Xena''s POV


    "What the hell?" Ama shot up from the bed, her blonde curls wild around her face,


    "Contact Alpha Benedict through the mind link. Tell him I need him. It''s an emergency'' 1manded, my heart racing as fear surged through me like a tidal wave. The image of Ryder losing control shed in my mind, and I knew I had to act immelhady,


    Ama closed her eyes without hesitation, doing exactly as I asked. A momentter, her


    eyes flew open. "He''s in the kitchen."


    I didn''t even bother exining as I bolted toward the kitchen, my bare feet pping against the cold floor. I met Benedict in the hallway, my breathing ragged, hands trembling slightly, but I forced myself to stayposed.


    "You need to issue an emergency containment order or whatever protocol you have here. Ryder hasn''t calmed down, and his wolf has bolted. William went after him, but people shouldn''t be out right now. Get your warriors ready." The words tumbled from my mouth, my voiceced with worry and urgency.


    "Damn it. He hasn''t lost control like this in years." Alpha Benedict strode toward his office, his tall frame radiating authority. "We need to track him. If William hasn''t found him yet, your wolf needs to find him."


    "I can''t fucking mind link with anyone, and Ryder''s link is blocked." I bit my lower lip hard enough to draw blood, frustration and anxiety churning inside me. I''d never felt so helpless.


    "Fine. Relinquish your ties. Now," Alpha Benedict looked at me, his chest puffed out, his voice leaving no room for argument.


    I was so caught off guard that it took me a full minute to process what he was asking. A sharp pang of grief stabbed at my heart, but I knew it was the right choice.


    "I, Xena Harris, future Luna of the Boneash Pack, relinquish my ties to the Nightcedar Pack." The moment the words left my lips, it felt like a knife had been plunged into my stomach. Pain doubled me over, tears welling in my eyes, but I kept repeating to myself: I''m doing this for Ryder. This pain is nothingpared to what could happen if he


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    remains out of control.


    "I, Benedict Nash, Alpha of the Boneash Pack, ept Xena Harris as a member of my pack and future Luna." Alpha Benedict spoke quickly, his voice firm and unwavering.


    "I, Xena Harris, ept my position as a member of the Boneash Pack and future Luna." Instantly, an intense crash filled my mind. Too many voices upied every inch of space, making it nearly impossible to function. It was like hundreds of people shouting in my head simultaneously. I struggled to maintain consciousness, feeling myself slipping


    further away with each second.


    "Good, let''s go." Alpha Benedict grabbed my arm, pulling me along with him. As I tried to clear my head as much as possible, the light was so blinding I could barely keep my eyes


    open. Each step was a struggle, but I couldn''t give up.


    "Shift," he said, and I heard the sound of his bones breaking. Ipleted my shift as well,


    fighting through the pain.


    I called out through all the voices attempting to mind link with me. My wolf sprinted


    forward, following closely behind Alpha Benedict.


    I saw warriors searching the area for Ryder. Alpha Benedict had ved to a walking pace,


    but then I spotted Ryder''s wolf. He stood his ground, fury flickering in his eyes. "Ryder," I reached out through our mind link, my heart filled with anxiety and hope. "Why are you in pain?" Ryder asked with tightly controlled anger.


    "I gave up my ties and joined the pack. My head is full of voices now. You need to calm down." I glimpsed my wolf walking ahead of Alpha Benedict, approaching Ryder''s wolf. He


    was angry, but he knew she was his mate, making her the only one who could get close to


    him. Watching them, I felt a strangefort, even as the pain continued to assault me.


    "What did you do?" His wolf stared into my wolf''s eyes. I couldn''t read his expression well, but I felt his emotional turmoil.


    "How are you even awake?" he asked, surprise and concern evident in his voice.


    "You needed me," I said, still fighting against the pain that threatened to overwhelm me.


    "You didn''t have to do that." His tone softened, and I heard the guilt in it.


    "Ryder, you jumped out a window. I couldn''t contact anyone. I couldn''t mind link with anyone. You were blocking me until now. I had to get Ama to contact your father because he wasn''t in his office." I exined, my voice weak from the pain, but I needed him to


    understand.


    "You did this because of me?" His voice was filled with disbelief and deep


    remorse.


    "Please calm down and let everyone leave." I couldn''t take it anymore; I just wanted to shift back and pass out. ck dots danced in my vision as the world began to spin.


    Ryder''s wolf let out a loud howl, his demeanor changing. Secondster, I glimpsed human Ryder.


    "I''m fine now. You can all leave." He walked toward my wolf, who hadid down and started whimpering.


    "Is she okay?" I heard William ask.


    "She gave up her ties and is officially pack now. She needs to pass out, but refused to let go until I calmed down. Everyone needs to leave so she can shift back." Ryder exined, his voice tight with worry and gratitude.


    "You heard him, Luna needs some privacy." I could only hear their footsteps as they departed, Ryder barely containing his fury as he spoke.


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