89- The Alpha’s Fury
POV Lunara Grimwald:
Lyris choked on a laugh, disguising it as a coughing fit, while Celindra began downing every shot of țuică on the table. Anton and Andrei stayed silent, ready to intervene if things turned violent. But they didn’t seem pleased with the she-wolf’s presence—much less with the poison spilling from her mouth.
She had a certain... hold over Edric, one that made me hate her even more—and him, too. That was why neither of them interfered, afraid of the alpha’s wrath. Thalira had no limits, and she knew it. She used that to her advantage, twisting every situation, just like now.
The muscles in her slender jaw tightened, and her eyes narrowed.
“What did you just say?” she whispered, dangerously low. She looked just as close to snapping as I was, ready to lunge for my throat.
She wasn’t the same damned, cunning, analytical bitch who had sabotaged me so many times—who had made me fall for her clever traps. Thalira was... different. Unhinged, even.
I shrugged.
“You asked how I feel, becoming a used-up whore soon to be discarded by the alpha...” I ran my tongue over my teeth. “I just want to know if that’s how you feel, since you’re in the same situation.” I rubbed my thumb over my chin, pretending to think. “Actually, I’m still in the ‘used whore’ phase, while you’ve already moved on to the ‘discarded’ one. Maybe you could tell me what that’s like? That way, I won’t be so... unsettled when it happens to me too,” I mocked.
Someone whistled—Anton or Andrei, I couldn’t tell.
Thalira let out a deep growl, her eyes glowing with a fierce, molten brown as she merged with her wolf. Her fangs lengthened, her nails grew, and a thin layer of fur spread across her skin.
I stiffened, ready for the fight.
She was much older than I was—and probably stronger, more experienced—but none of that made me flinch or back down. My pride screamed louder, and my rage consumed me.
She raised her arm, ready to rake her claws across my face and tear my skin. Lyris jumped to my side, pulling Celindra back to shield her beloved, while Anton and Andrei prepared to shove Thalira away from me. Each of them—omegas and alphas alike—yielded to their wild instincts.
My eyes gleamed, emerald green swallowing my irises. I felt the shift beginning within me, just as it had with her.
I would fight. Or die trying.
I heard the whistle of her arm slicing through the air at blinding speed. I leaned, ready to dodge and strike back.
Everything around us fell into pure silence. The Eldoria wolves watched, stunned.
Maybe Edric would throw me into a cell after what was about to happen—treat me like a prisoner, a savage—for turning against his untouchable lover. I didn’t care what he’d do. He could keep me locked up for the rest of my life, but I wouldn’t take another ounce of humiliation from her.
I blinked, bracing for the impact of her claws sinking into my skin.
He never made it.
A large hand, its nails elongated into claws, was clamped tightly around the slender wrist, holding it in place. I frowned, confused. Thalira blinked and turned to the side. Edric stood right behind her, keeping her away from me.
His eyes flickered between gold and blue, his muscles taut, his hair tousled by the wind—as if he had run too fast to reach us, closing the distance between us in an instant. He bared his teeth, a low growl rumbling from his chest.
“Edric...” she moaned, rubbing herself against him.
I planted my feet firmly on the ground, controlling my beast, forcing her to stay still, silent, and quiet inside me. He didn’t belong to us—no matter what she thought. Fighting Thalira for insulting me was one thing; fighting her out of jealousy for the alpha was something entirely different.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he hissed, rage seeping from every pore of his body.
I leaned slightly toward Andrei and took a step back, bracing myself for the flood of insults that was sure to come.
I had ruined everything. I’d snapped back at that bitch and ruined the celebration. I’d embarrassed him in front of the pack. Surely, he’d say one of those things to me.
He shot a glance in my direction—where my arm brushed against Andrei’s—before turning back to Thalira.
“I... I... nothing,” stammered the omega, taking a deep breath.
“I won’t ask again.”
Thalira jerked her arm free from his grip. Her skin was marked where his fingers had held her too tightly. He had hurt her. She rubbed at the spot as if trying to erase the imprint, her expression flustered and humiliated.
My wolf purred, delighted by his closeness and the way he’d stepped in to defend us, putting that bitch in her place.
I shouldn’t have focused on what he was feeling—but I did. Anger, disgust, confusion, shock. He seemed far too conflicted.
“She provoked me; I only fought back,” she lied, furrowing her brow, pretending to be sad and wounded. “She insulted me about... that.” She pointed to the mark on his neck. “I lost control. I’m sorry.”
I opened and closed my mouth, stunned by her shamelessness. Anton, Andrei, Lyris, and Celindra had been by my side the entire time—they knew the truth just as well as I did. Yet she hadn’t hesitated for even a second before spinning the most absurd lie possible.
I crossed my arms and waited, ready to curse them both out. I was done with Thalira and her manipulative games. If Edric chose to believe her and throw me into a cell, so be it—at least it would prove my point.
Andrei stood motionless beside me.
Without meaning to, I took another step closer, our arms brushing again. Edric’s eyes narrowed at the contact, and the golden gleam returned. I heard Andrei swallow hard before taking a step back.
Suddenly, Edric seized Thalira by the wrist and spun her around—for everyone in the pack to see. The crowd fell silent, watching.
Her friends stiffened and backed away, their faces pale, eyes wide, clearly not expecting what was happening—just like everyone else.