Silver Moon Rising

Chapter 2

MADISON

The last thing I remembered was the steady rhythm of Nile's heartbeat against my ear. Now, I woke to silk sheets and the softest bed I'd ever laid on. Sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows, and for a moment, I thought I was dreaming.

Then the pain hit. My ankle throbbed, my head pounded, and every muscle in my body ached. But I was alive. And I was in the most luxurious room I'd ever seen.

"You're awake."

I jerked toward the voice, immediately regretting the sudden movement. Nile stood in the doorway, wearing dark jeans and a black shirt that did nothing to hide his powerful build. In the daylight, he was even more intimidating. And gorgeous. Dangerously gorgeous.

"Where am I?" My voice came out rough, throat dry.

"My pack house. My room, specifically." He moved into the room with the fluid grace of a predator. "The pack doctor treated your injuries. Your ankle's sprained, not broken. You'll heal within a day or two."

His room? I struggled to sit up, suddenly very aware that I was wearing a man's t-shirt and nothing else. "Why am I in your room?"

"Because I don't trust anyone else with you yet." He set a tray of food on the nightstand. The smell of eggs and bacon made my stomach growl loudly. When was the last time I'd eaten?

"I don't understand," I said, reaching for the water glass on the tray. "Why did you save me? Why are you helping me?"

He was quiet for so long I thought he wouldn't answer. Then he sat on the edge of the bed, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him.

"What pack rejected you?"

"Crimson Pack." The words tasted bitter. "Their future Alpha decided I wasn't good enough to be his Luna."

Something dangerous flashed in Nile's eyes. "Ryker Stone."

"You know him?"

"I know of him." His jaw clenched. "Weak Alpha. Weaker man. His pack borders mine to the south."

I almost choked on my water. "Ryker's not weak. He's—"

"He rejected his true mate for some superficial reason. That's the definition of weakness." Nile's voice was sharp enough to cut. "Only a fool throws away what the moon goddess gifts."

The intensity in his voice made my skin prickle. "You didn't answer my question. Why did you save me?"

He stood abruptly, walking to the window. "Eat your breakfast. You need your strength."

"That's not an answer."

He turned back to me, and the look in his eyes made my breath catch. "You want an answer? Fine. I saved you because when I saw you at the bottom of that ravine, bleeding and broken but still fighting to survive, my wolf went insane. He wanted to tear apart every single rogue that dared to threaten you."

My heart started racing. "Your wolf?"

"He's never reacted that way to anyone." Nile's voice dropped lower. "And neither have I."

Before I could respond, a knock came at the door.

"Come in," Nile called, his entire demeanor shifting to cold authority.

A beautiful woman with red hair entered, her green eyes immediately finding me. "Alpha, the council is requesting your presence. They've heard about..." She glanced at me again. "Your guest."

"Tell them I'll be there in an hour."

"They're insisting on now, Alpha. Elder Marcus is particularly... vocal."

Nile's expression darkened. "Marcus can wait."

"Alpha," the woman said carefully. "Perhaps it would be better to handle this quickly. Before rumors spread further."

Rumors? About me?

Nile looked at me, then back at the woman. "Fine. Tell them fifteen minutes." He waited until she left, then turned to me. "Rebecca will be up to help you get dressed. Don't leave this room."

"Wait," I called as he headed for the door. "What rumors? What's going on?"

He paused. "Nothing you need to worry about."

"If it's about me, I think I do need to worry about it."

He studied me for a moment. "My pack thinks I've found my second chance mate."

The words hit me like cold water. "Your... what?"

"My first mate died three years ago." His voice was emotionless. "The pack has been pushing me to find another Luna. When I brought you here last night, carried you straight to my room..." He shrugged. "They drew their own conclusions."

"But I'm not your mate." The words came out more panicked than I intended. "I can't be. I was just rejected. I'm nobody—"

"You're not nobody." The fierceness in his voice stopped me cold. "And as for being my mate..." He moved closer, and I forgot how to breathe. "We'll see."

Then he was gone, leaving me alone with a racing heart and a million questions.

Rebecca arrived minutes later with an armful of clothes. She was petite and cheerful, chattering away as she helped me into a pair of soft jeans and a sweater that probably cost more than everything I'd ever owned.

"The whole pack's buzzing," she said, brushing my hair. "Nobody's seen the Alpha act this way since..." She trailed off. "Well, in a long time."

"I'm not his mate," I said quietly.

She gave me a knowing smile in the mirror. "Maybe not. But you're something. The Alpha doesn't just save random wolves. And he definitely doesn't put them in his bed."

Heat flooded my cheeks. "It's not like that."

"Honey, I've been in this pack for ten years. I've never seen the Alpha let anyone in his room. Not since Luna Sarah died." She set down the brush. "You must be pretty special."

