His Discarded Mate

Kane Winters, Shadowmere's Alpha, wasn't who I figured he'd be. We were driving to his territory on winding mountain roads in the back of his SUV, and I was rethinking everything I thought I knew about rival pack leaders. Nathaniel was all about sharp edges and barely controlled power, but Kane had this quiet, dangerous vibe.

He seemed younger than I thought-maybe early thirties, with messy dark hair and these sharp green eyes that just seemed to *see* right through you. He almost seemed like a scholar, someone more suited for a library than a boardroom. But the way he moved, that easy confidence, that was all Alpha.

"So..." he said, his voice low, breaking the heavy silence since we left the diner, "Sage says you want a *fresh start*."

"Among other things," I said, my voice tight, trying to sound professional. I might be desperate, but I wasn't about to spill my guts to a guy I just met.

"And what else is on your mind?" His eyes flicked to mine, searching.

I met his gaze, my heart pounding. "Depends on what you're *really* offering."

He smirked, but it was sharp, like he felt the weight of my words. "I like that. You're direct. It's a nice change from the Council's BS."

"I've had enough politics to last me a lifetime," I snapped, my voice betraying a flicker of exhaustion.

"Yeah, but everything's political when you're talking about packs," he said, his tone hardening. "Especially when you're talking about taking on someone as strong as Nathaniel Blackthorne."

The way he said it made me shiver, his words slicing through me. "Taking *down*?"

"Bad choice of words," Kane said quickly, but his eyes glinted, unapologetic. "Let's just say... evening the odds. Your ex has been grabbing power for years, taking over smaller packs, forcing others into deals they don't want. Shadowmere's stayed independent, but it's been *tough*."

I thought about Nathaniel's late-night calls, the papers on his desk when I brought him dinner. He was building something big-a network of loyalty that would make him impossible to touch in the next Council election.

"And you think I can help you stop him?" My voice wavered, a mix of doubt and defiance.

"I think you know his weaknesses better than anyone," Kane said, leaning in, his voice intense. "You were his Luna for five years. You saw how he works, his patterns, his plans. You know *everything* about our biggest threat."

"Threat?" The word stung, cutting deeper than I expected, even though I knew he was right. Nathaniel's ambition always came first, even if it hurt others.

"Tell me, Ella-" he paused, softer now, "can I call you Ella?-did you ever *question* what he did? Ever wonder if he was willing to hurt others to get what he wanted?"

I thought about the packs that had been swallowed up by Crescent Moon, their Alphas pushed aside. I thought about the secret deals, the favors traded, the way anyone who disagreed was shut down. My chest tightened.

"Sometimes," I whispered, the admission heavy.

"And did you ever say anything?" His voice was gentle but pressing, like he needed to know.

That hit hard. I was his Luna. My job was to back him up, not question him.

"Even when you *knew* he was wrong?" Kane's words were a quiet challenge, his eyes locked on mine.

"Yeah," I said, my voice breaking. "Even when I knew he was wrong." How many times had I kept my mouth shut, played the supportive wife, while he made choices that hurt people? I told myself it was loyalty, but maybe I was just *scared*.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked, my voice raw, searching his face.

Kane leaned back, those green eyes holding mine with fierce conviction. "I want you to help me protect the packs that can't protect themselves. I want you to use what you know to stop Nathaniel from becoming a *dictator*."

"And what do I get?" I shot back, my voice trembling with hope and fear.

"A home. A reason to be here. A chance to *matter* again," he said, his words steady, like a promise.

The offer hung there between us, tempting and scary at the same time. But there was something else I needed to know.

"Why *me*?" I demanded, my voice rising. "You could find anyone from his old pack who would talk about him. Why me?"

Kane's face grew serious, his jaw tight. "Because you're the only one who really *knows* him. The only one who's seen him when he's vulnerable, when he's human. And because..." He trailed off, his hesitation heavy, and I knew he wasn't telling me everything.

"Because *what*?" I pressed, my heart racing.

"Because Nathaniel Blackthorne's biggest mistake has always been not knowing what he has until it's gone," he said, his voice low, almost pained.

That gave me a weird feeling, part pain and part something I didn't want to name, twisting in my chest.

"You think he'll want me back," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I think he *already* does," Kane said, his gaze piercing. "The question is, can you resist him when he comes for you?"

The SUV slowed as we passed through this fancy iron gate with Shadowmere's symbol-a silver wolf howling at a crescent moon. The land inside was amazing: rolling hills covered in forest, a clear lake that looked like a mirror, and this big set of buildings that looked both new and old.

"Welcome to Shadowmere," Kane said, his voice warm as we parked in front of what had to be the pack house-a huge place made of stone and wood that felt more like a home than a fortress.

"It's beautiful," I said, my voice soft with awe, and I meant it.

"We believe in living with nature, not controlling it," he said, a hint of criticism in his tone, like he was jabbing at Crescent Moon's aggressive moves.

As we got out, I noticed the difference in the air. Crescent Moon always felt tense, like there was anger just below the surface. Shadowmere felt... peaceful. Balanced.

