-Ember-
Before I know it, we're heading deep into a wooded area that leads up a small mountain. The moonlight filters through ancient pines, casting ethereal shadows across the winding road. The forest here feels different from Silver Moon—older somehow, more primal. I can feel the power of this territory humming beneath my skin, recognizing me as its Luna even though I've only just arrived.
"It's beautiful," I murmur, pressing my face against the window like a child. "The trees are so tall."
"Some are over five hundred years old," Adrian says, pride evident in his voice. "Dark Pine has been wolf territory for even longer."
Within minutes, we arrive at a gate with four guards standing at attention. They nod respectfully as Adrian drives through, their eyes widening slightly when they catch sight of me.
"Word travels fast," I observe.
"Faster than light in Dark Pine," Jamison chimes in from the back seat. "Everyone's been dying to meet you."
After another ten minutes of driving through dense forest, we come into a clearing that takes my breath away. A massive mountain lodge rises before us—all stone and timber and glass, illuminated by strategic lighting that makes it look like something out of a fairy tale. It's not just a pack house; it's a fortress, a palace, a statement of power and wealth that makes Silver Moon's modest buildings look like garden sheds in comparison.
"Holy shit," I breathe, unable to tear my eyes away from the structure. "You live here?"
"We live here," Adrian corrects gently, bringing my hand to his lips and pressing a gentle kiss to my knuckles. "Welcome home, little wolf."
The simple gesture, combined with the overwhelming sight before me, brings unexpected tears to my eyes.
"Are you okay?" Adrian asks, concern etched across his features.
I nod, not trusting my voice. How do I explain that I've gone from being a nobody in a small pack to the Luna of... this? That the orphaned daughter of a pack outcast is now expected to help lead one of the most powerful packs in the country?
We pull up in front of the building where several people are standing in a line, waiting for us. I hop out of the SUV and take a moment to absorb my surroundings. Everything screams money—from the meticulously landscaped grounds to the luxury vehicles parked nearby. I figured Adrian was wealthy based on the private jet, but this... this is beyond anything I could have imagined.
Adrian comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my head. The solid warmth of him grounds me, makes this surreal moment feel more real.
"Let's go get some sleep," he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear. "You can wear one of my shirts to bed, and I'll have the omegas bring your luggage up in the morning."
The thought of wearing his clothes, surrounding myself with his scent, sends a shiver of anticipation through me.
"Yes," Ivy agrees enthusiastically. "Let's cover ourselves with his scent. Let everyone know we belong to him."
"Okay," I agree, suddenly aware of how exhausted I am. "Where is Oaklynn staying?"
"I had the omegas get ready one of the guest rooms in our wing," Adrian says, his thoughtfulness making my heart swell. "So she will be close to you."
I turn my head to look back at him, unable to keep the smile from spreading across my face. "Thank you. That was really thoughtful."
"I want you to be happy here," he says simply, as if it's the most natural thing in the world to consider my feelings. After Tanner, the contrast is stark and beautiful.
As Adrian guides me through the pack house, I'm too tired to fully appreciate the luxury surrounding us—the soaring ceilings, the artwork, the obvious displays of wealth and power. All I can think about is finally spending some time with Adrian, just the two of us. My body hums with anticipation, nerves and desire creating a potent cocktail in my veins.
"Finally," Ivy sighs. "Finally we get him all to ourselves."
He shows Oaklynn to her room—a beautiful suite that makes her eyes widen in appreciation—before leading me to a door at the other end of the hallway. My heart pounds harder with each step, knowing that behind this door is Adrian's private space—our private space now.
"Ready?" he asks, his hand on the doorknob.
I nod, suddenly shy. "Ready."
When he opens it, my jaw drops. Not because of the size of the room, or the stunning mountain view visible through floor-to-ceiling windows. No, my jaw drops at what—or rather who—is in Adrian's bed.
A bleach-blonde she-wolf with obvious lip filler is laying spread-eagle in nothing but crotchless panties and a bralette with a cut-out displaying her naked breasts. She's arranged herself like a gift, her expression one of practiced seduction as she looks at Adrian with hungry eyes.
"Welcome home, Alpha," she purrs, running her hands down her body suggestively. "I've been waiting for you." She pouts her artificially plumped lips. "It's been so long since I've felt you. I've been aching for you."
"KILL HER," Ivy roars, fury exploding through every cell in my body. "TEAR HER THROAT OUT! RIP HER LIMB FROM LIMB! BATHE IN HER BLOOD!"
"What the ACTUAL FUCK!" I shriek, my voice cracking with the force of my rage and hurt. My claws extend involuntarily, my fangs dropping as Ivy pushes dangerously close to the surface.
The she-wolf's eyes widen in surprise, darting between Adrian and me with growing alarm. "Who the hell is she?" she demands, sitting up but not bothering to cover herself. Her eyes scan me from head to toe, dismissive and territorial. "You didn't tell me you were bringing home a stray. Or is she a present for us both?" Her lips curl into a cruel smile. "You know I don't like sharing you, Adrian. Not even with your little playthings."
