CHAPTER ONE: THREE YEARS LATER

[RYKER]

The scent hit him like a physicalblow—jasmine and wild honey and her, unmistakable even after three years of searching, three years of following dead ends and false trails, three years of his wolf slowly going feral without its mate.

Kira.

Ryker stood at the edge of the clearing, his entire body rigid with barely controlled need, staring at the small cabin nestled among the pines. Smoke curled from the chimney. A child's toy—a stuffed wolf—sat abandoned on the porch steps.

A child.

His heart stopped. Then started again, hammering so hard he thought his ribs might crack.

She'd been pregnant. When she'd severed their bond and vanished, she'd been carrying his child. And she'd hidden them both from him for three fucking years.

"Alpha." Damon's voice was careful behind him."Maybe we should—"

"Go back to the pack." Ryker's voice came out rough."This is between me and my mate."

"She's not your mate anymore." Damon stepped closer."She broke the bond. Survived it. She doesn't want to be found."

"She's still mine." The words were growl."Bond broken or not. She's carrying my mark. Raising my child. She'smine."

"That's not how it works—"

"LEAVE." Alpha command rolled out, undeniable. Damon's wolf submitted immediately, his beta retreating through the trees without another word.

Ryker waited until he was alone. Then he approached the cabin slowly, every instinct screaming at him to burst through the door, to claim what was his, to finally—finally—end three years of agonizing separation.

But he'd learned. Learned what forcing things cost. Learned what lies destroyed.

He'd take this slow. Prove himself. Earn her back.

He was ten feet from the porch when the door slammed open and she appeared, a shotgun leveled at his chest.

Kira.

She was even more beautiful than he remembered. Three years had refined her—made her leaner, harder, turned soft curves into lean muscle. Her chestnut hair was pulled back in a practical braid. Her hazel eyes were cold and flat and absolutely furious.

And on her shoulder, visible beneath her tank top, his mate mark was a silvery scar instead of the beautiful claiming bite it should have been.

Evidence of the bond he'd forced. The bond she'd broken. The damage he'd caused.

"Turn around." Her voice was steady despite the shotgun shaking slightly."Walk away. Don't come back."

"Kira—"

"That's not my name anymore." She adjusted her grip."Not to you. You lost the right to call me that when you built our entire relationship on lies."

The words hit like claws. But he'd expected anger. Expected hatred. Had spent three years preparing for this moment.

"I know." He stayed completely still, non-threatening."I know I fucked up. Know I destroyed everything. But please—just let me explain—"

"Explain what?" Bitterness edged her voice."Explain how you knew Lyra was your true fated mate and chose me instead? How you forced a mate bond to avoid political complications? How you lied to me every single day for six months?"

"Yes." Simple honesty."All of that. Let me explain all of it. Let me—"

"No." She moved the shotgun slightly."You don't get to explain. You don't get to make excuses. You don't get anything from me. Now leave before I shoot you."

"You won't shoot me." He took a careful step forward."Your wolf won't let you. Even with the bond broken, she still recognizes me as—"

Pain exploded through his chest. He looked down in shock at the spreading red stain, then back up at Kira's cold expression.

"Silver buckshot." Her voice was flat."Won't kill you. But it'll hurt like hell and take hours to heal. Want to test whether I'll shoot you again?"

He raised his hands slowly, blood seeping between his fingers."Message received. But Kira—I'm not leaving. Not this time. I'll camp out here. I'll wait. I'll prove I'm serious. But I'm not walking away from you again."

"You didn't walk away the first time." She lowered the shotgun fractionally."I ran. I severed our bond. I survived something that should have killed me. I built a life without you. You don't get to just show up and demand I give you another chance."

"I know." He pressed his hand harder against the wound."I know I don't deserve it. Know I destroyed any right to your forgiveness. But I have to try. Have to—" He stopped himself from saying what he was thinking.

Have to know my child. Have to fix what I broke. Have to make you understand I love you for real now.

"You have to what?" She demanded."Have to claim