Page 28 of The Alpha’s Forced Rejected Mate (Silverlight Valley Alphas #1)

I missed this.

It actually felt good to see her natural hair color again after dying it for so long. Luna ran her fingers through her freshly washed hair in the bathroom.

She remembered Dominic’s reaction when she first came out of the bathroom after washing the rest of the dye out of her hair. His pleasure was obvious when he saw her true color, the way his eyes had widened and those lips had parted before he smiled.

"Your silver looks perfect on you," he'd whispered in a soft tone that weakened her defenses. "Always has."

Luna hadn't known how to respond to that; she'd simply nodded and hurried past him

Stop it.

It had been a week since they returned to the pack, and she felt pressure every day on her shoulders. She had to take careful steps, watch her words, and be aware that any wrong move could trigger an outburst.

Yes, she had Dominic and his father’s backing, but she could still see how wary the pack was of her. They were not hostile, but the glances she got and the conversation that stopped when she passed was enough to make anyone feel unwelcome.

Of course, she preferred this to the bullying she faced in the past, but the isolation was still cruel.

Luna tied her hair into a braid and shook her head as if shaking away her thoughts. The grimoire lay on the bed, the pages open to the part about the protection spell she had taken hours to decipher. She discovered the spell three days ago, and her progress told her it would be worth it.

She was focused on her mission for the day, picking up the grimoire and some other supplies. Luna had gathered dried herbs, small crystals and a container of water taken from the pack’s sacred spring. She placed the contents in a leather satchel.

Her mission was to strengthen the pack’s borders. She was sure the spell in the grimoire would help in creating wards that would alert them if any demons tried to interfere and provide a barrier that would slow attackers down.

This way I can be useful.

The cabin she shared with Dominic was empty when she stepped out of the bathroom. He had left at dawn to meet with his father and the pack elders. The two of them were rarely in the cabin at the same time, but their routine worked for them.

It’s better like this.

Luna inhaled the crisp morning air deeply as she stepped outside.

Home.

No matter how the pack members treated her, there was something about being back here that felt right. The land seemed to call to her blood. Luna noticed the forest trees had begun to show the first hints of autumn gold as she adjusted her satchel, heading towards the northern border.

It took her almost forty minutes to get to the border, her slow approach taking her deeper into the thick forest. Luna was careful, watching her steps.

Wouldn’t want to get injured now.

The Silverlight Valley Pack borders weren’t lined by gates or bridges, but she felt a shift as she arrived at the edge of their territory.

Luna removed the grimoire from her bag and knelt beside a large oak tree that stood at the border’s edge. She placed the grimoire on a flat stone, opening to the page of the spell she needed.

She quickly arranged her other materials in a semicircle. What she was about to do needed her full focus and precision. If she made any mistake, the ward would be weak and fail to warn of any attacks.

Luna had just begun separating her herbs for grinding when she heard a noise behind her. She turned in an instant, both hands in front of her, magic at her fingertips.

"Whoa! Easy there, witch."

It was a young woman’s voice. She stood several yards away, her hands in up surrender, and behind her was a man and another woman. They all appeared to be in their early twenties and were also members of the pack.

Luna didn’t recognize them at all.

"Sorry for the scare," Luna lowered her hands, letting the magic vanish. "You startled me."

The first woman who spoke now walked closer. Luna could see her amber eyes. "You are very far away from the pack, what are you doing? Alpha Dominic's been looking for you."

Just the mention of his name made her heart skip.

But Luna schooled her expression carefully, keeping her tone neutral. "I want to create protective wards along the border," she explained. "To alert us if any demons approach and create a temporary barrier."

The three young wolves looked at each other, and then the man crossed his arms. "Magic?" he asked, unsure. "On pack land?"

Luna straightened her spine. "Yes. Magic that will help keep the pack safe."

The second woman, shorter with dark curls, stepped closer to examine Luna's supplies. "How is it going to work?"

Luna paused, surprised that the young woman’s curiosity seemed genuine. "It's…complicated. But essentially, I'm creating an energy field that reacts to demonic presence. So, if a demon crosses our border, we’ll quickly be alerted."

"And you can do that all by yourself?" the first woman asked again, her voice still skeptical. "The pack borders are huge."

