Chapter 420: No More Mercy

Hope Elara's POV

Don't stop!

Perry's voice echoed through my mind just as I slowed the car.

She jumped onto the vehicle with Jordan and Tulie.

The kids were crying.

My heart was pounding so hard I could barely think.

Tulie climbed into the passenger seat and reached across me to open the back.

Jordan climbed in after her.

Perry slipped into the back seat.

"Can someone else drive?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"No," Jordan said calmly.

"Focus."

"You need to stay in control."

"Try not to panic."

"Hi, babies," Perry said softly from the back.

"We're okay."

"Mommy..."

Zoey was the first to break.

The three of them had been trying so hard to stay brave.

"We're okay, Baby," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady.

"We're going home."

"I want my brother," Melody cried.

"I want to see Derek."

"He's coming to us, Princess."

"I promise."

"Daddy too?" Zenep asked.

"Yes."

"And Pop-pop too."

We crossed the pack border and reached the highway.

My whole body was shaking.

I gripped the steering wheel as tightly as I could.

I didn't know what had just happened.

Or maybe I did...

And I didn't want to admit it.

Because if I did...

I'd have to leave the pack.

Ashley would take over.

And she would claim the pack the only way the Valduz family knew how.

By force.

After today...

No one would ask what I wanted anymore.

"They were paying her," Jordan said after a long silence.

I frowned.

"What?"

"They were paying Allison."

"They wanted her to make you leave."

"There were four of them."

"All elders."

"The ones who didn't make the cut," Tulie added.

"They knew Allison was finished."

"So they made their move."

"She was panicking at her house."

"They were packing."

"They were arguing."

The fear inside me slowly faded.

It was replaced by something worse.

Pain.

She had been planning to leave all along.

Did she ever believe I could lead this pack?

Or had it all been a lie?

I thought we were becoming friends.

I thought...

I had finally found where I belonged.

"Elara," Perry said gently.

"They don't deserve your tears."

"I know."

I wiped my face with my sleeve.

"I just can't believe I'm still this naive."

"I never seem to learn."

"I didn't even want to come here at first."

"But it was starting to feel like home."

"It was starting to feel like our place."

"Not everyone wants you gone," Perry reminded me.

"A lot of people want you here."

"Let us deal with the rest."

"Perry..."

I shook my head.

"You can't kill everyone just because they disagree with you."

"That's not how this works."

"It is in our world, Hope Elara," Perry replied.

"We're not mortals."

"We don't believe every life is equal."

"We protect the people who stand with us."

"We stay loyal to those who are loyal to us."

"The rest made their choice."

"You saw what happened."

"It was you or them."

"They tried to use your kindness against you."

"You don't have to love everything."

"I can't make that choice."

"You don't have to."

"We'll make it for you."

"You only have to look away."

She looked down.

"I told Valduz it was too soon."

"I'm sorry."

"We expected too much from you."

"I'm sorry we put you and the kids in danger."

"D.A.D. says we're always in danger," Zoey said quietly.

"Because we're special."

"Your dad is right," Perry answered.

"That's why we have to be more dangerous than they are."

"Never forget that."

At last, we reached the beach house.

Elliot and Maria were already waiting.

Perry, Jordan, and Tulie immediately got out to check the area.

I stayed frozen behind the wheel.

Everything had happened so fast.

I still couldn't process it.

The door suddenly opened.

I jumped.

"Angel..."

Valduz pulled me into his arms.

"Daddy!" Zenep cried.

"Get them out of here," I whispered.

"Derek!" Melody shouted.

They quickly carried the twins away.

Only then did I let go of the steering wheel.

Valduz reached for me.

I tried to step out of the car.

But my legs gave out beneath me.

I nearly fell onto the rocks.

Before I could hit the ground, Valduz caught me in his arms.

He kicked the door shut.

As he carried me toward the house...

I looked back at the car.

My blood ran cold.

The entire side was covered with bullet dents.

If Arvin hadn't insisted on making the car bulletproof...

We would have died.

Zenep.

Zoey.

Melody.

None of them would have survived that attack.

"The doctor is here," Mr. Valduz said.

Valduz gently set me down in the living room.

"She'll help calm you down."

I nodded.

But I didn't want anyone near me.

I wanted to take the twins upstairs.

Lock the door.

And never come back out.

But first...

I had to know my baby was safe.

The twins ran straight to me.

I sat them beside me on the couch.

When Melody stepped into the room, I reached out my hand.

Without hesitation, she climbed into my lap.

Everything after that became a blur.

The doctor checked me carefully.

"The baby is fine."

"You need complete rest."

"No stress."

"No interruptions."

I nodded again.

It barely registered.

After the twins fell asleep, I quietly closed their bedroom door.

The second it clicked shut...

My back hit the wall.

I slowly slid to the floor.

For the first time since the attack...

I was alone.

Everything crashed into me.

Stepping off that plane.

Coming to this pack.

Every battle.

Every betrayal.

Every sacrifice.

Every single moment led here.

The tears wouldn't stop.

Neither would the pain crushing my chest.

I couldn't breathe.

I couldn't think.

I could only cry.

Strong arms suddenly lifted me from the floor.

Valduz.

He carried me to our room without saying a word.

He checked every monitor.

Made sure the twins were safe.

Only then did he lay me gently on the bed.

I grabbed his shirt before he could step away.

"Please..."

My voice broke.

"Don't say it."

I buried my face against his chest.

"Don't apologize for something that isn't your fault."

He wrapped his arms around me.

"Okay," he said quietly.

Then his voice changed.

Calm.

Cold.

Certain.

"And I'm not apologizing for what comes next."

He pulled back just enough for me to see his eyes.

"We tried things your way."

His jaw tightened.

"Now..."

"You let me take the lead."

A long silence filled the room.

Then he spoke the words that made my heart sink.

"There's not a single thing you can say..."

"...that will stop me."