Page 53 of Alpha's Revenge Luna

The heat today was repulsive, the humidity horrid as storm clouds start rolling across the sky, darkening everything in its path, as if they mirror the anger boiling within me.

I stand before my pack, my eyes blazing with a fury that even the impending storm can’t quench.

They’re assembled in the field, their gazes flickering between each other, as if searching for an escape from the wrath they know is coming. The air hangs heavy with tension.

“You call yourselves members of this pack, my pack, yet you’ve forgotten the most fundamental law of our kind–respect for your Alpha and Luna.” My words slice through the air, sharp and cold.

“Do you think starving Emery reflects respect? Do you think it reflects loyalty to me?” I ask them, my anger barely contained. “Your actions aren’t just a betrayal to her; they’re a direct insult to me, your Alpha!”

A murmur ripples through the pack, heads bowing in shame or defiance. I don’t care which, but either way they’ll pay for what they’ve done.

“Starving her, bullying her, acting like petty children. You weaken us at a time when unity is our greatest strength. We face real threats from outside, yet here you are, fighting amongst yourselves, creating conflict within the pack!”

The pack shifts uncomfortably under my gaze.

“From this moment forward, if I hear of any further mistreatment of Emery, the consequences will be severe. You either respect her as your Luna and my mate, or you face my wrath.”

They glance around, no one willing to step forward and take any of the blame or admit wrong.

“Have you got anything to say for yourselves?” They remain quiet, turning their necks out for me, and I snarl.

“Fine,” my voice sliced through the quiet, sharp, and cold as ice. “Those involved in refusing their Luna basic needs step forward.”

Nobody moves. The cowards. The traitorous bunch stands there, paralyzed in fear and uncertainty.

“The choice is yours,” I continue, my tone unwavering.

“You either run laps until I say stop or those responsible step forward.” They need to understand the gravity of their actions, the depth of the cruelty they’ve shown toward her.

Emery’s actions may have gotten my men killed, but I know that wasn’t her intention.

My heart thunders in my chest as I scan their faces, hoping–foolishly, perhaps–someone will have the courage to own up to their deeds. But my pack remains still, paralyzed by the weight of consequence.

“Very well.” My eyes hardened, and I can feel the barely contained rage threatening to overflow. “Run.”

“But, Alpha, a storm is brewing,” someone calls out from the crowd. Glancing at the clouds darkening the sky, I shrug. “I said run, and anyone who dares to stop before I say so will find themselves cast out, or killed,” I warn them.

Lightning flashes overhead, illuminating the darkening sky as I stand before my pack, their gazes flickering between each other as the tension hangs heavy in the air. My eyes blaze with a fury. The scent of wet earth and fear fills my nostrils as I address them.

“Either you all run or those responsible for involvement die,” I declare without hesitation.

Gasps ripple through the crowd like a sudden gust of wind, their eyes widening with shock and disbelief.

They need to understand the severity of their actions and the consequences of betraying not only their Luna but the entire pack.

I square my shoulders, fixing them with a steely glare. “So what will it be?” I challenge them, my voice echoing across the field. And then, a voice from the back calls out, almost swallowed by the growing storm, “We’ll run.”

“Begin!” I order, my voice a whip crack.

As if propelled by the force of my command, they break into a run, their feet pounding against the sodden ground as they begin their laps around the clearing.

I watch them, every muscle in my body taut with anger and disappointment.

These wolves are my family, and yet they would treat my mate like that.

“Double your pace!” I shout the command over the howling wind. They must learn that betrayal will never be tolerated. As they pick up speed, I catch the scent of Kyrio approaching, his concern evident in the slight furrow between his brows.

“Alpha, the storm is worsening,” he warns, glancing up at the churning sky. “We should seek shelter soon.”

“No, they’ll run until I say otherwise,” I reply, my voice low and unwavering. “They need to feel the weight of their actions. They need to understand their loyalty lies with their Luna as well as their Alpha.”

Kyrio nods, understanding I won’t change my mind. ”Do you still want me to cancel visiting Farren’s pack?”

I pause, trying to remind myself he wasn’t in on it and had it not been for Tara I wouldn’t have even realized.

“Where is Tara?” I ask instead.

Kyrio shifts uncomfortably, avoiding my gaze. “I locked her in the room. I will deal with her when I return.”

“See that you do.”

The rain pelts down with the intensity of a thousand tiny hammers, each droplet stinging my skin as I watch my pack members run. “Don’t cancel our visit to Farren’s pack. Let me check on Emery first, we still have time before we are scheduled to leave.” Kyrio nods, his jaw tight.

As I stride toward the packhouse, the icy wind bites at any exposed flesh, but I barely notice it.

My thoughts are consumed with Emery, her pain, and how she feared coming to me over this.

The door creaks open at my touch. And there she is, sitting on the stairs, her back hunched over and her hands trembling.

“Emery,” I say softly, shutting the door behind me.

She flinches at the sound of my voice, a clear sign she believes she is in trouble for not telling me.

Her eyes fill with unshed tears as she peers up at me, the corners of her mouth downturned.

“I’m sorry, I should have told you, but I.

..” she starts, but I don’t let her continue.

Instead, I scoop Emery up into my arms, her body trembles against me. “You should have told me,” I growl, unable to mask the frustration and concern that lace my voice.

“I have been feeding off you,” I growl. She’s too weak to protest, her body just accepting her fate.

