Rejected By The Alpha, Now Pregnant With His Baby

Violet

“Are you sure about this, Violet?” Luna Grace asked.

I paused, unsure of how to answer. Was I sure about leaving everything I had ever known to live as an ambassador to two different wolf packs with whom we had a tenuous relationship? No. Was it a little too late to second-guess my decision? Absolutely.

“It won’t be forever,” I replied.

Ever since Alpha Jasper had left Sparkle Hollow with Luna April, there had been peace between our packs. Between all the packs in the area, for that matter. But the tension and distrust had never gone away.

When the Sparkle Hollow alpha and luna had asked for a volunteer to live in Pinedale to be their representative and help smooth things over, I volunteered, but I would be lying if I said it was an easy choice to make. On the one hand, peace was at the forefront of my mind. On the other hand, it meant I would be away from home and everyone I knew for an undetermined amount of time.

“We just want to make sure you’re sure before you leave,” Grace said.

“It’ll be fine,” I assured her.

“Everything you need is already in your car, and we’ve programmed the address into your GPS,” said her mate, Lex, the alpha of the Sparkle Hollow Pack. “Alpha Jasper is expecting you when you arrive.”

Jasper Sanders—the ruthless, arrogant alpha of the Dark Moon Pack—was not my ideal welcoming committee. I hoped that the stories I had heard about him weren’t entirely accurate,but at least I would get to spend some time with April while I was there. I had only spoken to her a few times since she had become Luna of the Dark Moon Pack, and I was looking forward to catching up on our friendship.

I waved to Grace and got into my car, ready to make the four-hour drive to Pinedale. My parents stood on the front porch of my childhood home, waving proudly as their only daughter left home to serve their pack. I smiled at them, happy that I was able to carry on their good name as I worked toward peace.

But as the car pulled away from my parents’ home, I thought of how everything in my life was about to change. More than anything, I was going to miss my daily routine—waking up early to watch the sun rise over Main Street, spending the day painting, then working in the afternoon and evening before heading home to unwind after the day. My life in Sparkle Hollow was uncomplicated. I could only hope that true and lasting peace between the packs could be achieved quickly so that I could return to my usual pursuits.

This entire situation had me feeling nervous, but I was determined not to show it. I had my orders.

My main mission, after ensuring peace, was to find out how the two packs were managing to live in one town without stepping on each other’s toes. Lex didn’t fully believe that things were going as smoothly as we had been told, and I was under strict orders to see if that was the case. My ability to blend into the background and observe would hopefully come in handy.

I wasn’t what anyone would call an extrovert. In fact, most people assumed I didn’t like them when we first met because I rarely showed interest in the people around me until I had cause to. Some people might have considered me to be aloof, but I preferred to think of myself as cautious. There was noreason to let people into my inner mind or develop feelings for them if we weren’t going to be an important part of each other’s lives.

At times, I wondered what it might feel like to be able to make friends quickly, but I wasn’t interested enough in finding out for myself to change how I interacted with the world.

I had wondered whether this personality trait would hinder my ability to get acquainted with the Dark Moon wolves in Pinedale, but Alpha Lex had assured me that it would be fine. After all, it’s not like any of them had a reputation for friendliness.

***

The drive was even more uneventful than my thoughts, and in less time than I’d anticipated, I found myself driving up the curving road toward Alpha Jasper’s home in Pinedale. As I passed each house, I saw faces peering out from behind their curtains. A few people came outside to watch me as I drove past. I wondered whether their curiosity was piqued by my sudden arrival or if they had been prepped in advance.

The alpha and luna of the Dark Moon Pack were waiting in their driveway to greet me as I stepped out of my car.

“Violet!” April said, walking toward me. “I’m so happy to see you. Do you need help with your bags?”

“I didn’t bring much,” I replied as I popped the trunk of the car.

Jasper surprised me by appearing at my side and grabbing all three of my bags out.

“Thank you,” I said.

He shrugged, remaining impassive as he carried them into the house. It appeared that he wasn’t much for words.

“Don’t mind him. He takes a little getting used to, but he’s much kinder than you’ve been led to believe,” April assured me.

I smiled at her, but I wasn’t sure that it reached my eyes. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe her, exactly, but I would need to see proof of his changed behavior before I would be able to let my guard down around the man who had terrorized our pack for so many years.

