“Of course I want to. He’s my mate. We’re fated to be together, and I’m lucky he still wants me after how I’ve acted.” She glances in his direction briefly before dropping her gaze to the ground.
“I’m so sorry, Alpha,” she whispers, and he smirks at how defeated she looks. I feel like I’m watching a train wreck.
She goes to walk towards him, but Jack stands in her way. Aidan watches with a smug grin as Emily transforms from the girl we have been building back up to the one she was when she first got here. Closed off and numb; trying to survive.
“Emily, I told you I would kill him before I let him take you,” Jack says, gripping her forearms and forcing her to look at him. She takes a deep breath before letting it out slowly.
“You had your chance. You could have left with me when it was an option. But I’m glad you didn’t. You aren’t capable of keeping me safe. Now stand back and let me go to my mate. I don’t want a Delta who can’t even keep his own family safe.” Emily’s voice is cold and calculated as she stomps on Jack’s heart.
His face shatters and his hands drop from Emily like her skin burns him. He watches her like he has no idea who she is. Maybe he doesn’t. This isn’t right. I feel like we have all stepped into the twilight zone where up is down and right is wrong.
I’m going to be sick. This can't be happening
“Ryan, do something!” I yell through my sobs. “Please, you have to do something. Anything!”
“She’s made her decision,” he responds and I don't know that I'll ever forgive him for this. “The relationship between mates is our most sacred bond. No Alpha can interfere.”
Emily has made her way over to Aidan, who gazes down at her like she is both nothing and everything simultaneously. “You know this will be your worst punishment yet,” he says calmly before a sadistic smile stretches across his face. “You’ve been gone two months. That’s two months of public humiliation I’ve suffered.”
“I’m sorry, Alpha. I will, of course, accept whatever punishment you see fit,” she says, her head turned down and her shoulders hunched.
“Yes, you will.”
Aidan puts on gloves before reaching into duffle bag by his feat. My stomach lurches and time slows down when I see him pulling a silver gag it. How can anyone beso monstrous?
“I understand, Alpha. I don’t deserve you, but can I please accept the mate bond first?” Emily begs and my heart breaks. Once the bond is accepted verbally, it will be almost complete. We’ll never get her away from him.
“NO!” Jack roars as he seems to wake up and realize what is happening. He moves toward Emily, and I step forward to join him, but Luca restrains me, wrapping his arms around my upper body in a bear hold.
What the actual fuck?
“Get your fucking hands off me,” I grit out, trying to step out of his arms. The anger and frustration already coursing through me builds, further fueling the fire within me. My body temperature rises, and my skin tingles.
“Can’t do that, princess,” he grits out. “Not gonna let you get yourself hurt.”
“I'll fucking hurt you if you don't,” I snarl before throwing my head back. The crunch of his nose breaking would be satisfying if he had loosened his hold at all. But he didn’t.
Aidan’s warriors move to protect their Alpha, and Jack shifts into his wolf form as I watch, unable to do anything to save Emily.
I strain against Luca, stomping on his feet, kicking back into his shins and tearing into every part of his skin I can reach with my claws. But no matter how much I hurt him, he doesn't let go. His blood pools at our feet and tears stream down my face. But he just holds me tighter, letting out grunts of pain but no words.
Ryan urges Jack to retreat without using his alpha command. I guess it’s because that would leave Jack completely vulnerable, unable to defend himself. Three warriors lunge at him, tackling him to the ground. Ryan glances at me briefly before he shifts and jumps into the fray.
Finally, living up to his role of protecting others. Too fucking little too late.
I can't make out what Aidan is saying over the brawl, but I definitely picked up on the word ‘accept’.
Emily is nodding and saying something back to him. She glances at me, and something flashes across her face. Something like determination. She pushes her shoulders back and stares up at Aidan. She steps closer to him and places her hand on his chest, caressing upwards until she reaches his shoulder.
My blood runs cold, realizing Jack is going to be too late. She’s touching him because she has to in order to accept the bond.
We’ve lost her.
But faster than I can process what I'm seeing, she extends her claws and slices at his neck. He chokes and gurgles as arterial spray lands all over her. Aidan staggers, eyes wide, hands flying to his neck as blood pours down his chest.
“I, Emily Grant, of the Blood Moon Pack,rejectyou, Alpha Aidan Blackwell of the Blood Moon Pack,” Emily says, her voice calm and sure.
As soon as the words are out, they both collapse to the ground.
