Page 73 of The Alpha Wolf’s Secret Baby Boy

I loved her.

I always have.

And if the Moon Goddess grants me one more chance, I swear I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it.

“P-Poppy,” I whisper brokenly as I cradle her face between my palms. “C-come back to me.”

Her expression doesn’t change even a twitch, and the silence becomes unbearable.

“I know you can hear me,” I continue, refusing to believe the bond between us going quiet means the worst. “You promised you’d do whatever it takes. You made me promise to make sure you survived.” I gulp hard as a lump lodges painfully in my throat. “So help me keep that promise, please…”

Another deafening blast erupts outside the borders, followed almost immediately by terrified screams.

This time, nobody has to tell me how serious it is.

Dorian is already shifting, dark fur exploding across his body before he throws his enormous wolf toward the tree line.

“They’re inside the territory!” his voice roars through the mind link. “Move!”

Warriors surge after him. Cyrus. Simon. Theodore.

Even Flynn hesitates only long enough to glance back toward Aoife before sprinting after the others.

Only I remain rooted beside Poppy.

Aoife looks at me, sorrow swimming in her eyes even as sweat beads across her brow from maintaining the ritual.

“Alpha…” she says quietly, but I don’t move.

“I cannot prevent whatever is happening to her.”

My jaw clenches. “I know.”

“There is someone else who needs you.”

Aoife’s words strike somewhere painfully deep inside me.

Daniel.

I promised Poppy I’d keep our son safe.

I promised myself I would never fail him again.

If the threat breaches Nightclaw… Daniel is in danger again.

I squeeze my eyes shut for one agonizing heartbeat before opening them again and looking back at Poppy.

My hand slides across her cheek.

“You’ve spent ten years protecting him by yourself,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “Now it’s my turn.”

I lean forward until my forehead rests against hers one final time. “So please…” Another breath catches in my throat. “…come home to us.”

Slowly, I lift my head and turn toward Aoife.

“Don’t stop,” I say, every word carrying the full weight of an alpha’s command. “Whatever happens out there…don’t stop this ritual.”

Aoife nods solemnly. “I will not, Alpha. You have my word.”