Chapter 4

I paused at the gate, hearing giddy laughter from inside the villa, and my stomach tightened with unease.

The flirtatious voice was the same one I’d heard from Frank’s laptop.

My face a mask of displeasure, I pushed open the villa's heavy oak door.

Without warning, a huge, brown-furred creature lunged, throwing me to the ground.

My back scraped against the gravel of the driveway, and I winced in pain.

Looking up, I saw it was a bear cub.

Unsure how to react, I froze completely.

"What is this beast? Get it off of me!" I screamed.

Since I was a pup, I’ve had a deep fear of bear after being attacked by a rogue bear near my family’s territory.

Now, pinned by a massive bear cub, I trembled uncontrollably.

Just then, the bear cub was yanked away.

Frank offered me a hand, his face a canvas of confusion.

Ignoring his gesture, I got to my feet and put distance between myself and the bear cub.

I studied the beast. Its fur was matted and unkempt, and a crude, spiked leather collar was cinched around its neck.

Seeing me standing, it tried to lunge again.

I instinctively took several steps back.

"What are you doing here?" Frank asked softly, crouching to soothe the snarling bear cub.

"Didn't you get the notice...?"

"Alpha, what's happening? Where is Fang?"

A sharp, feminine voice called out, and the she-wolf from the photos appeared before me.

Seeing her in person sent a pang of jealousy through my heart, especially as I saw Frank’s possessive gaze on her.

He quickly moved to stand in front of the girl, shielding her from my view, his soft expression instantly hardening.

"Is everything okay, Frank? Why are you blocking me? Did something happen to Fang?"

The she-wolf peeked around him, and when she saw me, her bright smile faltered.

She stopped dead in her tracks.

As she approached, I couldn’t deny the vibrant, wild energy she radiated.

"Who is she?" the girl asked, her voice laced with false curiosity as she looked up at Frank.

But when her gaze met mine, her eyes held a clear spark of defiance.

She knew exactly who I was; after connecting on The Howl, she’d surely known about me for a long time.

"She is…"

"I am his Luna," I cut Frank off, smiling coolly at the girl before me. "Bound to him by sacred law."

As I expected, her face twitched, a flicker of panic before she smoothed it over.

Her little act was almost entertaining.

She took a few steps back, feigning discomfort, and struggled to pull the bear cub inside.

"Well, since your Luna is here, you two should talk. I'll go get Fang some water."

Her performance of a wounded heart almost made me feel a flicker of pity.

But Frank, as always, was completely entranced by her.

After she was gone, Frank glared at me, his frustration palpable.

"Why are you here?" he demanded, his voice like ice.

"The Elders summoned us to the Gala. You didn't answer my messages, so I came to get you."

I answered calmly, refusing to be baited by his anger, acting as if I didn't feel it at all.

My composure left him speechless.

I ignored him completely and strode into his villa with the confidence of a Luna.

I sat on the plush sofa and watched Frank follow me inside.

"You have twenty minutes to get ready. We need to leave on time," I commanded, my tone final.

The moment I finished speaking, the same brown bear cub that had tackled me shot toward me, as if on command.

It snarled, sinking its teeth into the fabric of my dress.

"Get off me!" I yelled, grabbing my clutch and swinging it hard at the bear cub.

It connected with the side of its head, drawing a thin line of blood.

I screamed for Frank, but by the time I was knocked back, he was already at the girl's side, pulling her into a protective embrace.

Seeing that, my heart turned to stone.