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I lift my foot and back up, glancing over my shoulder to check on Cleo. Her little face is streaked with tears, but she is unharmed.

The warm feeling of relief crashes over me.

Sylvie struggles to her feet, swaying unsteadily. There’s a real fear in her eyes now as she looks at me.

I straighten up.

“You will never threaten my pack or my family again." My voice rings with authority. For the first time, I really understand the power of the position of I’m in. I can’t command a room like the Alpha can, but as the Luna, I have my own strength.

“Leave,” I order, dismissing her.

She takes another step back. For a moment, it seems she might keep fighting, her pride clearly warring with her fear. But finally, she lowers her head again and then turns, running out the door.

I let out a breath. It’s over. At least this part is.

All around us, a mournful howl sings through the trees, causing Cleo, Gage, and I to huddle together. My ears prick as I try to make sense of it. But soon, another more familiar howl joins them. One of power and victory.

Austin.

A massive gray wolf bursts through the bushes, causing Cleo to cling to me in alarm. I just release a sigh of relief.

Malakai shifts back to his human form and greets us both with a smile.

“Little princess! It’s so good to see you again,” he says, giving Cleo a warm smile.

She smiles back, and I walk over to give Malakai a half hug.

“We’re done here. Let’s go find your Daddy, kiddo,” he continues. “And go home.”

“Daddy is waiting for us,” Cleo says happily.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Austin

Cleo's breaths are steady and quiet, occasionally punctuated by a gentle snore as she peacefully slumbers. She looks so peaceful like this, sleeping in her pink bed, all wrapped up in her blanket covered in butterflies.

Yelena slips her hand into mine, squeezing it. I turn to her, my heart in my throat.

“I want to put a tracking device on her so we never lose her again!” I whisper, only half-joking. Yelena laughs softly and wraps her arms around my waist.

“We won’t be able to keep her locked up forever, but for now? I’m grateful we can keep her safe,” she whispers.

We stand in the doorway together, watching Cleo sleep for a few more minutes. When Yelena yawns, I drop a kiss on her forehead and pull her out of the room, shutting the door behind me carefully.

“Come on, sleepyhead, we have one more to check on, and then it’s time for bed.”

She grins sleepily up at me, and we make our way to the adjoining room. I crack the door open and peek in.

A lump in the middle of the bed is all that is visible, at first, but then I spy the tell-tale tuft of red hair that peeks out of the very top.

Gage.

I watch as he tosses and turns in his sleep. I can only imagine the nightmares he must be having, reliving the horror of what happened at his old pack.

Anger roils in my gut when I remember how terrified he was when he saw me, covered in the blood of his packmates. Yet…he had enough courage to defy his pack to lead Yelena to Cleo. He stayed to protect them both, and then he followed her. His courage is commendable.

I couldn’t say no to his request to live among our pack. The bastards at Highland Pack may have treated him like dirt, but not here. That’s not how we do things.