RAMON

The attack came three days later.

I was in the training yard, working through forms with Tessa, when my wolf suddenly surged to attention. Wrong. Something was wrong.

"Martin." His name ripped from my throat.

I was running before Tessa could respond. Through the yard, across the courtyard, up the stairs toward Luna's quarters. The bond screamed in my chest. Fear. Pain. Martin's emotions flood through like poison.

I burst through the door.

He stood in the center of the room, backed against the far wall. Three pack members circled him, all in half-shift. Claws out. Eyes gleaming.

"What the hell is this?"

The largest, a warrior named Gregor, turned to face me. "Alpha. We were just...testing the omega. Making sure he understands his place."

"His place is Luna of this pack. And you're in his quarters without permission." My wolf rose, pushing my control. "Explain. Now."

"Some of us think the moon goddess made a mistake," another one said. Marcus. Young. Stupid. "Male omegas are cursed. Everyone knows it."

"Everyone knows a lot of bullshit." I moved between them and Martin, my body a wall. "Get out."

"Alpha"

"Now."

They hesitated. For a brief, dangerous moment, I thought Gregor might challenge me. His wolf was strong, his pride stronger. But he'd seen me fight. Knew what I was capable of.

They left, but their eyes promised this wasn't over.

The door barely closed before Martin's legs gave out. I caught him, his body trembling like a leaf in a storm.

"Hey. Hey, look at me." I gripped his face, forcing his eyes to mine. "You're okay. They're gone."

"They wanted to kill me." His voice shook. "I could smell it. They were going to.."

"But they didn't. Because they know I'd rip them apart."

He laughed, the sound almost hysterical. "Three days. I've been here three days and your pack already wants me dead."

I wanted to argue. I wanted to say it wasn't that simple. But he was right. This was worse than I'd anticipated.

"Come on." I pulled him to his feet. "We're leaving these rooms."

"What? Where?"

"My chambers. Where I can actually protect you."

He pulled back slightly. "Ramon, that's...we barely know each other. And sharing quarters means.."

"It means you'll be alive. That's all that matters right now."

I didn't give him time to argue. Just gathered what little he'd brought and led him through the fortress to the Alpha's wing.

My rooms were larger, better fortified, and had only one entrance I could guard.

Martin looked around, taking in the weapons on the walls, the sparse furniture, the complete lack of decoration.

"Cozy," he said weakly.

"It's functional." I moved to the door, checking the locks. "No one enters these rooms without my permission. You'll be safe here."

"And where will you sleep?"

I gestured to the massive bed. "Same place I always do."

His eyes went wide. "We're...together. In the same bed."

"I'll stay on my side. You'll stay on yours. The bond's going to make this uncomfortable either way. Might as well accept it."

He opened his mouth. I closed it. I opened it again. "This is insane."

"Welcome to my life."

A knock interrupted whatever he was going to say. Tessa's voice, urgent. "Ramon. The elders are calling an emergency council. Now."

I swore under my breath. "Stay here. Lock the door behind me. Don't open it for anyone but me or Tessa."

Martin nodded, still pale.

I hated leaving him. The bond screamed at me to stay, to guard what was mine. But if I didn't handle the council, things would only get worse.

The council chamber was packed. Not just elders, but senior pack members. Warriors. Even some of the younger wolves who rarely bothered with politics.

Elder Sorn, the oldest member of my council, stood at the head of the table. His face was grave. "Alpha. We need to discuss the omega."

"His name is Martin."

"The omega," Sorn continued, "has become a liability. Three days and already there's unrest. Fights breaking out. Wolves questioning your leadership."

"Then they can question me directly."

"It's not that simple. The old laws.."

"Fuck the old laws." My voice cut through the murmurs. "The bond is real. You all felt it at the Rite. The moon goddess herself chose this pairing."

"Or it's a curse," someone called from the back. "Male omegas are forbidden for a reason."

"What reason? Because some ancient Alpha decided they were afraid of what they didn't understand?"

Gregor stepped forward. "With respect, Alpha, you're thinking with your wolf, not your head. That omega is weak. Wrong. He doesn't belong here."

My wolf surged forward. I let it show in my eyes, let them see exactly how close I was to losing control. "Martin is my mate. My Luna and if anyone in this pack has a problem with that, they can challenge me for leadership right now."

Silence. Heavy and dangerous.

No one moved.

"That's what I thought." I looked around the room, meeting each pair of eyes. "I've led this pack through hell and back. I've kept you safe, kept you fed, kept you alive when other packs fell. If you trust me with your lives, trust me with this."

Elder Sorn nodded slowly. "And if the Council comes for him? If Malric sends his enforcers?"

"Then we fight."

"You'd risk the entire pack for one omega?"

I thought of Martin. Scared but trying to be brave. Trembling in my arms but refusing to break. The bond humming between us is like a living thing.

"Yes," I said simply. "I would."

The meeting ended shortly after. No resolution. No agreement. Just a temporary ceasefire while everyone watched and waited to see what would happen next.

I returned to my chambers to find Martin sitting on the floor by the fireplace, a book open in his lap. He looked up when I entered.

"How bad?"

"Could be worse." I dropped into the chair across from him. "Could be better."

He closed the book. "I heard shouting. Through the walls."

"Pack politics. Nothing you need to worry about."

"Everything about this is something I need to worry about." He set the book aside. "Ramon, maybe I should go. Slip away before this gets any uglier. You could tell them the bond was false. That I tricked you somehow."

"And where would you go?"

"I don't know. Somewhere far from here. Far from pack lands."

"Malric would hunt you down within a week. You're too valuable now. Too dangerous to leave alive." I leaned forward. "The moment that bond appeared, your life became political. Running won't change that."

He wrapped his arms around himself. "I never wanted to be political. I just wanted to help people. Heal them."

"You were a healer?"

"In training with Elder Senna. She taught me herbs, remedies, and how to set bones." A ghost of a smile crossed his face. "I was good at it. People trusted me."

"They'll trust you here too. Eventually."

"You really believe that?"

Honestly? I didn't know. But I wasn't about to admit it.

"Give them time," I said instead. "Fear makes people stupid. Once they see you're not a threat, things will settle."

Martin looked at me like I'd grown a second head. "I'm a male omega bonded to their Alpha. I'm the definition of a threat."

He wasn't wrong.

The fire crackled between us. Outside, night had fallen completely. Through the window, the moon hung fat and bright, nearly full again.

Martin's eyes tracked to it. His breathing hitched.

"The moon," he whispered. "It's getting stronger. Can you feel it?"

I could. The pull of the coming full moon always affected wolves, but this was different. The bond amplified everything, making the lunar call nearly unbearable.

"Yeah. I feel it."

"What happens during the full moon? With us. With this bond."

"I don't know. True mate bonds are rare enough. One between an Alpha and a male omega?" I shook my head. "There's no precedent."

His hands were shaking again. "Elder Senna used to give me suppressants. Things to dull the moon's effect. But I don't have them here."

"Would they even work now? With the bond active?"

"Probably not."

We sat in silence, both of us aware of what was coming. In three days, the moon would be full. And whatever this bond wanted from us, it would demand it then.

"I should sleep," Martin said finally, standing. "You probably should too."

But neither of us moved toward the bed.

The bond hummed insistently, a rope pulling us together. I could feel Martin's heartbeat through it. Fast. Nervous. Alive.

"Ramon?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For not giving up on me."

I looked at him properly then. Really looked. Past the fear and the uncertainty to the person underneath. Strong. Resilient. Mine.

"Don't thank me yet," I said. "This is just the beginning."