Chaos.

Chaos ignited and spread through our pack lands just as quickly as the fires did. I watched as pack members fled with their pups while our warriors tried forming sturdy lines to create a barricade against the never ending army of rogues entering our territory.

There were so many and the pack I had grown up with was falling with every passing second.

"Get to the pack house!"

Kayden shouted down the mindlink, the pure authority nearly causing my knees to buckle and retreat with submission - my brother was the Beta now. My fury, however, outweighed my need to follow orders as I started at my father's dead corpse. The lifeless eyes of his wolf staring back at me as he laid atop of my mother's human form - she hadn't even had time to shift before they had killed them both within a matter of seconds.

The flames had begun making their way up the sides of my home behind my parents all the while inching closer to them. I wanted to stop it. I wanted to snatch them up and drag them far away where I could bury them together, give them the respect they deserved.

"Kris, please," Kayden begged, voice breaking.

I wasn't sure where he was, but he knew I wasn't moving. He could feel my defiance. We shared the same blood. No matter his position, he couldn't make me bend against my will. Only Aiden could do that, but for some reason, our Alpha was nowhere to be found.

A sob slipped free as I closed my father's eyes, leaning down to stroke his beautiful russet coat. My mother seemed to be resting peacefully, not a single scratch or drop of blood on her porcelain skin that I could see. It had been the quick snap of her neck that had killed her, too focused on me to notice the rogue still in human form sneaking up behind her. My father had his head between his teeth just before another rogue bit so deep into my father's throat that he didn't stand a chance.

That rogue's blood now covered a warrior's coat. Jasper had moved on, leaving me to mourn, after sending up a long, single howl full of sorrow that rattled the surrounding woods.

The Beta had fallen.

"Kristin?"

I jumped, heading popping up to find Asher standing across the creek bank, staring at me in concern. He was shirtless, sporting gym shorts and a pair of worn tennis shoes, and despite the frigid temperature, he was dripping with sweat. It made me shiver as I pulled my coat tighter around my body, thankful I had grabbed two in my haste to get dressed.

Even as I neared being fully healed, I didn't think I'd ever forget how deep the cold had settled in my bones that night. Thankfully it hadn't snowed yet, and I wasn't sure I'd be ready for the first time it dropped below freezing.

"What are you doing out here?"

I'd found myself in a clearing after shifting and getting dressed once the sun rose. It wasn't far from the pack house, but far enough that I didn't have to worry about Grayson spotting me through his massive office windows. It had been a little over five hours since I had run from him, and the more time I'd spent running until my ribs hurt, the more I realized how much fucking shit I was in.

I'd never been run by my emotions before. I'd been trained better, raised better. There was no room for emotions when it came to pack affairs, to the safety of hundreds. Grayson had every right to question me and owed me nothing. He was protecting his pack, and a part of me believed truly that he wanted to protect me. But in order to do it effectively and efficiently, he needed answers.

Every part of me just dreaded the questions.

"I'm just," I trailed, looking over my shoulder in the direction of the pack house. "I needed some air."

Asher raised a brow, eyes narrowing as he nodded. He seemed to be the most easy going of the group, but now, that seemed the furthest from the truth. I knew the man who served as Grayson's third could be utterly terrifying if provoked.

"Is there something wrong? Should I not be out here?"

"No," Asher reassured me quickly, sending me a little smile. "I'm just training this morning and the little assholes thought it would be funny to prank me by splitting up and now I have no idea where the hell they are."

I didn't mean to laugh. Truly, I didn't, but I couldn't stop the snort that spilled from me. It felt like forever ago that Kayden and our friends had pulled shenanigans on our father who had been in charge of training the new and upcoming warriors. Ours, however, consisted of more than just running off the suggested route. God, what I would give to be that carefree again.

"Oh, laugh it up, Luna."

My breath hitched every time he called me that. I wanted to correct him. I kept waiting for Grayson to correct him, but it never came. Every once in a while, Gabi or Addi would slip up and let it loose as well - playfully of course but it didn't make the ache in my stomach lighter.

