On the eve of his seventeenth birthday, Kieran became Alpha of the Midnight Shadow Pack, when he took his father’s life. John had been far from the ideal leader or romantic partner. He publically committed affairs and abused his mate when she protested. He’d been a black mark on the pack’s long and proud history.

Eight years later, Kieran still struggled to repair the damage his father caused during his reign. Now, at twenty-five, he needed to complete a task most important to the alpha and Midnight Shadow’s future. His Luna had to be found.

Even after all this time passed, he had no luck finding her. Kieran visited many clans on peaceful terms throughout the years, but never sensed her. He’d become desperate. The leader paid tribute at a moon shrine for a fortune from a priestess, who foretold him that his mate was a beta’s daughter from a tiny pack. Less than fifty members. The pack's management was poor, but also the Luna couldn’t stay any longer at the risk of her life.

A female offspring of a beta, a little and mismanaged community of wolves. Kieran assumed the Moon Goddess offered him a straightforward task, but he learned the hard way that small wolf communities were all dangerous, ruthless and it was no wonder the numbers were declining. And all the Beta's daughters had already found a mate.

Kieran lost hope he’d ever find her, no matter how long he looked. Maybe he didn’t have one, or perhaps she passed away? Desperate for help, he visited the Moon Temple nearest his Pack, hoping for information.

“Kieran, I have given you your answers, and it’s your job to locate her,” the Priestess told him. “She is alive, I’m certain of that.”

“But I have searched all the small packs, and all the beta’s daughters already have mates,” Kieran complained. “Give me more to go by. Something I can use.”

The priestess named Amber sighed, and turned to look up at the open ceiling where the full moon shone through, bathing the two in the moonlight. She closed her eyes and concentrated. There was a breeze that moved through the prayer room, and the fire before them burst to life from burning embers, and Amber opened her eyelids. Her iris and pupils vanished, leaving just milky white to stare back at him. The flames intensified. Kieran’s pack members dropped to their knees and bowed in respect. Kieran did as well, but he kept his gaze on Amber, awaiting anything that could use to aid him.

The fire burned down again, and the breeze disappeared and Amber blinked, and she returned to normal. She turned to look at Kieran.

“The Moon Goddess has given me further detail. She said that your mate won’t be easy to locate. You won’t notice her at first, but when you both realize, that is when the dangers await. For now, go north. Further than you have before. There are less than fifty members in this community, and you will bring them home. Strengthen your numbers. If you do this, your Luna will be with you before long.”

“How can I not realize who she is if I’m looking for a Beta’s daughter?” Kieran questioned.

“She may not have that title within the pack, but she is,” the priestess warned him. “You won’t be able to walk in and ask for the female child of the beta. This goes beyond that.”

“So, you’re telling me to wipe out the leaders, take members as my own, all to find my Luna?” Kieran asked, his eyebrow raised. “Sounds just as monstrous as Alpha John.”

“This is nothing like your father. You’ll love and treasure her. The wolves you gather will be much better off and happier within your community,” she explained. “As they say, trust the process.”

He sighed with annoyance. “If that’s what the goddess wants, I’ll do it.”

Remembering this six months later, Kieran growled when he climbed into the driver’s seat of his car. Riley threw the human into the back. Despite being tied up and gagged, she continued to struggle. But Riley, who was strong in his own right, tossed her in with a bounce and shut the door before he got into the front with Kieran. He sighed and turned to Kieran.

“Was the girl necessary?” he asked.

“She’s close with the family, I know it,” Kieran stated. “She could be useful for finding the beta’s daughter.”

“What if she doesn’t?”

Kieran started his car, and backed up on the dirt road, and continued the way they came from. He glanced in the rear-view mirror at the human woman, looking up at him with eyes filled with terror. “Then we’ll dispose of her. Throw her out, let another pack or rogues have her. Or drop her off at the edge of some random city. If she wants the latter, she better behave herself and make herself useful until then.”

The fear she expressed did not bother Kieran, and he continued to drive in silence. The girl remained as quiet, likely too scared to even utter a complaint, and for now, he preferred that.

This felt like another failure, and this was the final one he had on his list. And unless there were more small colony’s hidden away and unlisted on the registry, this was his last chance to find his mate. At least he’d gotten rid of the alpha of this pack. Reconnaissance discovered this had been far more disorganized than any other of the tiny packs taken in the past several months. The leader was greedy, gluttonous, and he found that many fled, risking the life of a rogue, rather than living under his rule. If the beta’s daughter left, then it was no wonder, but that didn’t make his search any easier.

“Contact my mother and let her know we’ll be home in fifteen hours.” Kieran broke the silence and turned to Riley. “Tell her to get one of the servant’s room’s ready. We will have someone joining us.”

“Yes, Alpha,” Riley responded.

The beta grabbed his cellphone and clicked a few buttons and made a call. It connected, and he spoke. “Yeah, it was a success,” he started. “We are heading home now. Should return by tomorrow afternoon.” He waited for the response and continued. “We’re bringing someone with us, and he requests you set up one of the servant quarters. They’re going to stay for a while.” Riley stopped once again and shook his head after a few moments. “Alpha stated, servant’s room. She’s not a guest.”

He uttered a few more words and then hung up. Kieran groaned. “Did she think I was bringing home a visitor?”

“Potential mate,” Riley corrected.

Kieran’s face twisted in disgust at the mere idea of this girl being his fated one. Artemis would never bless an alpha with mixed blood, let alone a human. The suggestion was enough to almost make him take a widow as Luna and decide the moon goddess was insane. “Let’s just head home. It’ll be another entire process of getting the new members settled. A hot meal will go a long way in earning their trust.”

“Should I inform the pack house?”

“Yes, call them and ask them to prepare an enormous buffet for their arrival,” Kieran stated. “The bunks are already done, but food is a must, too. We’ll focus on families being placed in permanent housing throughout the week.”

“Great idea,” Riley replied, picking up his phone to issue the order.

Kieran gave orders through the night, or discussed with Riley what the following days were going to be like. Kieran almost entirely forgot about the girl in the back until he would hear his leather seats move. It was awkward, but he didn’t let it bother him. She was a chess piece, and he’d keep her behind the lines for now until it would be time to play her part.