After Mom died, Dad couldn't look at anyone else. He spent his days with Aurelius instead—the Sacred Spirit Wolf, our pack's guardian sent by the Moon Goddess herself. I thought if I took Aurelius away for a while, Dad might finally move on. So I brought the magnificent golden wolf with me to Seattle for three years of graduate school. When I finally heard Dad had found someone new, I was thrilled. Monica, he said. A sweet omega from one of the smaller packs. She looked a bit like Mom, apparently. I booked the first flight home. The whole pack was gathering at the estate tonight—Dad wanted to introduce Monica to everyone, make it official. I couldn't wait to meet her. I should have known better. The second I stepped through the door of our old manor with Aurelius at my side, they were waiting. Monica and three of her friends, blocking the entrance like a wall of perfume and barely concealed hostility. I recognized Monica from the photo Dad sent. She did look like Mom—same honey-blonde hair, same delicate features. But where Mom's eyes had been warm, Monica's were cold calculation. "Well, well." Her voice dripped with false sweetness. "The little homewrecker finally shows her face." I blinked. "I'm sorry, what?" The slap came out of nowhere. My head snapped to the side, cheek exploding in pain. Before I could even process what happened, her foot connected with my stomach. I doubled over, gasping. Aurelius growled low beside me, but I held up a hand. Not yet. "Monica, I think there's been a misunderstanding—" She grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. "Oh, you think? You think you can seduce my mate and play innocent?" Her nails dug into my scalp as she shook me violently. "Silas is MINE. The whole pack is gathering tonight to meet me—his future Luna. His parents are here, the Council, everyone. And you thought you could just waltz in and steal him?" She slapped me again. And again. Blood filled my mouth. I tried to speak, to explain, but one of her friends stuffed something in my mouth—a sock, rank and disgusting. "Shut up, you little slut." The redhead sneered. "You think because you're young and pretty you can steal someone's mate? Silas loved Monica so much he gave up everything for her. Even stopped visiting this musty old manor." Monica's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "He only noticed you because you look a bit like me. Don't feel special, honey. Girls like you? We deal with dozens every year. Silas never cares." I couldn't breathe through the gag, couldn't explain. The panic was setting in. Then I smelled it. Lighter fluid. Monica pulled out a silver lighter, her smile turning deadly. "Let's see how pretty you are when I'm done with you."
The flame caught on my shirt instantly. I screamed against the gag as fire raced across my chest, crawling up toward my throat. The heat was unbearable—like my skin was melting off my bones. They held me down as I thrashed, laughing as the flames spread to my hair. "Burn, bitch!" Monica's voice rang with glee. "Burn!" I couldn't shift. The smoke, the pain, the shock—my wolf was paralyzed with terror. Then Aurelius moved. The massive golden wolf launched himself from across the room, his sacred aura blazing like sunlight. He landed on top of me, smothering the flames with his thick fur. One powerful swipe of his tail sent two of the women flying into the wall. Their screams filled the manor. "A WOLF!" "WHERE DID IT COME FROM?!" They scattered like frightened mice, tripping over each other in their panic. Aurelius gently nosed the gag from my mouth, his ancient amber eyes filled with concern. Before I could thank him, I saw Monica grab something from the mantle. A crystal decanter. "NO!" I threw myself over Aurelius. The decanter shattered against my skull. Pain exploded through my head, warm blood trickling down my face. Aurelius went very still beneath me. Then he smelled my blood. His eyes flashed gold—not the warm amber I knew, but molten fury. The temperature in the room plummeted as his power filled the space, heavy and ancient and utterly terrifying. Even Monica backed up, fear finally cracking her composure. "You think I'm scared of some mangy wolf?" Her voice shook. But Aurelius wasn't just any wolf. He was the Moon Goddess's chosen guardian, blessed with her divine power. He'd saved our pack from the Silver Fire thirty years ago. Predicted the rogue attack that would have wiped us out. Led Dad to the silver mine that made us the wealthiest pack in the Northwest. And right now, he was pissed.
