Chapter 3
The forest blurred around me as I ran, my heart pounding against my ribs. Emma had texted me an hour ago—she was heading to the pack council with evidence that would expose Lorelai. Now I couldn't reach her.
"Emma!" I called, my voice breaking through the silence of the trees. "Emma, please answer!"
A faint scent caught my attention—blood. My blood ran cold as I followed it, praying I was wrong.
I found her body sprawled at the base of a ravine, her throat torn open. Rogues. The word echoed in my mind as I fell to my knees beside her.
"No, no, no," I whispered, gathering her still-warm body into my arms. "Why? Why would they target you?"
Emma's eyes stared empty at the sky, her hand still clutching the communication device she'd found. I pressed my fingers to her neck, searching desperately for a pulse I knew wasn't there.
"I'm so sorry," I sobbed, rocking gently with her. "I should have protected you."
A twig snapped behind me. I whirled around, ready to fight, but it was Daniel Cross, Easton's Beta.
"Sophia," he said softly, his face grim. "I came as soon as I heard."
"How did you know?" I asked, wiping tears from my face.
He looked away, his jaw tightening. "I... I was monitoring the area. There had been reports of rogue activity."
"Reports?" Something in his tone made me pause. "Daniel, what aren't you telling me?"
His eyes met mine, filled with guilt. "Lorelai warned Easton about Emma's investigation yesterday. She said Emma was getting too close to dangerous information."
My breath caught. "And Easton did nothing?"
"He delayed sending protection," Daniel admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "He said we needed more time to verify the threat."
Rage replaced my grief, crystallizing into cold determination. "He let her die."
---
Three days later, I stood before Easton in his private office, my grief transformed into icy resolve.
"We need to talk," I said, closing the door behind me.
Easton leaned back in his chair, his expression bored. "If this is about your sister—"
"It's about pack law," I interrupted, placing a leather-bound book on his desk. "Specifically, the section on mate bond severance and compensation."
His eyes narrowed. "What are you doing?"
"Emma found evidence that Lorelai was coordinating with rogues," I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "The same rogues who killed three of our warriors. The same rogues who killed my sister."
"Lorelai has already explained—"
"She explained," I cut him off again, "and you chose to believe her over me. Over Emma. Now she's dead because of it."
I opened the book to a marked page. "Pack law is clear. When a Luna is wrongfully stripped of her title, she's entitled to full compensation and safe passage."
Easton's face darkened. "You wouldn't dare."
"I have nothing left to lose," I replied, meeting his gaze. "Unless you'd prefer I take this to the regional council? I wonder what they'd think about an Alpha who allowed his Luna's sister to be murdered."
He stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "You can't prove anything."
"Can't I?" I pulled out a small recording device. "Daniel has been very cooperative."
For the first time since I'd known him, Easton looked afraid.
---
The negotiations lasted hours, moving from his office to a private meeting room in the pack house. I remained calm while Easton grew increasingly agitated.
"Territorial rights," I said, marking another point on our agreement. "I want safe passage through all allied territories."
"That's impossible," Easton snapped. "You could go anywhere."
"I could," I agreed. "Or I could take my story to the council. 'Alpha Knowingly Allows Luna's Sister to Be Murdered.' I wonder how that would affect your standing?"
His hands clenched into fists. "You're bluffing."
"Am I?" I leaned forward. "The council takes mate bond violations seriously. Especially when they involve death."
Finally, he broke. "Fine. Territorial rights. Safe passage. What else?"
"Financial settlement," I continued, naming a figure that made him flinch. "And formal mate bond severance. I want it documented and witnessed."
"You can't just—"
"I can," I interrupted again. "Pack law is clear. When an Alpha breaches the sacred trust of his Luna, she has the right to severance."
Easton stared at me, his eyes searching for the woman who had once loved him unconditionally. He found only cold determination.
"You've changed," he said quietly.
"No," I replied, gathering the papers. "I've finally seen clearly."
As I turned to leave, his voice stopped me. "Where will you go?"
I looked back at him one last time. "Somewhere you can't hurt me anymore."
The door closed behind me with finality, but I could feel his eyes on me—calculating, regretful, and something else I couldn't quite name. I had won this battle, but I knew Easton well enough to know he wouldn't accept defeat easily.
What I didn't know was just how far he would go to keep me under his control.
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