Dorian Vale kicked a rock so hard it broke against a tree trunk. His dark eyes burned with hurt that felt like acid in his chest.
"She forgot about me," he muttered, walking back and forth near the old creek where he and Aria used to play as kids.
"Just like that. One stupid mate bond and I don't exist anymore."
The trees around him felt empty. Like the whole world had changed when Aria became important and left him behind in the shadows.
He'd watched from the servant rooms as fancy wolves bowed to her. Seen her walk into Moonhold castle like she belonged there. Like she hadn't spent eighteen years cleaning floors and serving better wolves alongside him.
"Traitor," he whispered. The word felt bitter.
A branch snapped behind him. Dorian spun around, his wolf senses on high alert.
Three wolves stepped out from behind the thick pine trees. They moved wrong—too smooth, too quiet. Their eyes held a strange red glow that made Dorian's skin crawl.
"Easy, little omega," the biggest one said. His voice sounded like grit scraping against stone. "We're not here to hurt you."
"Who are you?" Dorian backed toward the creek, but the water was too shallow to help him escape.
"Friends," the second wolf said. She had long black hair and scars across her cheek. "Friends who know exactly how you feel."
"You don't know anything about me."
"We know you've been replaced," the third wolf spoke up. He was younger than the others, maybe Dorian's age, with wild brown hair. "We know she chose them over you."
Dorian's heart hammered against his ribs. "Chosen by who?"
"The girl who used to be your friend," the scarred woman said softly. "The one who's too good for omega company now."
"Aria didn't—" Dorian started, then stopped.
Because hadn't she? When was the last time she'd talked to him? Really talked, not just quick hellos while running to her fancy new life?
"She's in terrible danger," the big wolf continued. "Right now, up at Moonhold."
"What kind of danger?"
"The kind that gets omegas killed when they reach too high above their station," the young wolf said. His red eyes gleamed brighter. "The Alphas are planning something tonight. Something that will destroy her."
"You're lying." But Dorian's voice shook. Because deep down, he'd always known this would happen. Important wolves didn't keep omega friends. They used them up and threw them away.
"Are we?" The scarred woman tilted her head. "Think about it. Three Alpha brothers fighting over one girl? That never ends well for the girl."
"Especially when their father has other plans," the big wolf added. "Plans that involve using her power and discarding her body."
Terror shot through Dorian like ice water. "What plans?"
"Alpha Magnus has been experimenting on omega women for months," the young wolf said. "Trying to steal magical power for himself. Tonight, he'll finally have what he needs."
"A Moon Wolf," the woman finished. "Your precious Aria."
"No." Dorian's hands curled into fists. "She's strong. She can protect herself."
"Against three Alphas and their father? Against old magic she doesn't understand?" The big wolf laughed coldly. "She's going into a trap, little omega. And there's no one there who truly cares about saving her."
"The brothers—"
"The brothers want to own her," the woman snapped. "There's a difference between wanting someone and wanting to save them."
Dorian's mind raced. He thought about all the times he'd tried to warn Aria about trusting the top ranks. How she'd brushed off his worries with that stubborn look in her violet eyes. She never listened. She never believed him when he said the Alphas would hurt her eventually.
"What do you want from me?" he asked softly.
"Help," the young wolf said. "We're going to save her, whether she wants saving or not."
"We've been watching the pack for weeks," the big wolf explained. "Planning an escape. But we need someone on the inside. Someone who knows the castle plan."
"Someone who really cares about her," the woman added. "Not someone who just wants to claim her."
"Why would you help her? You don't even know Aria."
The three wolves traded looks. Something passed between them that made Dorian's stomach twist with dread.
"Let's just say we have our reasons," the big wolf said finally. "Reasons that involve making sure innocent omegas don't get sacrificed for Alpha ambitions."
A distant roar echoed across the forest, so deep and strong it made the ground shake beneath their feet. The sound came from the direction of Moonhold.
"What was that?" Dorian gasped.
"Trouble," the woman said sadly. "The kind of trouble that means we're almost out of time."
Another roar, closer this time. Trees in the distance began falling, crashing to the ground with enormous booms.
"Something's been awakened," the young wolf whispered, his red eyes wide with what looked like excitement. "Something ancient and hungry."
"All the more reason to get your friend out of there," the big wolf said quickly. "Before whatever that thing is decides to make her its first meal."
Dorian stared toward Moonhold, where strange lights now sparked in the sky above the castle. His heart pulled in two directions—toward the girl who'd been his only real friend, and away from the danger that seemed to grow greater every second.
"She left me behind," he said, but his voice cracked with pain.
"She's still your friend," the woman said gently. "Friends forgive. Friends save each other."
"Even when it hurts," the young wolf added. "Even when they don't deserve it."
The ground shook again. This time, Dorian heard screaming mixed with the monster's roar.
"People are dying up there," the big wolf said. "Including her, if we don't move fast."
"What's your plan?" Dorian asked.
"Simple," the woman smiled, showing teeth that looked too sharp. "We go in during the chaos. Find the girl. Get her out before the Alphas can finish their ritual."
"What ritual?"
"The one that will either give Magnus unlimited power or kill everyone in the castle trying," the young wolf explained. "Either way, your Aria doesn't survive."
Another crash echoed through the trees. Closer still.
"Decide now," the big wolf ordered. "Come with us and maybe save her life, or stay here and definitely lose your friend forever."
Dorian looked one last time toward the faraway lights of Moonhold. Somewhere up there, Aria was facing dangers she'd never imagined.
Dangers he'd tried to warn her about. Maybe she had forgotten him. Maybe she really didn't need him anymore. But he still needed her.
"I'm in," he said.
The three wolves grinned, their red eyes burning brighter in the darkness.
"Excellent," the woman purred. "Now let's go save your friend."
As they raced through the forest toward the chaos surrounding Moonhold, Dorian didn't notice the hungry look in his new friends' eyes.
He didn't see them trade triumphant glances behind his back. And he certainly didn't understand that he wasn't joining a rescue mission. He was leading the real enemy straight to Aria's heart.