Chapter 4

I pulled free. "Doesn't the Alpha have a hundred responsibilities? Since when do you care where I'm going?"

Ronan fell silent. Months earlier, when I'd asked why he hadn't come home for three nights, he'd used those exact words on me.

At last, he said, "I should've told you about Vancouver. I was wrong." He hesitated. "But tomorrow I have to attend Sienna's disciplinary hearing. She's accused of attacking a patrol member first. If her appeal fails, she'll be banned from pack gatherings for three months. I need to find out what really happened."

Even in an apology, Sienna still came first.

"Move your surgery to the day after tomorrow," he said. "As soon as the hearing ends, I'll go with you."

"Don't bother. I don't need anyone with me."

He spoke as if he hadn't heard the refusal. "I'll put the best surgeon on standby and stay until you wake up."

His phone rang before I could answer. Sienna's terrified voice came through the speaker. "Ronan, someone's been pacing outside my hotel room. A minute ago, they tried the handle. I'm scared."

His entire demeanor changed. He grabbed his keys.

"Wait."

Ronan turned with a flash of impatience. "I don't need permission to protect a member of my pack, Maeve. She may actually be in danger." Then, as if throwing me a consolation prize, he added, "I'll make it to your surgery. Right now, you need to understand what matters most."

He'd misunderstood me completely.

I wasn't asking him to stay. I was trying to tell him that after tomorrow, he'd never have to rush back to me again.

But the door had already closed behind him.

The next morning, I arrived at the medical center and learned my surgery had been postponed.

Ronan had called the director overnight and used his authority as Alpha and my legal spouse to change the date. No one in Silver Ridge territory wanted to refuse him.

Dr. Morris even defended him. "Don't be too hard on your husband. He said you insisted on going alone because the two of you had argued. He's willing to rearrange council business for you. A man doesn't do that unless he cares."

Under my original plan, I'd have surgery today, fly to London tomorrow, and report to work the following morning.

One call from Ronan had wrecked the entire schedule.

I called him. Sienna answered.

"He just fell asleep," she whispered. "He was worried about me and stayed up all night. If you need anything, you can tell me." She paused, then added with fake innocence, "Oh, weren't you having surgery today? I'm sorry. I don't think Ronan can make it. Please don't get the wrong idea. Nothing happened between us—"

I hung up.

Seconds later, she posted another public update.

[The luckiest thing in the world is knowing that no matter when I turn around, my Alpha will come save me.]

The picture showed a luxury hotel suite. Ronan still wore yesterday's shirt as he sat beside her bed. The shadows under his eyes said he'd kept watch all night.

I blocked both of them and booked the procedure at a private werewolf clinic in London.

It was a minor operation. The country didn't matter.

The following morning, I boarded a flight out of New York. With my palm over my still-flat stomach, I breathed easier than I had in years.

No one came to stop me.

Ronan didn't even know that his Luna and unborn child had already left Silver Ridge airspace.

At eleven, Beta Kyle called the Alpha's office. "Maeve didn't show up at the medical center. They're asking whether to hold the operating room."

Ronan checked the time. He'd stayed with Sienna until six, then gone straight to the hearing. He'd assumed Maeve would do what she'd promised and handle everything herself.

"Did she reschedule?"

"There's something else," Kyle said carefully. "Dr. Morris thought you knew. Maeve is about eight weeks pregnant. They needed to adjust the anesthetic plan."

Ronan went still.

A rare smile slowly touched his eyes. "We're having a baby?"

He repeated the words under his breath as though speaking too loudly might scare them away. "That stubborn woman. She kept something this important from me?"

Kyle's next words wiped away the smile. "I can't reach her, Alpha. Can you get hold of your Luna?"