Chapter 94 The Price of Victory
Three weeks after the reforms passed, young Sera woke to screaming.
She bolted upright in bed, heart pounding. The screams were coming from somewhere in the pack house—multiple voices. Terror and pain mixed.
Young Sera grabbed the silver knife she now kept beside her bed and ran into the hallway. Other pack members were emerging from their rooms, confused and frightened.
The screams were coming from the medical wing.
Young Sera ran. Kai appeared beside her, also running. They burst through the medical wing doors together and stopped cold.
Blood. Everywhere. Splattered across walls and floors. Three bodies on the ground. Pack healers, their throats torn out. And standing over them, covered in blood, was someone young Sera recognised.
Alpha Vincent Cross. The man Michelle had been supposed to marry. The man whose wedding young Sera had ruined.
“Hello, Luna Queen,” Vincent said calmly, as if he were not standing in a pool of blood. “We need to talk.”
Guards rushed in behind young Sera. Warriors surrounded Vincent with weapons drawn. But Vincent just smiled. He was not afraid. Not concerned about being outnumbered.
Because he was holding something. Someone.
Michelle. Unconscious. Vincent’s claws pressed against her throat. One wrong move and he would kill her.
“Everyone stop,” Vincent commanded. “Or the omega dies. And we all know Luna Queen Sera cares so very much about omegas.”
Young Sera felt ice flood her veins. Vincent had killed three healers and had infiltrated the pack house. Had taken Michelle hostage. This was not random violence. This was planned.
“What do you want?” young Sera asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
“What do I want? I want my life back. The life you destroyed when you helped Michelle escape. The life you ruined when you convinced the Council to pass those ridiculous reforms.”
“The reforms were passed legally. You cannot undo them by taking hostages.”
“No. But I can make you pay for them. I can show every Alpha what happens when omegas get too much power. When Luna Queens think they can change centuries of tradition without consequences.”
Kael appeared in the doorway. He took in the scene instantly. The dead healers. Vincent is holding Michelle. The standoff.
“Let her go,” Kael said, his voice deadly calm. “Let Michelle go and we can talk about this.”
“There is nothing to talk about. Your Luna Queen destroyed my life. So I am going to destroy hers. Eye for eye. Fair trade.”
Vincent’s claws pressed harder against Michelle’s throat. Blood trickled down her neck. She was still unconscious, probably drugged. She had no idea she was about to die.
“Wait,” young Sera said desperately. “You want to hurt me? Fine. Let Michelle go and take me instead. I am the one you are angry at. Not her.”
“No!” Kai shouted. “Sera, do not—”
“I am the one who ruined your wedding,” young Sera continued, ignoring Kai. “I am the one who helped Michelle escape. I am the one who pushed for reforms. Take me. Let her go.”
Vincent considered this. His smile widened. “An interesting offer. The famous Luna Queen offering herself to save an omega. How noble. How predictable.”
“Do we have a deal or not?”
“We have a deal. You walk over here slowly. No weapons. No tricks. Once I have you, I release Michelle. Then we leave together. You and me. And if anyone tries to follow, I will kill you immediately. Understood?”
Young Sera dropped her knife. Started walking toward Vincent. Every instinct screamed at her to run. To let the warriors attack. To find another way.
But there was no other way. Michelle would die if young Sera did nothing. And she could not let another omega die because of her.
“Sera, stop,” Kael commanded. “That is an order from your Alpha King. Stop walking.”
Young Sera kept walking. “I am sorry, Kael. But Michelle is more important than following orders.”
She reached Vincent. He released Michelle, letting the unconscious omega drop to the floor. Then his claws locked around young Sera’s throat. The same way Thomas had grabbed her during the rescue. The same position of total control.
“Good girl,” Vincent whispered in her ear. “So predictable. So willing to sacrifice yourself. That is going to make breaking you so satisfying.”
The Warriors started to move forward but Vincent squeezed young Sera’s throat warningly. “I said no following. I meant it. Back away or I'll break her neck right here.”
The warriors stopped. Looked to Kael for guidance. Kael’s expression was anguished but he nodded. They backed away.
Vincent dragged young Sera toward the window. Broke the glass with one hand. Jumped through with young Sera still locked in his grip.
They fell two stories. Vincent landed easily. Young Sera’s body absorbed the impact hard. Pain shot through her legs and ribs but Vincent did not care. He started running. Dragging young Sera through the forest away from the pack house.
Behind them, young Sera heard shouting. Warriors mobilising. The pack realised their Luna Queen had just been kidnapped.
Again.
For the third time in less than two years, young Sera had been taken. Third time being held hostage. Third time sacrificing herself.
But this time felt different. Thomas had wanted to bond with her. To possess her. Vincent just wanted revenge. Wanted to hurt her. Wanted to make her pay for destroying his life.
This time, young Sera might not survive.
Vincent ran for twenty minutes. Deep into the forest. Far from the pack house. Far from help. Finally, he stopped in a clearing and threw young Sera to the ground.
She landed hard. Pain exploded through her already injured body. She tried to stand but Vincent kicked her in the ribs. She heard something crack. Felt agony bloom across her chest.
“Not so powerful now, are you?” Vincent snarled. “Not so confident. Just a weak little omega who made the mistake of thinking she mattered.”
Young Sera tried to speak but could only gasp. The pain in her ribs made breathing difficult. She might have a punctured lung. Might be bleeding internally.
