Leila makes her way home without Tatum, Clayton offers to escort her but she declines, saying she needs to be alone. Clayton on the other hand is unable to shake the feeling in his heart, something about the ritual was awkward, it all seems fishy. He waits by the door as the elders congratulate Carmela and Tatum and leave one after the other. Trent is the last one to leave and as Tatum and Carmela approach him, hand in hand, he steps up to them. “With your permission Alpha, I need to have a word with Carmela, it is regarding the assassination attempt,” he says, bowing slightly to Tatum. Tatum’s brows furrow and his eyes narrow at Clayton. “You really need to work on your timing,” Tatum replies, annoyance clear in his tone and he pulls Carmela away from Clayton. “Alpha, the Luna’s life and honour is at stake and I am under sworn oath to protect her. This is an emergency and I will only take a short while,” Clayton replies firmly. A deep rumbling growl sounds from Tatum’s throat
“Luna welcome, the—”“Not now,” Leila cuts the omega off, runs up the stairs and slams the door to her room shut before she yells in frustration, slapping her palm against her face.How did this happen?This wasn’t the plan.She was supposed to expose Carmela, Carmela was supposed to leave.What does she do now?It was one thing to try and prove that Carmela is evil and not Tatum’s mate when Tatum wasn’t sure of it but now that this ritual or whatever sorcery they did has confirmed it, will Tatum even listen to her?He kissed Carmela outrightly in front of her, he didn’t even bat an eye when she left, he didn’t even look at her.She doesn’t blame him, she’s not mad at him, he has been deceived to believe Carmela is his mate and she always knew it would be hard for him to fight.She stares at herself at the mirror, glancing down at her baby bump.What will become of her child if Tatum decides to go back on his word?Will it grow up without a father, or perhaps without its mother?Can
“What do you mean the head warrior is dead?” Leila feels a squeeze in her heart and her eyes coat with tears as one of the omegas tells her the news as they prepare dinner.Clayton looked hale and hearty this morning.Was he ill? He didn’t look like it, he didn’t show any signs, how could he suddenly be dead?“When was this?” Leila asks in a sullen tone, feeling a sense of defeat come upon her.How is she supposed to clear her name without Clayton to help her with the investigations?“It was announced as breaking news this evening, his body was found laying in the elders chamber,” the omega replies.The elders chamber….it must have happened after she left but was no one there to help him?Leila backs against the countertop, placing her hand on her chest, taking deep breaths to calm herself from the shocking news.She feels some regret.Maybe if she had allowed him to follow her as he wanted, she could have saved him if it happened in front of her.“Finish up here,” she says to the o
Tatum said he won’t return home that night but it has been four days and he hasn’t returned home. It’s almost like he is avoiding her and avoiding the conversation while she is stuck at home, unable to go out and unravel the truth. Everything just seems to be working against her. She doesn’t want to think it but Tatum is probably back to spending all his time with Carmela, probably now living with her. Adaline has moved out of the house, she is now back to her husband’s house. Suddenly, no one cares about her or even her baby anymore. The murderous Luna, that’s what they are calling her now. Whispers that she is behind the death of the pack witch runs rampant even though Tatum supposedly dismissed the case. If she has to leave, she will, she already made a promise to herself and her unborn child that she will not suffer for a man who doesn’t want her a second time. She just wants Tatum to come back so they can talk about it and she can know his decision but then….does she rea
“I said stay back,” Tatum growls, blocking Leila mid way down the stairs. “I’ve had enough of this, first you kept me grounded here for days like a prisoner and now this?”Leila gives him a cold once over, ducking underneath his arms and continues making her way down the stairs with gusto in her steps.She has to defend herself, the Iron Claw Pack probably already thinks she’s responsible for the attack on Margaux because of Tatum’s action and now the pack members are bringing a matter that has been put to bed to her doorstep?She flings the door open just as Tatum steps up behind her and she is welcomed by an angry mob, welding sticks and torches and holding banners of slandering statements about her.“What is this about?” Leila asks them in a curt tone, unable to hold back her annoyance.“You are a murderer!”“An evil woman!”“An usurper!” The crowd fires at her.Leila is about to reply when the crowd parts and none other than Carmela slowly walks through the centre, a coy smirk f
“We know why,” one of them replies sharply.“You want to remain as Luna and you know the pack witch would stand in your way to see the prophecy fulfilled, that’s why you had her murdered. We have had enough, the phoenix Luna is our Luna, she is the Alpha’s mate. It has been proven, she must become Luna and you must pay for your crimes.”“Alpha, we know she is your wife and currently our Luna and we personally mean you no disrespect but she is a criminal, she must be brought to justice and you deserve better, she has blood on her hands.”“Yes Alpha,” another person adds sharply. “It is only out of respect for you that we have not lynched this murderer!”“I am not a murderer, I didn’t kill the witch, I didn’t kill anyone!” Leila yells in a frantic voice, her tone rising in desperation, her heart pounding in fear and worry, the confidence in her voice waning.It is like the more she tries to make them see her truth, the more blinded they are to it and the more agitated they become.“Tell
“You have been accused of murdering Alina, the pack witch, how do you plead?” Once again, Leila finds herself in the elders’ chamber, in the midst of the same men who were ready to condemn her days ago without proof and now, sitting in the middle of their judgemental circle with twelve sets of eyes leering at her, she knows her fate is sealed. Especially since Carmela has created proof, proof no one will let her see or defend herself against. A gross injustice. “Where is the Alpha?” Leila mutters weakly, counting her words. She is tired, hungry and thirsty. “You are in no position to ask questions, Leila! How do you plead?” Trent barks at her but Leila doesn’t cower. Looking into the green eyes of the man who murdered her father in cold blood and whose daughter is hell bent on taking hers, she finds strength in the rage that boils through her. “Until I am convicted, I am still your Luna and you will address me as such.” Though weak, her aura still powers through her commandin
“Guards….anyone…..anyone there?” Leila mutters weakly, crawling on her knees and holding on the steel bars that keep her imprisoned.Her hair dry and tattered, her clothes torn, her finger and toes wounded from her hungry cell mates, the mice, nibbling on them. She cannot even fight them off anymore, she just lays there and lets them feast on her while she feasts on her thoughts of regret.Is this really how she is going to die? With a child inside her?Her wounds are healing slower now, her pup’s energy must be drained, she can still feel it, barely…..Even if Tatum cannot find the mate bond, this fake one, even if he has been tricked to believe Carmela is the one, what about his child? The heir he so proudly announced to the world.What about his constant promise to her that he will never let her go?She breaks down against the steel bar, her heart clenching in pain, a bitter sorrow filling her deep eyes that have now lost its bright beautiful blue hue, tears simmer down her face a