Vulnerability [noun] - the state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.

author's note: i am loving writing this book. how are you finding it so far?

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My mind reeled and I swiped away the hot tears before I crawled back on my knees. Arms hooked underneath my armpits and I was hauled upwards. It was only when I inhaled a sharp breath that I realised my father was holding me against him.

"I don't know what just came over her, Alpha! Please forgive her." His voice was enshrouded in panic.

I shook my head, incoherently muttering until I spoke clearly. "Dad, no." I stood up straight and leaned against him. "Look."

He looked at his name on my wrist and gasped. Alpha Eryx stepped towards us and gripped my hand in his to get a proper look. His sharp grey eyes softened and the tension in his body dissipated. It was then that it dawned on me that I had committed an act of war by trying to kill the alpha. But what had happened after eliminated the threat of war.

I was his. He couldn't wage war on me or my pack.

"Peculiar..." he murmured, letting go of my hand. "Your names appeared instead of your words."

My gaze locked onto his again and I realised he hadn't taken his eyes off me once. The confirmation that he was my mate changed things. I was enraged further. He had tried to kill me.

The thought came into my mind before I could stop it. You tried to kill him too, Rina.

I looked at my name on his wrist, burned into his skin and a permanent brand that linked us together. He yanked his sleeve back down and his lips parted.

"I didn't come to be a spectacle and I'm sure we didn't gather here for this, Eryx." His deep voice pierced the air and although he wasn't speaking to me, his eyes remained on mine.

Alpha Eryx glanced between us and nodded once. "Vivian, why don't you take Rina to Sara to get her leg checked out?"

"No," his tone was sharp. "She stays."

My mum faltered and I hooked an arm around my dad's shoulders to stand upright. How dare he? I lifted my chin indignantly. "You know how I got this injury." My eyes narrowed in anger and I ignored the sounds of confusion. "I'm not staying anywhere near you."

His eyes narrowed in return. It seemed like our first words to each other were hostile. It was a miracle that they weren't etched onto our skin.

He stayed silent for a moment. He was tall and when he squared his shoulders, he practically towered over me. The dominance rolled off him in waves. "You're staying," he commanded, finally breaking eye contact to look at Eryx. "Bring the doctor to her."

He's going to need a doctor if I get my way.

I gritted my teeth as I saw red. My dad clamped his arm around my waist to keep me from going anywhere. His dark eyebrows furrowed in confusion and he spoke in my mind seconds later.

'Rina, what has gotten into you? Calm down before he retaliates!'

I exhaled harshly. 'Let him.'

I knew my anger was speaking for me. He was the war's victor and had a sense of military prowess that trumped all the other alphas. Knowing that just made me angrier because what did I do to make him want to kill me? Or had he just been sick, twisted and bored?

The tension was palpable in the air and I was sure no one wanted to move from watching us until he shut the 'spectacle' down. I stared at him, noticing how he seemed less composed after my name appeared on his wrist.

"Give me a moment alone with her."

The growl rumbled in my chest and my dad held me tighter. I knew the alphas would honour his request but my parents were the only reluctant ones. I knew my dad could feel the anger boiling in my body and I presumed they knew I would attack him again the first chance I got.

"I-I think we should deal with the bleeding first, Alpha," my father implored, gesturing to the blood that was now leaking through my jeans.

The metallic stench was back.

"We'll deal with that when the doctor gets here. I'm not going to ask again to be alone with her." His jaw clenched and his gaze levelled on my father's, waiting for him to challenge him again.

Alpha Eryx placed a hand on my father's shoulder. "Ezra."

My father's hold on me loosened and I forced the majority of my weight on my good leg. Other than the snow crunching underneath their shoes, it was silent as they all began to filter into the house.

I swallowed my rage when it dawned on me that injured and alone, I had no chance at winning. He inspected me in silence then spoke.

"You're her."

"Go to hell," I growled.

I had no idea what he meant by that but he didn't get to try and kill me and then change after discovering I was his mate.

"I'm going to overlook that you just tried to kill me—"

"To ease the guilt you feel for trying to kill me first?" I interrupted, squeezing my fists tightly. I was drawing blood but I didn't care.

"If I had wanted to kill you, I would have." He looked down at my fist and gripped my wrist again.

He stepped forward and kept a solid hold on me so I couldn't rip my arm away. He turned my hand to look at his name on my skin. I hated the way the mate pull made me instantly relax. His touch sent gentle shockwaves through my arm and now I wasn't blinded by my rage, it completely dawned on me that by nature his touch would always feel good.

"Am I supposed to thank you?"

His amber eyes snapped up to mine and up close, I noticed they were a muted version of his eyes in wolf form. His proximity forced me to take in his appearance—angular jaw, defined cheekbones and a five o'clock shadow. His hair was black and the straight strands inched over his forehead.

"Why did you run?"

My breath quickened in anger. "Why did you chase me?" I tugged my arm backwards but he kept his grip on me. I leaned forward and my dark brown waves fell like a curtain over my face. I lowered my voice so only he could hear me. "You were going to kill me if I didn't get through that gate. You tried to kill the beta's daughter and you would have broken the treaty."

He laughed mirthlessly. "I'm the reason the treaty isn't broken. And you no longer have a leg to stand on." The irony wasn't lost on me. "You tried to kill me in front of everyone."

"So what?" I shook my hair away from my face. "We're even now?" I turned my hand over to expose his wrist and lifted it between us. "Here's our punishment."

His eyes flitted to his skin and his jaw ticked. "Hardly a punishment if you're a luna now, is it—Rina?"

