Chapter 79

He didn’t break eye contact, and I braced for the fight.

Then, he turned so fast that he almost tripped over the carpet.

Ready to hunt? - I asked Aksala.

I’m craving blood - she growled in response.

I shed any part of me that thought this might be a bit sadistic and was left with a blazing excitement that yearned for this game.

Ten seconds, Miles - I crooned through the link - Are you running, or are you hiding?

I stood in the very same place I had knelt in my parent's blood. I had come back triumphant, the leader of the pack that had taken me.

So much blood had been spilled on my pack, but I was more than willing to add to it.

I flipped the dagger in my hand, cool and unrelenting. It was as part of me as anything now.

Blood Moon would not die.

I stalked out of the office, made of fury and bloodlust, ready for justice that I already knew would taste so bittersweet.

Even without the stolen power, I could have found him based on scent alone. But I wanted to play. I wanted him to feel as much fear and helplessness in the next few minutes that I was forced to try to suppress every day after he turned on my father.

I followed him over the fraying rugs that started to be eaten away. I walked over the scattered bones.

I would grieve for them later. What I was doing right now was for all of them.

I thought again about my parents and my friends. My pack’s faces flitted before me, and I wanted to honor them all; I would honor them all.

They might not be here, but their memory lives through me.

I stalked past the open windows, crunching glass on the floor.

I would tell their story, all of the stories I remembered, with as much vigor as my parents.

For it was not The Alpha and Luna that made the pack, it was every individual member. This pack was theirs as much as it was mine, and this was for them all.

My shoe kicked against something that clamored against the wall with a ringing, but I did not care.

I would rebuild for them all.

For they were Blood Moon, and I was the last of them.

This pack would not die with me. I owed it to them all to keep going.

I knew Miles was running. I could sense the movements of his sickly power. He was trying to get away, but it was not my intention to let him leave the packhouse. I peered out an opened window and decided where I would intercept him.

I edged myself over and on a ledge and lowered myself down. I could hear him now, his sporadic steps stumbling and slipping down the back stairs.

Scaling the overgrown wall was easy; the vines had taken hold of the packhouse in an iron grip.

I stood waiting, dagger in hand, outside the back door.

Seconds later, it was thrust open. The wind closed behind him in a splintering jolt. Miles turned to run and only then did he see me. He jumped back, wide-eyed, his feet fumbling for purchase as he hit the wall behind him.

Running away? - I asked with a frown - So soon? This is very disappointing.

He had barely regained his composure as he tried to use my packland's powers against me. If I were anyone else, they would have felt suffocating.

I looked up at the black cloud emanating from him and tutted.

He swallowed, and I thought he might try to attack, but he only searched for the door handle behind him.

I thrust my dagger through his hand, pinning it to the wood.

I wished I could bottle his blood-curdling screeches; they were delightful.

When I said run, I meant in the packhouse - I told him - Remember, uncle? When we used to play hide and seek?

I smiled at him, yanking the dagger from his hand, ignoring his choked scream.

Except for in this game, if you win, you die, and if you lose, you die.

I gave him a beautiful smile, holding my blade, now dripping with his blood. He stumbled but stood upright; I knew he was going to attempt to attack.

“Go,” I commanded; my Alpha aura rippled between us, and he was forced to obey. “Actually, stay.” He was rooted to the spot, and I grabbed his chin in my fingers, making him look down at me.

“Good boy.” I patted his cheek, smearing it with his blood on my hand, before pushing his face away. I released him from my Alpha command and crooned, “Let’s play.”

You have five seconds - I linked him.

He seemed to debate his choices before he grabbed the handle with his good hand and ran away again.

I mean, it’s a simple game - I told Aksala - I thought I made the instructions clear.

Well, your only instruction was to run, and he did that, so...

They were implied.

As they should be - she barked a laugh - I am enjoying this, carry on.

I wiped his blood on my pants; it smelled and looked strange, almost acidic and darker than it should have been, but that was of no matter.

You might have different blood now - I linked Miles, stalking back inside - But it will spill the same.