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 !