Evelyn had been the Luna of the Red Stone Pack for the past two years. An arranged marriage of power to protect her father’s pack, she didn’t for one moment expect to develop feelings for the cold Alpha King. But in the two years ruling by his side, she sees a warmth to Reuben that he keeps hidden. After a night of passion that Reuben makes clear to Evelyn was a mistake, she finds out she is pregnant with the longed future for the ruling pack.
However Evelyn’s happiness at the news is short lived when the love of Reuben’s life returns only just surviving the murder of her own pack. Evelyn soon realises that Vicky isn’t as innocent as she makes out and doesn’t take long for her to get her claws into Reuben. After confronting his ex, Evelyn is a victim of a deliberate attempt to harm her child. She must make a decision to protect the pack’s future from Vicky and the baby’s own father. But will the cold ruthless Alpha King refuse to let her go so easily? Will he be responsible for the brutal attack on her family pack, leaving Evelyn’s soul broken? Has Evelyn finally seen Reuben for what he is, beyond salvation…
Chapter One
Evelyn POV
I am married but not mated.
I am the wife of the Alpha King of the Red Stone Pack. His wife, but not the pack’s Luna. But that is only a consideration in technicality.
The pack members for the past two years have supported me as the Alpha’s wife and never once made me feel any less of their Luna.
The Red Stone Pack is the ruling pack of many, as our warriors remain undefeated in battle. We offer a strong alliance to smaller packs that in time of crisis can call upon the Alpha King and his warriors to help protect and secure their lands.
“Luna…be careful. Let me do that.” Candice, one of the alpha mansion’s staff members offers to me.
As the acting Luna, I was responsible for the planning and organising of the yearly group pack Moon Conference. We had just completed this year’s event and being the morning after, I was helping with the tidying up. The staff told me not to bother, that I had done all the hard work…but I like to help where I can.
Every year the pack would invite the leading families of the incorporated packs to maintain a good rapport amongst the alliance. Being early summer, I organised the gathering outside this year. The weather held and luckily the last-minute forecast of rain didn’t reach us.
I was currently standing on top of a ladder pulling down some of the thousands of fairy lights and the remaining pack banners. The banners were my new project, I had newly created them for this year’s celebration. They were designed with the symbol of a crown with a wolf howling into the red blood moon, the Red Stone Pack’s symbol.
“I’m fine Candice. You could help by packing some of that food up? Maybe the night watch would like some food this morning as they missed out last night?” I suggest.
“Yes Luna, I’m sure they would. You are very kind to think of them.” Candice agrees before calling another pack member over.
“Just part of being the Luna.” I softly smile, I wasn’t used to compliments here and still wasn’t sure how to take them.
“Michelle, can you help Luna with the lights?” Candice asks Michelle as she heads off to pack up the remaining food.
“Of course. Luna let me do that, before the Alpha has our heads!” Michelle quips.
I want to say something witty, but it could come across as an insult to the Alpha and our marriage. I had no delusions that the Alpha felt anything romantic towards me. He didn’t even like being in my company. We may be married but we certainly didn’t share a marital bed.
In fact, he never touched me, never came close enough for our wolves to bond. Yet I still longed that he would grow to love me, I think that is why I am still here.
Michelle climbs another ladder and starts to help me take down the outdoor fairy lights that were wrapped around a large tree. One of many, at this rate we would be here all morning removing these lights.
“It was a great gathering Luna, you did incredibly well to organise all of this. I don’t think the gatherings were anything like this before, it’s nice to finally have a Luna again!” Michelle smiles at me.
I could smell his scent before he appeared into view. His rich intoxicating sweet leather scent always made my legs tremble and for the first year of our marriage I had to control my wolf every time I was in his presence. He made it very clear that it was a marriage arrangement only to strengthen the packs. He may hold no romantic emotions for me, but I found his presence intense and magnificent.
Growing up I had always fancied my now husband, Reuben. Most girls had a crush on him. Even as a young male he was strong, Alpha built, and had long dark blonde hair that he kept tied back. He was gifted by the moon goddess with bright blue eyes that always reminded me of my favourite lake near my home pack. His maturing years did not disappoint and many of the pack member’s females struggled to form a sentence in his presence.
Reuben had become Alpha King after our marriage with his father resigning and leaving the overall protection and running of the pack to the two of us. In fact, I hadn’t seen his father since he left, their relationship was clearly strained. Not supportive or a secure outlet of unconditional love like the relationship with my parents.
With Reuben’s increasing approach the atmosphere became thick and heavy. I reached higher to unwrap a tangled fairy light to look busy, rather than watch his sexy walk with my drooling mouth.
His tight light grey t-shirt could hardly contain his muscles and the fabric looked like it would split at any moment under the strain. His arms were covered in tattoos, and I had only ever once glimpsed at his ink on his back. Large angel wings spanning both shoulder blades with a small name written underneath that I couldn’t quite see at the time. He was also wearing loose black jeans, his signature look for when on pack lands to be able to shift at any moment.
With my wolf whimpering in my mind at his presence and my legs feeling weak, I somehow lose my footing on the ladder and start to fall. He is there in a flash, catching me, holding me in a tight grip around my waist. Our eyes meet just for second as I feel his warm breath on my neck, where I should hold his chosen mate mark. His eyes flash from the light blue waters to a dark deep thundery sea blue, a signal that his wolf had come forward.