Vincent circled her like a predator. “You ruined my wedding. You took Michelle from me. You convinced the Council to pass reforms that destroyed the pack hierarchy. And you thought there would be no consequences? You thought you could just change everything and walk away untouched?”
He kicked her again. Same spot. Young Sera screamed. The pain was unbearable.
“I am going to make you suffer,” Vincent said. “Slowly. Carefully. I am going to break every bone in your body. Then I am going to force a bond. Make you mine forever. Trap you in a connection you cannot escape. And every day for the rest of your life, you will regret what you did to me.”
Young Sera tried to crawl away but Vincent grabbed her hair. Yanked her head back. His wolf was emerging. Eyes turning gold. Claws lengthening. The bond was coming. She had minutes at most.
She reached for her wolf. Tried to shift. Tried to fight back. But the pain was too much. The injuries are too severe. Her wolf could not emerge.
She was helpless. Alone. About to be bonded to a monster who would torture her forever.
This was how she died. Not in glorious combat like with Victor Kane. Not escaping dramatically like with Thomas. But broken and bleeding in a forest clearing while a vengeful Alpha forced a bond.
“Any last words?” Vincent asked mockingly. “Any final pleas for mercy?”
Young Sera spat blood. “You are going to lose. Even if you bond me. Even if you kill me. The reforms are real. Omegas have rights now. You cannot undo that. My death changes nothing.”
“Your death changes everything. It shows every omega what happens when they get too bold. When they think they can challenge the Alpha authority. It sends a message that will echo for generations.”
“The only message it sends is that Alphas are monsters. That we were right to demand protection. That the old ways needed to die.”
Vincent raised his hand. Claws extended. Preparing to strike. To force the bond through violence and pain.
Young Sera closed her eyes. Thought of her grandmother. Of Kai. Of every omega she had saved. She had done good work. Had changed the world. If this was the price, at least she had made it count.
The killing blow never came.
Instead, young Sera heard a snarl. The impact of bodies colliding. Vincent’s weight was disappearing as something knocked him away.
She opened her eyes.
A massive wolf stood over her. Golden brown fur. Storm's grey eyes turned gold with rage. Kael’s wolf. But different from what she had ever seen before. Completely feral. Absolutely murderous.
And behind Kael’s wolf, more wolves were emerging from the forest. Dozens of them. The entire Northern Kingdom pack. All shifted. All ready to tear Vincent apart.
“You think you can take my Luna Queen?” Kael’s wolf growled. His voice was distorted by the partial shift but was understandable. “You think you can hurt her without consequences? I am going to teach you what happens when you touch what is mine.”
Vincent tried to run but wolves surrounded him. Cut off every escape. He was trapped. Outnumbered. About to die.
“Please,” Vincent begged. “I was just angry. I did not mean—”
Kael’s wolf did not let him finish. The attack was swift and brutal. Claws and teeth are tearing into Vincent. The other wolves joined in. Ripping. Shredding. Destroying.
Young Sera watched through a haze of pain. Watched Vincent Cross die screaming. Watched the pack exact vengeance for their injured Luna Queen.
It took less than a minute. When it was over, Vincent was dead. Torn to pieces. Nothing left but blood and scraps.
Kael shifted back to human form. Rushed to young Sera’s side. Lifted her carefully despite her broken ribs.
“I have you,” Kael said. “You are safe. I have you.”
“Michelle?” young Sera gasped.
“She is alive. Unconscious but alive. Mora is treating her. You saved her.”
“Three healers dead. My fault.”
“Not your fault. Vincent’s fault. He killed them. He took you. He is the monster. Not you.”
Mora appeared with a medical kit. Started treating young Sera’s injuries right there in the clearing. Broken ribs. Internal bleeding. Severe bruising. But nothing immediately fatal.
“You are going to survive,” Mora said. “But you need surgery. We need to get you back to the pack house immediately.”
They carried young Sera through the forest. Pack members are forming a protective barrier around her. Making sure nothing else could touch her. Making sure she was safe.
But young Sera did not feel safe. She felt terrified. Shaken. Broken in ways that had nothing to do with physical injuries.
Vincent was dead but the message he sent was clear. Omegas getting rights meant Alphas seeking revenge. The reforms had passed but the war was far from over.
And young Sera was the target. The symbol of everything traditional Alphas hated. As long as she lived, as long as she fought, she would be in danger.
The question was whether she could keep fighting knowing every victory brought new threats. Knowing every omega she saved painted a bigger target on her back.
Knowing that next time, the rescue might not come in time.
Next time, she might actually die.
Young Sera passed out from pain before they reached the pack house. Her last thought was of her grandmother.
Is this what you felt? Did you know that fighting for omegas meant becoming a target? Did you understand the price and pay it anyway?
Young Sera hoped the answer was yes. Hoped her grandmother had known the risks and fought regardless.
Because that was what young Sera needed to do. Keep fighting. Keep pushing for change. Keep refusing to back down even when Alphas like Vincent tried to destroy her.
The work was not finished. Would never be finished. As long as omegas suffered, the fight continued.
And young Sera would keep fighting. No matter the cost. No matter the danger. No matter how many times she got hurt.
Because that was what Luna Queens did. They protected their people. They changed the world. They paid the price for progress.
And young Sera was not done paying yet. Not even close.
The real war was just beginning.