"No offense, but I figured you'd be the last person in charge of a bunch of teenagers."

"I should take offense to that, but I don't. I fucking hate kids. Especially bratty teenagers. I'd take spit up and snot any day," he said, settling beside me. "Normally Addi handles this shit, but apparently pushing a baby out of your lady bits requires time off and Grayson thought it would be hilarious to assign it to me."

I grinned. There wasn't an ounce of annoyance in his voice. I'd seen him with Wyatt and Addison. He was nothing if not the doting uncle and best friend. Though I had no doubt Uncle Asher would be the cause of Addison and Seth's gray hairs the older Wyatt got.

"So, how much longer are you going to keep avoiding Gray?"

I whirled, leveling him with a questioning glare. All I got in return was a smirk.

"He may or may not have stomped to our quarters, pouting like a child while we all watched a movie. It was fantastic. If you could keep doing that, I'll love you forever."

"Did-," I gnawed my lip. "Did he say anything?"

Asher leaned back on his palms, stretching his legs out.

"Nope. Just said you went for a run but we could tell something was up. For one, it was after midnight. Yet, even when Gabi grilled him and Addi threatened to castrate him, he still didn't budge. Said something about telling us after you two talked about it first."

Sighing, I looked up at the sun through the canopy of trees. Maine was beautiful. Grayson's territory was beautiful. It put our dense forests and lacking pack lands to shame back in Vermont just as the company did, despite the guilt that churned each time that thought crossed my mind. Besides my family, I had never connected with the members of my pack the way I had with Grayson's. Conversing with Asher felt like the most natural thing in the world, and if shit didn't hit the fan, I know he'd make a great friend.

"Is it weird if I tell you we kissed for the first time but then I found out he is looking into my former pack when the last thing I want to do is think about anything involving my past only for him to tell me that rogues are scouting the territory around where I was found and when I threatened to leave he went all alpha and said "like fuck you will" and now that I've calmed down I'm going to have to go back to him and explain a bunch of shit I don't want to explain."

It all came out in a rush. Grumbled, incoherent sentences that didn't even explain the entirety of the situation but somehow Asher heard every word and laughed. Loudly.

"Oh shit. You ran out after kissing him? This is gold. Gold."

When he met my unamused glare, he sighed and sent me a reassuring smile.

"He is on edge about the rogue situation, especially since it was rogues that took you in the first place. But he's trying not to push," he said, his gaze shifting with understanding. "We don't know what you went through, Kris, and we aren't pushing you to tell us. But we were all there the night you were found and it was an unspoken decision then and there that we would do whatever we could to keep you safe. You don't need to be sworn in as Luna, you don't need to be mated to Grayson for us to feel the way we do towards you. You are a part of our family now, whether you like it or not."

His words crept in and settled deep around my heart, shielding it from the nagging worry and fears that plagued my every thought. I tried to blink away the tears as I turned from him, focusing on the creek but I knew he saw them.

Thankfully, he didn't call me out on them.

My goal had been not to get attached, but here I was. I wanted Grayson. I wanted him more than I had ever wanted anything, and I wanted to be selfish. I'd take whatever he would give me until he found out the truth and rid of me completely. Whether I survived or not, at least I would have had him for a moment in time.

Alpha, just confirming your arrival to Eagle Lake at 9 a.m.?

I forced a steady inhale, hoping to relax the anxiety twisting in my stomach. I forced my gaze from the property beneath my office windows and turned back to my desk, noting the time.

Eight hours. She'd been gone eight hours.

I'll be there.

But I'd been hoping to see my mate beforehand.

I'd done nothing but stew since Kristin had flown out of here like the place was on fire. I'd watched from the windows as she hit the edge of the lake and shifted mid air - then she was gone. It was as if she vanished into thin air, blending into the night, and while I was sure she had made an effort to obstruct her view from my office windows, I knew exactly where she was.

The patrols could see her, but she wouldn't be able to see them.

