PROLOGUE
Adam stared at his baby girl in his arms as tears streamed down his face. This was the hardest thing he would ever have to do but he had no choice. As a delta, he knew he wouldn't be able to protect her when more dominant wolves came.
Toya, his mate came to him with the baby's bag in hand. She also had tears on her beautiful face and he hated that there was nothing he could do about it.
He had failed her and he hated himself for that. He only hoped they would be able to get over this pain in the future together.
“Is everything packed?" Adam asked, wiping the tears from his eyes.
“Yeah," Toya replied, her voice breaking. She saw the look of despair on her mate's face and dropped the bag on the floor, then she cradled his face in her hands.
“Hey," she said, “I know this hurts but we're making the right decision. What we're doing is what's best for her. We can't give her the life she deserves while we're on the run. She'll thank us for this in the future Adam."
He nodded. “You're right. I know you are but I just hate that I'm failing both as a mate and as a father."
“Don't say that!" Toya said cutting him off, “even knowing what I know now, I couldn't have asked for a better mate or a better father for Aurora."
She paused to smile at their daughter who was sleeping peacefully in her father's arms, oblivious of how her life would soon change.
“I love you Toya. So much. I promise you, someday, I'm going to fix this. I'm going to give you both the life you deserve," Adam said, kissing his mate on her forehead.
She laughed amidst the tears.
“I know you will."
Eventually, it had gotten dark enough for them to leave.
“Are you ready?" Adam asked his mate
She nodded, checking on their daughter who was still asleep. She usually wasn't this cooperative but she took it as a sign that the moon goddess agreed with their plans.
Adam took his mate and his daughter and they left in the cover of night. They left their cabin in the woods and headed into town. Catching a bus, they made their way to their destination.
When they arrived at the orphanage, tears pooled in Toya's eyes again even though she thought she was all cried out.
Adam tucked her into his side as they dropped their daughter in her carrier on the front door of the human orphanage.
They would never be able to protect her themselves and a life amongst humans was better than the life she would live with them, always on the run, always hiding, never truly being free.
They left a note in the carrier that read;
“To whom it may concern, my name is Aurora. My parents left me here because they couldn't afford to take care of me. Please ensure I get into a good family."
Adam tried to be strong for Toya as they both couldn't afford to break down even though it was taking all of his strength to not cry.
Before they left, Toya left a locket inside the carrier that had a black and white picture of Aurora with her parents. She knew it was a risk but she wanted her daughter to have something from her parents, something she would always have with her. At least she hoped Aurora would always have it with her.
They said their final goodbyes to their baby girl and kissed her and before they left, they woke her up and disappeared into the cover of the night.
The waited in the shadows to make sure her cries alerted orphanage staff and that she wasn't just picked up by strangers.
They watched the door open and a woman come out. She stared at the crying child and picked her up as she tried to see if she could spot her parents.
Eventually, the woman took the baby and walked in and Toya finally let herself grieve. She broke down in her mate's arms as she grieved the biggest loss of her life.
She was not only grieving her daughter, she was grieving the mother she was supposed to be and Adam held her, whispering soothing words in her ears.
When she had calmed down, they made their way back to their cabin. On the commute back home, they had time to think and convinced themselves for the millionth time that they were making the right choice.
They were so consumed by their grief that they didn't notice that shadows in the woods.
By the time Adam caught a whiff of the strange scent, it was too late. An ambush was waiting for them as they arrived at their cabin.
Adam tried to fight to defend Toya but he was easily overpowered. They were both forced to their knees.
Alpha Gregory, the most ruthless alpha and the leader of their former pack came forward.
“You two have been hard to find," he said.
“Maybe that was on purpose alpha," Adam spat out.
“Watch your tone, Delta. Do not forget who you're speaking with!" Gregory responded, a coldness to his voice.
“You're too late. You'll never have her," Toya yelled.
“Just like you thought we'd never have you? You forget, I have a gift in breaking people. Ravina sends her regards."
Toya's eyes widened and suddenly, it made sense how they found them. She couldn't even be mad at Ravina, her closest friend, almost her sister when they were still in the pack. She was just thankful they were hours late and their daughter was somewhere safe.
“If you won't do this the easy way and just tell me where she is, we'll have to do this the hard way and take that information from you," the alpha said.
Toya and Adam shared a look. They always knew a day like this would come. They just didn't expect it would happen so soon. Luckily, they had a contingency plan in place.
They knew they couldn't allow themselves to be taken. Dominant wolves, especially alphas had a way of making less dominant wolves do or say things against their will.
Toya and Adam couldn't allow that happen. It would put everything they had worked for in jeopardy.
Tears fell down Toya's face as she knew what she had to do. She cried because she knew she would never get to see her daughter again. She would never have the chance to explain their decision to her. They would never have the chance to be a family.
“I love you Adam. You were the best thing that ever happened to me," She said to her mate through their mental bond.
“You are my greatest gift, my whole heart. I'm sorry it has to end like this. I love you Toya," he responded.
Before the wolves who had them surrounded could react, Adam took the pill he had hidden on himself for such an occasion and swallowed it. He had hoped he wouldn't need it but he was glad he had it with him.
“You'll never find my daughter," he said to alpha Gregory as he collapsed in pain.
“No!!" Gregory yelled as he watched both wolves fall to their deaths. He knew his chances of finding their daughter was diminished now and there was nothing he could do.
The mated pair somehow found their way to each other and held their hands as they took their last breath, a smile on their face, knowing at least, their daughter was safe.