April led me up the stairs and through the door of her home. From the front door, I had a clear view of the entryway and living room. As I had expected, April had decorated her home simply while still giving it a calming touch. Neutrals and wood tones dominated the space, alongside functional furniture and decorative pieces. A wooden shoe rack stood by the front door, along with a coat rack. I was surprised to see that both were full.

I raised an eyebrow at April questioningly when I spotted them.

“Don’t freak out,” she said. “But Jasper invited a few members of the pack to have dinner with us so that they could meet you. He wants to have a pack meeting afterward and wanted to make sure you had the chance to get acquainted before then.”

“That’s a sensible plan,” I replied.

As unexcited as I was about the prospect of meeting so many new people at once, I was aware that this was part of the job I had signed up for.

“Tell that to your face,” she replied with a chuckle.

“Huh?” I asked, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that you look like someone just tricked you into eating a sour lemon, and you’re considering how to get back at them for it,” she teased. “You may want to try a more… softened expression. The Dark Moon Pack has come a long way since they moved to Pinedale, but it would be better if you didn’t look like a threat.”

I smiled at her analogy, realizing she was right.

“Sorry, this is just my thinking face,” I said, composing my face into a more pleasant expression. I couldn’t count the number of times I had been told I looked angry when I was deep in thought.

April squeezed my hand reassuringly and led me through the living room into the dining area. Luckily, there were fewer attendees at this impromptu gathering than I had expected from the assortment of outerwear in the front hall. Aside from myself and my hosts, three men and one woman were sitting around the table.

“Welcome,” the woman said, greeting me with a smile. “You must be Violet. Please, come and sit with us. My name is Cynthia Walters.”

I thanked her for her invitation and took the seat beside her.

The men sitting across from us at the table appeared less receptive to my presence. The man furthest from me, who appeared to be the oldest, curled his lip and gave me a look of disdain. I decided to pay him no mind and turned my attention to the man sitting directly across from me.

“Thank you for having me,” I said to him. Instead of responding, he avoided eye contact completely, angling his shoulders toward his left, where Alpha Jasper had just sat down at the head of the table. The man to Jasper’s right noticed the snub and gave me an uneasy smile. What had I gotten myself into?

“We’re glad you’re here,” April said, taking her seat to my left, directly across from her mate.

“Indeed, we are,” Cynthia echoed. “After Luna April joined us, we had hoped to receive an ambassador from Sparkle Hollow sooner. But it’s better late than never.”

“I agree. It took some time to settle the details, but our pack is keen on making sure that we are all able to live peacefully together,” I said.

The longer we sat together, the more at ease everyone became. April passed around a bottle of wine, which turned into two. By the time we finished our meal, the room was full of laughter, and when Jasper brought out an apple pie for dessert, I felt like I could finally relax. Perhaps this task wouldn’t be as difficult as I had feared.

“Now that we’re all fed, I want to thank you all for being here tonight,” April said as we sipped our drinks. “As Violet said when she arrived, both of our packs know just how important it is for us to have peace as we go forward. The Pinedale alpha wasn’t able to be here tonight, but he and his pack also wanted to assure us that the future of this blended community is their priority as well.”

“That’s why I wanted to speak with each of you tonight,” Jasper said. “He and I discussed it, and we think the best way to move forward is for Dark Moon and Pinedale to seal their dedication and trust in each other with a more formalarrangement. A marriage. We have decided that he will be taking a mate from our pack.”

His announcement was met by nods of approval from his pack members. It wasn’t standard practice to arrange marriages, but allied packs still relied on the use of family bonds to ensure future stability. I could see nothing wrong with their plan and wondered how quickly they intended to put it into action.

“Has the female from your pack been chosen already?” I asked.

“No,” Jasper said, staring intently into my eyes. “I was actually hoping you would volunteer for that honor.”

“Me? I’m not a member of your pack,” I responded, confused at why he would want me to become the Pinedale luna.

“Maybe not, but you are our ally as well. What better way to show that Sparkle Hollow supports us than by joining our community?” Jasper asked.

I took a drink from my glass to give myself time to consider his statement. Jasper hadn’t waited long to test the peace between our packs. If I said no, I risked breaking the trust between us and throwing the territory back into chaos. But if I agreed, I would become the link between all three packs. Not only that, but I would be in a position of power and able to help ensure that the peace lasted for generations to come. He had clearly thought through my options already and had come to the same conclusion.

