Chapter 2 Blood On The Doorstep

The howl stopped fast. Then everything was quiet again. Only rain dripping from the roof and my own heart beating loud in my ears.

I stayed sitting against the door. Knees up. Arms around them. Waiting. Listening for claws. For wood breaking. For screams from the street.

Nothing came.

My phone buzzed on the floor. Screen cracked worse now. Mara's name again.

I picked it up. Hands still wet from tears. "Mara?"

"Lila? You sound bad. What's happening? People are scared. I heard howls. Real howls. Are you okay?"

"Stay inside." My voice cracked. "Lock doors. Windows. Everything."

"You're scaring me. Tell me what's going on."

I could not. Not yet. "Just stay inside. Please."

I hung up. Dropped the phone. Could not answer questions when my head was full of noise.

Kieran's words kept coming back: You are my mate. I am not leaving without you.

Every time I thought about it, the hurt got worse. Mates were supposed to protect. Mine if he really was had let my family die. Let me run. Let me hide for three years like a ghost.

I dragged myself up. Legs shaky. Walked to the bathroom. Looked in the mirror. Face red. Eyes swollen. But my eyes looked different. Pupils big. Tiny gold bits in the brown.

My wolf.

She was waking up.

I held the sink tight. "Not now," I said to my reflection. "Not like this."

But the pull was stronger. Like a hook in my chest pulling me toward the alley. Toward him.

If I stayed locked in here, playing human forever, those rogues outside might not stop at the borders. They could come into town. Mara. The old lady downstairs. The kids who come to the diner. All dead because I was too scared.

If I went to Kieran... pack rules. Everyone watching. The things Mom used to say at night: "Some mates are hidden for a reason, baby. The bond can save. Or it can burn everything."

My chest hurt. Hard to breathe.

Then banging downstairs. Heavy fists on the front door of the building.

I froze.

"Lila!" Kieran's voice. Loud. Worried. "Open up. They are coming."

My heart jumped.

I ran down the stairs. Fumbled the locks. Pulled the door open.

Kieran pushed inside fast. Eyes wild. Jacket wet with rain. Blood on his sleeve not his. Rogue blood.

"Three of them," he said. Closed the door. "Coming straight here. They smell you."

Me. Not the town. Me.

"Why?" I asked sharply.

He looked at me like it was obvious. "Because you are mine. Rogues take what they want."

The word "mine" hit hard. Strong. Protective. Part of me hated it. Part of me did not.

I stepped back. "Do not say that. You do not get to claim me after three years of nothing."

His jaw got tight. "I did not know you were alive."

"Lies."

"I looked." His voice broke a little. "Every border. Every pack message. The bond went quiet. I thought you were dead."

Pain showed on his face. Real pain. Like he carried it for years.

I wanted to believe him. So much it hurt.

But trust died with Mom and Toby.

Another howl right outside now. Close. Angry.

Kieran moved ready to fight. Body tight.

"Stay behind me," he said.

I laughed short and angry. "I do not need a guard."

But inside, my wolf answered the howl. Wanting to fight. Wanting to stand with him.

The door shook hard. Claws scraped down the wood. Slow. Mean.

Kieran's eyes met mine. "Argue later. Live now."

I nodded. Just once.

The door broke open. Wood pieces flew.

A big black wolf jumped through. Eyes red. Mouth open. Straight for my throat.

Kieran pushed me hard to the side. I hit the wall. Air left my lungs.

The wolf's claws cut Kieran's side as he turned to fight. Blood sprayed on the floor.

Kieran did not make a sound. He changed fast grey wolf, big, strong. Hit the rogue hard.

They rolled. Growling. Claws and teeth.

But as they fought, I felt it.

My wolf is pushing. Bones hurting. Skin hot.

She was coming. No asking.

I dropped to my hands and knees. Pain is sharp and white. Fur came fast. Brown. I landed on four paws. Bigger than before. Strong.

The black wolf threw Kieran back. He hit the counter hard. Blood pooled under him.

The rogue turned to me. Lips back in a grin. He changed to human. Tall. Scarred. Eyes crazy.

"You are the one," he said. "The hidden one. Alpha will love breaking you."

He stepped over Kieran like nothing. Reached for me.

Something broke inside me.

I jumped.

Teeth in his arm. He yelled. Swung. Fist hit my ribs. Pain hot. I let go. Stumbled back.

Kieran moved slowly. Pushed up on one arm. Blood dripping. "Do not touch her."

The rogue laughed. "Too late, Blackwood. She comes with me."

He grabbed my neck fur. Pulled hard. I twisted. Clawed his face. Nails deep. He dropped me.

I landed badly. Changed back to human. Naked. Shaking. Ribs hurting.

Kieran crawled to me. Hand out. Fingers shaking. "Lila…"

I looked at him. Blood everywhere. Face white. Eyes full of pain. But still reaching.

My throat closed. Tears came hot. I did not know why. I hated him. Hated the bond. Hated that seeing him hurt made my chest cave in.

I crawled the last step. Fell against him. Forehead on his shoulder. His arm came around me weak, but there.

"You are bleeding," I said. Stupid. Obvious. Voice broke.

"So are you." His fingers touched my ribs. Soft. Careful. Like I might break.

The touch sent sparks through the pain. Warm. Steady. I hated how much I needed it.

The rogue changed back to wolf. Jumped.

Kieran pushed me behind him. Tried to stand. Legs gave out.

I stood in front. Naked. Shaking. But standing.

"No," I said. Voice low. "Not him."

The rogue stopped. Head tilted. Like he thought it was funny.

Then footsteps outside. Fast. Many.

Two wolves came through the broken door. Pack smells. Not rogue. They hit the black wolf hard. Growls. Claws. Quick end.

One changed back. Tall. Blond. "Alpha."

Kieran breathed out. "Ronan."

The other changed too. Woman. Sharp eyes. "We got the others outside. But more are coming."

Ronan looked at me. Then Kieran was holding me. Eyes got a little bigger.

"The mate," he said quietly.

Kieran nodded once. Weak.

I felt Ronan's eyes on me. Not mean. Curious. Careful.

The woman spoke. "We need to move them. Now. The smell is everywhere."

Kieran tried to stand. Winced. Hand on his side. Blood came through fingers.

I went under his arm. Held him up. His head rested on mine for a second. Breath warm in my hair.

"Thank you," he whispered. Only I heard.

I did not answer. Could not. Because my heart beat too hard. Tears burned again. I did not know if they were for him, for me, or for the family I lost when I thought I would never feel anything again.

But as we went out into the rain Kieran leaning on me, Ronan and the woman guarding us the bond pulled tighter.

And for the first time in three years, I did not push it away.

As we reached the trees, a woman stepped out. Old. Silver hair. Eyes glowing a little. Selena. Pack elder. She looked straight at me. "The hidden mate has woken. But the curse felt it too. If the bond is not sealed by the next full moon… both of you die. And the pack with you."

Kieran's hand got tight on my shoulder.