“I knew you’d be mad,” she murmurs as I wrap her legs around my waist and begin walking toward the kitchen. Emery peers around, and I hear her heart rate pick up.

“Where are you taking me? To the dungeons?” she asks, her voice tinged with panic.

“What? No,” I retort, feeling her relax slightly.

“I can walk, you know?” she mumbles weakly, but I know better.

I set her on the counter in the kitchen, and then get flour from the pantry along with a few other ingredients before returning to the counter where Emery sits. She watches me but doesn’t dare move off the counter. Pancakes–simple but effective.

The sizzle of batter on the hot surface fills the room, mingling with the scent of melting butter. My mind races with thoughts of our pack, but for now, Emery’s well-being takes precedence.

“You’re going to cook?” Emery says, her voice laced with surprise as she watches me flip a pancake with deft precision.

“I must admit you look good in an apron. Maybe you can be Luna and I can be Alpha. My cooking skills suck.” I pour chocolate sauce over the pancakes, her comment about my cooking skills earns an eyebrow raise.

“I can cook pancakes and a few other things. I am hardly a chef,” I admit playfully; I squirt chocolate sauce at her.

A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth, and without hesitation, I lean in and lick the sauce off the corner of her lips before kissing her. She only tenses momentarily before relaxing and kissing me back.

Emery’s arms snake around my neck, her fingers tangling in my hair, as she surrenders to me, and I step between her legs. The taste of chocolate lingers on my tongue when I move to pull away from her, so she can eat. But Emery’s legs lock around my waist, holding me in place.

“Unless you want me eating you, you might want to rethink that,” the corners of my lips curling into a wicked smile.

“Hmm, depends on what sort of eating you mean,” she responds, her eyes shining with a mix of mischief and vulnerability. Her words are playful, but beneath the surface, I can sense a flicker of uncertainty.

“Only the best kind, of course.”

She bites her lip, and I groan inwardly at the sight.

“Is that so?” she murmurs, arching an eyebrow.

“Would you like a demonstration?” I offer, letting the question hang in the air between us. Adrenaline courses through my veins at the mere thought of tasting her again.

Her hands slide to my shoulders, gripping them tightly as if they are the only thing holding her to reality.

I can see the war waging within her, the desire to give in balanced against the fear of what that means.

A crack of thunder sends lightning shooting across the sky, making her jump and turn her gaze to the window.

“The pack?” she inquires, concern lacing her voice. I can sense her worry for them, even after everything they’ve put her through.

I swallow down the anger that threatens to rise within me. “They’ll be fine,” I assure her, my hand resting on the small of her back.

“Emery, don’t worry about them,” I assure her, my hand moving along her thigh to her hip. The downpour from the storm lashes against the windows, reflecting my own internal tempest. “They’re being dealt with. The consequences they face will remind them of their place.”

“Wait, are they still out there?” she tries to hop down off the counter, but I hold her in place.

“Either they run laps, or someone dies Emery, rain won’t kill them, but I will.”

The storm rages around us, lightning illuminating the sky with electricity, as I glance at Emery. Her eyes are wide with apprehension, her lip caught between her teeth, betraying her unease.

“As I said, they’ll be fine,” I attempt to reassure her. Cutting off a piece of the pancake, I lift the fork to her lips. She hesitates for a moment, her eyes fixed on mine before opening her lips

“Are you still going to visit Alpha Farren’s pack?” she asks, a hint of reluctance in her voice.

“If you’ll come with me,” I say, my tone gentle yet firm.

Her eyes meet mine, vulnerability flickering within their depths. “I don’t want to be here by myself,” she admits, her voice barely audible over the howling wind outside that makes the tree branches from the tree by the window slap the windowpane.

“Once you’ve eaten, we’ll leave then,” I tell her, cutting off more pancake. “Please don’t punish Tara,” she asks and my eyes flicker as I lift the fork to her lips.

“She’ll be punished.” She goes to protest. “But that is why Kyrio will be handling her punishment. I know she is your friend. However, that should have given her more reason to come to me.” She says nothing after that, and I continue to feed her until she complains she is full.

After getting changed into warmer clothes, we meet Kyrio in the foyer.

When we step outside, it’s still pouring and we quickly move to the car, climbing in. Kyrio turns the heater on and starts the car while we put our seatbelts on.

“What are you hoping to find at Alpha Farren’s?” Emery asks me.

I shrug. “Anything that may explain what happened. Also, his body was drained of blood, which I find odd,” I admit.

“You think it’s another Hybrid or a vampire?” she asks curiously.

I shake my head. “No, more likely he bled to death. I am the only Hybrid, and as for vampires, I am yet to meet one or hear about one.”

Kyrio pulls away and then drives.

“Neither have I,” Kyrio tells her. “Last I heard, they were extinct.”

Emery nods, sitting back in the seat when she spots the field. “Dion, they’re still running,” Emery whimpers. I peer over my shoulder at her.

“Punishments aren’t supposed to be fun. They were given a choice.”

Emery glares at me. “Let me guess, run however many laps or death.”

“That sounds about right,” I admit, ignoring the gasp that leaves her.

The storm’s relentless downpour batters against the windshield, blurring our view of the road ahead. The wipers struggle to keep up, their frantic rhythm an echo of my own racing heart. Emery shifts in her seat beside me, her fingers drumming nervously on the armrest between us.