Cora's POV Staring in the mirror I hardly recognize myself. My face is no longer caked with layers of makeup and my hair flows neatly down my back instead of in its usual high ponytail. If my mother could see me now she would surely be disappointed in my transformation. But now that I have Dylan in my corner, I feel like I can finally be myself. Not the Barbie Doll image that my mother created. Even though I have defied my parents and become my own person, I still do not want to see them in trouble with the Elder Council. So, I have decided to lie. Well, it isn't exactly a lie. More so a half-truth. I could care less what happens to Alpha Richard. He can burn in hell along with Donovan if he is ever found. As I pull on my jacket, I carefully position my hair over my shoulder hoping to hide the shimmering silver crescent moon on my neck. A mark that was just placed there a few nights ago by Dylan. I know that my parents will be disappointed with my choice and I am not ready to f
Mia's POV As I walk into the Council's chambers I hear a lot of commotion coming from the corner of the room. I glance in the direction of the noise and see Madison screaming at Cora. Dylan is trying to place himself between the two but it would appear that Madison has already sunk her claws into Cora. Cora is on her knees with tears streaming down her face, trying not to submit to her mother. Without hesitation, I march over to Madison and push Dylan out of the way. Standing in front of her, I place my hands on my hips and attempt to snarl. Madison cracks up laughing at my snarl, but my plan worked. She lifts her Luna command from Cora. Dylan helps Cora get to her feet and wraps an arm tightly around her waist. "Get her away from here," I tell Dylan and he happily obliges. "Yes, Luna," he says with a lingering scowl on his face. "Luna," Madison huffs. "How dare they give you that title when you have been marked by a rogue? Don't think that we haven't all heard the story by
Mia's POV The Elder Council's chambers are so quiet that my voice echoes throughout the room as I recount what happened to me over the past couple of months. I started with being drugged at my own Luna Ceremony and how I was held against my will by Alpha Richard. There were a few gasps from the crowd as I explained how I was beaten and tortured for refusing his mark. Then I spoke of Donovan and how I thought I was being rescued, only to end up imprisoned once again. Ripping the bandage off my neck I show the Elders and the crowd the bloody moon mark that now mars my neck. "That is quite the story, Miss Turner," Elder West chuckles loudly. "Why would two Alphas and a rogue all want to be your mate? As far as we can see you are nothing extraordinary." "Are you implying that I am lying to the council?" I say sternly. "You may place me under Alpha Command if you wish. Then I will be compelled to tell only the truth." "I don't think that will be necessary," a shaky voice yells fro
Mia's POV A loud gasp flows over the crowd at Thomas's words. A challenge issued from one Alpha to another is serious. If Alpha Richard accepts his challenge and loses, then this pack and land will become part of the Red Moon Pack, and the Night Moon Pack will cease to exist. If Richard refuses the challenge, his Beta will have the option to take the challenge himself and become the new Alpha of the Night Moon Pack. The only way Alpha Richard will keep his pack is to accept the challenge from Thomas. My eyes land on Alpha Richard and I suddenly realize how old and frail he looks. When he had me locked in the cellar, I was unable to fully see him through the darkness. He tries to stand tall but his back has begun to hunch over. His skin is wrinkled with liver spots all over it. A cane stables him while he looks over the crowd with his dull eyes. While Richard looks for someone to jump in a rescue him from this challenge, everyone that surrounds him takes several steps back. Even
Thomas's POV Laying my hand on the small of Mia's back I guide her through the crowd. Mia tucks herself as close to me as she can, trying to hide herself from the prying eyes of the crowd. Though we had a small victory today, I know that Mia feels exposed after explaining what she went through in detail. As we step out of the chambers, I am blinded by the flashes of lights from cameras. Several of the most influential werewolf news outlets must have found out about the hearing and sent over their best reporters. I am always amazed at how fast gossip spreads through the packs. Mia hides her face in my arms, as we stand in front of the reporters, but their presence doesn't phase me. I am used to being bombarded with questions from the media. "Alpha Thomas," the reporters yell my name from different directions trying to get my attention. Nodding to one of the reporters, I give him the okay to ask his question. "Is it true that your Beta has run off with his mate?" This quest
Mia's POV The burning pain in my chest has been off and on for a week now. If not for the constant sedation, I think I would have ripped my heart from my chest. After the second day in the hospital, they finally decided to explain to me what was going on. Donovan was sleeping with other women knowing that it would harm me. Now every time the pain begins it just feeds my need for revenge. When I find him, I will be the one that kills him. Not Thomas, me. After everything that Donovan has put me through, I deserve to have his blood on my hands. Once again the pain rips through my heart. It feels as if I am burning from the inside out. I press the button they gave me for morphine over and over again. Hoping that the medication will knock me out and I will be able to sleep through the pain. Only this time the familiar ease of the morphine does not travel through my veins. Tears well up in my eyes as I continue to press the button but nothing happens. The burning sensation in my
Mia's POV The ride home from the hospital was silent between us. With our hands intertwined, I let myself finally relax in his presence. We didn't speak about the kisses that happened in the hospital or what they may mean for the future of us. We just let the moment between us be just that, a moment. Not until we got back to the pack house did things become awkward between us once again. Acting on instinct, I open my car door and step out. Before I can take my second step, Thomas is at my side trying to scoop me into his arms. "I can walk," I fuss as I try to wiggle my way out of his arms. "If I have my way your feet will never touch the ground ever again," Thomas mutters as he tightens his arms around me and refuses to put me down. "Really," I continue to wiggle. "I think Donovan has finally given up sleeping with other women a rest. The pain has subsided." "I would still feel more comfortable if I helped you in," Thomas says with a little bit of a pout on his lips. My
Mia's POV Pressing my hands against Thomas's chest I have every intention of pushing him away. But the feeling of his muscles under my fingertips only makes me want to be closer to him. Running my hands up his chest, I wrap my arms around his neck and intertwine my fingers behind his neck. I press my body against his own but I don't feel like I am close enough to him. I want my skin pressed against him. Unwrapping his hands from around my waist, Thomas reaches up and grabs my wrists, pulling me away from his neck. "Didn't you hear what I said?" He asks me with his eyebrows furrowed together. "I think you are in heat." Thomas takes a step away from me only for me to take a step toward him, closing the distance between us. "I don't think I am in heat," I say in a sultry way. "I think I just finally know what I want." The look on Thomas's face is desperate. It is clear that he doesn't want to take advantage of my situation. But, I finally know what I want and that is Thomas. Eve