Chaney is more than happy to accompany me dress shopping. She's a caricature little thing, thanking the moon goddess for hearing her prayers because apparently, she had grown tired of seeing me in my washed out jeans and flip-flops.

When asked what my budget was, I shrugged and told her Kaden gave me his card. In truth, he forced me to take it, threatening to make me horny all day until I took it. I thought he was bullshitting, but then he took his shirt off, dropped to the ground and began doing pushups. Without even touching me, the sly jerk got my motors going.

"No budget?" Chaney asks. "Then shit, I'll get myself some things too."

I laugh and text Kaden to ask if it's okay. He reads the text and replies seconds later with, don't care.

Must be nice being filthy rich, I reply.

After a minute, he texts back, I'm filthy in more ways. Want me to show you tonight?

He's probably chuckling somewhere, because he knows I'm rolling my eyes.

So childish. How old are you again? I send.

The only number that matters here is the size of my dick, and we both know it's more than sufficient.

I kick stomp in the middle of the store. If Kaden was here, he would ask who the childish one was.

"Kenna,s come here!" A pile of clothing come barreling my way, and it takes a second to realize that Chaney is buried under it.

"I'm not trying out all of those dresses. Pick three."

Chaney plays her magic and convinces me to try on a total of eleven dresses, guilt-tripping me about all the gossip she had to collect and report to me.

She makes me buy eight of the dresses, three for her.

"Hello? I'm talking to you," she says when she realizes that I've spaced out mid-rant.

"I've had enough of you, Chaney. I need my dosage of smut to refuel."

Knowing that I'm serious, she grumbles and lets me read in peace for the next thirty minutes as she collects shoes for me to try on.

"Is there any style you're interested in?"

"Yeah, whichever has a heel long enough to kill Kaden."

She fights a giggle but loses. An hour later, we're checking out four pairs of shoes. I'm more than glad that we're done. As we walk down the mall's hallways, we pass a jewelry store.

"Hey, why don't we check out the engagement rings so you have some styles to suggest to Kaden?"

I snort. "Calm your crazy, Chaney. I don't have time for marriage."

Not that it's typical in the werewolf community. To us, a bite on the neck is more meaningful than a ring on a finger.

Becoming his Luna is the highest title Kaden could offer me, not that I was hunting for it. I'm happy where we are now, where the moon led us. I don't need a lavish wedding to show the world what we have.

I part ways with Chaney after promising her I won't show Kaden my dress until the day of the event. She drives me nuts, but she's a great friend.

I arrive at Kaden's place earlier than he does. After I set my bags down in the bedroom, I realize this wasn't my home yet. I have a single cabinet here and some hangers in the closet, but most of my stuff is still at my place. I haven't taken the last step of giving up my cabin.

I decide that I'll try tomorrow after work, and then I throw together sloppy joes for dinner. I know when Kaden arrives, because he says, "thirteen thousand dollars were spent on my card?"

I laugh. "It's Chaney's fault. She robbed you."

His arms come around me right as I set the forks on the table. I'm wrapped in his scent. The distinct scent of pine and soil, like he just came from the wilderness.

I could easily give up my cabin for this.

We hang out in the living room for a while, both on our laptops, trying to get work done. I had to put Kaden on a timeout when he got too touchy by distractingly touching my thigh and 'accidentally' brushing my breast.

I fall asleep on the couch late at night and wake up in bed the next morning. Kaden left early, leaving me a note informing me of an emergency.

I pack my bag and head for the clinic. Work has slowly been building up–not that I'm complaining. I love having a distraction from my chaotic social life.

There's a knock at my door minutes after I set my bag down. That's surprising, since my first patient isn't due for another two hours.

"Come in," I say, fully expecting Chaney to walk in wearing one of the dresses she got herself yesterday.

Instead, a pack member walks in. She was here weeks ago when the drama with Sylvie was still hot and told me I couldn't look after her child because I was a poor example of a woman for being a home wrecker.

Today, there's no determination on her brow. Her shoulders are sagged and her eyes hooded as she avoids my gaze.

"Doctor," she clears her throat.

I look behind her, checking to see if her child is with her and in need of medical assistance.

"Welcome. Is there an emergency?"

Usually, that's the only case someone can walk in without an appointment.

"No. Nothing like that." She raises her gaze. "I wanted to... well, to apologize for my behavior a few weeks back. It was unprofessional and rude. I'm the one who gave my child a bad example by listening to rumors. I hope you can forgive me, luna."

Wow, this luna is a hard pill to swallow. I'm always urged to flinch when I hear it.

"Don't worry about that. Misunderstandings happen."

"It was more than a misunderstanding. Sylvie made up so many lies..."

