Chapter 40 AURORA I stared at her , a sinking feeling deep in my chest .
I could lose everything .
My money .
My home .
My status as Luna heir .
But I could not lose my children .
Piper , I whispered .
What have you done ? Her cheeks reddened .
I dont know , Aurora .
Luna heir .
Whoever you are .
But I do know if those are Danes children , he deserves to know them , and they deserve to know him .
My mind went back to the one time Dane had touched me the one time any man had touched me .
The way hed thrown the n B at me .
Do you know what Dane used to say to me ? I asked Piper .
She shifted , then shook her head .
Without emotion , I said , Hed rather drink molten silver than mix his blood with the Reeds .
Does that sound like a man who wants to know any children I gave birth to , whether theyre his or not ? Chapter 40 Pipers eyes widened .
Dane wouldnt- 2/5 Your brother is kind to you , I cut her off .
He always has been .
I know sides of Dane Montague you dont .
Sides you never will .
I rose .
I think its best you leave .
Piper rose , too .
She looked shaken by what Id said but determined .
My Alphamanded me to be here and protect you .
He marked you with his blood .
I am the Luna heir of High Alpine , I snarled .
He does not rule anyone in this house .
I reject his protection .
You and all the other Blue Ridge wolves need to leave .
Inside , I was panicking .
Did he already know ? I had to get the twins on a ne .
Id send Evander back with them .
Hopefully Mary wouldnt mind living in Europe .
Maybe this time Id go back , too .
At least until Dane had time to calm down .
Or … whispered a voice in the back of my mind , You just tell him , like she said .
Tell him before he gets the results himself , and this will be easier to fix .
I bit my lip .
Maybe it would .
But Id get the children far away from him first .
Once he knew , the protection of a pack as powerful as High Alpine would be the only thing that could stop him .
Chapter 40 3/5 Even then , they were his heirs .
If he went to the Council , they might force me to send them to him .
I remembered the life Id had with Dane Montague .
The sadness .
The heartbreak of simply wanting him to love me .
He hated me .
I wouldnt let him hate my children .
I wouldnt let them wish and wish and wish to be loved by him , only to be crushed every single time .
I rushed to the door .
Trajan ! Pack the childrens things .
They have to return to Europe .
Trajan nodded and strode away without question .
Goddess , he was perfect .
I had no idea what Id do without him .
When I turned around , Piper was behind me .
She looked horrified .
So they are yours ? His ? I went to my desk and started gathering papers .
I never said that .
She let out a humorlessugh .
No , youre just hustling them out of the country because you know helle for them when he finds out .
She shook her head .
I never wanted to think he was right .
All the things he said about you .
But maybe he was .
Piper could believe what she wanted about me .
She wasnt a mother .
Dane had never hated her .
I found what I wanted on my desk and was just about to move to the door when a strange shiver ran through the house .
I froze Chapter 40 and put my hand on the wall .
What the- ? Piper said .
She also looked confused .
4/5 Then the shiver turned to a rumble , which turned to a teeth ttering shaking .
It felt like the earth beneath us was giving way and the whole house was about to be swallowed by the red Georgia dirt .
The walls creaked .
Things crashed .
Piper grabbed me .
Come on ! she cried .
We have to get out ! We ran into the hall .
It was filled with shadows .
DANE I was sparring with the pack warriors in my lycan form when the earth started to shake .
I shrunk back down into my human form right away as the shaking strengthened .
Equipment in the huge gymnasium that made up almost an entire wing of the pack house ttered to the ground .
Gel to cover ! I shouted .
A faint call Auroras mansion .
in my mind .
My sister , twenty miles away at Chapter 40 Dane … ! 5/5 Her voice was faint .
Normal wolves couldnt even speak through pack bonds at that distance .
But Piper and I shared blood , and we were both powerful wolves .
Piper , what is it ? Do you feel the earthquake ? Her response was broken and hard to understand .
She was just barely within range to speak to me at all .
… house is falling ….
shadows .
You need to know- Wolves scrambled .
The shaking stopped .
So did Pipers voice .
Piper ! No answer .
Get every wolf you can , I shouted out loud and through the pack bond .
The wolves protecting the Luna heir of High Alpine need help !