The party needs to end.” I said, my voice calm but firm. Now.”
Della rolled her eyes, swinging her wine glass toward me, red liquid splashing onto my white blouse. Look who’s back, the housekeeper herself.
I took a deep breath, struggling to control my anger. ‘I am the Luna of this Pack, and this is my home. Please ask your friends to leave.
“Luna?” she feigned surprise, voice loud enough for everyone around to hear, ‘Oh darling, don’t you understand yet? You’re just an outdated accessory Maddox keeps you around out of pity.”
Something broke inside me. Red fury washed over my vision, my wolf instincts nearly breaking through. I could feel my eyes beginning to change color.
1 stepped forward, “Get, Out. Of. My. House.”
Fear flickered across Della’s face, and she stepped back, bumping against the pool edge, her beer glass slipping from her hand. For a moment, I felt a savage satisfaction. Then she screamed and ran away.
When Maddox found me that evening, his face was contorted with rage.
“What did you do to Della?” he demanded, grabbing my arm so hard it bruised.
“Nothing,” I said truthfully. “I just asked her to end the party and send the guests away!”
“Liar!” he roared, dragging me back to the house. “She told me what you did.”
In our living room, Della sat on the couch, crying dramatically. On the coffee table lay a silver bracelet, one I’d never seen before.
“She threatened me with this,” Della sobbed. ‘Said she’d wrap it around my throat if I didn’t do what she said. She… she even said she’d hurt the baby…”
“That’s not true!” I protested. “I’ve never seen that bracelet before!”
Maddox’s hand connected with my cheek, the force of the slap sending me stumbling backward.
“Don’t lie to me,” he hissed. “Della’s pregnant. My child is inside her. Did you think I’d let you harm them?”
The news hit me. Della, pregnant.
“I wouldn’t hurt her,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. “Maddox, please. You know me.”
But he didn’t know me anymore. Or maybe he didn’t want to.
He dragged me to the garage, forced me to shift into my wolf form, and then-
The silver chain came down on Nova’s back, burning through fur and skin. The pain was excruciating, unlike anything I’d ever felt. I howled in agony, but no one came to help. No one cared.
That was the first time, but not the last. It became his preferred method of punishment, using silver to hurt Nova, leaving marks that would never heal, but keeping my human form unblemished so no one would know.
The abuse continued until the day Clifflands soldiers arrived at our borders. When Maddox learned they wanted Lunas as tributes, he’d practically gift- wrapped me for them.
“Hey, you okay?” Bryloch’s voice pulled me from my dark memories. “You went somewhere else for a minute.”
I blinked, realizing we were now in the bathroom. Bryloch had started the shower, steam filling the room.
‘Just… remembering, I admitted.
1/2
Chapter 215
His expression darkened. “Maddox?”
I nodded.
‘Come here,” he said softly, pulling me into his arms again. “Let’s wash those memories away.”
Under the hot spray of the shower, with Bryloch’s gentle hands washing my hair, I felt the darkness receding. This was my life now, safety, respect, love. Maddox was the past. Bryloch was my future.
The Clifflands stadium was packed, the energy of the crowd electrifying as we made our way to our private bes. Jung and Rufry were already there, along with Amelia. Freya joined us moments later, her pregnancy now visible beneath her flowing dress.
“Good morning, ladies,‘ I greeted, accepting a glass of juice from an attendant. “Ready for some entertainment?”
“Absolutely,” Ruby grinned. “Nothing like watching sweaty men beat each other up to start the day.”
We laughed, settling into the comfortable seats. From our vantage point, we had a perfect view of the arena below, where two werewolves were already circling each other in a wrestling match.
Juno, Ruby and Amelia quickly went elsewhere to watch the croquet match.
“I’m going to grab some sandwiches,” Freya announced after a while.
And she headed out, leaving me to continue watching the games.
I was just commenting on one wrestler’s technique when I felt it, a familiar presence that sent ice through my veins. Nova whimpered in my mind, and I knew without turning that Maddox was nearby.
“Scarlett,” his voice confirmed my fear.
Chapter Comments
Visitor
Not a good place for Della. Wonder if they’re just buddies or friends with benefits?
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