twisted painfully at her back. “Because he has a mate, and it’s not you.”
Rafe glanced at the four males at the table. They were talking among themselves, looking as if they weren’t concerned. Maybe they weren’t. At least not for Luna.
“He only thinks you’re his mate because you used your Alpha power over him and claimed him without his consent.” Elise curled her lip and tried to jerk out of Luna’s hold.
Luna laughed; the sound gave Rafe chills.
Hayden spoke without looking at the females. “Elise, I’d advise you to shut the fuck up.”
The Baker twins watched from the couch where they sat next to their aunt, Christa. Kasen and his Enforcers had gone outside, sending the message to Elise she wouldn’t have their support. Rafe knew they didn’t leave because he scented them close to the cabin.
Luna let out a growl, and after a few moments, she backed off Elise and pushed her toward the door. “Get out of here and stay the fuck away from my mate.”
Elise stumbled to the door before she steadied herself. Grabbing for the handle, she looked back at Rafe, who immediately averted his gaze, making his message clear that he would not give her any support.
When Elise opened the door, she jerked to a stop as Kasen filled the doorway. He smirked at her, then nodded to Luna. “Tate, Chance, and I are heading back to Willow Glen. We’ll give Elise a ride back.”
Rafe took Luna’s hand and drew her into him. “Thanks.”
Luna hugged his waist and pressed her forehead to his chest, then released a heavy sigh. Her wolf was pacing under her skin, and she vibrated with anger. Cupping the back of her head, he kissed the top of the head and held her.
After he heard Kasen’s Audi drive off, Rafe said, “Let’s go for a run.”
They never went on their run the night before because Nyla brought food, and then Rafe and Luna got distracted by marking each other.
Luna lifted her head to meet his stare and gave him a weak smile. Her green eyes glowed, indicating her wolf was riding her harder than usual. “I’ll need to hunt. My wolf wants to kill something.”
“That can be arranged.” He kissed her softly on the lips, not letting it linger. Her wolf was too moody at the moment. He had to wait for the beast to calm down.
Stepping out of Rafe’s embrace, Luna turned to the others in the room. “We’re going for a run.”
Hayden, Tanner, Alec, Kirk, Rhea, and the twins jumped up, ready to go. Their eagerness told him how much they missed running with their Alpha. After all, Luna has been away from the Pack for a couple of months.
Nyla, who’d been curled up in an armchair, stood and stretched. “I’m making dinner.”
Christa stood and moved to the kitchen. “I’ll help.”
Nyla smiled. “Great.” Then she waved at the group. “Have a good run.”
In wolf form, Luna stretched out on the cold grass under the crescent moon. Her belly was full from the deer she and Rafe shared. True to his word, he never once tried to be Alpha with her. Even his wolf seemed more than okay with being her beta male. Not to mention that he instantly confronted Elise when they returned from the mine to tell her to back off. The crazy bitch had a delusional mindset when it came to Rafe.
Lucky for Elise, she left when Luna told her to. If she had challenged Luna, she would have died.
Rafe’s wolf butted his head against hers, then nipped at her ear. He was a beautiful black wolf. The tops of ears were lighter than the rest of him—a charcoal grey with little strands of silver mixed in. Royce had the same coloring on his tail. When they were kids, it was the only way to tell the twins apart when they were in wolf form.
An ache formed in her chest at the memory. She hadn’t let herself think of the good times. From when they were kids and before Royce turned rogue.
Rafe shifted to his human form and sank his fingers into her copper fur. “What are you thinking that makes you sad?”
Figures, he would sense her mood. The mating bond was starting to form. It wouldn’t be complete until she fully accepted it. She wanted to make sure Faelin was dealt with before she began making a future for herself.
Shifting to her human form, she rolled to her back and scanned his features. “Sometimes, on rare