I knew she wouldn't leave, no matter how frightened she was last night, but she didn't know the territory. The last thing I wanted was her accidentally exiting Black River's pack lands, and considering she wasn't a pack member, she'd never know. But from what I was being told, she hadn't traveled far.

I heaved another sigh, leaning against the window. I just wanted her to come back so we could talk. It had been a constant battle with Acel, domineering in his nature, to run after her and make her listen. But I'd known the minute her beautiful green eyes flashed bright hazel that there'd be no talking, there'd be no explaining, and there'd be no answers to my questions until she was ready.

Kristin had been terrified and her wolf had been protective, and that told me all I needed to know.

Kristin may like me, and she may feel safe here, but she sure as shit didn't trust me.

And it was a fucking painful realization.

Especially after that kiss.

She'd kissed me. She kissed me. The moment my lips touched hers, I was ruined. Nothing would compare to having her in my arms, the warmth of her lips against my own as I captured those little whimpers. Whimpers of pleasure, whimpers of joy - they were addictive and I craved those over the cries I heard each night as she fought against her demons.

Connecting with her in that way felt like the beginning of our future and I wanted more. Selfishly so. Our bond had ignited and burned, the touch of our lips the spark, and I craved to know what it could be - what we could be.

There would be no room for doubts or fears if only she'd let me in.

A knock pulled me from my thoughts and I jumped, whirling around to find Seth, staring with expectant brows. He knew who I was hoping would be there, but the shit eating grin told me that he planned to let me know it too. I knew better than to go to them last night, damn it.

"Is that a pout?"

"No."

"Are you sure? Because it looks distinctly like a pout?"

"Fuck off, Seth."

"Let's go, Alpha Pouty."

***

"You're sure you've narrowed it down?"

"Yes, Alpha."

"And there's been no other activity anywhere else on the border," Seth asked, my teasing best friend from earlier now gone and in place my dependable second in command. I'd offered more than once for him to forgo his duties a little longer, but once I'd informed Asher and him of the imposing threat, they both wanted to be close. Asher was not so patiently checking periodically for updates.

Eagle Lake had been quiet since yesterday's update. According to the guards on duty, there had been three rogues. All in similar stature, well taken care of, and capable of defending themselves. They had been tracking something - Kristin's scent no doubt - before the guards reached them. From there, the rogues dispersed in three different directions entirely. Two straight into the pack lands of neighboring packs and the third into a section between Canada and Maine considered unclaimed territory.

"No, Beta."

"I want double patrol in this area starting now. No one who enters leaves. Restrain and contact first, do not kill unless necessary." I left no room for argument as I collected the updated maps that highlighted each route each rogue took. I wanted answers damn it, and if I had to torture and kill to gain them, so fucking be it.

"Yes, Alpha."

With that, I turned on my heel, drowning in that same sickening feeling I felt the night I found Kristin. It wasn't a coincidence. Kristin was being targeted by a group of well trained, well taken care of rogues that I was positive had formed their own pack. And I could only track so far until I hit a dead end or another pack. I desperately needed more information.

"I can contact Red Creek and Mystic Valley to gain access to track through their lands."

I shook my head.

"No, we've wasted too much time already. They could be anywhere by now, between the wind and rain, I don't think there will be much left to track anyway. Besides, I don't want to answer their questions when they find that we are tracking useless rogues." Unless rogues were causing harm or feral, most packs left them be, it would definitely raise suspicion.

Seth and I reached the vehicle just as the first droplets of rain began. The temperature was dropping rapidly, and all I wanted was to be home, by a fire. Maine winters never got easier, even with a higher body temperature.

"You don't want to contact them at all for information?" I felt Seth's burning gaze as I drove. He was itching to do his job, and while he did it well, there would be no conversing with other packs. At least not right now. "Care to explain why?"

My hands tighten around the steering wheel.

"I'm the Alpha of Black River with an unclaimed, unmated mate who's being tracked."

"Shit."

