His Moonsilver Mate

Abby

“Stay down. Look at me, Abby—look at my eyes.”

Blood streaked Mom’s jaw and coated the hand gripping mine as she pushed me toward the narrow opening beneath the floor.

“Promise me. You don’t open this for anyone until someone you know calls your name first. Promise me, Abigail.”

“I promise.”

The board closed over my head.

For a few seconds, there was nothing but darkness and the smell of damp wood.

Something crashed above me. A wolf snarled so close that the sound seemed to crawl through the wood and into my chest.

Then came a scream.

“Take the girls alive!”

Something heavy struck the floor hard enough to shake dust into my hair, and I pressed both fists against my mouth because Mom had made me promise.

Don’t open it. Wait for a voice.

Everything went quiet. I had no idea how long I waited.

Wood scraped overhead, and light cut through the darkness. My whole body went still.

“Abby?”

The voice was rough and breathless, but I knew it.

Kade.

His face appeared above me, streaked with ash and blood. A moment later, his arms closed around me so tightly I could barely breathe. His whole body was shaking.

I tried to look behind him, but his hand covered the side of my face.

“Don’t look.” He pressed my face into his neck. “I’ve got you, Abby.”

Something warm touched my cheek.

My eyes opened.

For one confused moment, I was still in Kade’s arms.

Then another tear slid toward my ear, and I realized I was lying in my own bed.

Pale morning light filtered through the curtains. My blankets were tangled around my legs, my T-shirt damp against my back.

I pushed myself upright and wiped my face.

The alarm glowed on the nightstand.

5:58 AM.

Two minutes before it was supposed to go off.

And eighteen hours before I turned eighteen.

Before I finally met my wolf.

The house was quiet.

Liam usually woke early, but after three nights of border patrols, he had come home after midnight. He needed the rest. And I really didn’t need him finding me crying today of all days.

I changed quickly, pulled my hair into a loose ponytail, grabbed my backpack, and slipped downstairs.

The kitchen was empty. I eased the back door closed behind me and stepped into the cool morning air.

Moonhaven was only beginning to wake.

I pulled my jacket tighter as I headed toward the town center. Two warriors coming off night patrol crossed ahead of me, both exhausted, one with a fresh bandage around his forearm.

Rogue sightings had been getting worse for months. It was part of why I spent so much time helping at the clinic. I couldn’t patrol with Liam yet, but I could at least be useful when someone came back bleeding.

I slowed as I reached the town square.

Lanterns and white flowers surrounded the memorial stone. Eight years ago, Moonhaven had lost dozens of wolves in the attack—Mom and Dad among them, along with Kade’s father, Alpha Marcus.

I used to avoid their names. Now I remembered Dad making Mom laugh, her hand disappearing into his whenever they walked together.

They had been fated mates. Maybe that was why some stubborn part of me still believed the Moon Goddess knew what she was doing.

I kept walking.

The clinic stood at the far end of the square, its lights already glowing through the windows.

Before I reached the steps, the door opened, and one of the night-shift nurses hurried outside.

“Abby!” The urgency in her voice wiped the smile from my face.

“What happened?”

“Patrol came in ten minutes ago. Daphne needs another pair of hands.”

I pushed through the doors. The chief healer, Daphne, glanced up from the wolf stretched across the treatment table. “Perfect timing.”

The warrior on the treatment table was barely conscious, deep claw marks cutting across his shoulder and ribs.

My stomach tightened, but I crossed the room. “What do you need?”

Daphne held out a pair of gloves. “Pressure. Hard.”

The morning disappeared into blood-soaked gauze, disinfectant, and Daphne calling for whatever she needed next. When she finally told me to go home, afternoon had already begun sliding toward evening.

Liam was waiting outside the clinic, arms crossed. He took one look at me, sighed, and held out his hand.

“Backpack.”

“Hello to you too.” I gave him a look. “I can carry it.”

“Sure you can.” He took the backpack before I could object and slung it over one shoulder.

I crossed my arms. “I’m turning eighteen tomorrow, you know.”

That made him laugh. He pulled me against his side and kissed the top of my head.

“Still my baby sister.”

I bumped my shoulder against his. “I hate you.”

“Love you too.” He hooked an arm around my shoulders. “Come on. You need food.”