"Ella?" Kane stopped at the entrance to the pack house, his voice serious. "Before we go in, are you *sure* about this? Once you're in, there's no going back. Nathaniel will see this as a betrayal."

I thought about the pregnancy test in my purse, about the baby growing inside me that needed a safe place. I thought about Harrison's words: *He loves you. He's always loved you.* My throat tightened.

Maybe that was true. Maybe Nathaniel did love me, in his messed-up way. But love without trust, without respect, without putting you first-what was the point?

"I'm sure," I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.

Kane nodded, his eyes softening, and opened the big wooden doors. "Then welcome to your new life."

The inside of the pack house was as impressive as the outside: high ceilings with wooden beams, walls covered in books and art, comfortable chairs that made you want to talk.

It was the opposite of Nathaniel's cold mansion.

"Kane?" a woman called out, her voice curious yet warm. I turned and saw this elegant woman walking toward us, her eyes bright with interest. "Is this our mystery guest?"

"Ella Montgomery, meet my sister and Beta, Luna Winters," Kane said, his tone proud. "Luna, this is Ella."

"Luna," I said, the name hitting me hard. "Nice to meet you."

"You too," she said, her smile warm but strong. "We've been hearing a lot about you. We've heard you were the best thing that ever happened to Crescent Moon. Too bad their Alpha couldn't see it."

That kindness caught me off guard, a lump rising in my throat. I was so used to being criticized that it felt weird to be supported.

"Come on," Kane said, his voice gentle, sensing my emotions. "Let's get you settled in, and then we can talk about the future."

He led me up a wide staircase to the second floor, down a hall with windows that showed off the mountains. We stopped at a door halfway down the hall.

"This will be yours, if you decide to stay," he said, opening the door to this big suite that was way better than the room I had at my dad's pack. Big windows, comfortable stuff, a little sitting area, and a sense of peace that felt like it was coming from the walls.

"It's *perfect*," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

"Bathroom's through there, and there's a little kitchenette if you want to eat alone sometimes," Kane said, walking to the windows, his gaze distant as he looked out at the forest. "Ella, I want you to know-you're *safe* here, no matter what. Nathaniel can't reach you in Shadowmere."

Safe. When was the last time I felt that? My eyes burned.

"Thank you," I said, my voice trembling as I joined him at the window. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," he said, turning to me, his voice soft but earnest.

"Why are you *really* doing this?" I asked, my voice cracking. "Don't tell me it's just about stopping Nathaniel's political ambitions. There's something else."

Kane was quiet for a minute, his jaw tight, thinking. "Have you ever watched someone you care about make choices that you *know* will destroy them?"

That hit close to home, a stab of pain in my chest. "Yes," I said, my voice barely audible.

"My brother," Kane said, his voice low and raw, "my older brother, James. He was supposed to be Alpha of Shadowmere, but he got obsessed with power, with being stronger than everyone. He made choices that hurt innocent people, even our own pack."

"What happened to him?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"I had to challenge him. For the pack," Kane said, his voice steady but heavy with pain. "I *killed* him, Ella. I killed my own brother because he couldn't stop himself from becoming a monster."

That confession hung there, raw and honest, stealing my breath.

"I see something like that happening with Nathaniel," Kane went on, his voice fierce now. "He's so focused on getting power that he's forgetting what's important. And someone's going to have to stop him."

"And you think that someone is you," I said, my voice thick with emotion.

"I think that someone might be *us*," he said, turning to face me, his eyes burning with resolve. "But only if you're ready to fight back against the man who threw away the best thing in his life."

I put my hand on my stomach, feeling the little bump that would soon be obvious. Nathaniel had thrown away the best thing in his life, but he'd also thrown away something he didn't even know existed. My heart ached.

Our kid would grow up in this world, surrounded by pack politics and power struggles. I could raise them to be weak, to just accept whatever they were given. Or I could raise them to be strong, to know what they were worth, to never settle for less.

The choice was mine.

"When do we start?" I asked, my voice firm, a spark of determination igniting inside me.

Kane's smile was sharp, his eyes gleaming with approval. "How about *now*?"

As if she'd heard us, Luna appeared in the doorway. "Kane, we have a *problem*," she said, her voice urgent. "A group from Crescent Moon is at the gates. They want to meet."

My blood ran cold, my heart racing. "Nathaniel?" I asked, my voice barely steady.

"No," Luna said, her face grim. "Beta Harrison and two guards. They want us to give back 'stolen pack property.'"

Kane looked at me, and I saw a challenge, a question, and a promise in his eyes, his gaze fierce.

"Well, Ella," he said softly, but with an edge of defiance, "looks like your new life is starting early. Ready to send a message to your ex?"

I thought about the scared woman who'd been sitting in that diner, reading ads and trying not to cry. She was gone. Now there was someone tougher, angrier, someone who had everything to lose and nothing left to fear. My hands clenched.

"Let's go show them what stolen property looks like," I said, my voice hard with resolve.

As we went back downstairs to face them, I felt something I hadn't felt in months: excitement, sharp and electric.

Nathaniel wanted a war?

He was about to get one.