“There is no better way,” I agreed. I was determined to pass this test. “I am honored to accept the mate bond with the Pinedale alpha.”

Jasper smiled as I gave him the answer he hoped for. I could tell it was genuine, so I returned it.

“That’s settled, then,” April said brightly. “You must be tired, Violet. Can I show you to your room?”

I nodded and bid goodbye to the rest of the dinner party. They stood and began moving toward the front door as April showed me to a guest room on the second story of their home.

“Are you really okay with this plan—marrying someone you haven’t met yet?” April asked, concern clouding her eyes.

“Honestly, I am,” I assured her. “I’m here to do my duty. Not just to my own pack but to all the werewolves that live near here. Peace benefits all of us. If I can help in any way, then I’m going to do what is necessary.”

“And you’re sure you don’t want to wait,” April said.

“What would I wait for?” I asked.

April shrugged. “Love.”

I smiled ruefully. April had no way of knowing, but I would never marry for love. In many ways, the civil arrangement I had agreed to was much more preferable than any of my alternatives for marriage.

I had already given my heart away once, half a decade ago. I was determined never to make that mistake again.

Nile

Every wolf in Pinedale was getting ready to head to the forest for my mating ceremony. Since this was my second wedding, I wanted a more casual affair, so I had opted for a simple ceremony followed by a light meal and dancing. I could only hope that my future bride agreed with the arrangements I had made.

The Pinedale wolves were excited to be getting a new luna today, but I was equal parts nervous and ambivalent about my impending nuptials. I had no need for companionship or love. I had lost my true mate shortly before my first marriage, followed quickly by the loss of my wife. Consequently, I had spent a long time doing things on my own. I could happily continue without the worry of a partner.

What I did need was an ally. The peace between all our neighbors was tenuous. I wanted a luna who was smart enough to help me advocate for harmony and goodwill. All I could do was trust that the Dark Moon wolves had selected a female who would be up to the task.

I hoped I might also find the piece that had been missing from my daughter’s life: a good and kind female caretaker for her to look up to and emulate. Up until now, I had neglected to provide her with a maternal figure. She was the light of my life and had wanted for nothing except a mother’s love. My greatest wish was that my new mate would be willing and able to fill that role. But first, I had to meet her.

The mating ceremony would be happening soon, but I had requested that Alpha Jasper bring the chosen she-wolf to meet me before we went through with our duty. It was importantto me that both of us had the opportunity to back out without having the entire pack witness our conversation.

My thoughts were consumed with my plans for a political marriage based on cordiality when there was a knock on the front door.

“Can you get that, Terry?” I asked one of my guards.

He nodded and left the room. I heard low voices from the front door, and within a moment, he had reappeared.

“The Dark Moon alpha and luna are here,” Terry said. “With your bride.”

Jasper and April entered the room first, and I could only see a glimpse of blond hair peeking out from behind them. She stayed hidden, allowing her alpha to speak on her behalf.

“As requested, we brought the female who was chosen to be your wife so that the two of you can speak before the ceremony,” Jasper said.

“Thank you,” I replied.

“Would you like us to stay until after you’ve had the chance to speak with each other?” April asked.

I nodded in assent. “If you wouldn’t mind waiting outside, I think it would be best if the three of you arrived at the clearing together.”

“We’ll leave you two to talk, then,” Jasper said. “We’ll be by the car.”

The alpha and luna parted to the side, allowing the young woman to come into my view. She took a few steps toward me, and they absconded from the room quietly.

But I barely noticed their departure. All thoughts of a simple, friendly marriage had gone out the window when Irealized that I already knew my intended mate. It was her—my true mate. The woman I had brutally rejected years ago.

I had done it to protect her, but I had broken my own heart in the process. I couldn’t imagine how the twists of fate had conspired to bring us back together, but I knew that there was no chance I would let her go this time. Somehow, some way, I would make her understand why I had to leave. But now wasn’t the time.

“Violet,” I said.

I couldn’t think of anything to say other than her name. It was a name I hadn’t spoken in almost seven years. I had barely allowed myself to think of her, knowing that I had done the right thing in saving her from the horrors she might have experienced in my presence.

