Cara lay limp in his arms. Her fever rose as her body tried to burn away the impurities from the dirty water. Cradling her close he kissed her temple again, wanting so much to taste her lips. The bond he had with her had to be the reason for his sudden desire to kiss and taste a human.

He wouldn’t.

Darian promised Cara that he would take care of her, and he meant what he’d said. He used his vast speed to race through the forest.

Darian couldn’t move as fast in his human form as he did when he was in his wolf shape, but it was close. He carried her up the incline to the Rizer pack community.

“Killian,” Darian called out for their healer. “She’s sick, and injured too,” Darian said as he lay her gently on his bed.

Killian entered the room. His chiseled jaw line tight, no doubt because of the human on Darian’s bed. Killian inclined his head to show proper respect, his curly dark brown hair falling forward as he did. He did not refuse to help as Darian knew he wouldn’t. Killian with his wide shoulders and gruff exterior had a good heart.

Darian admired long, lean, exquisite body. He knew she would be punching him or trying to claw his eyes out if she were awake. Scolding himself for his invasion of her privacy he draped a blanket over her body.

Killian pushed his hand through his hair with a growl. “You bit her?”

“I thought she was a hunter,” Darian snapped.

Killian looked up from Cara at Darian. “Is she a hunter?”

“No.”

“How can you be certain?” Killian asked, frowning at Darian, his dark blue eyes shrinking under his dark scowling brows. “She could lead others here.”

Darian smoothed the wet hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. “Cara is unconscious. She doesn’t know how to get here.”

“She has fever, and signs of blood poisoning.” Killian gestured to the purple veins beneath her pale skin.

Darian grimaced at the sight of his bite on her arm. “Cara fell in the septic water surrounding Aldrich’s town. I think she may have swallowed some too.”

Killian’s frown deepened. “I will try to help her. Human medicine isn’t the same as ours. She may not be strong enough to survive our methods.”

“Cara is strong enough. She can’t die, Killian,” Darian told to his friend. “She… She is… mine.”

Killian’s brown eyes rounded at Darian. His jaw loosened and his mouth fell open. “You believe she is fated for you?”

Darian didn’t know if that was true, he just knew that he was fated to Cara. She may not ever feel the same about him. The way she looked at him when she saw him was obvious that she despised shifters.

“I will do all that I can,” Killian promised when Darian struggled for words to explain. He raced away to get whatever medical supplies he needed, leaving Darian to look at his mate.

Her arms were so thin and fragile, but he’d seen her strength. He’d seen her determination. She would live through this. Cara would heal and somehow, he would find a way to win her forgiveness.

“I will make this right, Cara. I promise.”

Killian returned with two packs full of supplies. “Jules is worried about you,” Killian said without meeting Darian’s gaze. Jules was a determined she-shifter who made no secret of wanting to mate with Darian. He’d flirted with the idea. They’d shared a few kisses but he’d known even before he’d met Cara, that Jules would never be his mate.

He had to think of the pack.

Jules was too quick to react. She didn’t consider the outcome of her actions or the effect it would have on the pack. Jules loved attention and she craved power. The youngest of her siblings, Jules had grown accustomed to getting what she wanted.

“My place is here with Cara,” Darian said.

“Alpha, forgive me but if you want this human to survive after she is well enough to leave this room you must address the pack. You must prepare them for her presence here in our community. She still smells of Aldrich Town. Our pack will react on instinct.” Killian began to dress the wound on her arm. His own struggle to accept her presence apparent in the set of his tight jaw.

Killian still suffered nightmares from the day their former alpha, Valor was murdered. Darian knew that Killian still blamed himself for bringing the injured man into their community. Many of the shifters even outside the Rizer wolf pack didn’t trust humans. The warring and constant shift in alliances made relying on or trusting in a human, very dangerous.

Many opposed Killian when he saved the man who he found nearly dead on the edge of the mountain. Valor, however, praised Killian for showing mercy. He said that the pack should see his willingness to help the human as a sign of respect, as life in any form is a gift.

