<b>“</b>He or she is beautiful,” I told Lyra sincerely, pushing past my grief to share in her joy.


    After the appointment, Lyra was practically glowing as we walked back to the car. I nced at her, a thought forming.


    “Want to go to the mall?” I asked. “I’d love to pick out something for the baby<b>–</b>maybe a plush wolf or a mobile for the nursery<b>.</b>”


    Lyra’s eyes lit up instantly. “Yes! I was just thinking the same thing.”


    We drove to therge shopping mall on the outskirts of town–a neutral territory frequented by wolves from several packs as well as humans. As we stepped through the entrance, I realized I was actually looking forward to this–just a little.


    <b>*</b>Danger,* Aurora suddenly snarled, her hackles rising inside me. *Someone’s watching us.*


    I tensed, my senses immediately heightening as I scanned our surroundings. My wolf had never steered me wrong before when it came to threats.


    We had just passed the central fountain when a figure stepped directly into our path, causing us both to halt abruptly.


    “Luna Summer,” the woman said breathlessly, her eyes darting nervously behind us as if checking for


    followers.


    I immediately recognized her–Melissa, one of the she–wolves who had worked in the Silver Creek Pack house kitchen. She had always been kind to me, sometimes slipping extra treats to Felix when Foster


    wasn’t looking.


    *Silver Creek,* Aurora growled, her mistrust evident. *Nothing good everes from there anymore.*


    “Melissa?” I was genuinely shocked to see her here, so far from Silver Creek territory. “What are you doing


    here?”


    She looked terrible–thin, with dark circles under her eyes and an air of desperate anxiety about her. Her


    clothes were rumpled, her hair hastily pulled back.


    “I’ve been trying to find you for days,<b>” </b>she whispered urgently. “Please, I need your help.”


    Beside me, Lyra stiffened, her protective instincts clearly kicking in. “Who is this?” she asked, her tone carrying a warning edge.


    “She’s from my former pack,” I exined quickly, then turned back to Melissa. “What’s happened<b>? </b>Is


    everything alright at Silver Creek?<b>” </b>


    Melissa’s eyes filled with tears. “Nothing is alright there. Not since…” She nced around again<b>, </b>clearly


    terrified. “Can we speak somewhere private? Please, Luna. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”


    The use of my former title–Luna–struck me as odd. I hadn’t been the Luna of Silver Creek for months


    now.


    <b>*</b>Trap,* Aurora warned, circling restlessly in my mind. *This feels like a trap.*


    I silenced my wolf’s warnings, though I remained cautious. Melissa had never been anything but kind to


    me and Felix.


    “Whatever you need to tell me, you can say in front of Lyra,” I said firmly. “She’s Alexander’s sister and


    .</b><b>” </b>


    Melissa hesitated, wringing her hands together. “It’s Alpha Foster,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. “After you left… after what happened with Felix<b>… </b>he’s changed. The pack is suffering


    terribly under his leadership.”


    A chill ran down my spine at the mention of my ex–mate and my son in the same breath.


    “Changed how?” I asked, though part of me didn’t want to hear the answer.


    “Silver Creek is falling apart,” she whispered, voice trembling. “Foster has bepletely unhinged. He’s paranoid, violent. Some days he locks himself away, other days he rages through the pack house, punishing anyone who dares mention your name or Felix’s.”


    Aurora growled with dark satisfaction. *Good. Let him suffer for what he did to our pup.*


    “Many wolves have fled,” Melissa continued. “Those who can’t leave are living in fear. I’m begging you, Luna Summer–please help me escape. I have nowhere else to turn. Alpha ckwood’s territory is my


    only hope for sanctuary.”


    I stared at her, conflicted. Part of me wanted nothing more than to turn my back on anything connected to Silver Creek and Foster. But another part–the part that remembered Melissa’s small kindnesses to


    Felix–couldn’t dismiss her plea.


    “There are rumors,” she added, ncing around nervously again. “Terrible rumors spreading through the pack.”


    My heart skipped a beat. “What rumors?”