Shit was right. Not only had Kristin and I not completed the mating bond, but she wasn't even a part of Black River's pack. There would be no way for her to contact me, contact any of the pack members. We'd never know if something happened to her. And any friend or enemy of mine would have a field day with that knowledge.

My alliance with Red Creek and Mystic Valley may be strong and years in the making, but I wasn't taking any chances with her.

"And with the alliance meeting coming up?"

Fuck.

***

The smell of cookies greeted me at the door.

It was well after dark when Seth and I pulled into the drive, and while Seth instantly raced upstairs to be with his mate and pup, I sat in the den nursing a glass of brandy until my mind settled. I knew what needed to be done, and I could only hope that Kristin would understand that time was of the essence.

Closing the door behind me a little harder than necessary, I didn't expect to find Kristin in the middle of the kitchen, hands covered in what looked like chocolate dough. She stared at me, wide eyed and a little hesitant as she glanced towards the door I just slammed.

"Sorry," I apologized quickly. I refused to bring a bad work day home to her. "What," I paused, eyes trailing over her sweats and loose tee. With her hair pulled into a knot on the top of her head, she looked completely comfortable and at ease in my kitchen. "What are you making?"

"Chocolate cookies," she said, voice soft as she bit her lip. I swallowed back the longing to wrap her up and kiss her again. "I figured it was the best way to say 'I'm sorry your mate is such a flight risk'."

"Kris." I stepped towards her, loving how the counters on either side seemed to close us in.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, eyes wide and so full of apology that I'd forgive her for fucking murder. "I'm sorry for running out. It was irresponsible. You were trying to protect your pack. And I'm not exactly making this whole mate thing easy on you. I should've stayed and listened and -."

"Stop," I whispered, reaching forward to grasp her cheeks, relishing in the way that she melted into my touch. "I don't want you to apologize for standing up for yourself. I should've told you. I should've asked you. Your past is yours, Kristin. I overstepped."

She sighed, tilting her head sideways as she looked up at me.

"Agree to disagree."

I chuckled.

"I'll answer whatever you need to know as best I can." Her words shook just a little, but she straightened her shoulders, standing taller and full of determination. "What do you need to know? Ask away."

Everything could wait. Right now, she was safe and here with me. Nothing else mattered.

"Can I kiss you again?"

Her breath hitched, gaze dropping to my lips and the energy shifted, snapped. And all I got was a nod before my lips descended on hers, loving when her hands came up to grasp my own cheeks, holding me there. I dropped my arms to wrap around her waist, pulling her up against me as I pressed my back into the counter.

Hands moved from my face to my hair and she gripped, gasping as I nipped her lip.

Fuck, she was heaven.

When she pulled away from me, and I placed her back on her feet, she gazed up at me in a daze. But then her eyes rounded, hands flying to her mouth on a gasp and only then did I notice her hands. Still covered in chocolate dough, although not as much as before.

The first few sounds from her were a giggle and mumbled apology before her head fell back and she cackled. Loud and lively. Her laugh echoed throughout the room, and my ears couldn't soak it in fast enough.

I wanted that sound every day for the rest of my life.

"What? Is there something on my face," I shrugged innocently. I knew good and damn well that there had to be chocolate hand prints on my cheeks. Running a hand through my hair, I felt the caked strands and grinned. Yep, definitely in my hair, too.

"I'm so sorry." Her words shook with her giggles and I reached for her, swallowing her yelp of surprise with my lips. I wouldn't ever tire of kissing her.

Reaching behind me, I blindly stuck two fingers in her mixing bowl, and swiped at her clean cheek.

"Grayson!" She pulled back, breathless and staring up at me wide eyed.

"I wanted to match."

She rolled her eyes, not bothering to wipe her cheek as she leaned into me, her clean cheek resting against my chest and I nearly froze. It had been the first time she had melted into me so easily. I could almost always sense the fight within herself every time she reached for me.

I knew Kristin wanted me, that she wanted to give in, but whatever battles she was fighting internally held too much weight. And it was terrifying to fight something I had no idea about.