Killian swore to be responsible for the human. Valor made the decision to allow the man to stay while he needed medical treatment. After a week, the man awoke from his coma. Killian wanted to take him to the town that was settled beyond the forest at the base of the mountain.

It was Valor who insisted the man stay until he was well enough to return under his own power. Valor took an interest in the man who said he’d escaped from the latest siege by the bear shifters on Los Angeles. Valor wanted to know what the latest happenings were in the bigger city before the siege.

He also wanted to know how the man traveled so far north, he was after all just a human. The man told amazing tales of how he survived one desperate situation to the next. He continued to heal and Valor prolonged his stay.

While the pack left for the morning run one day, the man who’d fully recovered betrayed the pack and murdered the alpha.

The pack knew as Darian did, that it was Valor who chose to keep the human man so close. Killian was not responsible. Convincing the stubborn wolf of this proved impossible.

The whole community was fooled by him, not just Killian. If Killian was at fault, then they were all at fault.

“Are you well enough to care for her correctly?” Darian asked Killian offering him a way out if it proved to be too much to heal Cara.

Killian nodded as he continued to work. “Yes, Alpha. I will not allow her to die. This I vow.” Giving his alpha a vow, Killian tied his destiny with Cara’s outcome. If she died, it would be the alpha’s right to take Killian’s life as well.

Darian closed his eyes concentrating on feeling of magnetism he had with Cara. It was going to be difficult to leave the room. Killian was correct about the pack. They would have to be told. Cara’s safety had to come before his desires, before his own, and even before that of the pack.

The urge to kiss her goodbye was nearly overwhelming. It was still too strange even to Darian to be drawn to the human. Kissing her in front of Killian proved to be too much and yet he couldn’t quite leave without saying something to her. “Come back to me, Cara.”

Darian could feel Jules’ presence in the doorway before he straightened away from his destined mate. “If she wakes while I am gone, tell her I will be right back. Assure her that she is safe.”

Killian inclined his head of dark curly hair. “I will.”

Darian left his room and closed the door to keep others from disturbing Killian as he worked. Jules remained a step behind him. Her energy was wild even though she tried contain it. He could feel it snapping in the air around them like static.

“Why are we saving the human? She is of Aldrich town.”

“I will explain to the pack. You will wait until then,” Darian commanded using the authority in his voice that she would not dare disobey.

The energy in the air increased. Darian could feel her anger, jealousy, and fear. Normally he would try to soothe her, Jules being a member of his pack, but Darian couldn’t. His thoughts were wrapped around Cara.

Seeing her turn toward him with the silver blade, ready to fight a fight she had no prayer of winning… It was the most beautiful, and the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. He clung to the memory. If she died, it would be all he had of her, and he would never take another.

“Shall I call the pack for you?” Jules asked him.

“This is a serious matter. I will call them.” Darian looked at her, gauging to see if she was going to remain in control of herself, and of her wolf. Her short black hair framed her face, and her wild green eyes met my gaze. There was pain there. Rejection.

Jules was a proud woman. She would only grow angrier if Darian tried to soothe her or explain that he hadn’t chosen to feel the way he did.

Darian decided to leave her alone for the time being, she would come to terms with Cara. She wouldn’t have a choice. Neither did Darian, for that matter.

He howled, summoning the pack. He did not have long to wait. His pack was quick to come to his call.

Darian stood in the center of the courtyard looking his pack over as they arrived. The Rizer pack was larger than any of the other wolf shifter packs. It marked them as a formidable force among the shifter communities.

After Valor died Darian stepped up into the role of Alpha. He’d fought Rafi Le Roche for the position. It was brutal fight, but necessary. Everyone knew that Rafi still wanted the position of Alpha. For now though, he a played the part of submitting Rizer pack member.

Rafi also hated humans.

He was born of werewolves. It was a pure blood kind of superiority with Rafi. Darian too was born of werewolves, but his parents did not encourage hate. They were like Valor. They tried to teach Darian to be an accepting man.

Rafi’s intolerance of humans renewed when the human killed Valor. He took pleasure killing the human hunters, forgetting the value of life.

The pack was nearly thirty shifters large. As Darian looked out at them not at all sure how he would tell them that he’d bonded with a human woman.

