"You are crazy! What kind of Luna are you?!" I shout, but she makes no attempt to answer.

After a long trek into the woods, we reach an area overgrown with shrubs, debris, and fallen trees. Under a heavy trapdoor hidden beneath the brush, the guards carry me down into what looks like an abandoned bunker. They shackle me to a wall.

Panic surges, but it isn't just fear—it’s the realization that for the first time in my life, I have something I truly want: Colt. I want the life he offers—a life with a mate who actually cares.

I look at her, determined to buy time. "What are you going to do? If you kill me, Colt will never forgive you. And Ezra won't either! I am still his mate; he will feel my death in his very core!"

"You are the cancer of this pack. If I let you continue, your influence will become too powerful. I don't want you anywhere near my children. They will be upset, yes, but they will forget. I would rather they hate me than deal with you."

"You are clearly not fit to be Luna anymore, Mother."

Colt suddenly emerges from the shadows behind her.

"Colt!" I shout with relief.

"How?! How did you find this place? Not even your father knows about it!"

He walks past her, ignoring her entirely, and begins to unfasten my restraints. "Mother... for the last three years, I have been part of an elite tracking team for the Dark Fang pack. You could not have been easier to track even if you had left clues on purpose."

Behind him, Dash leans against the wall, arms crossed with a look of pure disapproval.

Colt releases my hands, gently rubbing my wrists. "Are you hurt?"

I shake my head. "Nothing I couldn't handle. You didn't give them a chance to do more. Thank you."

He smiles tenderly and kisses my forehead. I cling to him, drinking in his scent, feeling a safety I’ve never known before. Then, his expression shifts, and he turns back to his mother.

"Colt... listen to me! She will bring this pack down! She has you and your brother pinned against each other!"

"Mother..." His voice is void of emotion—it’s chilling. "I love you... but my wolf will hurt you if you touch her again."

Her face pales. "You... you would hurt me?!"

"My wolf has claimed her. It is instinct, and you are asking for it. I warn you just this once: don't make me do something I will regret."

"How can you talk to me like this?"

"Look at what you are doing. How is this okay in your mind?"

"Alice, what are you thinking?! What is this place?!" The Alpha suddenly rushes in, his eyes darting around the bunker.

"I need to protect my children!" she screams.

"From this girl? This is all drama that will simmer down once Ezra realizes the consequences of his actions." The Alpha turns to Colt. "Take her home."

We leave them behind, climbing out of the hatch. Colt picks me up, carrying me back toward the pack house.

"What is it with you always carrying me?" I ask. "I can walk perfectly fine."

"You are light. I like how you feel in my arms."

I shouldn't complain. I love the way he feels, too.

"Since you won't let me inside you or even touch you, I'll take what I can get," he murmurs.

I gasp. "Shut up!"

He laughs. "You act as if you still don't try."

"Of course I try. I want you so bad." He makes me blush, and I bury my face in his chest. That’s when I realize Dash is trailing behind us with a scowl.

Oops.

He probably heard all of that. I offer him a sheepish smile. "Thank you, Dash."

"Yeah, yeah," Dash mutters. "You can thank me by dismissing me. I don't want to listen to you two talk all the way to your room."

"Thanks, Dash. You can go," Colt says. Dash finally grins and walks away.

When we enter the house, Kaecy is waiting, looking frantic. "Go! Please. He is looking for—" He can't finish. Ezra rushes down the hall toward us.

"Is she okay?!" Ezra demands.

"Yes," Colt answers coldly.

"Let me see her!"

Kaecy steps in front of Ezra. "No," Colt says, refusing to budge.

"You can't just take her! You can't keep her away from me!"

"I am fine, Ezra," I say, trying to cut the tension.

"You are MY mate!" he growls.

It’s like listening to a broken record. Colt ignores him, carrying me up the stairs and into his room. He lays me on the bed and lets out a long breath. "Can we just go to sleep and let this day end?"

"Yes," he says, pulling me into a hug. "Let's rest."

I wake to Colt shaking me gently.

"Mh. No."

I hear him laugh. "No what?"

"Don't wake me..."

"Get up, Angel. We're leaving."

My eyes snap open. "Leaving? To where?"

"To the city."

"But I thought we had one more day?"

"With everything that's happened, it's best to leave early."

I agree. I stretch and watch him head toward the bathroom. He stops at the door, glancing back. "Shower?"

"No! Not this time, mister," I say quickly. I’m not risking that temptation again.

He grunts, closing the door. I find my backpack in the corner—Lauren must have packed it. I check the contents; she knows me perfectly.

When Colt comes out, wearing only a towel, he smirks and suddenly drops it. I flush scarlet, my eyes going wide as he strides toward the closet in all his naked glory. He is massive—shoulders and deltoids built for war. I find I like how I almost disappear in his arms when he holds me.

He dresses in a sharp half-suit, looking deliciously handsome. "Are you ready?"

A knock at the door announces Dash.

"Fucking bastard," Dash mutters, standing in front of Colt. "You didn't tell me I was going to be your personal butler."

"You are welcome to leave the pack," Colt counters.

"And what the fuck would I do?" Dash rolls his eyes, then grins at me. "Hey, Curls! I don't mind catering to you." He grabs my bag. "Your brother has been acting up all night. Thank the Goddess I’m going with you; otherwise, I’d kill him myself."

Dash exits, muttering. Colt takes my hand. "Let's get out of here."

We stop at Lauren’s house first. She hugs me tight. "Have fun. You deserve good things."

"Don't have that baby until I'm back," I say, patting her stomach.

She laughs. "I have months to go. You'll be back in time."

I look at Colt. "How long will we be gone?"

"Three to four days, max."

Lauren hugs me again, whispering loudly, "Get that coochie slammed good. You need it."

I gasp, horrified, as she bursts into laughter. Colt tries hard to hold back his own grin, looking away.

"Let's go!" I sprint toward the car.

Back at the vehicle, Dash leans against the door. "Let's go already."

"You're in a great mood today," I say.

"PMS," he sighs.

"What?! Stop it! You have no idea what that’s like!" I scold him, and he just laughs.