Chapter 15
Kali
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The warriors march me through the heart of Alpha Jack’s pack, their presence imposing. Yet, despite the weight of my circumstances, my gaze sweeps across the vast expanse of the territory. It is unlike anything I have ever seen–massive, thriving, powerful.
The buildings tower above, far more developed than those of my old pack, and the roads are well–maintained. This is not just a pack; it is a kingdom in its own right. It’s built on discipline, dominance, and order that seeps into everything. From the way the warriors march and train in the distance, their roars and grunts echoing like thunder, to the way the pack members bow their heads in submission when they pass us. This is not just a pack; it is a force.
Yet, something halts my admiration.
A sharp intake of breath lodges in my throat as my gaze snags on a scene that sends rage clawing up my spine.
A woman. Cowering.
She flinches as a man–her mate, I assume–grabs her arm and yanks her toward him. His face is twisted in rage, his teeth bared as he hisses something in her ear before shoving her to the ground.
The woman whimpers, curling in on herself as if she’s done this before. As if she’s used to it.
I expect someone–anyone–to react. To step in. To at least show a flicker of disgust and look horrified. But no one does.
The pack members around them glance, uninterested, some even smirking. Others walk by as if this is normal, like her pain is nothing and as if this is just another ordinary moment in their day.
My stomach twists in disgust.
What kind of place is this? How could they just ignore this?
My muscles tense, hands clenching into fists. Instinct demands I intervene. I don’t care whose pack this is–no one should stand by and watch this happen. My feet shift forward, ready to charge, to drive my knuckles into that bastard’s face-
A firm hand clasps my wrist, stopping me.
“No,” a voice murmurs, low yet firm.
I spin, prepared to glare, to fight off whoever dares to stop me, but freeze when I meet a pair of warm, knowing eyes. Unlike the other warriors who have been all sharp edges and silent intimidation, this one has a gentleness to him, an aura that doesn’t reek of cruelty so I know he isn’t like them.
He doesn’t look at me like I’m prey, like I’m something to be controlled. His dark eyes hold a quiet plea, and his grip is firm but not forceful. There’s something familiar about him, something that makes my chest ache.
“Don’t interfere,” he says softly.
“Why? She’s being abused!”
His lips press into a thin line before he sighs. “It’s a taboo to interfere between mates. No one is allowed to come between them, not even the Alpha.” He lowers his voice, glancing around before adding, “And especially not you–not when he hasn’t introduced you as his Luna yet. It would put him in a complicated position.”
I blink, my fury simmering, but I know he’s right. I’m not staying here. This isn’t my pack. I have no authority, no role. Still, every part of me burns to defy this twisted logic, to rip that woman away from her monster of a mate.
“So, what?” I demand; my voice trembles with suppressed fury. “She just has to take it?”
His jaw tightens, and for a second, I think I see something in his eyes–regret? Sadness? He doesn’t answer my question. He doesn’t need to.
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16:36 Thu, 19 Jun
Chapter 15
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The woman on the ground suddenly crawls forward, clutching at her mate’s leg, breaking what little restraint I have left. “Please,” she sobs, her voice raw with desperation. “Forgive me. I won’t do it again.”
I can’t watch this.
The man sneers before grabbing a fistful of her hair, forcing her head back as she gasps in pain. My stomach churns, my entire body screaming at me to do something.
I move without thinking.
Or at least, I try.
The warrior steps in front of me, blocking my view. His presence is solid, unmoving, as if he already knew I would react this way. His body shields me from the sight. “Please,” he murmurs, “don’t.”
I exhale shakily, my anger curling into something bitter. There’s no reason to play the role of Luna when I’ll never be one.
But it doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.
I glance up at him, and the ache in my chest intensifies. He reminds me of Caspian–my best friend. His kindness, his quiet strength… it makes my heart twist with longing.
Forcing a small, sad smile, I nod. I don’t trust my voice to speak.
“Let’s go,” he urges.
He leads me away along with the other warriors, guiding me past the scene–past the suffocating silence of a pack that turns a blind eye to such cruelty. I glance at him from the corner of my eye. A kind–hearted warrior in a place like this? How does he survive? And why do I trust him?
I exhale, forcing myself to forget everything.
The warriors escort me through a massive house, its interior just as grand as its exterior. The hallways stretch endlessly, the air thick with the scent of wood, leather, and something undeniably masculine. We finally stop before a door–twice my height, made of dark oak, with intricate carvings of wolves and moons.
Another of the warriors bows his head. “This is the mating room.”
As the words leave his mouth, my heart pounds in my chest. Before/l can speak, they turn and walk away, the heavy thud of their boots fading down the
hall.
I am left alone, standing before the door that seals my fate.
But then I remember–I have the power to seal my own fate.
I can reject Jack as my second–chance mate.
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