It was likely Rafi would take the opportunity to fight Darian again for the title of Alpha. Darian couldn’t help the disappointment he felt toward Rafi. Hating humans like he did was not how Valor taught them to behave.

Swallowing, Darian knew he was guilty of this too. Hadn’t he been ready to kill Cara before she’d lifted a finger against him?

“I know you can sense the stranger here,” Darian began. “I brought her here after I attacked her.”

“Why?” Jules asked shaking her head at him. “Why didn’t you just finish her?”

Darian cut his eyes to Jules. She took a small step back and lowered her gaze.

“We suffered a great loss when Aldrich killed Valor. He betrayed our trust, and he darkened our hearts with hate.”

Rafi’s ears perked as he tilted his head to the right, his long black hair contrasting with his pale skin. His thick brows drew together at the bridge of his nose.

“I assumed so much about her when I saw her,” Darian continued. He wanted to make them understand. He wanted them to recognize how wrong they were. “I saw a person dragging a dead body from the poisonous stale water. The body was bloodied, the neck broken.”

“She killed him,” Balder said folding his arms.

“It’s what I thought too. I watched her, thinking she was pulling her victim from the water. I saw her cry for him and still I believed she killed him. She didn’t. Aldrich killed him. The dead man saved Cara.”

Rafi rolled his thick shoulders. His impatience palpable. “What does this human business have to do with us?”

“I watched Cara, attacked her. She fought me off and still I stalked after her biding my time. Injured and poisoned from the mote, she walked without resting to Everclear.”

Ian, and Errol, the twins, widened their eyes, acknowledging that she was strong. They were the first to show any sign of accepting her.

“She bathed away the filth of the poison water and it was then that I caught her true scent.” Darian hardened his gaze as he looked over his pack. “She is my mate. Any who cannot swear to protect her are not welcome to remain with the Rizer pack.”

The collected intake of breath was followed by silence. Several moments passed with strained, unspoken words.

Ian bowed his head showing his allegiance to pack Rizer. Lena was next, her dark braids swung as she too bowed her head. Next, Errol. Then Maddock. The remaining pack members bowed their heads. All except for Rafi.

Rafi open and closed his hands at his sides. He was struggling with it, they could all see it. He looked up at Darian.

This is it.

“Do you mean to turn her? Do you truly believe her to be strong enough to be the female alpha to our pack?” Rafi asked.

Darian didn’t expect Rafi to ask this question. However, refused to play games and tell Rafi anything other than the truth. “I bit her when I attacked. If she survives, she is already turned.” Darian raised his voice, his tone demanding silence as he continued. “She’s my fated partner. You know as well as I do, there is no choice in the matter when it comes to destined matches.”

“What if you’re wrong? We haven’t seen a destined match in our lifetime. How do you know you’re not mistaking?” Jules demanded her green eyes suspiciously moist. “What if she leaves? How will you lead us when this human from town Aldrich tears your insides to mush?”

Darian met her angry gaze. “If that is what will be, then another will have to challenge me for the position of alpha.”

Jules grabbed Darian’s arm. “Sever the tie now, while it’s still new. Let her die. She is human. She is of town Aldrich, a sworn enemy of our pack. Cara, as you call her, is only here to tear the pack apart. Aldrich wants us weak. He sent her here. This is his doing.”

His first instinct was to pull away from Jules. She was so jealous she could hardly contain it. Jules would say anything to cast doubt onto Cara even though she’d never met her.

The pack would not trust him to lead if he reacted on emotion alone. Darian removed her hand from his arm. “Cara is innocent. She is not Aldrich. She is my mate.” Darian bit out the last two words. His voice echoed off the walls of the now quiet room.

Jules glared down at her feet, but made no move to leave.

At last Rafi took a step forward. “I will honor your wishes. You are my alpha.”

Darian narrowed his gaze on the other wolf, surprised by his sudden wiliness to accept the outsider. The energy in the air quieted to a raw submission of his command.

It wasn’t easy for them, nor was it easy for Darian.

There is peace among us. For now, at least