She was more beautiful than ever. Her hair had become a richer honey color since I had seen her last, but her eyes were exactly as I remembered them. The freckles that had always adorned her skin had become even more prominent, and I could tell she had been spending more time outdoors. Her expression was indecipherable as she stared at my face, her bright blue eyes sparkling.

“Nile? You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said.

“I take it you weren’t expecting to see me here,” I replied, wincing slightly.

“That’s one way of putting it,” Violet said. “You’re the alpha of the Pinedale Pack? How in the world did that happen. Last time I saw you, you didn’t have a pack at all.”

“I wasn’t expecting you, either,” I admitted. “When did you become a part of Jasper’s pack?”

“I’m not. I arrived from Sparkle Hollow yesterday. I volunteered as an ambassador on behalf of Alpha Lex,” she said.

I took a step toward her, wanting to reach out and hold her. “Vi…”

“Don’t call me that,” she snapped, interrupting my plea. “Were you the alpha back then, too? Did you lie to me about everything?”

“No,” I assured her. “I swear on everything I hold dear, I never lied to you.”

She scoffed at my assertion, but I continued.

“I know that I hurt you, but if you give me a chance, I can explain everything.”

“I don’t want to hear any of your weak excuses,” she snapped. “Do you have any idea what I went through when you left?”

Her eyes shimmered with tears as her voice broke.

“You’re right. I won’t make any excuses, but I can promise to hear everything you have to say and tell you what happened to me whenever you’re ready to hear it. I don’t expect you to have any feelings for me, and if you want to hate me in private, I would understand,” I said. “But for the sake of peace, it would have to be in private.”

“What do you mean by that?” she asked, looking at me questioningly.

“If we go through with the mating ceremony, we’ll be doing it for the packs,” I said. “All I want is to better the alliance between the packs, and it seems that’s why you’re here, too. Once we’re married, you can say whatever you want about me in our own home, but in front of the packs, we’ll have to fake it.”

“Fake our marriage?” Violet replied. “How would that work?”

“All we need to do is pretend to get along in front of the wolves. If we can show them a peaceful and caring relationship between their alpha and luna, we can ensure peace for the rest of our lives. Won’t that be worth it to you?” I asked.

She didn’t answer as she continued to lock eyes with me. I could tell she was struggling with whether she would be able to maintain a façade of happiness as my mate, but I didn’t want to push her into it. As much as I wanted to be with her, it had to be her choice.

I held my breath as I waited for her response. Every word I had spoken to her was true. I wanted the marriage for the betterment of our alliances, but that didn’t cover all the reasons I wanted her to become my mate.

Now that she was here, I was willing to do anything to keep her in my life. Even if that meant I had to pretend for a little while.

The truth was that I had never stopped loving her. If she would stay, I might get the chance to prove that to her.

Violet

Of all the people I could have entered into an arranged marriage with, Nile was the last man I expected. The man I had loved so many years ago—the man who had rejected me and left me brokenhearted—was now asking me to put on a front in front of our packs and pretend that we were happy together.

I was of half a mind to tell him to stick his proposal where the sun didn’t shine just to enact some form of revenge against him for his ill treatment of me, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I was torn somewhere between wanting to rush into his arms and wanting to slap him.

Instead of exercising either of those options, I found myself standing stone-faced in front of him.

He looked almost the same as when I had first met him, although he had more lines to his face now, and his black hair was cropped short. His face was no longer covered with a beard but rough stubble. Clearly, being alpha of the Pinedale wolves had offered him more opportunities for grooming and self-care than when he’d been a rogue living in the wilderness.

One thing that hadn’t changed was his tall, muscular form. I had always been rather slight, and his presence was just as intimidating as it had always been. If I didn’t watch myself I could tell I would be in danger of falling for him again—which absolutely could not happen. Not after he had taken away all my dreams of romance, love, and happily-ever-afters.

So far, he had done most of the talking. I had been shocked to see him and had wanted answers to a few of my burning questions, but I couldn’t quite move past the fact that he was thealpha.

“Violet, please tell me what you’re thinking,” Nile said softly. He moved ever so slightly toward me, and I gave a sharp intake of breath, eyes flickering up to meet his. He had waited while I took in my new circumstances, and I remembered how patient and protective he had always been. My heart ached for the love we had once shared as I answered him.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Everything, all at once. I’m thinking about everything.”

