Chapter 4 Secret and Lies

MIRA

The Moonstone Pack territory was nothing like Crescent Moon. Where Kade's pack had been all modern buildings and luxury, this place was wild and rustic. Wooden cabins nestled between ancient trees, and the whole area smelled like pine and earth.

I found Maya's cabin easily enough. It was painted blue with white shutters, and wind chimes hung from the porch.

Before I could knock, the door swung open.

"You must be Mira." The woman standing there was probably in her fifties, with kind eyes and silver-streaked hair. "Beth called ahead. Come in, dear. You look exhausted."

I hadn't realized how tired I was until she said it. I'd been driving on adrenaline and rage for hours. Now that I'd stopped, everything hurt.

Maya led me inside and immediately put a kettle on for tea. "Beth didn't tell me much. Just that you needed a place to stay for a while. No questions asked."

"Thank you. I won't be any trouble."

"Honey, any friend of Beth's is welcome here." She poured the tea and sat across from me. "But I will ask one thing are you in danger? Is someone after you?"

"No. I just... needed to leave my old pack."

Maya nodded slowly. "Pack troubles. Say no more." She pushed a cup toward me. "Drink. It'll help with the stress."

The tea was some kind of herbal blend that tasted like honey and mint. As I drank, I felt some of the tension leaving my shoulders.

"There's a guest room upstairs," Maya said. "It's yours for as long as you need it. Our Alpha, Marcus, is a good man. He won't ask too many questions about why you're here."

"I appreciate that."

"Beth also mentioned..." Maya hesitated. "She said you might need to see a doctor soon. Is that true?"

My hand went to my stomach. "Yes."

"There's a pack doctor here. Dr. Wilson. She's discrete and wonderful with expectant mothers."

I blinked back tears. I'd been so focused on escaping that I hadn't even thought about prenatal care.

"Thank you," I whispered.

Maya reached across and squeezed my hand. "Whatever you're running from, you're safe here. This pack protects its own."

That night, lying in Maya's guest bed, I finally let myself think about the baby. My baby. Kade's baby.

I placed both hands on my stomach, which was still flat but wouldn't be for long.

"I'm going to protect you," I whispered. "I'm going to make sure you have everything I didn't, a parent who fights for you. Who chooses you. Who never lets you down."

Sera stirred inside me. "We should tell Kade about the baby."

"No. He made his choice."

"But it's his child too. He has a right to know."

"He gave up that right when he chose Delilah." My voice was firm. "This baby is mine. Only mine."

The next two days passed in a blur. Maya introduced me to the pack, and everyone was surprisingly welcoming. No one asked why I was there or where I came from. In the werewolf world, that kind of respect for privacy was rare and precious.

I saw Dr. Wilson, who confirmed what I already knew—I was six weeks pregnant and healthy. She gave me vitamins and scheduled my next appointment.

"Do you want to know if it's a boy or a girl when the time comes?" she asked.

"No. I want it to be a surprise."

On the third day, I drove to Silver Falls. The Grand Hotel was exactly what I expected, all glass and steel and money. The kind of place where Alpha King would stay.

Room 1407 was on the top floor. I stood outside the door for a full minute, my heart pounding.

This was insane. I didn't even know what Zane Darkmore wanted from me. For all I knew, this could be a trap.

But I thought about Kade and Delilah, probably happy together right now. Probably celebrating their new life.

I knocked.

The door opened immediately.

Zane Darkmore was not what I expected. I'd pictured someone old and scarred, hardened by years of ruling. But the man in front of me looked maybe thirty, with dark hair, sharp features, and eyes so blue they almost didn't look real.

He was also the most devastatingly handsome man I'd ever seen.

"Mira Blackwood," he said, stepping aside. "Please, come in."

The suite was massive, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. Zane gestured to a sitting area.

"Can I get you something to drink? Water? Wine?"

"Water is fine."

He poured two glasses and sat across from me. For a moment, we just looked at each other.

"You're probably wondering why I asked you here," he finally said.

"The thought crossed my mind."

A slight smile. "I'll be direct. I want Kade's pack."

I blinked. "What?"

"The Crescent Moon Pack sits on valuable territory. Territory that should belong to the crown. But Kade's father made a deal with the previous Alpha King—my father—that gave them permanent rights to that land."

