Chapter 22
Before I could process what was happening, Scarlett waved her hand dismissively at the rogue wolves surrounding me.
“This woman thinks she’s going to be Luna of our pack,” she said with cold satisfaction. “But after tonight, she’ll never be worthy of that position again.”
Her voice carried a viciousness I had never heard before, all pretense of innocence completely
stripped away.
“I want her completely discredited,” Scarlett continued, her eyes gleaming with malicious. pleasure. “Make sure she’s so broken and humiliated that no Alpha would ever want her.”
The rogue wolves growled their agreement, their eyes fixed on my paralyzed form with predator) hunger.
The largest rogue wolf, a scarred brute with yellow teeth, stepped forward and examined me with calculating eyes.
“She’s prettier than most pack females,” he said with a cruel grin. “This will be entertaining.”
His gaze lingered on me in a way that made my skin crawl, even through my wolf’s paralysis.
“Drag her deeper into the forest,” he commanded two of his pack members. “Somewhere no one will hear or find us.”
Two rogue wolves immediately moved to grab my front legs, preparing to haul me away any possible rescue.
from
Despite my desperation, I forced myself to stay calm and think clearly. Panic would only make this situation worse.
I still had one advantage they didn’t know about. Hidden in my fur was the twenty million dollar healing gem that Grayson had given me as protection.
The rare crystal was designed to help wolves recover quickly from injuries and ailments. If I could access its power, it might counteract the moonlight grass poisoning.
As the rogue wolves began dragging me across the rough forest floor, I concentrated on the gem’s energy. Slowly, I felt warmth spreading through my limbs.
My strength was returning, bit by bit.
The two wolves hauling me were distracted, laughing and joking with each other about their plans. They didn’t notice the subtle changes in my body language.
When we reached a small clearing deeper in the woods, I made my move.
With a sudden burst of recovered strength, I twisted around and bit down hard on the foreleg of the wolf to my right. My teeth crushed through bone and sinew.
He howled in agony and released me immediately.
Before the second wolf could react, I spun and slashed my claws across his throat, opening deep gashes that spurted blood.
I sprinted toward the weakest part of their formation, where only three wolves stood between me and freedom.
3/3
67.7%
My legs pumped with desperate energy as I raced toward the gap in their ranks.
I was so close to breaking free. Just a few more yards and I would be clear of their ambush.
But just as I was about to burst through their perimeter, a massive gray wolf appeared from my blind spot.
He slammed into me with the force of a freight train, sending me flying sideways into a thick tree trunk.
My ribs cracked against the bark as I fell hard to the forest floor, gasping for breath.
Pain exploded through my chest and back from the impact.
But it was the scent that truly shocked me. A familiar smell that I had known since childhood.
I looked up in complete disbelief, my eyes focusing on the gray wolf who had tackled me.
It was my father.
His wolf form was unmistakable–the same distinctive silver markings around his eyes, the same broad shoulders, the same scent that had comforted me as a child.
“Dad?” I shouted in complete disbelief, my voice cracking with shock. “You weren’t kidnapped?!”
My father shifted back to human form, his expression cold and calculating. Any trace of paternal warmth had completely vanished from his face.
“Don’t call me dad,” he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “I don’t have a daughter as
disobedient as you.”
The words hit me like physical blows. I stared at him, unable to process what I was hearing.
Movement in the shadows caught my attention. Another familiar figure stepped into the
clearing.
My mother emerged from behind the trees, her face carefully blank but her eyes avoiding mine.