"A stray?" I snarl, lunging forward before Adrian can stop me. "I'm his MATE, you plastic-faced bitch!"
Adrian's arm wraps around my waist, holding me back. "Ember, please—"
"Oh please what? I'm interrupting your little welcome home party?" I twist out of his grip, tears burning my eyes. "Goddess, I'm such an idiot! I trusted you! I thought you were different! All men are the same. I should have known better!"
The she-wolf laughs, the sound cold and mocking.
"Jasmine," Adrian growls, his voice so low and dangerous it makes the air vibrate. "Get. Out. Now."
Jasmine blinks, confusion replacing her smugness. "What? But baby, I—"
"I said GET OUT!" Adrian roars, his Alpha command filling the room with such force that even I feel its weight. "GET OUT OF MY ROOM!"
Jasmine stumbles back like she's been physically struck. "You can't be serious." She looks at me with so much disgust.
"Your such a manipulative, delusional bitch," Adrian snarls, his eyes burning gold, his control slipping. "If you don't get the fuck out, I'll drag you out by your hair."
Jasmine's face contorts with rage and humiliation. She grabs a robe from the end of the bed and wraps it around herself, her movements jerky with fury. "This isn't over, Adrian. You think you can just throw me away? After everything I've done for you? After how patient I've been waiting for you to let me in?" She laughs, the sound bitter and sharp. "Your precious little mate won't last a week here. She's nothing. NOTHING! She'll never be what I could be to you."
"You're right about that," Adrian says coldly. "She's everything you'll never be."
"I gave everything to you!" Jasmine shrieks, her composure completely shattering. "I rejected my own mate for you! My FATED MATE! And this is how you repay me? By throwing me aside for some nobody from a nothing pack?"
Adrian's eyes narrow dangerously. "You did WHAT?"
Jasmine's eyes widen, her hand flying to her mouth like she's said too much. "I—I didn't mean—"
"Get out," Adrian says, his voice deadly quiet now. "Before I forget my rule about not harming women."
Jasmine's face twists with hatred as she storms past us.
I stand frozen, my emotions a hurricane inside me. Relief that Adrian looked genuinely shocked battles with the humiliation of walking in on such a scene, the lingering doubt about what kind of relationship they had, and the fear that maybe, just maybe, Adrian will eventually getting bored of me and go be with her.
"She's wrong," Ivy insists, but her confidence is shaken. "He's our true mate. He wouldn't..."
"Ember," Adrian says, his voice gentle as he reaches for me. "Please, let me explain—"
I step back, shaking my head. "Don't touch me. Not right now." My voice trembles with the effort to hold back tears. "I need... I need a minute. I need to think."
"She's nothing to me," Adrian insists, his eyes pleading. "She's delusional—she's been trying to get me back for months. We have never shared my bed. Never. I've never wanted anyone in my bed except my mate." His eyes soften as they meet mine. "Except you."
"Then why was she here?" I counter, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. "How did she even get in?"
Adrian runs a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. "She must have convinced one of the staff to let her in. She's been doing this for months—showing up uninvited, trying to force her way into my life, my room." His eyes burn with intensity. "But I swear to you, Ember, she has never been in my bed before tonight. I've maintained that boundary. Always."
"And what about other women? How many others are going to pop up and call me a stray?" The questions pour out of me, all my insecurities rising to the surface.
"None," he says firmly. "I'm having security completely overhauled tomorrow. And I'm having this entire room gutted and redone. New bed, new everything." He takes a step toward me, his eyes intense. "And as for other women, yes, there have been others in my life. I'm not going to pretend I've been a saint. But none of them have ever been in this bed. That was a line I wouldn't cross with anyone but my mate."
I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly feeling very small and very tired. "I don't know if I can do this, Adrian. I left everything behind today. My home, my friends, my whole life. And I walk in to find another woman in your bed? On my first night here? What kind of omen is that?"
Adrian steps forward cautiously, like he's approaching a wounded animal. "It's not an omen. It's a test. Our first test as mates. And we're going to get through it together." The conviction in his voice almost makes me believe him. Almost.
"I need some space," I whisper, backing toward the door. "I need to think."
"Please," Adrian says, his voice breaking slightly. "Please don't go. I just found you."
The raw emotion in his voice nearly undoes me. But I need time to process, to sort through the chaos in my mind and heart.
"I'm not leaving the pack," I assure him, my hand on the doorknob. "I'm just going to stay with Oaklynn tonight. I need... time."
Adrian's shoulders slump in defeat. "Okay. If that's what you need."
As I walk out, leaving Adrian standing alone in his—our—room, I can't help but wonder if I've made a terrible mistake. Not just tonight, but in coming here at all.
"He's our mate," Ivy reminds me gently. "Our true mate. One bump in the road doesn't change that."
But as I make my way to Oaklynn's room, fighting back tears with every step, I can't help but think that some roads are too bumpy to travel, no matter how beautiful the destination might be.
Welcome to Dark Pine, indeed.