The lines between his eyebrows deepened as his emerald eyes bore into mine, drilling me with a look that was a mixture of concern and curiosity.

But how could I explain that my mind was traveling back to the memories of our time together?

My patrol duty shouldn’t have taken this long, but a scent had driven my wolf Lavender off track. There were rogues in the area, and I needed to locate them so I could report back to Alpha Lex and call in reinforcements to secure the area.

Unfortunately, they found us first.

Lavender and I were strong but young and untested. And more importantly, we were alone.

“Look, boys, a delicious dessert just fell into our laps,” one of the men teased, transforming into his human form to taunt us. “I’ve always loved the taste of honey.”

Lavender did have honey-colored fur, but my wolf was far from sweet as she stared down the menacing group of interlopers. She bared her teeth, growling in warning as one of the wolves stepped forward.

Far from dissuaded, the man laughed at us. “Don’t worry, darling. We’ll be quick. We have far better places to betonight than wasting time in the woods with a little thing like you.”

Springing into action, I pounced on the man, hoping I could take him out before his companions prevented me. I had always been quick and spry, but before I could deliver the killing blow, I was toppled over by the others, allowing him time to transform into his wolf.

The next few minutes were a rush of teeth, fur, and claws as I battled for my life against my four attackers. It was a hopeless endeavor, but Lavender and I refused to give up and die quietly. We continued to fight back, ignoring the pain of our injuries as we became weaker and more damaged with each passing moment.

Just when I thought all hope was lost, I heard snarling and gnashing from the trees behind me. In a moment, a rush of wolves darted out of the forest and fought against my attackers. Led by a pure black wolf, my saviors decimated the rogues and rescued me from their attack.

I was far too weak to get myself back home, but I needn’t have worried. Nile appeared where the black wolf had just stood, assuring me he would get me to safety. I had no choice but to trust him as I gave in to my exhaustion and passed out.

By the gift of the moon goddess, he had been telling the truth. Nile had left behind his band of rogues and brought me back home to Sparkle Hollow, where he told the alpha about my encounter in the woods and made sure I was taken care of.

I awoke the following day, safe in my own bed and insistent that someone find the man who had saved my life. I demanded that they return him to my side so that I could thank him for stepping in when he wasn’t duty-bound to do so.

From the moment he was summoned to my side, we became inseparable. Now that I was conscious, I made it clear that I didn’t want him to leave, and he felt the same way. Sometimes he would disappear for a few hours, but he always returned. Day and night, he tended to me, ensuring that I made a full recovery.

And when I was healed, I showed him all my favorite places.

The wishing well—our first kiss.

The covered bridge—he said he cared for me more than anyone he had ever met.

The wildflower meadow in the starlight—I told him I felt the same.

I was sure he was my true mate, and I gave myself to him, body and soul. It was a whirlwind romance that felt as if it were straight out of a storybook.

We fell asleep under the stars, wrapped in each other’s arms, and I felt blissfully happy and at peace with my world. I decided right then that when the sun rose the next day and kissed our faces, I would draw my fingers through his hair, wait for him to open his eyes, and confess my love to him.

But it wasn’t to be.

I woke up in the morning to the sunlight on my face, but Nile wasn’t with me. He had left me naked and alone on the ground. I searched for him, scouring the surrounding forest until my legs grew too weary to carry me.

Collapsing, I cried until my throat was sore and my eyes were swollen.

Something had gone wrong between us, but I would never find out what it was. He had left me with no way of contacting him. No answers—no closure.

The entire life I had planned for us had disappeared without a trace, along with the man I thought I had loved.

I came back from the forest a changed woman, unwilling to open my heart up to anyone. I sank deep inside of myself. I had loved him freely, and he had broken my heart. Never again would I allow myself to be wounded in that way.

My vow to myself to never get my heart broken again rang in my head as I looked into the eyes of the only man who had ever been given the power to hurt me.

Somehow, the rogue I had met had managed to become the alpha of Pinedale—a fully settled pack not far from where I had lived my entire life. The irony of his abrupt departure ending with him making a home just a few hours away wasn’t lost on me. The fact that he hadn’t even bothered to leave the region before finding happiness allowed me to resist the pull he still undoubtedly had on me.

All I had to do was reject him, and I could go back home. I would have to explain why the peace negotiations had failed, but that might be worth it if I could just get away from the memories of our past. Get away from him.

