ONE

The pack house is a mess, but it would have to wait for now. I am already running late for patrol and I can’t afford another mark against my name. Not if I want to keep my title of gamma.

I grab my satchel and check I’ve at least got a protein bar to have for a snack when the door slams shut behind me.

“Rylie.”

My whole body can’t decide whether to freeze or melt at the sound of my name on his lips.

“Hunter,” I reply, rolling my eyes as I turn around to face my alpha.

I let my gaze roam up his broad chest until our eyes lock, and every ounce of reasoning leaves my mind as I lose myself in the icy-blue eyes of the alpha. A smirk haunts his lips, a hint of a shadow covering his hard jaw.

In two strides he stands before me. I barely reach his shoulder, but I refuse to let him intimidate me. One of us has to keep an ounce of self-control.

“You seem tense, Rylie,” Hunter comments.

“I’m late for patrol,” I mutter, scanning the empty pack house around me. Everyone else was either already out there or in the training ring.

How convenient.

“Are you avoiding me?” Hunter asks.

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. The heat radiating from his body is distracting, his muscular form towering over me. I hate that I feel safe with him - that I like the feeling of being protected.

I’m a gamma for Christ’s sake. I am more than capable of taking care of myself.

“Come on, Rylie,’ Hunter whispers, leaning forward so that his breath is hot against my ear. An involuntary shiver runs down my spine and I close my eyes in an attempt to steady myself.

“The offer still stands,” he murmurs. “Be my Luna, Rylie. Be my wife.”

My breath catches in my throat as I try hard not to envision what it could mean to spend my life with Hunter.

“I can’t.”

“That’s not a no,” he chuckles.

He doesn’t miss a thing, does he?

“I could get thrown out for messing around with you.”

“Only if the council think that having relations with me would hinder your ability to protect the pact,” Hunter clarifies.

“What if we’re not…” but my voice trails off and I let my gaze fall to the floor, heat flooding my cheeks.

“We’re not what, Rylie?”

I had said too much. Given too much away. I couldn’t lie to myself. I had thought about what it would mean to say yes to Hunter, and I wanted to give in so badly. But what if he wasn’t my mate? What if my mate was still out there?

“Is that what this is about?” Hunter asked, his tone almost gentle. “You’re not saying yes because of us potentially not being mates?”

“Stop,” I whisper. I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, ignoring the sting of tears in my eyes.

“No, because you can have a meaningful relationship with someone without being mates,” he snaps.

“You’re the alpha of the pack. You can date whatever you want,” I spit out, curling my hands into fists – my nails digging into my palms so hard I swear I draw blood.

“I don’t want to date anyone, Rylie,” Hunter clarifies. “I want to marry you.”

“I can’t talk about this right now,” I hiss, pushing against his chest. “I need to get out on patrol.”

“If that’s what you want,” he says, shrugging his broad shoulders.

“It doesn’t matter what I want,” I whisper, keeping my eyes on the floor.

Because what I wanted was him. But if we weren’t mates, then everything would be ruined for me. I couldn’t seem to decide if the risk was worth it.

“I need to go,” I state as I make to move past him but Hunter grabs my arm before I can reach the door. “I’m sorry,” I whisper before heading out the door.

*

“You’re late,” Val mutters as I appear beside her, strapping my knives to my belt. “Were you with Hunter?” I ignore the bite in her tone. She was never one to be subtle about her feelings towards our alpha, which I couldn’t deny got on my nerves.

Thoughts of Hunter and his offer flood my mind but I shake my head, trying to compose myself. I couldn’t afford to let anything slip about his offer, especially in front of Val. I didn’t want to give her any more ammunition to hate me.

“No,” I lie as I take a head count of the warriors gathered before me. Val huffs but keeps quiet. “I want you all in pairs for today’s patrol. We can’t be too careful, especially after what happened to Daina last week. Although we cannot confirm the source behind her death, it is mostly likely rogues. Please stay on your guard, and stick together. Let’s move out!”

After grabbing my gun from the rack and shouldering a quiver of silver arrows and a bow, I lead the group into the trees. We walk in silence as I lead the patrol deep into the woods before splitting up. To my own dismay I’m stuck with Val.

“Rogue attack, huh?” she mutters, scrunching up her nose. “And with the eclipse coming…”

“Is there a point you would like to make, Val?” I ty to keep my voice steady but her smirk grates on my nerves.

“Just thinking about how much stress Hunter will be under, what with the rumors of the rogues and Daina’s death…”

“He’s a big boy, I’m sure he’ll be fine,” I reply through gritted teeth.

The wind howls around us, and the sound of the other’s footsteps were starting to die out the further we move away from one another.

“Why did you lie earlier?” Val suddenly asks.

“Huh?”

My eyes scan the treetops overhead, looking for any suspicious movement but it looks clear.

“About being with Hunter. I saw him enter the pack house-“

A branch snaps off to our left. My gun is instantly off my shoulder and aimed into the trees.

“What did he want to talk to you about?” Val presses.

I hear another and freeze, straining my ears.

“He obviously wanted something-“

“Val!” I snap, grabbing her by the shoulder and shaking her slight frame. “Forget about Hunter for one second, please. We have more important things to worry about.”

“There’s no way he would ever choose you, not when I-” but Val’s eyes grow wide, her gaze focusing on a spot behind my left shoulder.

“Val?”

“Rogues,” she whispers.

I spin around to find dozens of bodies swarm out from behind the trees - all with guns loaded on their shoulders, aimed at us.

We’re outnumbered. By a lot.

Even if I send a signal to the others for help, there was no way they could reach us in time. We would have to face them alone.

“Load up,” I ordered Val. “I’ll take the left side-“

Something cold and sharp is instantly against my neck, breaking the skin.

“I think we’ll take it from here,” a voice growls at my ear.