I purse my lips, refusing to stoop to Sylvie's level by badmouthing her with anyone that will listen. She got what she deserved, and she's gone from my life.

"Anyway," she sighs. "I will book an appointment for my daughter, if you will have her."

I smile. "Of course. I hope she's well."

We share our goodbyes, and I'm left alone, feeling a newfound burst of inspiration. I'm all smiles throughout the day, to the point that Chaney gets nervous. She sighs with relief when I frown at her.

Things are slowly but surely getting back to normal. No more glares, only curious looks as I walk around. Then I get to Kaden's place, who looks at me with a predatory gaze and tries his best to get me on all fours. I won't lie. He has gotten close to convincing me a few times, but I keep brushing him off to build the sexual tension. I'm playing a dangerous game, hoping that when I finally give in, he'll fuck me hard enough that he drills me from doggy style to being flat on my belly, incapable of standing.

Something tells me I won't last long. My resistance is thinning.

Every day after work, I take a few things from my cabin and move them to Kaden's place. My cabin becomes emptier with every visit, and the sadness and fear of starting anew in a different home becomes excitement. I accept that I'm not losing my independence. My safehaven that allowed me to escape from the world and find happiness in books is only taking a new form. I can still escape, find safety and peace in Kaden's embrace.

– • –

"Kenna." I'm gently shook awake.

"Shit, my alarm didn't go off. Am I late for work?" I yawn and sit up.

"It's Saturday babe. Get ready. We're late."

"Late for what?"

"We have a flight to catch," Kaden says.

I eye him as he walks to his closet, looking edible in his suit. It's time for breakfast, and I wouldn't mind a few bites of him instead of food.

"Kenna?" he calls again without turning around.

"Huh?" I reply, wiping my mouth to ensure I'm not drooling. Kaden would tease me into the grave if he found out. "What were you saying?"

"The flight, baby. I thought you packed your bag yesterday when you came upstairs?"

Oh, absolutely not. I was reading a book that reached a spicy scene, and had to escape Kaden before he smelled my lust. If he touched me, I would have absolutely caved and let him fuck me on the couch, face-first onto the book until the ink of the words imprinted on my cheek.

Shit. I forgot about our trip!

I pull a suitcase from the closet and shove things into it, including the white dress Chasey demanded I wore. Within the hour, we're leaving our territory and headed for the plane.

We're going to neutral ground. Land that no alpha owns. I'm dreading meeting other powerful people.

We land and drive to the cabin we're staying in to freshen up and change. To my horror, I forgot to pack heels or acceptable underwear. I only got two pairs of shoes and my granny panties.

Chaney will kill me, though I don't think Kaden would care. He'll be too busy staring at my cleavage to look at my feet.

I go commando and pull the black converse on. The dress is long enough that it covers my feet, although now it touches the floor because I have no heels on. I'll have to make it to a table and remain seated the whole night. Even if a pack of rogues breaks in, I'd rather get mauled than run and reveal my shoes.

Goddess, Kenna. You're an embarrassing disaster. Can't take you anywhere.

I'm the sloppiest Luna there has ever been.

"Ready?" Kaden asks, scanning me from head to toe.

I smile nervously and nod.

"Mmm, it'll be a miracle if I don't devour you in the back seat." He licks his lips and tugs at the knot of his tie as if it's suffocating him.

"Kaden," I whine, crossing my arms over myself but secretly loving the attention.

"Don't Kaden me. You should have known better than to dress this good." He reaches for me, and I laugh and run into the car before he can get his hands on me.

On the way there, we have some car trouble. We all pool out of the car. Kaden and the driver pop the hood of the limo to investigate, and I look around the wilderness. While I'm a doctor, I don't know the first thing about taking care of a car.

"Don't stray too far," Kaden says when he sees me stepping away.

There's a field of daisies nearby. It has been a long time since I've been into photography, and I want to capture a few shots.

Kaden is a yard away when I pull out my phone and take the first few snaps. I look at the captures and feel my heart sink when I see a furry face in the corner. There's a wolf, watching me like a predator.

I jump when the car alarm goes off. I'll have to yell loudly if I want Kaden to hear me.

This wolf is enormous– about the size of Kaden. Not feral enough to be a rogue, not small enough to be a female or lower status.

He's a damn alpha. Why do I attract these dominant men like a magnet?

He growls and takes careful steps closer to me. I swallow, hard. "Hey, big guy. Why the anger? Let's talk about it."

Chaney will be seriously upset if I get mauled in the dress she picked for me. If I survive this attack, she'll maul me a second time and put me down for good.

I look over my shoulder, hoping Kaden is hauling his ass over here. It's not that I can't fight my own battles, it's that I can't fight an alpha. He's too strong for me.

My head snaps back when I near bones pop. The wolf becomes a very tall, very naked man.