She observed Caelum who was peacefully asleep then slipped out of bed. The cold gave her goosebumps as she tiptoed her way towards the door. She gripped the door handle and slowly turned it; afraid it would make a sharp noise.Feeling the cylinder slide, her grip tightened as she pulled it open at a snail’s pace until it was wide enough for her. She held the handle on the other side and slipped through the opening. Then she closed the door but left a small crack, light spilling inside the bedroom, for the sound of the door closing might wake him.With the lights still on in the corridors, she ran at full speed, passing by the paintings without giving any a glance, except for the image of the red-eyed black wolf that somehow always caught her attention.She reached the top of the stairs and looked around. The opposite wing was empty with

 “What was she doing there?” he questioned as he sank on the couch while pinching at his glabella. “How is she even alive? We felt the bond break, didn’t we?”“Something’s off,” his wolf said.“No shit, Gin. A lot of things don’t make sense. We felt the bond with…” he trailed, then stayed silent. “With Mom.”“They were alive all this time,” Gin agreed.“Damn it, Gin! How could you get it wrong!”Gin growled at him and he punched thin air in annoyance as he cursed. “Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!”“Quiet down or you’ll wake her!” scolded Gin.“I need a run,” he said.&

  “You… never came.” Her words echoed in his mind as invisible knives stabbed his heart many times over it should’ve killed him. How could he refute the truth? He wasn’t there beside them when they needed him most. Their sole protector. What he did might as well be the same with that of abandonment.He solemnly sat at the foot of her bed, watching her shaking figure beneath the sheets and listening to her sobs. What she had gone through, what the Blood Moon pack did to her – he blamed himself for everything. And for the life he’s lived for the past years since that night, he regretted giving up on them, believing that they all died then.“Tell her, Gray,” his wolf urged.“Tell her what, Gin? I thought you were dead, so how could I have known?” he

 “Someone’s here,” Gin warned, at the same time Gray had the same feeling.His protective instinct towards his Little One soared; balled his fists, preparing for a fight. They were found too soon, but he wouldn’t let her be taken. Not now, not when he was finally reunited with her. She shall never get hurt again.“I promise I’ll protect you, Little One,” he said, planting a kiss on her forehead before leaving the bedroom to the living room, and finally heading outside. He stood on the porch, flexing his shoulders, channeling Gin’s energy.He could smell one, an Alpha, the same scent that lingered on his Little One. Did he come alone? Gray doubted it. His men must have the cabin circled by now, hiding their scents with wolfsbane – it’s what he would’ve done.“Show yourself,&

 “Her pack is waiting for her return.”Luca’s words pulled on his heartstring, remembering the promise he made to his pack before he left them. It had been years since then, and he had cut all contact from them. They weren’t even his pack anymore. He was no longer Alpha, having passed on the responsibility to his Beta and best friend.He promised to return, and yet he never did. He was a rogue Alpha if he could still call himself one. No one knew about him, and he was certain his pack wouldn’t snitch on him. This kid knew, but did he really? There was a possibility the kid was bluffing.And his Little One, a Luna? She didn’t mention anything about it. All he knew was that someone hurt her and she was running away from the Blood Moon pack.“You dare fool me, Beta?” he spa