Rejected Luna's Silent Vengeance

Kian Reynolds, a young Healer three years younger than Thea Gonzales, had recently returned to the pack after completing his training abroad. As pups, they had been neighbors, their dens just a short run apart in the sprawling pack territory. But Kian’s family had moved to another pack when he was still a young wolf, and their connection had faded—until three months ago, when he unexpectedly reached out to her.

Celine’s fever had persisted for days, and the pack’s healing den was overwhelmed with other cases. Thea, desperate to ease her pup’s suffering, had turned to Kian for help. Running into Xavier Ford there was unexpected, to say the least.

Xavier, the Alpha, stood with his arms crossed, his towering frame exuding an aura of authority. His sharp gaze flicked between Thea and Kian as the younger wolf approached, holding a steaming bowl of beef stew.

"I went to several dens to find this for you," Kian said, his voice warm with concern. "Eat it while it’s still hot."

Thea’s hands were full, cradling Celine against her chest, so Kian offered to feed her himself. Xavier’s jaw tightened, his alpha aura pulsing faintly as he asked, "Do you work here?"

Kian smiled casually, though his tone carried a hint of challenge. "You could say that. To be precise, my father is the pack’s lead Healer." It wasn’t an exaggeration; Kian’s family held significant influence within the healing ranks.

Xavier’s eyes narrowed as he looked between Thea and Kian. "And what’s the relationship between you two?"

With a mischievous grin, Kian raised an eyebrow. "Isn’t it obvious, Alpha?" The way he said it—casual, almost dismissive—made Xavier’s expression shift through a storm of emotions, his alpha aura flaring briefly.

Before Xavier could respond, Addilyn Freeman’s voice called out from the doorway, her presence immediately drawing his attention. He hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on Thea and Celine, before turning to leave with Addilyn.

Once he was gone, Thea let out a slow breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Kian, please be a bit more subtle next time. You almost gave us away."

Kian chuckled, spooning another bite of stew for her. "Don’t worry; practice makes perfect. The more we do this, the better we’ll get at it."

Thea couldn’t help but smile, though her eyes flicked toward the doorway where Xavier had disappeared. Kian’s presence was a comfort, but the weight of the past still lingered, a shadow she couldn’t quite shake.