Alpha's Loss, Luna's Freedom

The carriage rocked gently as we traveled through the dense forest separating our territory from the neighboring Silver Moon Pack. Beside me, Lily hummed softly, her small fingers tracing the carved wooden wolf I'd given her for her fifth birthday last month.

"Mama, will we see the big waterfall again?" she asked, her hazel eyes—so like mine—wide with excitement.

I smiled, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. "Not today, little moon. We're just visiting Alpha Gregory to renew our territory agreement."

She pouted, then brightened. "Will Daddy be there?"

The familiar ache bloomed in my chest. Marcus had promised to join us, then canceled at the last minute with a vague excuse about "pack business." I'd glimpsed Rebecca's sleek car pulling into the private entrance of the pack house as we departed.

"No, sweetheart. Daddy had important Alpha duties." The lie tasted bitter, but I'd become accustomed to the flavor.

"More important than us?" Lily's innocent question pierced deeper than any claw.

Before I could fashion another comforting lie, the carriage lurched violently. Our driver shouted something unintelligible before his voice transformed into a gurgling scream. The acrid scent of blood flooded my nostrils.

"Mama?" Lily's voice trembled.

"Stay down!" I commanded, pushing her to the floor of the carriage. My wolf, Sarah, surged forward in my consciousness, her protective instincts matching my own.

*Rogues. Many of them.* Sarah growled.

The carriage door ripped open. Five massive wolves with matted fur and hungry eyes surrounded us, their muzzles already stained crimson. Our guards lay motionless on the ground behind them.

"Please," I begged, shielding Lily with my body. "She's just a child."

The largest wolf, his coat a dirty gray, snarled in response. I felt his intent before he moved—they weren't here to negotiate.

"Run when I tell you," I whispered to Lily. "Straight into the trees. Don't look back."

I didn't wait for her response. Sarah took over, the shift rippling through me with practiced ease. My bones cracked and reformed, fur erupting across my skin as I lunged at the lead rogue, my jaws aiming for his throat.

I caught him off-guard, my teeth sinking into his flesh. "Now, Lily!" I mind-linked to my daughter.

She scrambled from the carriage, but two rogues broke from the circle, pursuing her tiny form. I fought desperately to free myself, but the lead wolf had recovered, his greater size pinning me down.

Lily's scream shattered the air.

With a strength born of pure maternal rage, I tore free, ripping out a chunk of the rogue's throat. I bounded toward my daughter, who lay crumpled on the forest floor, blood blossoming across her yellow dress. The rogues had slashed her torso and legs, the wounds deep and vicious.

*No, no, no!* Sarah howled in anguish as I shifted back, gathering Lily's broken body in my arms.

"Mama, it hurts," she whimpered, her small hand clutching mine.

"I know, baby. I know." Tears blurred my vision as I pressed my hand against the worst of the wounds, trying to stem the bleeding. "Help is coming."

As if summoned by my desperate plea, howls sounded in the distance—pack warriors on patrol. The rogues melted into the forest, leaving their leader's corpse behind.

I cradled Lily against my chest, her blood soaking through my clothes. "Stay with me, little moon. Please stay with me."

Her eyelids fluttered. "I'm sleepy, Mama."

"No sleeping," I insisted, panic clawing at my throat. "Tell me about the story you want tonight. The one with the brave wolf princess."

But Lily's eyes were closing, her breathing shallow and labored.

The patrol burst into the clearing, shifting immediately when they saw us. Delta Rhys Blackwood reached us first, his face paling at the sight of Lily's wounds.

"The hospital," I choked out. "Now."

Rhys lifted us both, running with supernatural speed toward the pack compound. "Stay strong, Luna Helena," he murmured. "The pack healer will save her."

I pressed my cheek against Lily's forehead, her skin already growing cold beneath my touch. "You'll be okay," I whispered, willing it to be true. "Mama's here. Mama won't let anything happen to you."

But as we raced toward the hospital, Sarah's mournful howl echoed in my mind, and I felt something I had never allowed myself to feel before—pure, undiluted hatred for the mate who should have been here to protect us.