“Daddy!” a child’s voice rang out from the hallway, breaking my reverie.

Nile winced slightly, looking at me apologetically before responding. “In here, baby,” he called.

A young girl came into view, bounding toward Nile. Her head just about reached his waist as she threw her arms around him.

A daughter?my wolf commented in shock and disbelief.And how old is she?

I started counting in my head, realizing that this young girl would have been born very close to the time I had known her father.

“How old are you, sweetheart?” I asked her, kneeling so that we were eye-to-eye. Her irises were the same green as Nile’s. I felt a twinge, seeing the confirmation that she was his biological daughter.

“My name’s Penny, and I just turned five,” the girl replied proudly.

I gave her a tentative smile and tried to keep the hurt from showing on my face. It had been just over six years since I had my heart broken by Nile. He had gotten someone pregnant shortly after he had rejected me. Was that why he left? Did he have a wife waiting at home while he had been toying with my emotions?

“It’s nice to meet you, Penny. My name is Violet,” I said.

She seemed to be a sweet child, and I knew that it wasn’t her fault that Nile had hurt me. I refused to be one of those women who blamed a child for their parent’s sins.

“I’m sure you have questions,” Nile said to me. “But I promise it isn’t what it looks like. I’ll answer everything later, I swear.”

I cast a swift glance of anger at Nile. My compassion for his daughter did not extend to him.

“Are you the one who is going to marry my daddy?” Penny asked, pulling my attention once more.

I cleared my throat and returned to my feet, looking into Nile’s eyes to answer. Just a moment ago, I had been on thebrink of leaving, but something in this little girl had softened me and brought me back to my purpose here. It was for the sake of future generations that we needed to make a lasting peace for our packs, and I had already given my word. I may not have liked Nile, but there really was no choice.

“Yes,” I said, looking back down at the girl. “I’m going to marry your daddy. If that’s okay with you.”

Penny beamed at me, joy lighting up her small features as I heard Nile let out a sigh of relief at my response.

“Why don’t you head back outside now, baby,” he said kindly to his daughter. “Head to the car, and I’ll be there soon.”

As soon as Penny was out of the room, Nile addressed me in a low voice. “You’re sure?” he asked.

I didn’t know why, but I got the sense that he wanted my answer to be yes. As much as it pained me, I wanted to make him happy.

“Were you married when we met?” I asked, needing to clear that little issue up before we got any further into this mess. I could overlook many things when choosing a mate, but disloyalty wasn’t one of them.

“No,” he replied. “I met Penelope’s mother a month after I left Sparkle Hollow.”

I nodded, acknowledging his timeline. “Then let’s get this over with.”

Nile nodded and held the door open for me so that we could meet with the remainder of our party and head to the ceremony.

I can do this, I thought.It’s just an arrangement. Our past doesn’t have to affect me, and neither does his child. I can keep things civil and be a good luna and… stepmother.

Even in my own mind, I stumbled over the word. This was already shaping up to be too much to handle. But there was no stopping it now.

Nile

I drove out of Pinedale toward the forest that bordered our town and listened to Penny humming happily in the back seat. Unlike my daughter, I did not feel carefree. My worries threatened to overcome me as my mind raced with what-ifs. I wished I had a way of knowing whether my intentions toward Violet would result in peace for the packs, but more than that, I wanted to know if it would result in a happy ending for us. After everything she had experienced—everything I had put her through—Violet deserved happiness.

My future mate and the Dark Moon alpha and luna followed behind me as we made our way to the ceremony location.

Ever since Alpha Jasper and I met, our packs had gathered at the clearing in the forest quite frequently. Sometimes it was for friendly skirmish events, and other times for celebrations. It was well-removed from the prying eyes of local humans without being too far from our territory, so it made the perfect place for a werewolf wedding.

As soon as the car came to a halt, Penny unbuckled herself and bound from the vehicle, heading into the trees. I took my time, straightening the cuffs on my sleeves as I closed the car door behind me.

Violet’s car pulled up next to me, and I opened the door for her to exit. The lilac dress she was wearing fell just below her knees, swaying as she stood up and walked a few paces away.

