bChapter /bb51 /b

I’m not just pissed–I’m furious, So angry I can barely think straight.

How dare he?

Jack with his obsessive, possessive behaviour. He had the audacity to question my loyalty, to use Fury of being in love with meb, /bbas /bif I’m some prize they can toss back and forth. I’ve always seen Fury like a brother. No, scratch that–he’s more like a shield I never asked for but somehow always had at my side. Loyal, Protective.

But Jack didn’t see any of that.

He stood there, all Alpha pride and sharp usations, speaking down to me like I was his possession. He saw red, snarling like a territorial beast, iming no one else had the right to even look at me.

I didn’t mean the things I said. I know my words came out like knives, but I couldn’t stop myself. He pushed me too far. And when I snapped, I saw the way his eyes flinched–like I’d hurt him worse than he expected. Maybe that’s what’s wing at my conscience now.

But he struck a nerve–and I bled rage.

And now, all I feel is regret. Regret for wasting even a second on that fight, Because while we were busy tearing each other apart over egos and feelings, my mother is still suffering in that goddamned hellhole.

I shake my head, forcing the anger and guilt to the back of my mind. I need to focus.

There’s only one thing that matters now–getting my mother out of Red Night Pack.

And I don’t have time to waste.

I shift.

Bones crack, fur explodes across my skin, and my body elongates into the sleek, towering form of my wolf. The wind rushes past me as I take off like a bullet, the world blurring beneath my paws.

I run harder than I ever have.

By the time I reach the Blood Fang Pack’s border, the warriors stationed there freeze in ce.

Their eyes widen, jaws ck. I see the awe in their faces as they instinctively step back at the sight of me. I’m massive–sleek, deadly, unforgettable. No one dares stand in my way. If they tried, they’d be nothing but dust.

Hours pass in what feels like minutes.

My muscles scream, my breath is ragged, but I don’t stop for water ior /ito breathe. I only stop when I’m close–close enough to smell the stench of the Red Night Pack.

I skid to a halt behind a thick tree line and shift back into my human form. Sweat clings to my skin, my hair is tangled, and my body trembles from the exertion. I square my shoulders, draw in a deep breath, and march forward–barefoot and burning with rage.

There are five guardszily manning the border, leaning on spears like they’ve never taken a threat seriously in their lives. Typical Red Night trash.

“Well, well, well,” one of them smirks, nudging the other with augh. “Look who crawled back home. Did ya miss us, sweetheart?”

Another snorts. “Maybe she missed my bed. Bet she’s been dreaming about bit /bsince she left.”

I clench my fists and force myself to keep walking. Don’t lose control or shift.

“I’m here for my mother,” I say through gritted teeth. “Where is she?”

13:30 Sat, 21 Jun

Hy het vinttad, the fat one thackles, ing his tips “She’s right where you’ll be if you beg pretty arpitigh”

bI /bdon’t think 1 lunch.

Ah Kat stams into his jaws, and 1 hear the crunch of bone before he hits the dirt. The others scramble, surprised. I dodge one’s spear, grab it, and snap it in hall across my knee before bjamming /bthe broken end into his gut. He crumples with a scream,

The next three don’t fare better

chaos, Rage. ws

I don’t even bother fully shifting–just enough to let my ws rip through them like paper. Blood sprays, screams echo, and when thest one goes down, I stand over them panting, wild–eyed, covered in bruises and blood that isn’t mine.

Fwaste no time as I march straight toward the Alpha’s house, my legs aching

My wolf paces inside me, restless.

“This is why we should have asked mate for help,” she growls. “If you had just asked nicely, he would’ve burned this entire pack down for us.”

“Shut up, I hiss aloud. “I don’t need him.”

The mansion looms ahead. I barely stop at the foot of the stairs before I throw my head back and yell:

“DIANA! GET YOUR FUCKING ASS OUT HERE!”

No Luna title. No respect. No fear.

I hear it immediately–footsteps. Heavy. More than one set. Dozens.

I nce around, and sure enough, I’m surrounded. Maybe twenty warriors, maybe more. Closing in like wolves circling prey. But I stand my ground. I bare my teeth.

“Release my mother!” I scream again. “Right this fucking minute! Or I swear to the moon, I’ll burn this pack to the fucking ground!”

The mansion doors finally open.

And out walks Diana.

Majestic and smug, her dress flowing like she thinks she’s royalty. And behind her, Travis–ugh. His smirk is as punchable as ever. Funny how he looks like he aged backwards… probably because Grace is draining his soul every day. She’s clinging to his arm like he’s some golden prize. I roll my eyes. Must be exhausting being glued to ba /bleech.

But I only have eyes for Diana.

“I knew you’de crawling back,” she purrs.

“Release. My. Mother.” My voice shakes with fury.

Diana lifts her chin. “Or what?”

