Chapter 16
Amara’s POV
I chooke out the remnants of Dorian’s grip, my lungs burning like hell as the door slams behind him. Fuck shole. I’m sure his head woul have burned through with a hole in it if the phrase “looks can kill is real “You think you can just leave me like this?” I scream into the emptiness of the grand hall, rage boiling beneath my skin. My own words come back to me, echoing over the marble tiles of this palace–like packhouse.
That’s right I jumped through heaven and hell to get to where I am today, Lening someone take all of it away would have to go through my dead Ieady
Just then the door loudly as a maid bursts in, wide–eyed and flustered. “Luna Amara, what’s the matter?
She’s someone who used to take my bribes whenever I want something done. Everything here is all about power. umvarpassable by all means.
you have it, it’s
“What the fuck does it look like, you idiot I was just assaulted” I snap, venom dripping from my voice. I see black–darkness after what just happened. The taçade of the saintess I tried to paint towards the Dusk Howlers Pack members crumbles around me, and I can’t pretend anymore. The rage rolls inside, begging for an outlet. “Get the hell out of my sight!” I yelled, my throat hoarse from Dorian’s grip. That man standing in front to you is enough to make you nun millions of miles away from let alone he strangles you with those thick, muscular hands–it’s a lot more excruciating than dying
The Omega mad hesitates, fear flickering across her face, but I don’t care. I need space, a moment to gather the shattered pieces of my composure The moment she leaves, Het the tears of anger and humiliation flow, my heart pounding rapidly in rhythmn with my thoughts
-Fucking hell I murmur, pulling myself off the cold ground
Dorian’s face is imprinted in my mind–the way he grabbed me, the fear that flashed in my eyes when he threatened me. It was terrifying. But even more frightening is the realization that he no longer sees me as his equal. I was merely a pawn in this sick game he plays. That man is insane.
I glance out the window, a greedy smiles swept over me at the sight of my son playing innocently in the garden. Born out of wedlock yet surely not mustake but the real pawn in this game. I don’t care how many child I have to give birth to as long as they provide me the throne. He smiles at me
I wave back like a good mother–or so he thinks
He isn’t Duran’s blood, but he’s all I have left. My perfect little weapon. No one knows the truth, and I plan to keep it that way. If Dorian dies, my boy becomes Alpha of the Dusk Howler’s Pack—the strongest pack in the continent, and perhaps even the world. I can almost taste the power- sweet, intoxicating, simply at the hands of a toddler.”
Suddenly, the smile leaves my lips as I slowly realize the gravity of this whole situation. Dorian’s focus is back on Selene, that wretched bitch who has walized back into our lives uninvited after five years. “Why the hell is she even here! I mutter, pacing the room, my hands trembling with urgency. I slowly bite the ends of my thumb, tasting the metallic tangy blood that I bit off of a skin. I can’t let Selene ruin everything I’ve worked for I am Amara Hale for Goddess sake!
I grab my phone, fingers shaking with anticipation as I dial a number 1 have come to know by heart. When you’re all around doing criminal things you slowly memorize the people worthy enough to commit these crimes–and being a Luna who was known to have stolen my position from that bach, I needed to clean up the pack off of Omegas who talks behind my back, even if the process involves shedding blood.
“Laten up.” Day when the call connects, not even letting the person on the other side say hello. “We need to meet at that same cafe with the humans. I have a fucking plan, and I need you to be ready” I grit my teeth, ordering him. This right here is fucking power,
hat’s going on?” the voice on the other end asks, uncertainty lacing his words.
cking matter? Just show up. I’m done playing house.” 1 liss, slamming the phone down a drawer, the flow vase on it shook
breathing deeply, I remind myself of the stakes. I have to outsmart Dorian and Selene before they realize I’m still here, hirking in the shadows, plotting. Dorian thurika fie’s the big bad Alpha Please. He’s dangerous, sure, but I’m something else entirely. He doesn’t have the stomach for the things I in willing to do. That’s what makes him weak. He hesitated—bie fucking hesitates with me. If he thinks grabbing me by the throat and Batowing a tantrum makes him perwerful, lie’s dead wrong
And Selene‘ That whimpering bit
as no idea what I’ve got planned for her. She’s nothing. Less than nothing.
