Chapter 4 THE PUBLIC REVEAL

Joyce's POV

The pack house was chaotic when we arrived. Wolves poured in from every direction, confusion and fear on their faces. I saw Megan push through the crowd toward me, her eyes wide.

"Joyce, what's happening? Harper just called me, freaking out about an emergency meeting."

I showed her the text. The colour drained from her face.

"Oh my god. These photos were taken today?" Her hands trembled as she scrolled through the images. "That's me leaving for my morning run."

"They're watching all of us," I said quietly.

Harper appeared beside us, breathless. "Someone wants to tell me why I got a text saying to get to the pack house immediately or face consequences?" She looked between us. "What consequences? What's going on?"

Before I could answer, Dalton stood at the front of the great hall, waiting for everyone to settle. Victoria appeared beside him, her expression hard as stone. Up close, I could see the signs of grief on her face. Dark circles under her eyes. A tightness around her mouth.

When the hall finally quieted, Dalton spoke.

"The attack on Coastal Pack two nights ago was not random." His voice carried to every corner of the room. "It was a message sent to me specifically by a group called the Hunters."

Whispers rippled through the crowd. I saw parents pulling their children closer.

"Five years ago, I learned about the Hunters when they sent me a message threatening to destroy everyone I cared about." Dalton's gaze swept the room. "I thought staying away from Pine Ridge would keep everyone safe, but I was wrong. They've found us, and they're demanding I reject my fated mate publicly by Christmas Eve, or they'll start killing pack members."

The whispers turned to shouts. People demanding answers, wanting to know who his mate was and why this was happening.

Dalton held up his hand, and the room fell silent.

"My mate is Joyce Rift."

Every eye in the room turned to me. I felt the weight of their stares.

Harper grabbed my hand and squeezed. Megan moved closer, forming a protective barrier.

"I rejected her five years ago because I thought it would save her life from the hunters. The Hunters is an organisation against the mate bond, and their goal is to destroy every Alpha who chooses to be with their fated mate. But rejecting Joyce was the worst mistake I ever made." His voice softened slightly. "And the Hunters know this truth. They know she's my weakness. And they're going to use that against us."

An elder near the front stepped forward. "What's your plan, Alpha?"

"We fight." Dalton's voice was steel. "We have two weeks to prepare. We'll increase patrols, implement a buddy system, and evacuate the children and elderly to allied packs. But we will not bow to terrorists."

Victoria stepped forward. "My brother spent three years infiltrating the Hunters. He died getting us a warning of their plans." Her voice was steady despite the pain in her eyes. "We know their tactics. We know their weapons. And we know their leader will be here personally to oversee the attack."

"Why?" someone called out. "Why does he care so much about mate bonds?"

Victoria's expression darkened. "Because Marcus Vane, the leader of the Hunters, lost his daughter to a mate bond gone wrong. Her fated mate was abusive, and she couldn't leave because the bond made her dependent on him. She eventually took her own life." She paused. "Marcus blames the mate bond itself. He's dedicated his life to destroying them all."

The hall erupted again. People arguing, crying, demanding action.

A woman near the back stood up. "So we're supposed to risk our lives because the Alpha can't control himself? Maybe he should just reject her and save us all the trouble."

"My daughter is right," an older man added. "One wolf's happiness isn't worth the whole pack."

I felt like I'd been slapped. Megan bristled beside me, ready to defend me, but I held her back.

Dalton's eyes flashed gold. "Anyone who thinks I should abandon my mate can leave this pack right now. I won't stop you." His voice was dangerous. "But understand this. The Hunters don't stop at one bond. They want to destroy all mate bonds. If we give in now, they'll just move to the next pack, and the next. Someone has to stand and fight."

"And if that someone gets us killed?" the woman challenged.

"Then we die protecting what makes us wolves," Dalton shot back. "The mate bond is sacred. It's what separates us from ordinary predators. If we abandon that, we're no better than the Hunters."

The room fell into tense silence.

I stood frozen in the midst of it all, trying to process everything. The Hunters were here because of me. Because Dalton loved me, and fate decided we belonged together.

How many people would die because of that?

Dalton's eyes found mine across the room. In them, I saw everything he hadn't said. The apology,  regret, and the desperate hope that I might forgive him.

But I also saw the determination. He wasn't going to reject me again, even if it meant war.

The meeting continued for another hour. Plans were made. Assignments given. By the time it ended, every wolf in Pine Ridge knew we were preparing for battle.

I tried to slip out with the crowd, but Dalton caught my arm.

"Joyce, please. Can we talk?"

I pulled away from his touch. Not because it didn't affect me, it did, more than I wanted to admit, but because I needed space to think. "Not now. I need time to process all of this."

"I understand. But I need you to know something." He moved closer, his voice dropping. "I'm not going to reject you. No matter what they threaten or do. I made that mistake once. I won't make it again."

"Even if people die because of it?"

"People will die if I reject you, too. The Hunters won't stop with one bond. This is bigger than us now." His hand came up to cup my cheek, and this time I didn't pull away. "But I promise you, Joyce. I will protect this pack, whatever it takes."

"That's what you said five years ago," I whispered. "Right before you broke my heart."

His thumb brushed across my cheekbone. "I know and I'll spend the rest of my life proving I've changed, if you'll let me."

I stepped back, breaking the contact. "I need to go."

"Will you at least let me assign guards to you? The Hunters know where you live."

I wanted to refuse and prove I didn't need his protection, but the photos on my phone were proof enough that I did.

"Fine, but they stay outside."

"Thank you." Relief washed over his face. "Joyce, I..."

"Don't." I held up my hand. "Don't say anything else. Not tonight."

I walked away before he could say more, but I felt his eyes following me all the way to the door.

Harper and Megan caught up with me in the parking lot.

"You okay?" Harper asked gently.

"No. But I will be." I looked at both of them. "I'm so sorry you got dragged into this."

"Are you kidding?" Megan linked her arm through mine. "We're not going anywhere. You're stuck with us."

"Besides," Harper added. "I've always wanted to punch a Hunter in the face."

Despite everything, I smiled.

When I got home, I locked myself inside and finally let myself break down.

Five years ago, Dalton had rejected me to save my life.

Now he was refusing to reject me, and it might get us all killed.

My phone vibrated, displaying another text from an unknown number.

This time, it was a single photograph of the old oak tree where Dalton and I had met just hours ago.

Below it read: We're closer than you think.