bChapter /bb58 /b

bra’s /bPOY

“Let her go.”

My voice slired through the tension, colder than it meant it to be, but my eyes were locked on Garron’s hand on friss’s shoulder, like fire to me, m if it was nothing but a casual gesture to him.

Garron didn’t even finch. In fact, he spat on the ground, his eyes glearning with malice. “What the hell does this have to do with you? Stay out of it. Fur This is my soldier”

I took a step forward, my feet solid on the ground, determined not to back down. “I’m not just going to stand here and watch you bully her. Take your hand off her now.”

Garron’sughter rang out, loud and obnoxious, echoing through the space. He raised his voice so that everyone around us could hear “This is a nee one! The Gamma of Blood Moon Pack is giving me orders now, What’s next, rab! /bYou nning a coup, or do you really think the Direstone Pack’s soldiers are so beneath you that we have to listen to yourmands?

He knew how to shift the spotlight, I bcould /balready feel eyes on me, the disdain in their res piercing through me.

Owen snickered from behind him. “ssic ra, Always thinks she’s above everyone else. Always the center of attention.”

Tignored the sneers and focused on Garron. “You know exactly what I’m talking babout/bb./b”

I stopped closer, my voice low, almost a whisper, but sharp enough for him to hear. “I know what you’ve been doing. This is yourst chance toe clean. Don’t blow it”

Garron teaned in, his grin widening, showing off his rotten teeth. “Oh, really? What exactly are you using me of? Do you have any proc. ra?”

by stomach twisted. The problem was, I didn’t have any solid evidence. And Garron could see right through me.

Mys

Seeing the frustration on my face, he smirked even wider. His hand slid down, grabbing a handful of Triss’s rear.

“Triss, looks like Gamma bra’s /btrying to defend you,” he chuckled. b“/bNow, tell her, am I treating you unfairly?”

Triss stood like a statue, her body stiff, her gaze fixed downward, as if the bvery /bair around her was suffocating her

It btook /bwhat felt like an eternity for her to speak, and when she did, her voice was barely audible….No.”

Garron’s eyes lit up in twisted satisfaction. “Louder! Let Gamma ra bhear /byou bloud /band clear

Triss’s voice rang out, shaky but clear, “No I’m not being mistreated.”

if he was inplete control

Tears shimmered in her eyes, catching the light just enough for me to notice. It was like a bdagger /bto my chest, but I couldn’t let it show

Owen leaned forward, his tone mocking, “And isn’t Garron just the best leader? Tell her, Triss. Tell her how blucky /byou are to follow bhis /blead”

Triss’s voice trembled again, but she forced the words bout /b“Yes. I am very lucky to follow Gamma Garron’s lead.”

Anger surged binside /bme, hot and unrelenting. My fists clenched, ready to throw a punch, but Triss’s eyes locked with mine. She th plea that stilled my movements.

rhead, a silent

“Alright then,” Garron said, stretching his arms above his bhead /blike he’d just won a battle “Guess that’s settled.” He slung his arm around Owen’s neck like they were best friends. “How about a cold beer, man?”

Owen pinned, “Hell yeah!”

Garron turned toward Triss, raising his voice the he was calling to a dog. “Get moving, T

Trisk wiped her eyes quickly, het moverninis almost robotic, and followed them. As she passed me, the whispered, just loud enough for ardy hur t

“Back down from this for your own good, Gamma ra”

Then she ran off, her footsteps echoing through the space, and I stood there, frozen in ce, watching them walk away

I wanted to shout after her, wanted to reach out and shake her, fut something stopped me. Garron and Owen were like predators dangers and unpredictable. Fighting alongside them wasn’t just risky, it was a death sentence:

Just then, Vessa rushed over, her face pale with shock. “What the hell just happened? I saw everything”

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm swirling inside me. “You just witnessed Garron’s brand of bullying. And I bet it’s something friss deals with every day.”

Vessa threw her arms in the air, clearly furious. “I don’t get it. Why didn’t she fight back?

I shook my head, frustrated. “I don’t get it either. Triss’s strong. bShe /bcould’ve taken both of them down without breaking a sweat. So what’s holding her back?”

Vessa’s eyes narrowed. “Is it because of Garron’s power? That bastard’s like a damn child, but he’s got control over her, doesn’t

I sighed, the pieces starting to fit together. “Weah, I think it’s more than just power. There’s something else going on. Maybe Garron’s got something on her -something personal

Vessa paused, thinking. “You think he’s threatening her family?”

it clicked in my mind, the pieces falling into ce. I pulled out my phone band /btyped quickly.

[ra: Does Triss have any family?

Secondster, Thorne’s reply came in

(Thome: Yeahb. /bShe has parents and two siblings. Want me to find them?).

I didn’t hesitate. (ra: Yes, bplease /bdo.

Momentster, Thorne’s bresponse /bcame in again. Thome: They moved to another city three years ago. No one’s seen them recently, is something

wrong?

Hooked up at Vessa. “Three years ago… That was when Garron’s father died.

it hit me like a ton of bricks. “That’s when Garron started controlling Triss through her family. bWe /bbneed /bto find them, Vessa. This is bigger than we

-thought”

“I’ming with you!” bshe /bdered, determination in her voice.

Without another word, we both rushed out of the training field

Triss’s world had narrowed down to the cold, sterike warehouse. She moved mechanically, her head down, her hands busy with the training tools. bShe /bdidn’t see Garron’s booting until it mmed into her back, knocking her to the floor. A second kick followed,nding hard on her stomach Garron’s

voice was a roar above her.

“What the hell did you say to that bitch ra?? His words dripped with venom. “Have you forgotten about your family? Do you want to see your brother skinned alive, or your sister end up in a damp whorehouse?”

Triss’s body jerked bwith /beach blow, but she didn’t fight back. She couldn’t. Not when she had no idea where her family bwas /bor what Garron bwould /bdo to them. The terror of being utterly powerkiss consumed her.

b2/3 /b

10:50 Wed, b30 /bJul

“I didn’t tell her anything” Triss

rward to grab at Gar

at Garron’s pants. “Mease, don’t hurt my family, I swear i

Owen delivered a hand kick to her shoulder, sending her sprawling back to the floor. “Keep your filthy hands off

Triss swallowed the scream that rose in her throat, the could easily

whims.

them apart if it wasn’t for the fact that her family’s safety was tied to Caron’s

cendured it in silence. When they

the corner of her mouth, but she did tifare cry out. The pain was unbearable, She coughed, blood staining ti finally stopped, Owen stepped back, his chest heaving with effort Garron, sitting casually nei a desk, seemed to enjoy the show

Triss groaned as she dragged herself back to her feet, grabbing onto Garron’s pants again. my family. Can you let me talk to them?”

“Please, Gamma Garron, it’s been three

Owen’s voice was sharp and mocking “You’ve already caused enough trouble today, friss, Stop pushing your fuck”

Garron waved him off, a smirk ying on his lips, it’s fine, Owen, She’s just being greedy I’m used to it by now?”

He grinned cruelly, his footing down on Triss’s knee. “See that little dirt on my shoe?” he sneered “if you can clean it off with your tongu consider your request.”

Triss’s heart dropped. There was nothing left in her but dread. Nothing but the hollow ache of knowing her family’s fate rested in Garron’s hands

?