Chapter 2

I took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the VIP room.

Darian froze when he saw me.

“What are you doing here?” he scowled. “Maeve, are you spying on me?”

Amara immediately clung to his arm, looking at me with wide, innocent eyes.

“Don’t misunderstand, Darian,” she said, her voice soft and sweet. “I was the one who told him to call you. I just wanted to see if you really cared as much as you say.”

She blinked her watery eyes. “I was just joking when I asked you to bring a hangover cure. I can’t believe you actually came.”

Darian’s face changed.

He realized he’d accused me wrongly.

“Maeve, I…”

I pulled a bottle of hangover-remedy honey water from my purse and set it on the table.

“Drink it. Then we’re leaving.”

My short, clipped words cut off any apology he was about to make.

A flash of triumph crossed Amara’s eyes before she resumed her pitiful act.

“Thank you, Maeve. I know you always take such good care of Darian.”

I didn’t respond.

Darian downed the honey water in one go and got up to pay the bill.

“Let’s go.”

The night was dark on the drive home.

I drove. He sat in the passenger seat with his eyes closed.

The car was silent.

As we passed a secluded stretch of road bordering the forest, a black shadow shot out from the trees.

BANG!

The shadow slammed hard against my side of the car.

The driver’s side window spiderwebbed with cracks. A twisted, snarling wolf’s face pressed against the glass, its crazed eyes locked on me.

A rogue.

“Look out!”

Before I could even react, Darian moved.

He moved in a blur. He yanked me from the driver's seat and pulled me onto his lap. He shielded me with his body and slammed his foot on the brake.

For a second, his familiar scent of cedarwood surrounded me.

Just like the old days.

I was lost in the memory for a split second.

The car screeched to a halt amid the terrified howls of the rogues. The attacker flinched, stunned by Darian's burst of Alpha power. It retreated into the darkness.

“Are you okay?” Darian looked down at me, his eyes filled with genuine concern.

I pushed him away and slid back into my seat.

“I’m fine.”

My voice was so calm it surprised even me.

Darian stared for a moment, then slowly let me go.

The next morning, he offered to drive me to the animal medical center.

“I’m headed that way. I’ll give you a ride.”

I nodded. “Thanks.”

When I opened the passenger door, a wave of warmth and jasmine hit me.

A cashmere blanket was draped over the seat. A bottle of Fiji water sat in the console.

And a tube of Amara’s favorite lavender hand cream.

“Amara gets cold easily,” Darian explained, looking uncomfortable.

I remembered last winter.

I was shivering in bed with a 102-degree fever.

“Can you turn on the heat?” I had asked weakly.

“It’s too stuffy,” he’d replied with a frown. “You’ll be fine.”

Now, he had a luxury cashmere blanket ready because another woman might feel a chill.

“I’ll sit in the back,” I said, closing the passenger door.

“Maeve…”

“It’s fine.” I was already in the back seat. “The view is better back here.”

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped at the animal medical center on the edge of the forest.

It was a research lab built by the pack. My official role in the pack was working with animals. It was my gift.

“I’ll pick you up tonight,” Darian said.

“Don’t bother.” I got out of the car. “I’ll get a ride.”

He looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just nodded.

I escaped to the medical center and buried myself in my duties. It was the only way to drown out the noise in my head.

It wasn't until four in the afternoon that I left the lab.

A group of pack members was gathered in the hallway, talking excitedly.

“Did you hear? The Alpha is hosting a charity gala!”

“Really? When?”

“Next Friday. It’s going to be huge. All the alliance Alphas are invited.”

I paused, pretending to shuffle some files.

“This gala is to cheer Amara up, right?” someone whispered. “The Alpha really dotes on her.”

“Of course. They’ve been close since they were kids.”

“I heard they’re auctioning off a rare moonstone crystal. They say it can soothe a wolf’s pained soul.”