Maeve's POV
I crashed into a bush as I ran through the dark forest, my heart beating madly. Behind me, I heard twigs snapping and leaves moving. Someone was following me.
"Who's there?" I called out, trying to sound brave even though I was shaking.
Silence answered me. Then a low chuckle came from the dark.
"Jumpy tonight, little omega?"
Raiden stepped into the moonlight, his silver eyes sparkling. Relief flooded through me.
"You scared me!" I said, hitting his arm without thought. I froze, realizing what I'd done. Nobody hit the Alpha.
But Raiden just laughed. "You're the only one brave enough to do that," he said, catching my hand and pulling me close.
Three weeks had passed since that night in his rooms. Three weeks of secret talks in the forest, away from prying eyes. Three weeks of falling deeper for a man I shouldn't want.
"We need to be more careful," I whispered as he put his arms around me. "Tina saw me leaving the pack house last night. She's getting suspicious."
"Let her be suspicious," Raiden said, kissing the top of my head. "I don't care what anyone thinks."
But I cared. The rumors had already started. What was the Alpha doing with the omega healer? Was I his new plaything? When would he toss me aside like all the others?
"What about Ariana?" I asked, pulling back to look at his face. "Your future Luna?"
His jaw tightened. "The Northern pack comes tomorrow to discuss the alliance. Ariana comes with them."
"And then what happens?" My voice shook slightly.
"Then I do what I must for the pack," he said, his voice hard. "But not tonight." His expression softened as he looked at me. "Tonight is ours."
He led me deeper into the forest, to our special place by the small stream. Here, we could pretend the outside world didn't exist. No pack rules, no Alpha responsibilities, no future Luna.
Just us.
"I brought you something," Raiden said, pulling a small package from his pocket.
I unwrapped it carefully. Inside was a beautiful silver band with tiny wolf charms.
"Raiden, it's beautiful," I whispered, running my finger over the tiny wolves.
"Not as beautiful as you." He fastened it around my wrist. "I had it made specially."
"But I can't wear this in public," I said sadly. "People will ask questions."
"Soon you won't have to hide it," he promised. "Soon everyone will know what you mean to me."
I wanted so badly to believe him. But the rumors about his character haunted me. One night, then nothing. That's what they said. Yet here we were, meeting for the twenty-third night in a row. I'd been counting.
"You know what they call you?" I asked softly. "The Heartbreaker."
His eyes darkened. "I know."
"Is it true? All those women..."
"Yes," he admitted. "But none of them were you."
He kissed me then, deep and intense, making my head spin. When we broke apart, I was breathless.
"Why am I different?" I asked the question that had been burning inside me for weeks.
"Because you see me," he said simply. "Not the Alpha, not the power. Just me."
My heart swelled. Could it be true? Was I really special to him?
"I need to show you something," Raiden said suddenly, taking my hand. "Something I've never shown anyone else."
He led me to a part of the forest I'd never been to before. We walked for nearly an hour, going deeper and deeper until we hit a small clearing. In the middle stood an old cabin.
"What is this place?" I asked as we approached.
"My sanctuary," he answered, unlocking the door. "Where I come when I need to escape."
The inside was simple but cozy. A bed, a table, some books. Nothing fancy.
"No one knows about this place," Raiden said. "Not my soldiers, not the elders. No one."
"Except me," I said softly.
He cupped my face in his hands. "Except you."
That night, we talked for hours. Raiden told me about the pressure of being Alpha, about his fears for the pack's future. I told him about growing up as an omega, always feeling like I wasn't good enough.
"Your healing gift is remarkable," he said. "You could be so much more than they've allowed you to be."
"What do you mean?"
"In the old days, healers were respected. They stood beside the Alpha as equals." His eyes gleamed with excitement. "I want to bring those traditions back."
"Is that why you want me in your inner circle?" I asked.
"Partly," he admitted. "But mostly because I can't bear to be away from you."
My heart skipped a beat. No one had ever made me feel so wanted, so important.
As the night grew late, Raiden pulled me close on the small bed.
"Stay with me tonight," he whispered.
"People will notice if I'm gone until morning," I said.
"Let them notice." He kissed my neck, sending shivers down my spine. "I'm tired of hiding how I feel about you."
"And how do you feel?" I asked, hardly daring to hope.
"I'm breaking all my rules for you, Maeve," he said softly. "What do you think that means?"
I didn't answer. I was too scared to name what was growing between us. Love was a dangerous word, especially with an Alpha who had never loved before.
But as we lay together in the darkness, I let myself believe it might be true.
The next morning, I snuck back to my small house on the edge of the pack grounds. Evelyn was waiting for me, worry written on her face.
"Where have you been?" she asked. "I covered for you, but people are talking, Maeve."
"I was with Raiden," I admitted, unable to keep the smile from my face.
Evelyn's eyes widened. "Again? Maeve, that's the third time this week!"
"Twenty-third time in three weeks, actually," I corrected her.
"That's... not possible," she said slowly. "Alpha Raiden never sees the same woman twice."
"Well, he's seeing me." I showed her the band. "And he said soon everyone will know about us."
Evelyn grabbed my hands. "Maeve, be careful. The Northern pack comes today. Ariana arrives today."
"I know," I sighed. "But Raiden said—" A loud knock at the door cut me off. We both froze.
"Omega Maeve," a rough voice called. One of Raiden's guards. "Alpha requests your presence at the pack house immediately."
My heart leapt. Was this it? Was Raiden going to announce our relationship?
I rushed to the pack house, fixing my hair as I went. The main hall was filled with people, including strangers who must be from the Northern pack.
Raiden stood at the front of the room. When our eyes met, he gave me a small smile that made my heart race.
"Thank you all for coming," he addressed the crowd. "Today marks an important moment for our pack. The partnership with the Northern pack will make us stronger than ever."
The tall man I'd seen that night at the ceremony stepped forward. "We are honored by your acceptance, Alpha Raiden."
"To seal our alliance," Raiden continued, "I will mate with Ariana of the Northern pack, as tradition demands."
The room erupted in cheers, but I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Mate? Not just Luna, but mate?
A beautiful woman with golden blonde hair stepped forward, taking Raiden's arm. She smiled up at him with clear love.
"The mating ceremony will take place at the next full moon," Raiden declared.
My view blurred with tears. I turned to run, but before I could move, Raiden's voice stopped me.
"Omega Maeve," he called out.
The room fell silent as everyone turned to look at me.
"Come forward," Raiden demanded.
On shaking legs, I approached him and Ariana. Up close, she was even more beautiful, her blue eyes cold as ice as they studied me.
"This is our pack's healer," Raiden told her. "The one I told you about."
Ariana's beautiful smile didn't reach her eyes. "Ah, yes. The special omega."
Raiden held my gaze, his silver eyes begging. "Maeve will be looking to you during your stay with us. And after we are mated, she will join our inner group as our personal healer."
Personal healer? Was that all I was to him?
"How... wonderful," Ariana said, her voice sweet as honey but her grip on Raiden's arm stiffening. "I look forward to getting to know you better, little omega."
As I stood there, feeling my heart break into a million pieces, Ariana leaned close to my ear and whispered words only I could hear: "I know what you've been doing
with my mate. And trust me, little doctor, this is a wound you won't be able to fix."