THE ALPHA'S FORSAKEN LUNA

The Waiting

Three days. I spent them in my mother's cottage. She had not changed. Still small. Still submissive. Still terrified of everything.

But when she saw me, she did not bow. She ran to me and wrapped her arms around me and wept. "My girl," she whispered. "My strong, brave girl."

"I am not a girl anymore, Mother."

"I know." She pulled back and looked at me. "I know. I felt you coming from miles away. The whole pack felt you. You are not the same wolf who left."

"No," I agreed. "I am not." The pack watched me. Everywhere I went, eyes followed. Whispers followed. The Omega's daughter had returned. The rejected mate had grown fangs. The Alpha was pacing in his office like a caged animal.

On the second day, Beta Marcus approached me. "You need to leave," he said. "Before this goes too far."

"I am not going anywhere."

"You are going to get yourself killed."

I smiled. "Is that a threat, Beta?"

"It is a warning. The Alpha is not stable. He has not been stable since his Luna died. You are poking a wounded bear."

"Maybe the wounded bear needs to be poked." I turned to face him fully. "Or maybe he needs someone who is not afraid of him."

Marcus's expression shifted. Something like respect flickered across his features. "You have changed."

"Three months in rogue territory will do that."

"What happened to you out there?"

"I learned that strength is not about bloodlines. It is about choices." I looked toward the pack house. "Your Alpha made his choice. Now I am making mine."