When I had seen her just moments ago, I had been so shocked that I had barely registered anything beyond the fact that the woman of my dreams had miraculously appeared. Now that the initial surprise had worn off, I realized just howluminous she was. Her skin had always been clear and pale, but she had a certain warmth about her now that intrigued me. It was as if she had a light that was shining from within, casting a glow all around her. She held herself proudly—like a luna—and I felt sure that with enough time, I could help her understand my actions.

“Everybody ready?” Luna April asked.

I nodded and held my arm out for Violet, who took it reluctantly. It was clear that although she had agreed to this marriage, she didn’t want to be any closer to me than was necessary. That was okay, though. I could be patient for as long as it took.

April and Jasper led the way, with me and Violet following behind. I could feel her body tensing as we walked toward the waiting packs.

“I know this isn’t ideal,” I said quietly. “But try to remember to look happy. We’re just putting on a show.”

Violet pinched my forearm viciously, and I looked at her in surprise, only to find that she had placed a dazzling smile on her face. Even though I knew it wasn’t real, I felt my heart skip a beat. Her pink lips showcased her straight, white teeth as she grinned at me. It was the smile I had remembered in my dreams ever since I had met her. I reminded myself that she didn’t love me now, and I needed to focus on the job at hand.

“How’s this?” she asked.

I gave a short, exasperated sigh and covered her offending hand with my own. “Absolutely perfect,” I said sarcastically.

We reached the front of the congregation and took our places facing each other on either side of Alpha Jasper, whowould be officiating our mating ceremony. We had agreed that this was the best way to ensure our intentions of peace between the packs were clear.

“Welcome, wolves of Pinedale and Dark Moon packs,” Jasper began. “We are here today to mark a momentous occasion! Today, our packs celebrate the next step in joining hands as we join Alpha Nile to his new bride.”

A polite smattering of applause from the crowd greeted Jasper’s speech. Some members of the pack had been hesitant about the idea of intermarriage between packs, but it had been too long since they had a luna’s grace and wisdom to guide them. It was past time for this to happen. I hoped that soon they would be as convinced of that as I was.

“We will now hear an exchanging of vows between the couple,” Jasper said.

He nodded to me, indicating I should go first. I took a deep breath, readying myself to say the words that would tie me to another she-wolf until death parted us. It was a strange feeling of déjà vu, made different by one very important thing. The last time I had taken a mate, I had been a rogue without a pack to call my own. A stranger, seeking protection and a future. Now, I was the alpha.

“I, Nile Pinedale, alpha of the Pinedale Pack, take you, Violet Jones, to be my mate,” I said.

Violet hadn’t even said her own vow yet, but I could feel the bond tying me to her immediately. I would do anything for her. Every sense I had was focused on the woman standing in front of me as she began to say her vow.

“I, Violet Jones of Sparkle Hollow, take you, Alpha Nile Pinedale, to be my mate,” Violet said.

I wondered if anyone else had noticed that the entire world had just shifted on its axis. The feeling of such an intense bond surprised me. I had never felt something as powerful or all-consuming as this—not even with my first mate.

I placed my hand into my pocket and pulled out a necklace with a delicate gold chain. Set in the center was a teardrop emerald gemstone. I turned to face the assembled wolves, holding the pendant aloft.

“To signify the bond between us, I present this necklace as a token of my protection and commitment,” I said.

I walked behind Violet and clasped it around her neck. My fingers trailed along her delicate collarbone as I settled it in place, and I felt a nearly imperceptible shiver course through her at my touch. She turned to face me as Jasper announced our marriage ceremony was complete.

“I present Alpha Nile and Luna Violet Pinedale!” he said. “You may kiss your mate.”

I lifted one hand to cup her cheek as my other wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to me. Her eyes closed as I lowered my lips to hers. I had intended to give her a quick peck, but when our skin touched, I lost all sense of time. Our lips met gently at first, but soon our embrace intensified. I parted her lips slightly with my own, tasting the sweetness of her tongue as she tilted her head.

The sound of Jasper clearing his throat brought me back to the present moment, and I pulled away from her reluctantly.

Violet avoided my eyes as she turned to face the audience and focused her attention on the packs. The crowd cheered as we walked forward to greet them. Quite a few members of the packs came up to congratulate us while others drifted toward the side of the clearing where tables had been set up with food anddrinks. Although Violet stayed by my side, she remained cold and impassive toward me. Until Penelope showed up, bounding up to me and throwing her short arms around my legs in a hug.