The sound of my name coming from his mouth sent shivers down my spine. My breath hitched at the back of my throat and I shook off the dizzying effect that he had on me. "You make it sound like a prize. Am I your prize, Kane?"

He was quiet for a moment and reluctantly let go of my hand. "Let's call a truce. We're evidently still alive."

I bit back my first rebuttal and limped backwards. I knew his motive. "You just don't want another war on your hands."

He let out a deep chuckle. "Mutually assured destruction isn't my thing. Why would I want you dead?"

"That's what I've been asking myself all morning," I hissed. "Who's to say you won't try again?"

Annoyance flashed in his eyes. "I'm a man of my word. Are you a woman of yours?"

I still had an overwhelming desire to instil fear in him the way he did to me but something told me that fear wasn't an emotion he felt. I saw none in his eyes when he stalked me from behind the trees.

"I am. But don't think this truce changed anything. First impressions matter and you've made the worst one."

His features remained impassive at my words. "You wouldn't be the first to say that." He looked down at my leg. The blood had stained my sock now and I knew I wanted to go home. "She's coming now."

Seconds later, Sara, the pack doctor, came into view. She was carrying a first aid kit and when she saw us together, she faltered for a moment before she hesitantly approached. She could smell and see the blood and she winced as she spoke.

"Why don't we go inside, Rina? I'm going to need you to sit down for me."

I nodded. "I'm not entirely too sure how bad the cut is. I was distracted when I wrapped it."

Sara hummed in acknowledgement and made a move to help me walk when Kane stepped forward.

"I'll carry her," he said, giving me no time to refuse as he hooked his arm behind my knees and hoisted me up.

I gripped his shoulders, surprised. "What are you doing?"

His gaze cut to mine. "What does it look like I'm doing? This is the quickest way." He began the walk to the door and I shut my mouth when I felt the relief of not being on my feet anymore.

His muscles tensed underneath my fingertips and I couldn't help but notice them. He was strong and his power practically emanated from his body.

Sara pushed open the front door and headed for the living room. My parents were sitting on the sofa against the window, looking distracted as if they had to pretend they weren't eavesdropping on our conversation. I sensed the alphas upstairs where they were going to conduct their meeting.

Kane set me down on the opposite sofa and Sara kneeled in front of me.

"Okay, Rina. I'm going to take your socks and shoes off so I can clean the blood and then dress your wound again."

I nodded without a word, watching as she set everything up. She rolled my jeans up and I winced when I saw the bandage was soaked with my blood. It had gotten worse. She unwrapped the bandage and placed it straight into a plastic bag.

It was a nasty gash. The barbed wire had taken a piece of my flesh and I felt dizzy just looking at it. I didn't notice it before. She cleaned it and looked up at me apologetically.

"This needs stitches. Why didn't you come straight to me?"

I glanced at Kane before answering. He was standing by the door with his arms folded across his expansive chest. He had no emotion on his face. "Adrenaline, I guess. I thought I dealt with it."

She frowned as she set up the needle and thread. I grabbed onto a throw pillow to squeeze as she stitched my cut together. When she wrapped a new piece of gauze around my leg, she left my jeans where they were. She pulled her gloves off and packed everything away.

"All done. It'd be a good idea to change your jeans and socks." Her warm blue eyes shone with compassion and she tucked her ginger hair behind her ears. "Come straight to me if the stitches open, okay? It should be completely healed in a few days or so."

I sat up straighter and nodded. "Thank you, Sara." I smiled at her as she said goodbye and left.

My mum was the first to stand up. She chanced a wary glance at Kane then spoke. "What do you want to do? Should I get a change of clothes from the house or should I ask Luna if she has anything for you?"

Luna Melia answered for me when she came into the living room with a pair of joggers and fresh socks. "I overheard Sara and thought this would be more comfortable. Put everything that's dirty in the washing machine and I'll take care of it for you."

I smiled gratefully. "Thank you." I took it from her and watched her leave. My parents hesitated to follow her.

Kane's commanding voice sounded moments later. "I presume they want to start the meeting now. Why don't you two go upstairs and I'll wait for her?"

His tone left no room for argument and my parents gave me apologetic looks. As soon as they left, he turned in the doorway too.

"I'll be right outside. Tell me when you're done."

When he left, I sighed as I changed out of my jeans. The joggers were a welcome choice when the softer material was easier to pull on. I changed my socks and gathered everything. I shuffled to the door, feeling better already.

He was leaning against the wall when I emerged and took my clothes from my hands. He wrapped a strong arm around my waist and held me against him as we walked to the kitchen. It was only when he put my clothes in the washing machine that he lifted me into his arms again.

My body was in two states. One side of me wanted to get as far away as possible from him and the other found comfort in the sort of touch I had never received before.

I couldn't hide my disdain as he walked up the stairs towards Alpha Eryx's office. "Let me walk in myself."

Kane stared at me for a moment then put me down. He opened the door and they all turned to look at us. Each person had a seat at the round table and there was one seat left for him.

I limped over to the small couch in the corner and watched as he took his designated seat at the table.

Alpha Eryx cleared his throat. "I welcome you to the third year of honouring the treaty." He rolled out the piece of parchment paper where the details and signatures were written out. "Why don't we begin with a reminder of the terms so we—"

He paused and when he turned his head and his eyes became glassy, it was a sign he was in a mind link. I watched as his eyes narrowed and the tension built in his body. He cut off the mind link and his gaze snapped to mine.

My heart plummeted at the anger in his eyes but I quickly learned it wasn't aimed at me.

"Rina. Why don't you tell us exactly how you got that wound and why your blood and your scent," he paused to glance at him, "was found at the gates?"