Page 41 of The Alpha’s Forced Rejected Mate (Silverlight Valley Alphas #1)

Three months later

The ground shifted under Luna's boots as she darted between towering oak trees. Her silver hair trailed behind her in the wind almost like a flag.

Her heart pounded hard in her chest, driven by the excitement of the hunt. Ahead of her, an energy signature pulsed, its intensity growing with every step she took.

He's near. I can feel it.

Luna, now three months pregnant, noticed her body had changed in ways that were unfamiliar. Still, she had never felt stronger in her life. She breathed in, the crisp forest air filling her and jumped over a fallen tree trunk, her sharp dark blue eyes scanning the thick forest around her.

The energy flared up like a sudden beacon, pulling her attention to the right.

Luna changed her course and spun quickly, keeping one hand on the ground to maintain balance.

She didn't rely on sight to find him, even if her silver hair briefly obscured her eyesight as it whipped in front of her eyes.

Under her skin, her magic buzzed, creating an invisible thread that bound her to her victim.

You can't hide from me anymore, Dominic.

She halted, her ears straining to catch anything unusual. The forest felt wrong—silent. No birds sang. No critters stirred in the bushes. Luna pressed her hand to the rough bark of a nearby tree, letting her magic extend outward to sense the faintest tremors in the quiet air.

There it was again. Something noticeable shifted about fifty yards ahead near the training clearing. Luna's lips curled into a sharp grin.

She spotted the clearing as sunlight streaked through gaps in the canopy above. She pressed herself low and hid behind a thick bush, scanning the area. The place seemed still, yet her magic reacted, hinting at his presence nearby.

He's hiding his scent.

Luna shut her eyes and concentrated. She spoke the words to cast a detection charm, directing her magic from deep within her to her hands and out into a gentle surge.

The result came at once.

A surge of energy flickered on Luna's left, revealing where Dominic was hiding. Her eyes flew open, and a victorious smile lit up her face. She pushed off the ground, heading straight for the spot where he had concealed himself.

Luna moved faster than any human could, her steps almost skimming the surface as she closed in. Among the trees, she spotted motion—a massive wolf with jet-black fur and a silver-streaked spine weaving through the shadows.

"I've got you," she muttered, focusing her magic into the soil beneath her feet.

The ground burst open as vines shot upward, stretching toward the wolf. Dominic dodged the attack in a powerful leap, his muscular form sailing through the air.

Luna shifted her magic and sent another wave of creeping vines to block his landing. This time, they wrapped around his hind legs and tangled him for a moment. That brief pause was all she needed to act.

She tackled the wolf, sending him crashing to the ground as he began to transform. Dominic’s claws turned into fingers and his fur vanished.

Luna realized she was straddling her naked lover in his human form.

Dominic lay beneath her, pinned, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. He never bothered summoning his clothes when it was just the two of them. His thick black hair was a mess from the chase.

"Got you," Luna said between breaths, her hands gripping his broad shoulders.

Dominic let a slow smile spread across his face. "You're getting faster."

"You're just getting easier to predict, Alpha." She leaned in closer, their faces touching, her silver hair tumbling down to shield them from the world. "Caught you three times this week."

"Maybe I like it when you catch me." His big hands settled on her hips, his fingers pressing into her skin. "Though you’ve got an edge using magic, my moon.”

Luna's breath caught as he moved slightly beneath her, his bare skin warming across her body. Even after spending months with him, the sight of him made her heart race.

"Are you okay?" Dominic put a protective hand over her stomach and his face changed, his eyes blazing with alarm. "Did I hurt you or anything?"

Luna touched her lips to his, the softest contact that made him hold her hip tighter. "I'm okay. My magic keeps us safe." She moved his hand to rest on the gentle curve of her stomach. "Can you feel that? Our baby already has their own shield."

Dominic's expression changed from one of worry to wonder.

"She grows stronger every day," Luna whispered. "Just like you do," she added with a faint smile.

Holding Luna's face with both hands, Dominic sat up and held her in his lap. "And even more stunning," he remarked, stroking her cheekbones with his thumbs. "I didn’t think being this happy was possible."

Luna leaned closer letting her deep blue eyes meet his striking gray ones.

Finally, Dominic whispered, "We should head back," but he held on to her.

