#Chapter 1: The Rouge Girl

My husband, Alpha Hunter, carefully cradled a rogue girl in his arms, right in front of the whole pack, as if she were the most precious treasure.

I never imagined he would treat me with such tenderness. After all, I had never even been publicly known as his wife. So, like the other pack members, I could only watch this scene, reminding myself to keep my face neutral and stand up straight—rather than showing any signs of jealousy.

“Get the doctor. Now!” Hunter shouted over his shoulder.

The new rogue girl named Maya was hurt, and badly. A huge violet bruise bloomed on the her ankle. Her legs were marred by scratches: a still-bleeding spiderweb pattern of injuries.

The voice of Hunter was gruff and loud, but not as steady as usual. I didn’t think the other pack members would notice the difference from his usual even, commanding tone. But I did.

He was angry, but he was also afraid.

I didn’t look away from the scene, but rustling behind us indicated his order was being followed. He waited, cradling Maya in his muscular arms. His brow was furrowed and expression concerned as he looked down at her face.

Hunter gently laid Maya on the flat ground as the doctor arrived. He started his examination swiftly and carefully, touching her limbs to assess her wounds.

A thready wail escaped Maya’s gritted teeth. It sounded pitiful, but real. I wasn’t sure if she was afraid or in pain or both, but she was suffering.

“Stop. You’re hurting her,” Hunter spat, shouldering the doctor away from Maya’s injured legs.

“I have to find the source of the bleeding,” the doctor replied. “I’m being as gentle as possible.” His voice was calm, but his eyes were wary at the Alpha’s commanding voice.  

“Get away from her,” Hunter growled. The doctor obeyed, stumbling to his feet and moving briskly away.

Hunter began bandaging the worst of the cuts. He moved slowly, with a whisper light touch that seemed at odds with his powerful body. I thought I saw his lips moving, too. Was he whispering comfort to her while he worked?

I shook my head to focus. I should help.

I knelt down beside them and reached across to help him clean one of her cuts. He batted my hand away.

“I’ve got it,” he spat gruffly and returned to his bandaging. His hands were shaking as they applied the gauze.

I opened my mouth to tell him he should let me help, but was worried my voice would come out wrong: shaky, or too-loud. Not my usual brisk, calm tone.

Besides, arguing with him wouldn’t be behavior befitting the pack’s Chief Delta. And complaining certainly wouldn’t be in keeping with the persona of ruthless competence I was known for.

I looked around at the other pack members. I half expected to see my shock reflected on their faces. I’d never seen him touch a woman in public, as long as I’d known him.

Hunter had always held himself at a distance from the opposite sex. He believed romantic entanglements were more trouble than they were worth.

Still, females absolutely threw themselves at him. They always had.

I remembered how I used to be amused by watching it. The women were so desperate, and he was so obviously not interested. He used to make this face that was a combination of disgust and detachment.

Even after we were married, it didn’t bother me. I knew he’d always be loyal to me.

But he’d never looked at any of those other women the way he was looking at Maya now.

I’d been in love with him for years. It was painful, but at least there was the comfort of knowing that if he wasn’t with me, he wasn’t with anyone else either.

When he finally noticed me, it hadn’t been romance or lust, but that I was different from the others. I was competent, obedient, and dedicated. So he married me and promoted me to his chief delta.

As a powerful Alpha, second only to the Alpha King, one of the few things Hunter was lacking was an official Luna for the pack. And werewolves had long held the belief that only packs formed by fated mates were strong.

I’d always thought it was ridiculous. It’s not like Hunter needed some ancient magic of destiny to be a good Alpha. He inspired the pack’s loyalty because of who he was.

But we’d kept our marriage secret. We couldn’t risk anyone suggesting that the pack was weak because it lacked a Luna. Besides, Hunter was a strong candidate to join the Alpha Council, but he’d never be chosen if there was any doubt about the pack’s loyalty.

Hunter finished the treatment. His hands stilled, but he didn’t move. He continued to stare down at Maya.

The emotions flurried between them, almost visible in the air. His gaze was protective, like he was looking at a priceless thing he couldn’t imagine losing. Maya was looking at him like she was seeing the stars for the first time.

The expression in her eyes felt familiar to me. The admiration and awe written on her face were how I felt about Hunter, too.

She looked up at him from under lashes still clumpy and wet with tears. She spoke shyly. Her voice was high and soft, but still slightly croaky:

“Does your pack have a Luna?”

I held my breath until he spoke, though I knew what he was going to say.

“We do not,” Hunter replied. There was something else in his expression now. Lust was warring with soft protectiveness. Looking at them was making me feel ill.

I couldn’t watch any longer. I cleared my throat and stepped forward.

I could feel the pack’s eyes on me. Their stares felt warm on my back. It seemed like I was moving in slow motion.

“Maya, I will be responsible for your follow-up as our newest member.” I was pleased that my voice came out steady: brusque and decisive.

The tension in the air around us was thick. The pack members must feel the power of the confrontation.

Even if they didn’t know we were married, they knew I was Hunter’s right hand. They knew I was more than a Chief Delta. I was the only female he trusted. The most loyal member.

The pack members speculated about our relationship. Of course they did.

They knew we were close, and wondered what I was to him. I pretended to close my ears to their theories, but I heard them.

But I’d never spoken out of turn before. Never overstepped. It was the Luna’s job to settle new members, though, and I’d just confidently suggested that I was going to do it. It was as close as I’d ever come to declaring what I was to Hunter.

Maya’s eyes were still shy. But I thought I saw a knowing expression behind her wariness.

“Oh, are you the female leader of the pack?”

I opened my mouth to reply, but Hunter spoke quickly, firmly.

“No. She’s Chief Delta, no more. I have no mate.”

His words were an arrow: fast and sharp as they stuck in my chest.