Chapter 236 MARK OF VENGEANCE
Nixx
William’s wolf released the defeated male with a forceful shake, sending him scrambling away. With a cold, predatory gaze, William’s wolf advanced toward the next challenger. His massive paws dug into the earth, leaving deep marks as he approached. His scowl and blood-stained teeth made it clear who was in charge.
One by one, William’s wolf subdued the challengers. The process was methodical and ruthless—each wolf was pulled down, bitten, and forced into submission until they all lay defeated. The final male, trembling and broken, was similarly subdued. William’s wolf, still fierce and unrelenting, ensured that each of the challengers gave up completely, their wills crushed by sheer force.
After an hour of relentless combat, the last challenger lay vanquished. William's wolf surveyed the pack with a sweeping, authoritative glance, ensuring no further challengers remained. Then, with a fluid shift, William transformed back into his human form. He stood on the stage, battered and bloodied, deep cuts marking his body. Blood dripped from his wounds, staining the ground beneath him.
William’s eyes, fierce and resolute, took in the sight of the crowd. His body bore the marks of the fight, his chest heaving from exhaustion and exertion. He looked at me, then at the pack, understanding the gravity of the moment. He knew that if he didn’t act swiftly and decisively, the pack would turn on him in a heartbeat. He had to make a plan—and fast.
“I know you don’t want me as your Alpha anymore!” he roared, veins bulging as he shouted. The crowd responded with a chorus of angry growls, their displeasure palpable. “But none of you can beat me in a challenge! And you know that! My wolf is stronger!”
His gaze locked with mine as he continued, “But give me three months.” His voice was firm, though his chest was still heaving from the strain. “I’ll spend three months training Nixx, teaching him everything he needs to know to become Alpha. I’ll train his wolf to be able to defeat me and to protect this pack! He will be your new Alpha once he can successfully take me down!” His words were met with a roar of approval from the pack, their heads nodding in agreement.
As the crowd cheered, my eyes widened with a mixture of fear and disbelief. The pack’s sentiment was shifting rapidly, and their support for William’s proposal was evident. It was a risky move, but it seemed to be working.
One of the male wolves stepped forward, his voice loud and accusatory. “We don’t want Tatiana as our Luna! William needs to mark another female and sever the bond with her!” The crowd murmured in agreement, their discontent clear. My wolf growled in my chest, outraged by the man’s harsh words. I clenched my fists, my teeth grinding in frustration.
“And Tatiana needs to be punished for her crimes against Darius, even if he was a monster!” Jazz’s voice cut through the crowd, her words a painful reminder of the turmoil. The betrayal stung deeply, and I felt a profound sense of anguish.
William took a deep breath, his expression unwavering. “Nixx will agree to that. We’ll address his mate situation, and Tatiana will be punished as was decided beforehand. This will start immediately.” His words were met with a loud cheer from the wolves, their approval ringing out clearly. I was torn between relief and fear as William left the stage and approached Alpha Reynolds, who remained stoic and impassive. Mirabelle glanced at me with a look of regret, her sympathy now evident.
As William and Alpha Reynolds discussed the next steps, I could only stand there, overwhelmed by the shifting dynamics of the pack and the weight of the decisions that lay ahead.
My wolf was practically bursting to get out. It was itching to take vengeance on William for doing something I had never dared to. William had agreed to something I had always resisted, and that was infuriating. I spun around and stomped away from the packhouse, feeling a surge of anger that seemed to consume me. Each step felt heavy as I walked past Annabel, who reached out and grabbed my arm.
I stopped abruptly, my heart pounding with rage. I turned to face her, my eyes blazing with fury, my jaw clenched tight. I was bracing myself for a lecture, ready to hear what I should and should not do.
Annabel’s face was shadowed with anger as she met my gaze. “Percival will get better soon,” she said, her voice dripping with bitterness. “My cousin is sending help for him. I will not allow you to take his birthright away. He is the next Alpha.”
Her words were like ice, cutting through my already frayed nerves. I yanked my arm out of her grip, almost colliding with her in my agitation. The thought of her being my Luna was laughable now. I couldn’t stand her. I was beginning to understand why the pack viewed their leaders the way they did. They knew the odds were against them, but they also understood that their leaders’ presence was a necessary, albeit unwelcomed, burden. William understood that too. He was trying to make peace to avoid conflict and keep the pack from tearing itself apart, but it wasn’t working. The clock was ticking, and the pack was ripe for a new Alpha to seize control by force.
I had been instructed to mark something else, to forget about my partner—the one I considered a gift from the moon. The news that Mirabelle was expecting my child was bewildering. It was strange and surreal. My brother and I were experiencing similar turmoil, though his journey was ending and mine was just beginning. What did the moon have in store for me? Mirabelle was undeniably beautiful, but she had always been Edeline’s peculiar friend with a secret crush on me. Now, she was different, carrying my child. Meanwhile, my marked partner was oblivious, waiting in the hall, unaware of the circumstances that led to Mirabelle's pregnancy. No one knew the full story yet, not even me. What should I do? My wolf desired something I could not easily relinquish, something bestowed upon me by the moon.
My body trembled with the raw, unfiltered anger coursing through me. It was as if my animal instincts were taking control, overpowering my rational mind. Before I could make sense of what was happening, my bones began to crack, and my wolf emerged, ready to unleash its fury.