Aurelius stalked toward Monica, each step deliberate and predatory. She stumbled backward, her friends huddling behind her. "Monica, maybe we should go," one of them whimpered. "You're supposed to meet Silas's parents soon anyway. Make a good impression." "Yeah, and I heard his daughter Elena is coming home from Seattle. They say she adores you, wants to call you Mom at the ceremony." That made Monica pause, her expression softening into something smug. "You're right. After tonight, I'll officially be Luna of the Silver Moon Pack." She shot me one last venomous look. "You got lucky, homewrecker. But stay away from MY mate." They turned to leave. Aurelius blocked the door. One flick of his massive tail and it slammed shut, the lock clicking into place. Monica's face went white. "It—it closed the door. Wolves can't—" "It's not natural," the redhead whispered. Aurelius began to circle them, taking his time. He wasn't going to hurt them—I knew him well enough. He was just making a point, scaring them a little for what they'd done to me. But then the brunette pulled something from her purse. A small vial filled with silver-white liquid. My blood turned to ice. "No—" She threw it. The liquid hit Aurelius square in the chest. Where it touched, his golden fur turned black, smoking and sizzling like acid on metal. He howled—a sound of pure agony that made my heart shatter. "IT'S WOLFSBANE!" Monica's voice turned triumphant. "Mixed with silver nitrate! The wolf's afraid!" Aurelius collapsed, convulsing as the poison spread through his system. His sacred aura flickered and died, leaving him vulnerable and in pain. "Stupid mutt." Monica advanced, pulling out another vial. "You thought you could protect this whore? I'll dissolve you." "DON'T TOUCH HIM!" I finally ripped the gag free, stumbling forward. "Monica, I swear to the Goddess, if you hurt him—" "You'll what?" She grabbed my hair, slamming my head into the floor. Once. Twice. Three times. Stars exploded across my vision. Blood poured from my nose. "You're in no position to threaten anyone." She kicked me in the ribs. "Now tell me—how did Silas afford to buy you this fancy manor? Does he know you're just using him for his money?" "I'm not—" I spat blood. "I'm his daughter. I'm Elena!" Monica froze for half a second. Then she laughed and stomped on my face. "Nice try, sweetheart. But Elena's been in Seattle for three years. Why would she come back now?" She pulled out the silver nitrate. "I'm done playing. First the wolf, then you." Aurelius, even poisoned and dying, tried to protect me one last time. He lunged at Monica's leg, sinking his teeth into her calf. She screamed. "YOU FUCKING MUTT!" She poured the entire vial over his head. His howl of agony would haunt me forever. The other women joined in, grabbing whatever they could find—vases, fireplace pokers, decorative stones—and beating him while he writhed on the floor. "STOP!" I sobbed. "PLEASE, STOP!" They didn't stop until he went still. Silent. Dead. Monica turned to me, her smile grotesque. "Your turn."
The silver nitrate hit my face like liquid fire. I screamed until my throat bled as my skin bubbled and burned, the poison eating through flesh and nerve endings. Red turned to black, black turned to nothing. No feeling. No sensation. I couldn't even cry—the acid had melted my tear ducts shut. Monica circled me like a predator admiring her kill, phone out, taking photos from different angles. "Perfect," she murmured. "This'll remind the next little bitch what happens when you try to steal someone's mate." Her phone rang. The ringtone made my stomach drop—Dad's special one. Her entire demeanor shifted. Voice going soft and sweet. "Hi, baby!" "Where are you?" Even through the speaker, I could hear the warmth in Dad's voice. The trust. "The pack's getting restless. Alpha Gregor keeps asking about you." "I'm so sorry!" She bit her lip, playing the flustered girlfriend perfectly. "I wanted to make something special for tonight. You said Alpha Gregor loves wild game, right? I've been preparing this traditional feast—I want him to love me as much as you do." I could practically hear Dad melting. "That's so thoughtful, sweetheart. But don't stress yourself out. Just get here when you can." "I'll be there soon. Love you!" She hung up and turned to her friends, the sweet mask dropping instantly. "Where's the venison you were supposed to get?" The redhead winced. "Monica, I tried, but the hunting grounds are restricted this time of year. Pack rules. If I got caught—" Monica slapped her so hard the crack echoed. "Idiot! Tonight's the biggest night of my life! Every pack leader in the state is here! How am I supposed to impress them without proper game?" "I told you I needed that meat for the ritual feast!" Ritual feast. That's what she was planning—the traditional offering a new Luna makes to prove her worth to the pack. A display of strength, skill, and devotion. With wild game she didn't have. The brunette, seeing an opportunity to get back in Monica's good graces, pointed at Aurelius's still form. "What about... that?" Monica followed her gaze. I watched understanding dawn on her face, watched that cruel smile spread. "You're right." She grabbed Aurelius by the scruff. "Fresh meat is fresh meat. And wolf is supposed to be a delicacy, isn't it?" I tried to scream. Tried to move. But my body wouldn't respond, the silver still coursing through my system. She dragged him toward the kitchen, and I could only watch in helpless horror. The next thirty minutes were torture. The sounds of butchering. The smell of sacred flesh being seared and seasoned. The laughter as Monica and her friends joked about the "exotic game" they were preparing. When she finally emerged, she was carrying an enormous silver platter. Steam rose from the carefully arranged meat, garnished with herbs and vegetables like this was some fancy restaurant dish and not the desecrated body of the Moon Goddess's chosen guardian. "Gorgeous," one of her friends breathed. "Girl, you're going to blow their minds." Monica beamed. "I know. Alpha Gregor's going to beg Silas to make me Luna after tasting this." She glanced at me, taking in my ruined face and broken body. "What should we do with her?" The redhead kicked me lightly. "Kill her? She saw everything." "No." Monica's smile turned wicked. "Bring her. I want her to watch me become Luna. Want her to see exactly who owns Silas now." They shoved me in a tarp and dragged me to the trunk.
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