“Daddy!” Penny said before turning her attention to Violet. “That necklace was so pretty. Can I see it?”

“Of course,” Violet replied, kneeling down so that Penny could get a better look.

“Oooh, it’s even prettier up close. That green looks like your eyes, Daddy,” she pointed out.

Violet touched the pendant delicately with a look of concentration on her face. It was clear that she hadn’t realized the color similarity until it was pointed out, but I couldn’t get a read on her reaction. I knew now wasn’t the time for a discussion about our future or her feelings toward me, but I made a mental note to ask her about it later. There was a lot we needed to discuss. From her questions before the ceremony, it was clear that Violet believed I had quickly fallen in love with another she-wolf after callously abandoning her, and I looked forward to the opportunity to explain my relationship with my first wife to her.

“Luna, will you come dance with me?” Penny asked, grabbing Violet’s hand.

“Baby, I think the new luna might want to talk to the other adults first,” I said quickly, not wanting Violet to be put into a position of having to turn the little girl down.

“It’s okay,” Violet said to me.

“Really?” I asked.

“Of course,” she said, turning her smile toward Penny. “And you don’t need to use my formal title when we talk, sweetheart. You can just call me Violet.”

Penny dragged Violet away toward the makeshift dance floor, and I watched as they held hands and twirled around. They looked so natural together, so at ease. It was far more than I had expected.

My daughter had never had a mother…

“Do something! The baby needs its mother,” I commanded the doctor loudly.

“I’m sorry, Alpha. There’s nothing more we can do,” he replied. “She’s lost too much blood, and we can’t get it to stop.”

“That’s unacceptable,” I growled.

I returned to Jana’s bedside, holding her hand as I watched her pale eyelids flicker.

“Hold on, we’re right here,” I whispered to her, willing her to continue breathing as a second doctor finished delivering our child.

The sound of an infant’s cry filled the room. The child had strong lungs, making her presence in the world known.

“It’s a girl,” the doctor said, passing the baby up to me.

I held the small bundle tentatively, afraid that she might break if I made a wrong move. Jana’s eyes fluttered open, and she looked at our baby girl.

“A girl,” she said weakly. “Penelope.”

Her eyes closed once again, and I placed the baby in the crook of her arm, urging her to come back to us.

“You did it, Jana. She’s right here. Open your eyes, dear—”

My voice caught in my throat as I saw the color begin draining from Jana’s face.

The memory of the only time Penelope had been held by her mother haunted me throughout her entire life. From the moment she could speak, she was full of questions about her mom.

“Why did Mommy have to die, Daddy?” Penny asked tearfully.

“Her body got hurt, and it couldn’t get better,” I explained, pained that such a small person had to know this heartache.

“Does Mommy love me?”

“More than anything in the world.”

Such was the life of the daughter of the alpha, cursed to live without a mother.

No one could replace her mother, of course, but watching Penelope latch onto Violet today made me hopeful. Perhaps Penny’s little heart could find a way to heal now that she had a mother figure in her life.

For myself, there was no comparison. I wondered how my life might have been different if I hadn’t put Violet’s safety and my own duty as leader of the rogues ahead of my feelings for her.

When I met Jana, there was no love or passion. Our marriage had been one of mutual respect, but my feelings for her paled in comparison to my feelings for Violet. Still, I had done my duty by my wife, cared for her and protected her as best I could.

With Violet, though, it was all I could do to keep myself from loudly proclaiming my love and affection for her before carrying her back home to perform my marital duties. I knew in my head that this wouldn’t be taken well by my new mate, so I fought my impulses as the night went on. I didn’t let Violet knowwhat I was thinking about. The last thing I needed was for her to get scared off or for the packs to realize that their new luna held a grudge against the alpha.

A slow song came on, and I moved toward her.

“May I have this dance?” I asked, holding out my hand.

She nodded, taking the hand I offered and spinning into my embrace.

“Have you been waiting all night to ask me that?” she replied.

“I’ve been waiting much longer than just tonight,” I whispered back.

Her eyes flickered up to meet mine before she averted her gaze, glancing around at the crowd who had gathered to watch us. I could tell exactly what she was thinking, because it was the same thing running through my mind. It was impossible to tell what the other person truly felt when we were putting on a show for others.