Luna sighed slightly and pressed her forehead to his. "How about five more minutes?"

A low chuckle came from him. "You said that yesterday, and we ended up an hour late," he reminded her.

"Are you complaining?" she arched an eyebrow and moved on his lap, causing Dominic's wolf to respond to her playful challenge, shining his eyes with a piercing silver glow.

"Not a chance." His voice was deeper now, and it sent a small shiver through Luna.

"But we do need to get back," Dominic said, brushing a kiss just under her ear where he knew she was most sensitive. "The council meeting's this afternoon."

It was more than just the way his lips touched her skin that caused Luna to groan. "Don't remind me, please. If they bring up 'the threat of demonic infiltration' one more time, I’m going to hex someone."

"You’d be justified in doing that." Dominic stood and stretched before offering her his hand. "Now, get up, witch. Your alpha’s giving you an order."

She took hold of his hand, but she tugged him back down immediately rather than allowing him to pull her up.

He grunted in astonishment when he hit the ground.

"An order?" Luna turned on her side and gave him a knowing smirk, resting on one elbow.

"Maybe you forgot which one of us did the catching today. "

Dominic laughed, burying his face in her hair, and wrapped his arms around her.

"I never forget anything when it comes to you, my moon."

* * *

The pack's new home covered fifty acres of pristine forest bordered on three sides by towering mountains and a wide river on the fourth. They chose this area because it was safer to defend and far from any human settlements, unlike their old territory.

"There you are!" someone called out from the largest cabin as Dominic and Luna stepped out of the trees, hand in hand, heading toward the cluster of cabins that made up their new home.

Dominic had changed back into his usual outfit—dark jeans and a fitted black Henley that highlighted his broad shoulders—while Luna had adjusted her clothing as needed.

Marcus showed up at a jog, his amber eyes standing out against his auburn hair. "Took you long enough. We’ve been waiting."

Dominic explained, "Training ran long," while maintaining a strong hold on Luna's hand.

A smile grew across Marcus’s face as he arched an eyebrow, perhaps not believing him. "Oh, I’m sure it did." He turned his attention to Luna, his tone softer now. "How're you doing today?"

"Feeling good," Luna said. "No more morning sickness."

"That’s great. We’re going to need your perspective," Marcus added, falling into step with them as they headed toward the cabin. "Roman sent updates. They’ve identified three more witches being hunted by the organization."

Luna’s fingers tightened around Dominic’s, her voice sharp with urgency. "Where are they?"

Marcus ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. Frustration showed in his expression. "No luck finding exact spots. They’re still hiding using fake names like you did."

Dominic tightened his jaw. "Then we’ll figure out how to save them faster."

As they approached the main cabin, the tall pine walls loomed over them. The structure acted as both the meeting place and headquarters for the pack. Inside, a large table covered in maps and scattered papers had several pack members gathered around it.

Kieran’s face lit up as soon as they entered. "How was training?"

"She’s improving." Dominic answered, before Luna could respond. The pride in his voice gave away how he felt about her progress.

Kieran let out a low whistle. "Wow. That spell seems to be working."

Luna gently slid into a chair that had been pulled out. "It's more than the spell," she remarked thoughtfully, placing a hand on her stomach. “My magic seems to be…evolving.”

Roman was the one who broke the silence, his gaze serious and focused. "It’s the child," he said with quiet certainty. "She’s making your magic stronger."

Luna gave a slight nod. "I think so. Every day, I feel…more," she said, taking a moment to find the words. "It feels like I can sense further, and my magic reacts faster than it used to."

Marcus spread out an old, wrinkled map of the Pacific Northwest and glanced toward her. "That could be helpful for tomorrow's mission," he said. "If your range has grown, we might notice traps before we step into them."

Dominic leaned over the table, his alpha presence filling the room with tension. "Where are those witches hiding?" he asked with a steady voice.

Marcus pointed to two marked spots on the map. "They’re somewhere here, but we still don’t have their exact location," he replied. “Once we rescue them, they can join the witches we rescued from being used for the portal.”

“I am not eager to rush them, they are still rebuilding their coven,” Luna’s tone softened. “When we rescue these three, they can stay here with the Pack for now.”

She turned toward Marcus. "Have you seen any other demons around and what about the portal?" The thought had been stuck in her head ever since they made their escape.