Chapter 12 LUNA!
The words were going to break her.
Kane walked in. Dropped a file on the table. “Ivan moved. He is not at the compound. He is at the docks. Shipping yard. And he has her.”
“Her who,” Alex said.
“Natalie.”
Mia’s stomach dropped. The video. “First up... her tongue. For all the lies she’s told you.”
“You are not trading me,” Mia said. Fast. “I do not care what the Council—”
“No,” Alex said. “I am not.” He looked at Kane. “How many?”
“Forty. Maybe more. Mercenaries. Not wolves. He knows you will not shift with cameras.”
“Then we do not bring cameras.” Alex opened a drawer. Pulled out a gun. Checked the clip. Put it on the table. Then pulled out a second. Smaller. Glock 43.
He slid it toward Mia.
MIA
He is handing me a gun.
In his war room. With his pack outside calling me Luna.
Last night I could not choose to bite him.
Now he is asking me to choose to kill for him.
Is this human?
Yes. Humans choose war every day.
She picked up the gun.
It was heavy. Cold. Real.
“Have you ever—”
“Shot a gun. No.” She met his eyes. “But I watched you kill three men for me. It is time I return the favor.”
Gold flared in his eyes. Not lust. Pride.
“If she wants to shoot back. Even better.” He muttered.
The docks smelled like diesel and low tide.
Ivan’s men were not hiding. They were waiting. Forty of them. Rifles. Tactical gear.
Alex did not hide either.
He walked in the front. Suit. No vest. No hesitation.
Mia was behind him. Kane on her left. Luka on her right. Twenty Black Fang wolves behind them. All in human form. All armed.
This was not a pack move.
This was Bratva.
This is Pakhan, Mia thought. This is who he is when the penthouse is gone
Ivan was sitting on a crate. Legs crossed. Smiling. Natalie was at his feet. Duct tape on her mouth. Blood on her face. Alive.
“Nephew,” Ivan called. “You brought me my Luna. How kind.”
“I brought you a bullet,” Alex said.
Then he shot Ivan.
In the knee.
Ivan screamed and fell off the crate.
The docks turned into gunfire.
Mia dropped. Kane covered her with his body. Luka fired back.
Alex kept walking.
Through bullets. Through men. Like he was untouchable.
Because he was Alpha. Because he was Hybrid. Because she had bled him stable six hours ago and now his wolf was clear.
He reached Ivan. Grabbed his throat. Lifted him one handed.
“You bombed my home,” Alex said. His voice was quiet. Everyone heard it. “You touched my mate.”
“I did not—” Ivan choked.
Alex looked at Natalie. At the blood. At the tape.
Then back at Ivan.
“Wrong woman,” Alex said.
And crushed his windpipe.
Not a snap. A slow collapse.
Ivan’s eyes went wide. Then empty.
Alex dropped the body.
Turned. Looked for Mia.
She was on the ground. Behind Kane. Gun in her hand. She had not fired. Yet.
“You okay, little wife?”
He just strangled his uncle. With his hand. Because Ivan threatened me.
And the first thing he asks is if I am okay.
Am I okay?
No.
Am I his?
Yes.
God help me. Yes.
“Ask me when they are all dead,” she said.
Alex smiled. Blood on his teeth. Hers.From backlash.
His. From Ivan.
Then new explosions hit.
Not Ivan’s men.
The north wall of the yard disappeared.
Wolves came through. Not Ivan’s. Council. White bands on their arms. Executioners.
Viktor walked through the smoke. Councilman. Scar from chin to ear. The one who gave the ultimatum.
“De Luca,” Viktor said. “You are under arrest. For touching a pureblood Alpha. For mating without sanction. For being an abomination.”
Alex stepped in front of Mia. Always. Every time.
“She is unmarked,” Viktor said. He looked at Mia. “She is human. She is not Luna. She is evidence.”
“Touch her,” Alex said, “and die.”
“Or,” Viktor smiled, “you do.”
He nodded.
Two executioners grabbed Mia.
Alex roared. The sound was not human.
He half shifted. Claws. Fangs. Eyes red gold. Monster.
And stopped.
Because Viktor put a gun to Mia’s head.
“Shift back,” Viktor said. “Or I paint the docks with your Luna’s brain. Your choice, abomination.”
MIA
Choose
Human. Choose.
He shifts back, they arrest him. Kill him. Ivan wins anyway.
He does not, they kill me. He goes feral. Curse wins.
Tick. Tock.
There is always a third option.
Mia looked at Alex. At the monster. At the man who stopped when she said stop.
And she smiled.
Then she bit Viktor’s wrist.
Hard. To the bone.
Viktor screamed. The gun went off.
Into the air.
Mia moved.
She did not know she could move like that.
She tore the gun from Viktor’s hand. Turned. Fired.
Not at Viktor.
At the executioner behind Alex.
One shot. Head.
The docks went silent.
Mia stood there. Gun smoking. Viktor’s blood in her mouth. Alpha blood.
And she felt it.
Change.
Not full shift. Part. Eyes gold. Teeth sharp. Nails to claws.
Latent wolf.
Not anymore.
She looked at Alex.
He was staring. Not at the gun. At her.
“Luna,” he whispered.
Not a question.
Viktor was on his knees. Holding his wrist. Staring at Mia.
“You bit me,” he said. Stunned. “You are... you are...”
“Pack,” Mia said. Her voice was lower. Rougher. Not hers. “You said I was human. You said I was unmarked. You said I was evidence.”
She walked to him. The wolves parted for her. Her wolves now.
She crouched. Put the gun under his chin.
“But I just killed your man. With your gun. And I am not even shifted.” She smiled. All teeth. Sharp now. “So what does that make me, Councilman?”
Viktor swallowed. “Luna.”
“Louder.”
“LUNA!”
The pack roared.
“LUNA! LUNA! LUNA!”
Alex was behind her. Hand on her waist. Mouth at her ear.
“Lesson three,” he growled. “How to take a throne.”