I rolled my eyes, but I let him keep his arm around me as we headed home.

Liam had been almost eighteen when our parents died—far too young to become both Beta and guardian to a ten-year-old.

He had done it anyway.

By the time we reached the house, dusk had settled over Moonhaven and warm light spilled from the kitchen windows.

I heard Sloane laughing before Liam even opened the door.

Of course they were already here.

She and Kade had been friends with Liam since before I could remember, so finding them in our kitchen was nothing unusual, even now that Kade was Alpha and Liam his Beta.

Kade stood at the kitchen counter with a beer in one hand, dressed in dark jeans and a charcoal Henley, sleeves pushed to his elbows. The rolled fabric exposed the black tattoos winding over his forearms—something I had gotten very good at pretending not to notice.

Sloane sat on the edge of the counter beside him, one foot swinging above the floor, looking effortlessly polished in fitted jeans and a soft black sweater. Her dark honey-blonde hair fell loose over one shoulder. Kade’s hand rested casually against her knee.

I looked away before either of them caught me staring.

“There she is.” Sloane smiled when we walked in. “Moonhaven’s almost-grown-up.”

“Almost?” I dropped my jacket over the back of a chair.

Kade smiled over the rim of his bottle. “Long day?”

“Busy.”

“Sit down before Liam starts force-feeding you.”

Liam gave him a look. “I heard that.” He dropped my backpack near the stairs. “Since you’re both so comfortable, you can set the table.”

Sloane hopped off the counter with a laugh and reached for the plates. Kade moved automatically to let her pass, his hand brushing across her lower back.

Everyone knew they were more than friends. They had been on and off for a while, and most of the pack already assumed Sloane would eventually become Kade’s Luna.

I certainly wasn’t going to ask.

Once we sat down, Liam had put enough food on my plate for two people.

I stared at it. “Seriously?”

“You skipped breakfast.”

“That’s not how it works.”

Kade chuckled. “Leave her be.”

Sloane leaned back in her chair. “Right, our baby Abby is a big girl now.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Don’t start.”

“What? It’s true.” She looked innocent. “Tomorrow is a very important day.”

I focused on cutting my food. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Oh, please. You’ve been dreaming about turning eighteen and finding your mate since you were old enough to understand what a mate was.”

Heat crept into my cheeks.

“Maybe your Prince Charming will show up tomorrow and sweep you off your feet.”

“No one is sweeping her anywhere,” Liam protested.

I covered my face with one hand.

Sloane giggled. “Relax. I’m only teasing.”

Kade cut in. “You were just like her when you turned 18.” His arm wrapped around her chair.

“Yep, and totally unbearable,” Liam added, and Sloane swatted his shoulder playfully across the table.

“Maybe you’ll be luckier than the rest of us,” Kade said, his smile fading slightly.

They had all shifted years ago, and none of them had found their fated mates yet. I couldn’t imagine waiting that long.

Sloane shifted closer to him and took his hand, idly playing with his fingers.

My stomach gave an annoying little twist.

She had known about my crush on Kade since I was fifteen. She had caught me staring at him after training one afternoon and teased me about it for weeks, though she had never told Liam or Kade.

Back then, it had been funny. Then she and Kade started seeing each other, and it became harder to laugh.

The crush should have disappeared years ago. Kade was Liam’s best friend, my Alpha, and the boy who had spent most of my life treating me like a little sister.

Still, sometimes I caught myself wondering what it would feel like if he looked at me the way he looked at Sloane.

Or touched me.

Or kissed me.

I reached for my water before anyone noticed my face turning red.

Not long after dinner, Kade and Sloane left, still arguing about something as Liam walked them to the door.

For the rest of the evening, we watched movies, and Liam talked about anything except my shift.

When I finally went upstairs, sleep was impossible. Excitement buzzed beneath my skin.

Tomorrow I would meet my wolf.

And maybe, somewhere out there, my mate was waiting too.

Someone who would love me the way Dad had loved Mom.

I turned onto my side and watched the glowing numbers on the clock beside my bed.

11:59.

My heart began to beat faster.

Then the numbers changed.

12:00.

I held my breath.

Nothing happened.

I almost laughed at myself.

Then a soft female voice whispered inside my mind.

Hello, Abby.