"It’s not going to be easy, but I am going to go about it a section a day," Luna answered. "It's not perfect right now, but it's better than having no warning at all."

They exchanged looks again, seemingly weighing all that Luna had said. And then, the man shrugged.

"Well, we were told by Alpha Dominic to assist you in any way you may need," he said. "So, tell us what you need, and we’ll help."

The offer surprised Luna. "Did he really?"

"Well, Liam says ‘told,’ but it’s more like he ordered us," the curly-haired woman said with a smile.

I like her.

The first woman just rolled her eyes. "I'm Mia," she said. "That’s Sophia. We're part of the perimeter patrol." She nodded toward Luna's supplies. "How may we be of service?"

Luna looked at the three werewolves. She felt something warm in her chest as she saw their expressions, ranging from curious to wary, but not hostile.

They don’t hate me.

"Well, besides help with grinding this," she said, "I could use some more materials. The spell requires specific items at each cardinal point."

Mia nodded, stepping forward. "Show us what to look for."

***

By midday, Luna had placed wards at three different points along the northern border. Working with the patrol members had been surprisingly…pleasant. Their initial wariness had gradually given way to curiosity as Luna explained the basics of the spell.

Liam had proven particularly helpful, his knowledge of the forest leading them to a cluster of rare herbs Luna needed.

"You're not what I expected," Sophia admitted as they finished the third ward. "When Alpha Dominic brought you back, everyone was talking about the dangerous witch who'd bewitched him."

Luna's hands stilled momentarily. "And what do you think now?"

Sophia simply shrugged. "I think you're just trying to help. And anyone who can make Liam keep quiet for longer than five minutes is always welcome."

"Hey!" Liam protested from where he was collecting the empty herb pouches. "I was listening, not shutting up. There's a difference."

Mia laughed, the sound bright in the quiet forest. "A minor one, in your case."

Luna watched their easy banter with a strange ache in her chest. She had never experienced this kind of casual camaraderie, even before she left the pack. Her mother was her only friend then.

"We should head back," Mia said, glancing at the sun's position overhead. "We have a training session this afternoon."

Luna nodded, carefully packing away her remaining supplies. "Thank you for your help. This would have taken me all day alone."

"Will you be coming to training?" Liam asked as they began walking back through the forest.

In response, Luna just shook her head.

"Okay then," Liam replied with a shrug. "You’ll be missing out, though. Alpha Dominic will be putting us through our paces. Quite the sight."

Beside him, Sophia rolled her eyes.

"Ignore him," she advised Luna. "Every man thinks they’re funny and Liam thinks he's the funniest man alive."

When they got to the edge of the compound, the three patrol members headed toward the training grounds, while Luna turned back toward the forest.

But she didn’t go straight to the border. She'd planned to work on the eastern border next, but found herself taking the path that would skirt past the training area.

Just to see what's happening.

The pack members had gathered in a loose circle in the large training grounds, at least thirty of them, ranging from teenagers to seasoned adults, and Harrison stood in the center.

Luna moved as close as she could without being caught, finding a spot behind a large pine where she could get a good look. Harrison was speaking, his deep voice carrying across the clearing.

"...need to be prepared for any attack," he was saying. "It’s been long since our kind fought demons in the open; they are nothing like other enemies. Their cunning, power, and ability to exploit weaknesses overshadows all."

Luna’s whole being responded as a figure took his place beside Harrison. Dominic, dressed in simple black training gear. Her breath caught at the sight of him.

"My son will demonstrate proper defense techniques," Harrison continued, stepping back. "Volunteers?"

Several pack members stepped forward eagerly. Luna watched as Dominic ran them through combat drills, his movements fluid and precise. He was a natural teacher, firm but patient, correcting stances with gentle adjustments rather than harsh criticism.

After about twenty minutes, Harrison called for a break. Pack members dispersed to grab water or rest briefly in the shade. Luna was about to retreat when Harrison's voice rang out again.

"Now, we'll practice in wolf form. Dominic will lead the first group."

Dominic moved to the center of the clearing. Without ceremony, he began to shift. The transformation itself was quick.

Suddenly, a massive black wolf was where he stood just a second ago, silver markings shimmering across its sleek fur.

Wow.