The Alpha's Hidden Mate

For three years, I hid my scent from the Alpha who let my family be slaughtered, until he showed up at my door, bleeding and claiming I was his mate. I changed my name to Lila. I worked double shifts at a diner. I buried my wolf so deep I thought she was dead. But tonight, Kieran, the Alpha of Shadow Moon, stood in my alley. “You’re my mate, Lila. And I’m not walking away without you.” I laughed bitterly. “You think I’d follow an alpha? After your pack let my family die?” Before he could answer, a giant black rogue wolf smashed through my door, jaws snapping for my throat. Kieran didn’t hesitate. He shifted mid-air, taking a brutal slash to his flank that sprayed hot blood across my face. They rolled on the floor, claws tearing flesh, bones snapping. Seeing him bleed for me broke the lock on my soul. My wolf tore free. Bones cracked, skin burned, and I shifted for the first time in years, sinking my teeth into the rogue’s arm. We killed them, but Kieran was dying, his chest heaving, his human form naked and shredded on my floor. I crawled to him, my own naked body trembling. “You are bleeding,” I whispered, hating how much my chest ached for him. “So are you,” he rasped, his bloody fingers gently touching my ribs. We thought the fight was over. But then the pack Enforcers arrived, swords drawn, demanding the Alpha hand me over to be executed.