I wasn't special. I was a rejected omega who couldn't even keep her own mate. But before I could say that, shouting erupted from somewhere below.

Rebecca went pale. "Stay here."

But I couldn't. Something was wrong. I could feel it in my bones. Despite the protest of my ankle, I followed Rebecca down the grand staircase, staying hidden behind a column as I took in the scene below.

Nile stood in the center of what looked like a meeting hall, surrounded by older wolves who must have been the council. But that wasn't what made my blood freeze.

Ryker was there.

My former mate stood near the entrance with five of his warriors, his cold blue eyes scanning the room until they landed on me. A cruel smile curved his lips.

"There she is," he announced. "My runaway omega."

Every head in the room turned to stare at me.

Nile's expression was lethal as he moved to block Ryker's view of me. "She's not your anything. You rejected her."

"A decision I've reconsidered." Ryker's voice was smooth, politically perfect. "I've come to retrieve what's mine."

"Like hell," I said, the words escaping before I could stop them.

I descended the stairs on shaking legs, anger overriding my fear. How dare he? After what he did, how dare he show up here and act like he owned me?

"Madison." Ryker's voice turned patronizing. "You've had your little tantrum. Time to come home."

"I have no home with you." My voice grew stronger with each word. "You made that very clear when you rejected me in front of your entire pack."

"Emotions were high. Mistakes were made." He stepped forward, but Nile moved faster, putting himself between us.

"Take another step toward her and it'll be your last," Nile growled.

The tension in the room crackled like electricity. Ryker's warriors tensed, hands moving to weapons. Nile's pack members materialized from the shadows, surrounding us.

"You're threatening me over some omega?" Ryker laughed, but it sounded forced. "She's not worth a war between our packs."

"That's where you're wrong." Nile's voice was deadly quiet. "She's under my protection. That makes her worth everything."

"Protection?" One of the elders, Marcus, spoke up. "Alpha, surely you're not suggesting—"

"I'm not suggesting anything." Nile's eyes never left Ryker. "I'm stating a fact. Madison Ryder is under the protection of the Shadow Mountain Pack. Anyone who tries to harm her or take her against her will answer to me."

"You can't be serious," Ryker snarled. "You'd risk conflict with the Crimson Pack over this worthless—"

The sound of Nile's fist connecting with Ryker's jaw echoed through the hall. Ryker flew backward, crashing into his warriors.

"Choose your next words very carefully," Nile said, flexing his fingers. "Or don't speak at all. Either works for me."

Ryker wiped blood from his mouth, his eyes burning with rage. "This isn't over."

"Yes, it is." I stepped out from behind Nile, my voice steady despite my racing heart. "I, Madison Ryder, accept your rejection and sever all ties with the Crimson Pack. I want nothing from you. Not now. Not ever."

Something shifted in the air, a finality that even I could feel. The last threads of our bond snapped completely.

Ryker's face contorted with anger. "You'll regret this. When he gets bored of you, when he realizes what you really are—"

"Get out." Nile's command filled the room with raw Alpha power. "If I see you near her again, I'll consider it an act of war."

Ryker looked like he wanted to say more, but his warriors were already pulling him toward the door. As they left, he shot me one last look filled with such hatred it made me shiver.

The silence that followed was deafening.

"Alpha," Elder Marcus began. "What have you done?"

"What needed to be done." Nile turned to face the council. "Meeting adjourned."

"You can't just—" Marcus protested.

"I can and I did." Nile's voice brooked no argument. "Anyone who has a problem with my decision can challenge me. Otherwise, get out."

The council filed out, shooting me various looks of curiosity, concern, and disapproval. When we were alone, Nile turned to me.

"You okay?"

I nodded, though I was shaking. "Why did you do that? You barely know me."

"Because he hurt you." The simple statement made my heart skip. "And because my wolf wanted to rip his throat out the moment he called you his."

"But I'm not yours either," I whispered.

He moved closer, backing me against the wall. "Aren't you?"

My pulse thundered as he leaned in, his scent surrounding me. "I don't understand what's happening."

"Neither do I." His hand came up to cup my cheek, thumb brushing over my skin. "But I'm going to figure it out."

"Nile—"

A loud crash from outside interrupted whatever I was about to say. Through the windows, I could see smoke rising from the forest.

"Stay here," Nile commanded, already heading for the door.

But through the window, I saw something that made my blood run cold. Wolves. Dozens of them, emerging from the tree line.

And leading them was someone I recognized but never expected to see.

Veronica. Holding something in her hand that glowed with an unnatural light.

"Nile!" I screamed. "It's a trap!"

But he was already gone, and the wolves were already attacking.