r the moan any fingers trailing at ross my bruised neck. The bastand left a mark. The sting of it only fuels me. My mind races with a hundred He thinks I’ll stay down because he choked me? He better fucking pray I shan’t come back for Selene dead in Dorian Imut 131 be out in a Bashi betur hr cati get revelige mi me if I somehow kill Selene first.
dene tanks she tauro bakal team what i mine? I’ll make sure she regrets ever showing her face here again” I whisper to myself, a
Determination food, though n
I know I have to aci Last. Every minute wasted is another minuir Selene gets to worm her way back into can’t lose everything I’ve fougla for to someone who doesn’t even belong here.
who will take what is
away from the window, I feel the rage within me. Lama Buna! The woman who will not be overlooked. The woman who wi
5:48 PM
Chapter 16
rightfully hers—no matter the bloody fucking cost.
Let the games begin.
Selene’s POV
My eyes snap open, breath catching in my throat as I sit up, the remnants of the dream clinging to me like smoke. I’ve had this nightmare so times before–running always running, through endless fields of grass, the white wolf never far behind. But tonight–tonight was different.
so many
I got away
I can still feel the weight of the moon above me, huge and bright, casting silver light across the plains. I don’t know how long I stood there, staring at its massiveness hanging over me like it was about to swallow me whole. There was peace in that moment, something I’ve never felt in these dreams before. Buy it didn’t last. I should’ve seen it coming, that damned wolf, like all the other times.
For a moment, I thought it was over. But then I turned, and there he was–lunging for me, white fur glowing in the moonlight, teeth bared.
I wake with a start, heart still thrashing against my ribs like it’s trying to escape my chest. I kick the tangled blanket off my legs, gasping for air. I immedunely looked around me. I was in my old room. I’m with my parents. I’m safe.
It’s still dark but sunset is beginning to pool its rays on the carpet, the shadows soft around the edges of every curtain in the house, but my pulse hasn’t slowed. Something feels off. I rub my arms, trying to shake the feeling when all of a sudden, it caresses a rough part. I pull tghe sheets off of me and that’s when I notice it. A mark, faint but unmistakable
a crescent moon, etched into my skin.
What the actual fuck?
sit up straighter, pulling my arm closer to examine it in the pale light filtering through the window. It wasn’t there before. I trace my fingers over and the second my skin touches the mark, heat explodes across my artn.
“Shit!” I hiss jerking my hand back. It burns, like fire searing my flesh, but when I blink, the mark is gone. Just… vanished.
Perfect More fucked–up shit to deal with.
Before I can even process what just happened, there’s a loud, obnoxious banging on my door. It jolts me right back into reality
“Selene, darling!” That god–awful voice of my stepfather echoes through the room, all fake warmth and plastic sincerity. “We need to talk, sweetheart. Something important.”
Of course
course. Because this night couldn’t get any worse.
I groan, dragging myself out of bed, tossing on the nearest clothes I can find. My legs feel like lead as I make my way downstairs, the echo of the dream–nightmare–still buzzing in the back of my skull. The mark, the burn, it’s already fading from my mind as I step into the room where my stepfather walls like lie’s about to drop some bombshell.
There be it, lounging in las chair with that infuriating, smug grin plastered on his face, I want to slap it off.
“I’ve already called the hospital in the human world,” he starts, his voice all proud like he just won some grand prize. “Resigned you myself.”
The words
hit me like a punch to the gut. “What?” I barely recognize my own voice. Sharp. Disbelieving.
That was my job. My hir
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic, Selene. His smile widens, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “I’ve taken care of everything for you. Passed your
to the parkbouir. It won’t be lang now?
Juniarathe. I can feel the trap closing in on ine, but I’m too paralyzed to move. But my father’s—stepfather’s simile doesn’t waver, as if he can’t even imagine why I wouldn’t be grateful.
“You’ll Le Dorian’s private doctor Isn’t that wonderful! You’d be able to help your mother as long as you stay here.” He added with ha–nality as a glint of pulice spread through these ryes Flave come to loathe.
Wonderful Yeah, if by wonderful you mean a goddamn nightmare. My stomach churns, and I feel the bile rising in my throat. I’m actually—really
Would I be able to handle Idon after everything he’s done to
Or do I even have a choice
