Episode 5

"The luna ran into the eastern woods, spread out and find her."

I hid into the bushes, ducking my head down so the rogues could not find me. Lily held onto me, shaking.

"This is bullshit," one of the rogues said. "We should be celebrating back at the pack, not chasing some spoiled princess through the woods."

"Alpha's orders. He wants her back before dawn."

"Why? She's useless. She can't even shift properly anymore."

My heart broke as I listened to them talk about me. For five years I'd lived among these people, and yet they still thought of me as a burden. 

"Because she's his ticket to the throne, idiot. He needs her to play the perfect wife for the cameras."

"I'm happy for Alpha Jason," another voice said. "Finally getting rid of that nightblood bitch and starting fresh with Veronica. A real mate."

"And when he becomes Alpha King? We'll all be set. No more scraping by. We'll have power, money, respect."

The first one laughed. "Respect? We're all rejects. Criminals kicked out of our original packs for murder, theft, worse. Jason took us in because no one else would."

"The nation will love his story. Poor rogue alpha who fell in love with a nightblood princess. Perfect."

I wanted to scream at them. These were the wolves I'd sacrificed everything for.

Lily started to whimper. I put my hand over her mouth and whispered for her to stay quiet.

Ahead of us, the road was packed with women wearing their finest dresses. Every she-wolf in sight looked stunning, hair done, makeup done, elegantly dressed. 

"I can't believe we're actually going to see him tonight!"

"Do you think he'll look at me? They say he's the most handsome alpha in the nation."

"Handsome? The man is built like a god. Six foot five, pure muscle, those eyes—"

"And that bone manipulation ability. Can you imagine being mated to someone that powerful?"

"The head priestess said only his true mate can calm the rage of his curse. That only she can help him control his wolf."

"His wolf is too powerful for him to handle alone. He needs a mate strong enough to balance him."

I knew these women were talking about Kael. Alpha Kael Thornheart, the man I'd loved six years ago.

No one in the nation knew we'd been together. No one knew there were moments when Kael wasn't cruel and ruthless. When he'd held me and promised me everything. When he'd smiled at me like I was his entire world.

But he changed. Or maybe I never really knew him at all.

Now hundreds of she-wolves were traveling to get chosen by my ex while I hid under bushes waiting for my husband's men to pass. How the tables had turned.

Behind me, I smelled smoke. The rogues were burning the forest down in my pusuit. I grabbed Lily's hand and ran sideways.

We didn't make it far. Three rogues stepped out and surrounded us.

"There you are, Luna." The biggest one smiled. "Alpha's been looking for you."

"Please, let us go."

"Can't do that." He grabbed Lily and yanked her away from me.

"Let her go!" I tried to reach for her but another rogue grabbed my arms and twisted them behind my back. I cried out.

"The alpha wants you alive," the one holding Lily said. "Didn't say anything about the kid being comfortable though."

I couldn't shift. Couldn't fight. Couldn't do anything but watch my daughter cry.

An arrow flew through the air and hit the rogue holding Lily in the throat. He dropped dead. Lily fell.

"Lily!" I screamed.

Philip stepped out from the trees with another arrow ready.

"Beta Philip? What are you—"

Philip shot the one holding me through the heart.

The third rogue drew his weapon but Philip was faster. He dropped the bow and pulled a knife. They fought. Philip drove his knife into the rogue's stomach and twisted.

One more rogue stood there, staring.

"You killed them," he said. "You actually killed them."

"And I'll kill you too if you don't run," Philip warned.

"The alpha will hear about this. He'll hunt you down and rip you apart."

"I know."

The rogue turned and ran.

Philip rushed over. He pulled Lily up first, then helped me stand. His hands had blood on them.

"Are you hurt?"

I shook my head, but I was lying. Everything hurt.

He hugged us both. I leaned into him for a moment. "I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner."

"You killed them," I said. "Your own pack members."

"They weren't my pack…not anymore.’’ He looked at me, kissed the top of my head: “You are."

I'd never had anyone choose me like this. Not even Kael, who'd promised me the world and then disappeared. Not Jason, who'd used me from day one. But Philip was standing here covered in blood because he'd killed for me.

"You need to run. Now," he said.

“And go where?’’

 "Alpha Kael's pack. Jason hates all nightbloods—he'd never set foot in Kael's territory. It's the perfect hiding place. All these women flooding in for the mate selection? You'll blend in."

I grabbed his hand. "Jason is your best friend. He'll kill you for this."

"I know."

"Philip, you can't—"

"I can. I will. For you."

"You're throwing away everything. Your position, your pack, your life—"

He kissed me. 

I froze up for a second, before everything fell into place. He was my husband's beta, his best friend. But he was kinder to me than Jason, he had loved me from the beginning. 

When he pulled back, his lips were still close to mine. "I'd betray everyone. I'd lose everything. I'd burn the whole world down if it meant keeping you safe."

This man was willing to die for me. 

"Go," he said. "I'll hold them off. Get to Kael's pack and don't look back."

"Philip—"

"Go!"

I grabbed Lily's hand and ran. Toward the road, toward the crowds, toward the one place Jason would never follow.

Philip ran the opposite direction: back toward the hunting party where Jason would sentence him to die for his betrayal. 

We reached the road and slipped into the crowd. Just another desperate mother and daughter.

Six years ago, I was supposed to be the one Kael chose. Now I was sneaking into his territory like a criminal while other women competed for his attention.

For the first time in five years, I felt something warm spreading through me.

I was falling in love with Philip.

"Mommy, where are we going?" Lily asked.

"Somewhere safe, baby."

But I couldn't stop thinking about Philip. About his kiss. About the way he'd chosen me over everything else in his life.

"Will Philip be okay?"

I couldn't answer her. The man who just saved us was probably going to die because of it.

Around us, women talked excitedly.

"Do you think the prophecy is real? That his true mate will be revealed tonight?"

"The head priestess has never been wrong. Under the full moon, the mate bond will show itself."

"I hope it's me. Can you imagine? Being the one to tame Alpha Kael?"

I looked up. The moon was rising.

My old life was burning behind me. Ahead was Kael's territory. The man who abandoned me six years ago was about to choose his mate tonight in front of the entire nation.