Chapter 2
I thought I was finally free. But apparently, the universe had a cruel sense of humor when it came to me Because before I even reached the perimeter, two enforcers stepped out of the shadows I barely had time to register them before they grabbed me, one by each arm, like I was some petty criminal running from justice §
“We have to return you back. Luna. As per Alpha Zane’s order. He needs your blood.“”
“What? No! Let me go!” I struggled–not for me, but for the little life growing inside me. My heart thundered, pounding against my ribs like it already knew something temble was about to happen. “Why would he want my blood?”
Why, Moon Goddess? Why him? Why this fate? I gave everything–my body, my loyalty, my future. Was that not enough? What cruel joke was this, that I should be tied to a mate who saw me as nothing more than a resource to use and discard?
And now he wanted more. Always more })
I wasn’t sure which I feared more–that he’d find out about the baby, or that he wouldn’t care even if he did.
The next thing I knew, I was strapped to a steel chair in the infirmary, cold restraints biting into my wrists. I tried to lift my head and saw Zane standing with his arms crossed like I was beneath him.
“You really dragged me back for this? To drain me like some sacrificial deer?”
Zane didn’t flinch. “Stop being dramatic You’re helping. Be useful for once.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Useful? is that all I ever was to you? A convenient blood bank with a Luna title?“%
“You’re being emotional, as usual,” he said. “You always did have a flair for victimhood“)
“Bays the man bleeding his mate dry while his precious omega rests in silk sheets “2”
He stepped closer and wrapped his large hand around my jaw. “Watch your mouth or else”
“Or what? You’ll toss me down the mountain next like you did my dignity?”
He sneered. “You’re alive, aren’t you? Should be thanking me.
e in this chair?
“You have her, I snapped. “You have your heir. Why am I still the one
The irony of it. His precious omega slept soundly on silk pillows while I bled out for her and the pup she carried, while my own unbom child clung quietly to life inside me.
But I wouldn’t give him that truth. He didn’t deserve it. He’d weaponize it, manipulate it, twist it into something ugly just like he’d twisted everything else about me.
So I kept it buried deep, like the rest of me.
I stared at the ceiling, the sterile lights blurring with un shed tears as I added. “This is what I get for loving you? For defending your name at every council hearing? For patching your wounds like a mate, not a maid? I should’ve run the moment you recognized me as your mater
“Then why didn’t you?” he hissed. “You were too desperate. Too easy”
“And you were too much of a coward to reject me,” I growled.)
He smirked. “Why bother? You always come back.
That was when the needle drove in.
It was too thick. More like a dagger than any medical tool. I felt the sharp prick at first, then the slow bum as it pierced deeper, invading my skin and my vein. But I didn’t flinch. I wouldn’t give him the pleasure, but still, a cold sweat broke across my neck and my fingers trembled against the restraints
Every ounce they drained from me felt like a piece of my past being ripped away–our first council meeting, the time I took a blade for him without hesitation, the sleepless nights I sat by the door waiting for him to return. I bled not just my veins, but the last fragments of the bond I once held sacred. And through it all, he just stood there. Watching as if I was nothing more than a container to siphon from. “Alpha, Quinn’s heart has always been delicate. Drawing too much blood could-”
“Keep going” Zane snapped “She’s stubborn, she’ll survive.”
My vision dimmed.
I bit down on the inside of my cheek just to stay conscious.
Eight hundred milliliters. That’s how much they drained from me. And the worst part was I believed it was over. But someone coughed behind the curtain, and that one sound snapped Zane back to attention.
“Double it Nina needs more blood.”
Ifroze. So I was being a forced sacrifice for the shameless woman who’d ruined my life?!!
“You’re draining me for your mistress?” I spat. “You’re bleeding your own mate to save the woman who broke our bond? Gods, Zane!” “She needs it,” he said coldly, like it explained everything
I laughed bitterly even as tears burned my eyes. “And what about ma? What about your Luna? Your mate? Your wife? You’d bleed me dry before lifting a finger to help mel‘
His expression didn’t change, and that told me everything I needed to know
Nina coughed again from behind the curtain, this time louder–more dramatic. “Zone” she whimpered
And like she’d cast some kind of spell, he moved I was a near–unconscious mess strapped to a chair, and he was already hallway to the
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other room
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry What a mate, right? I was dying in the chair, and he was worried about a tickle in her throat
The healer trembled Alpha, if we draw more blood, the pup in her
“Do it,” Zane barked, turning his glare on Rowan “Otherwise, Fll personally
ly throw you into the dungeons“:
Rowan stiffened, visibly tom, but nodded. “Yes, Alpha”
I wanted to scream. To beg him not to, but my consciousness was fading away
When I opened my eyes again, everything was blurry, and I realized I was no longer in the chair. I was lying down on a cot, covered in a
than blanket.
Healer Rowan sat beside me. His eyes were red as he said. “You’re stable now, Luna Your vitals are normal Your body is healing faster than I expected. It must be your natural resilience “;
I blinked slowly. “That sounds like good news, I rasped. “So why do you look like someone just died?”
Rowan’s lips parted slightly, like the words wouldn’t come out. He hesitated, then bowed his head. “Because someone did.” he said
I didn’t understand at first I stared at him, trying to put the pieces together. Then I gasped as my hand flew to my stomach.”
“No… no, no, no…”
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “When Alpha Zane ordered us to double the blood draw, the pup didn’t make it.”
My scream tore through the room before I could stop it. I thrashed on the cot, kicking the sheets off, knocking over the tray beside me My wolf howled inside me, her pain spilling into mine, I shoved myself up, ignoring the dizziness, and staggered toward the door
“ZANE!” I screamed. “You killed my baby! YOU MONSTER X
He wasn’t there. Of course, he wasn’t. He was probably holding Nina’s hand while I lost everything !!
‘I’ll kill him! I swear it I’ll rip him apart!!
Healer Rowan tried to steady me, holding my arms. “Please, Luna Quinn, you need to rest”
I shoved him off with what little strength I had left. “Don’t tell me to rest! He murdered my childr
I collapsed to the floor, sobbing so hard I couldn’t breathe
Rowan crouched beside me. I’m sorry. If there was anything I could’ve done, I would have.”
I didn’t answer. The sobs quieted into hiccups, then into silence.
But my mind? It was no longer broken. It was sharpening.
No more pleading. No more waiting for scraps of love or mercy. I would burn everything they cared about. Both of them!
I looked up at Rowan, “Prepare my discharge papers. And all the medical records. I want copies of everything.”