I growl, low and dangerous then she raises her hand, and the warriors move.

They rush me all bat /bonce.

b1 /bfight.

69%

God, I fight. My ws are out, shing, blood flying, I don’t stop moving, even as bruises bloom across my body. I’m faster, sharper. But they just keep bing/b. Blow after blow, numbers piling, weight dragging me down.

bMy /bvision blurs, the world spinning as my knees crash against the ground. Dirt and blood stain my tongue. Everything aches. But above it allb, /bI hear her.

That Laugh

Diana’s Laugh Triumphant Cruel bWicked/b.

The sound cuts through the fog in my mind, dragging me back to consciousness, I grit bmy /bteeth and force bmy /beyes openb, /bevery nerve in my body screaming in protest.

I can’t pass out, not until my mother is bsafe/bb. /b

-Release… bmy /bmother…” I whisper, barely audible, but i bknow /bshe hears bme/b. My voice bmay /bbe bfaint/b, bbut /bbthe /bfire behind it isn’t.

“Fine 11 release bher/b.” She steps closer, leaning down, eyes bglinting /bwith bpoison/b. “bBut /byou’ll pay for it… bwith /byour life.”

1 bexhale /bshakily, Tothing bmy /bchin bjust /bba /bfraction

“Deal”

I was never afraid of death

Never

She signals to one of the warriors with a bfick /bbof /bbher /bbperfectly /bmanicured hand. A momentter, bI /bhear it bher /bscream.

b“/bMama….b” /bbMy /bheart cherches paindully

*KALI!” she cries. “Why did youe back sold you to runb. /bbTo /bforget about me. To never look back”

( cough, nd sgriling from theer of my mouth, and let bout /bba /bhalf brokenugh” could never leave you. You’re my mother.”

Pies voice cracks like a bwing /b“his, ‘ For That’s why I wanted byou /bbto /bfind your real family! I’ve ved my life. Let me die so I can curse the Moon Goddess bherself /bfor grunng me the most usatees, heartless make?”

Pain sears deeper than any wound bby /bchest tightens with grief bi /bbdet /bhave time bto /bprocess

“Take her away” Grace shape candy, stapping down from Friss side like she’s the goddess of this cursed pce. “She’s said enough.”

“his–bwait/b,” I rasp, my usuce barely tolding together ( seach out with ba /btrembling hand toward Diana. “Let her go. You have me. That was the deal–”

Grack strides up to me bslowly/b, like a bpredator /bsavoring her will

Esu made a huge mestakeing back,” she sneers, crouching in front of me. Her breath is sharine, her smide venomous, “And how byou’re /bon your kos het lie bi /bprometed you.”

bAnd /bbjust /blike that her, her hand smashes across my face. White hat bpain /bexplodes bbehind /bbmy /beyes. Stars burst in my vision. The taste of blood floods my

*1 sold you,” she hesses, grabbing ba /bbfistful /bof my hair and yanking bmy /bhead back. “You’d regret ever disrespecting me. And now, bI /bam byour /bLuna.”

My w smarts in bmy /bhead, pacing wildly

Te me out let my tear them agart, Let then see what we are.”

“Water side, my lips barely moving

34

b“/bThen tell them who our mate is. Tell them Jack is ours. They’ll stop If they know”

1shake my head slightly, blood dripping from my split lip. “We don’t bear his mark. They won’t believe me.”

My woll growis in frustration, but before I can say another word-

A rear splits the air. A sound so deep, so primal, it shakes the earth beneath me. The sky itself seems to still.

I know that growl. Even half–dead, bruised and bleeding, I know that growl.

Jack.

b09/b%

The one man who made my heart race even when I wanted to hate him.

The Alpha who calls me his

Then, like a storm crashing into a battlefield, Jack appears beside me in a blur of fury. His eyes glow like burning coals, teeth bared, and power rolls off him in waves that make the warriors hesitate.

Grace raises her hand again, but it never connects. Jack grabs her wrist mid–air, his grip like iron.

“You darey a finger on my mate?” His voice is calm–but deadly. “I’ll make sure you never lift another finger in your life.”

Then his other hand moves–lightning–fast. He seizes her by the throat and, with a single brutal motion, lifts her off the ground.

Grace’s eyes bulge. She kicks. Chokes. Her nails scratch down his arm, desperate but Jack doesn’t budge.

SNAP.

The sound of her neck breaking is soft… but final. Her body copses like a broken doll at his feet.

Silence falls–deafening.

bI /bstare, stunned, barely breathing. Did that really just happen?

Somewhere in the crowd, a horrified voice shouts, “You… you killed our future Luna!”

Jack turns slowly, his expression dark and feral. His lips curl into a cold, wicked smirk. “Oops,”

Then his gaze sweeps the crowd, daring.

“Now…” His voice dropping to a growl.

“Who wants to die next?”