"So take it. You're the Alpha King."

"It's not that simple. The deal was ironclad. The only way to break it is if the Alpha is proven unfit to rule."

Understanding dawned. "And you think I can help you prove that."

"You're his rejected mate. You have inside knowledge of his pack, his weaknesses, his secrets. With your testimony, I can build a case for removing him from power."

"And what do I get in return?"

"Protection. Resources. And most importantly—" He leaned forward. "Revenge. I'll make sure Kade loses everything, just like you did."

It was tempting. So tempting.

"There's one problem," I said. "If you remove Kade, who takes over his pack?"

"I do. I'll install one of my people as Alpha."

"What about his heir? His child with Delilah?"

Zane's eyes narrowed. "Delilah's child would have no claim. Pack law states that only legitimate heirs can inherit."

"And if there was another child? One born from his actual marriage?"

Zane went very still. "Are you saying…"

"I'm six weeks pregnant with Kade's child. A child conceived during our marriage. A legitimate heir to the Crescent Moon Pack."

For a long moment, Zane just stared at me. Then he started laughing.

"Oh, this is perfect. This is absolutely perfect."

"How?"

"Don't you see? Your child has the legal right to inherit the pack. Not Delilah's bastard, your child. With my backing, we could remove Kade and install you as regent until your child comes of age."

My heart started racing. "You'd do that?"

"On one condition."

"What condition?"

Zane stood and walked to the window, hands behind his back. "You become my Luna."

I almost choked on my water. "Your what?"

"My Luna. My queen. We get married, and I help you reclaim your pack. Your child becomes heir to both Crescent Moon and the crown."

"That's insane. We don't even know each other."

"It's a business arrangement. Nothing more." He turned to face me. "Think about it, Mira. With me as your mate, no one would dare touch you. Your child would be the most powerful wolf in the country. And Kade and Delilah would have to bow to you."

The image was intoxicating.

"Why me?" I asked. "You're the Alpha King. You could have anyone."

"Because you're smart. Strong. And you want the same thing I do." His blue eyes locked onto mine. "Power."

He wasn't wrong.

"And if I say no?"

"Then you raise your child alone, always looking over your shoulder, always wondering if Kade will find out and try to take the baby from you."

Fear shot through me. I hadn't considered that. If Kade found out about the pregnancy, he could claim parental rights. He could take my baby.

"How do I know I can trust you?" I asked.

"You don't. Just like I don't know if I can trust you. But we both have something the other needs. So we help each other." He extended his hand. "Do we have a deal?"

I looked at his outstretched hand. This was crazy. Marrying a man I just met. Becoming queen. Going after Kade's pack.

But the alternative was spending my life running and hiding.

I thought about Delilah's smug face. About Kade's betrayal. About how they thought they'd won.

"One question first," I said. "This marriage, would it be in name only?"

"We can negotiate the terms. But yes, if you prefer, it can be purely political."

"And you'd really help me become regent of Crescent Moon?"

"I'd make it happen within six months."

Six months to go from rejected mate to Queen Luna. To make Kade and Delilah regret everything they'd done.

I stood and took Zane's hand.

"We have a deal."

His handshake was firm and warm. When our hands touched, I felt a strange spark. Not the mate bond, I'd never feel that again with anyone but Kade. But something else. Something like recognition.

"Excellent." Zane released my hand. "We'll make the announcement next week. Give you time to settle in at the royal pack house. My people will handle everything clothes, training, etiquette."

"Training?"

"You're about to become queen, Mira. You need to act like it." His smile was sharp. "Don't worry. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be more powerful than Delilah could ever dream of being."

As I left the hotel room, my head was spinning.

What had I just agreed to?

But when I got to my car, there was an envelope under the windshield wiper.

I opened it with shaking hands.

Inside was a single photo.

It was Kade and Delilah, kissing at what looked like a pack celebration. She was wearing my Luna crown.

The one that was supposed to be mine.

On the back, someone had written: "She's already erasing you."

I didn't know who sent it. But I didn't care.

I pulled out my phone and texted Zane: "When can we start?"

His reply came instantly: "Tomorrow. Welcome to the game, Queen Luna."

I smiled.

Game on.