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    Don''t Poke the Luna


    "Yes, but a breeze came through, and I caught the scent of Rogues. Ryder looked over, and there were about a dozen of them. He told me to run, but I didn''t listen, and we only had about a minute. After we shifted, one Rogue had already jumped the fence andnded on Ryder. Una jumped in to save him, but I got bitten in the process."


    I spoke faster and faster, as if that would somehow diminish the seriousness of what had happened. Remembering that moment, fear gripped my heart again, but I tried not to let it show in my voice.


    "Well, I''m d to hear Una took action, but I don''t understand why this is a big deal. You''ve fought Rogues before. I''m sure you handled yourself well until their warriors arrived."


    My father''s confidence in my fighting abilities made me shoot Ryder an "I told you so" look. He rolled his eyes at me, which only fueled my indignation. I was his mate-he should respect my capabilities instead of treating me like some helpless creature who needed protection.


    "Well, kind of. One of the Rogues shifted back to human form and said, "That''s her, grab her, or something like that. Basically, they were targeting me."


    "WHAT?!" My father''s voice echoed through the office. I shrank back, feeling his anger and concern even through the phone.


    "As soon as I heard that, I told Ryder to leave some alive. We have some Rogues locked in cells, waiting to be interrogated when


    they wake up,” I quickly added, hoping that would calm my father down.


    "What measures have been taken for my daughter''s safety?" My father''s voice suddenly took on an air of authority.


    "She''ll have a guard with her at all times. I''ve increased warrior stations around the pack and strengthened border patrols. I suspect once they wake up, we''ll find they were acting on orders from the Darkthorn pack," Alpha Benedict exined.


    "You think so?" my father asked Alpha Benedict.


    "Ryder, Xena... why don''t you let Hank and me handle things from here?" Alpha Benedict turned off the speakerphone, put the


    device to his ear, and turned his back to us.


    I hated being dismissed like that, as if we were children who didn''t need to be part of the conversation. Anger and hurt bubbled in my chest as I stood up and stormed out of the office, fuming all the way back to our room. We were the ones directly involved, yet we were being excluded from the solution-it wasn''t fair.


    "Why are you angry?" Ryder asked after arriving and closing the door


    "I hate being dismissed like that," I flopped onto the couch, leaned back, and sighed. Frustration and powerlessness spread through


    1. me.


    A Luna shouldmand more respect, but sometimes I felt like nothing more than a pretty essory


    Ryder''s eyes finally met mine, his expression softening slightly. "They''re not dismissing you. They''re protecting you-both of us. This is bigger than just today''s attack."


    "That''s exactly my point," I sat up straighter, my hands balling into fists. "If it''s about me, I should be involved in every discussion, every decision. I''m not some porcin doll that needs to be locked away for safekeeping"


    He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in the gesture. "Xena, please. Not everything has to be a battle. I''m trying to keep you safe."


    And I''m trying to be your equal," I shot back, my voice thick with emotion. "How can I be Luna to this pack if I''m treated like I can''t handle the truth or make decisions about my own safety?"


    Don''t Poke the Luna