to your pack that I am your mate,” he said, “and that you are leaving with me willingly.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

Then my gaze dropped—to my hands, my clothes, still soaked in my parents’ blood.

“You want me to stand in front of my pack,” I said hoarsely, “and tell them that you are my mate?” My voice trembled despite my efforts. “The man who killed their Alpha and Luna?”

I shook my head slowly. “I won’t do it.”

“Then our deal doesn’t stand,” he replied without hesitation.

“Why?” The word slipped out of me, defeated and raw.

He stepped closer, his presence pressing in, the bond stirring painfully between us.

“Because fate decided to bind me to the daughter of my enemy.” he said quietly.

I followed behind him like a sheep being led to the slaughter.

I watched him from behind despite myself. He was tall—no, huge. If I had to guess, not less than six foot seven. His shoulders were broad, his back wide, every inch of him carved from muscle. He was shirtless, skin streaked with dirt and blood that wasn’t all his own. Long black hair fell to his shoulders in loose curls, dark against his tanned skin. Power rolled off him effortlessly.

As if sensing my stare, he glanced back. I quickly averted my gaze, but it was pointless. I knew he felt it. He felt me.

“They’re all gathered,” he said, stepping aside. “Make the announcement, and they walk free.”

My feet felt heavy as I climbed the makeshift stage. The sight before me stole the air from my lungs.

Every remaining member of Cresthaven stood there,some leaning on others, some barely upright, injuries painted across their faces and bodies. Blood, torn clothes, hollow eyes. At the edges of the clearing, Silvercrest warriors stood like sentinels, weapons ready, making sure no one moved out of line.

My gaze searched desperately until it found him.

Aiden.

He stood at the front, his face tight with confusion and fear. Relief surged through me so violently my knees nearly buckled. I took a step toward him instinctively.

A sharp shake of Hunter’s head stopped me.

No.

Swallowing hard, I turned back to the crowd.

“Members of Cresthaven,” I began, my voice trembling despite my efforts to steady it. “Our Alpha and Luna… my parents… are no longer with us.”

Aiden’s cry tore through the clearing. He collapsed to his knees, the sound ripping something open inside my chest. I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms as I forced myself to continue.

“The Alpha of Silvercrest has agreed to let us go,” I said, the words tasting like ash. “His quarrel was only with our Alpha.”

I turned briefly toward Hunter. His face was unreadable, his posture rigid, eyes scanning the crowd like a predator assessing prey.

“Effective immediately,” I continued, “my brother Aiden will assume the role of Alpha of Cresthaven.”

A murmur rippled through the pack.

“And I…” My throat tightened. “…I will move to Silvercrest with my mate.”

Chaos erupted.

Aiden’s head snapped up, his sobs cutting off instantly. Shock gave way to fury as whispers spread like wildfire.

“What do you mean your mate?” Aiden snarled, his voice sharp and broken all at once.

“My mate,” I said, forcing the words past the crushing weight in my chest, “is the Alpha of Silvercrest. Hunter Bane.”

The word hit me before I even processed it.

“Traitor!”

It rose from the crowd in unison, a chorus of betrayal and rage. Aiden surged to his feet and lunged toward Hunter, but two Silvercrest warriors intercepted him instantly, dragging him back.

“Let me go!” Aiden roared, thrashing violently. “Let me go!”

I ran toward him without thinking, clawing at their arms. “You’re hurting him! Let him go!”

He stopped struggling suddenly, chest heaving as he stared at me.

“No,” he said hoarsely. “You hurt me. You hurt this pack.”

“Aiden, I—”

“Save it,” he cut in bitterly. “You’re a traitor. A disgrace to our parents.”

The words shattered what little of me remained intact. He had never ever spoken to me like that.

Behind me, the warriors looked to Hunter. At his silent signal, they released Aiden.

He straightened slowly, pain and betrayal etched into every line of his face.

“The moment you leave these pack grounds,” he said quietly, “you cease to be my sister.”

I staggered back as if struck.

I wanted to scream the truth. I wanted to tell him that this was the only way they would live,that I was sacrificing everything for them. But the words stayed trapped in my chest.

I shook my head, tears blurring my vision as I met his gaze one last time.

“Goodbye, brother.”