Mag-log inI pulled out my phone. Texted Marcus: *Hey, status update? How's pack defense going?* The response came immediately: *All quiet. Rogues haven't returned. Nate, where are you? You and Alpha Jeremy disappeared—* *With Rose. Handling mate bond stuff. Be back soon.* *Good. Give Rose my best. Tell
"No." Rose's voice was firm. "We're doing this. We're getting answers. We're—we're ending this so I can go home." Home. She called Crescent Moon Pack home. Despite everything. Despite the threats and attacks and war. That was—that was everything. A car approached. Old. Beaten. Not pack vehicle
"He's right." Dad sighed. "Cas, if Rose is determined—and it sounds like she is—we need to work with that. Make the meeting as secure as possible. Get the information. And if it's a trap, we're prepared to respond." Uncle Cas was quiet for a long moment. Then: "Fine. But we do this my way. Full va
The Rejected Mate Nate pov I stood in my father's office, having just delivered the news about Jessica's contact with Rose. Dad looked furious. Uncle Cas looked—lethal. Both processing the information at vampire and Alpha speed. "Jessica Matthews contacted Rose directly," Dad repeated. "Afte
"Then that's something for pack justice to sort out. Not for my mate to handle personally." His voice softened. "Rose, please. Don't do this. Don't meet Jessica. Don't leave Nightshade security. Don't—don't give extremists another chance to hurt you." "But if she has information that ends the war—
*I'm sending you proof. One piece. Then you decide if you believe me.* A photo appeared. Grainy. Taken from distance. But clear enough. A wolf I recognized. Standing with known rogues. Discussing something. The timestamp showed two days ago—the day before the ultimatum messages started. I zoom
Gunshots rang out. Silver bullets that made wolves scream when they hit. Some of the mercenaries were in human form with rifles, providing covering fire for their shifted pack members. "Protect the pack house!" My father's command echoed through the mind-link. "Don't let them reach the safe rooms!
"She needs to hear it from Alpha command. From me and Marcus together." He checked his watch. "I'm waking Marcus now. We'll meet here in thirty minutes. That gives you time to prepare Emma for what's coming." After he left, I returned to the living room. Emma was still asleep, her face peaceful in
Marcus came out of nowhere. A blur of brown fur slamming into the leader from the side. Father and daughter. Protecting each other. They rolled, savage and desperate. Marcus was good—Beta for a reason—but the leader was better. More experienced. More brutal. I reached them and dove in, three wol
"Okay," I agreed. We worked together in silence, tucking in sheets, arranging pillows. The domesticity of it was both comforting and painful. A reminder of what we'd had, what we'd lost, what we might be slowly rebuilding. "There," Jeremy said when we finished. "Looks good. Feels weird sleeping







