We snarled at each other, teeth and claws tearing at fur and flesh. But gradually, I fell behind. An Omega's wolf form was typically smaller than average, an innate disadvantage I couldn't overcome.
Was I going to die here?
More wounds opened across my body. Liv's eyes gleamed with vicious glee. She knocked me down and pinned me, her razor teeth closing in on my throat. Mad, triumphant laughter spilled from her jaws. "Die, Serenity! You'll never beat me!"
Just as her fangs were about to pierce my throat, the café door exploded inward!
A black streak of lightning burst into the café, knocking Liv off me. The impact left me dizzy. By the time I struggled to my feet, a magnificent black wolf was already locked in combat with Liv.
I stared at him. The fierce way he fought, the way he had come to save me, made my heart pound wildly.
It was just like the first time I'd fallen in love with him. He'd rushed in front of me to protect me. And now my mate had come to my rescue once again!
Liv clearly hadn't expected him to arrive so quickly. She trembled and scrambled backward, trying to flee.
As I watched her slip past the black wolf's jaws and charge toward me, I realized my chance had come.
Novella howled with full force. From birth until now, I had never unleashed her power so completely. I slammed into the most vulnerable part of Liv's wolf form, her waist, cutting her escape route.
The moment she bared her fangs in threat, the black wolf lunged forward, working with me to corner her again. Faced with our coordinated attack, Liv grew visibly overwhelmed. But all her defensive strength was focused on the black wolf. She underestimated my attacks?—
This was my chance.
Wolf blood boiled in my veins. My front paws scraped silently against the floor as I crouched low, circling around behind Liv.
The black wolf sensed my intent and feinted at her throat. She had no choice but to leap sideways. In that split second when she was airborne, I sprang from behind and drove my claws deep into her ribs, opening a long gash.
Liv let out an agonized scream. Blood poured from the wound. She turned to look at me, disbelief in her eyes. She finallyunderstood that even an Omega could be deadly when pushed far enough.
For the first time, fear flickered across her face. She whimpered and tried to flee. I didn't give her the chance. I lunged and sank my teeth into the back of her neck, shaking violently before hurling her at the far wall. The wall cracked on impact. More blood spread from her body as she twitched on the floor, then went still. She'd lost all ability to fight.
The black wolf didn't interfere with my revenge. When I emerged victorious, he raised his head in a triumphant howl, then walked toward me through the moonlight. He lowered his head and touched his muzzle to mine, the most primal gesture of care and love.
"Elias…" I whispered his name. My heartbeat was completely out of control. Novella leaped with joy, longing to throw herself into his embrace. Then Frank groaned in the distance.No!I'd already chosen this peaceful life. I couldn't turn back. I couldn't fall into the past again!
"Let go of me!" I shoved him away hard and stumbled backward, out of range of his scent.
Something like hurt flickered across Elias's face, but he said nothing. The black wolf turned silently to look outside the café. Vernal warriors finally appeared, swiftly securing the now-defenseless Liv. Herman stepped forward with a coat for Elias. He shook his head and glanced at me. Herman immediately brought the coat to me instead.
"Luna, are you hurt?"
I pressed my lips together but accepted the coat. I wrapped it around myself and released my shift. "Thank you. I'm fine." Ipaused. "And please don't call me Luna anymore. I'm not that anymore."
Herman looked helplessly at Elias. But Elias ignored him, his gaze fixed on my bleeding wounds. "You're hurt. Serenity, let Herman take you to the hospital."
"No. I don't need that."
"If you don't want to see me, I won't follow." Elias took a deep breath. "I'll have Herman and Lizzie go with you… But you have to come back to Vernal with me. It's not safe here anymore."
"I'm not going!" I assumed he was trying to force me back into captivity. I resisted. "You say it's not safe here? Before you showed up, this was a peaceful, wonderful place!"
Elias said, "Calm down and listen to me, Serenity. I've tracked down the real traitor. You're innocent. No one will hurt you anymore…"
"I don't want to hear it!" I glared at him furiously, cutting him off. Only by staying angry could I mask how much my heart still ached for him. "The real traitor? I don't care anymore! Elias, this is all your fault! Liv only found this place because of you! Why do you keep tormenting me? It took me four years to build a new life here, and you've destroyed it again!"
Elias's fur hid his expression, but Novella whimpered in my heart, transmitting the endless waves of sorrow emanating from him.
I hid my hands behind my back, clenching them into fists, forcing down my sympathy.
