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Scarlett
“What are you talking about, Mother?” The words tore from my throat, raw and untamed.
I couldn’t contain the rage that had festered inside me for years—didn’t want to contain it anymore. “Why? Why are these people suddenly so precious to you? The same people who stood by while I was treated like dirt beneath their feet?”
“Scarlett,” she pleaded, reaching for me with trembling hands.
“No!” I snarled, my voice dropping to something evil and dangerous. My skin prickled with heat as my wolf stirred beneath the surface.
“They will all face my wrath! Every single one who turned away, who whispered, who laughed—I will make them pay!”
Mother approached cautiously, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, as one might a wounded predator.
“I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t want to destroy my father’s legacy or hurt his people,” she said, her voice breaking. “My people are your people.”
“No." The word escaped like venom. My hands balled into fists so tight that my nails carved crescent moons into my palms.
“Your people are not my people. They bullied me, Mother. Treated me as if I was nothing, less than nothing. Why should I care for people like that? Why should I spare them when they never showed me an ounce of mercy?”
My mother’s face was overcome with raw emotion, like a storm. The pain in her eyes was so intense that I could almost taste it.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice filled with regret. “They couldn’t disobey their Alpha. It’s all your father’s fault. They had no choice but to follow his orders or face death.”
I looked at my mother in disbelief as she stood up for those who were supposed to keep me safe but had betrayed me instead.
Memories of loneliness and mistreatment flooded my mind, causing my chest to rise and fall with each difficult breath, like jagged lightning.
“I refuse to believe the fault only lay with my father,” I declared. “They chose to believe him. They chose to treat me as less.”
“You don’t understand.” Mother’s voice hardened with desperation. “They all swore loyalty the moment Alaric stepped on the Alpha throne. They can never disobey him—not without sacrificing their lives, their children’s lives.”
We circled each other with our words, neither yielding, until Finn’s voice cut through our heated exchange.
“She is right,” he said quietly, shattering all my thoughts. “They can never disobey their Alpha. The way they treated you reflects their Alpha’s will, not their hearts.”
The room spun around me as the basis of my anger, the story I had used to fuel my revenge, started to fall apart. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I struggled to take in air, but my lungs wouldn’t cooperate.
“Scarlett,” I heard Finn’s worried voice. Even though he was near, I could feel his voice far away. “Are you okay?”
“Take a breath, honey.” Mother’s face swam before me, panic etched into every line. “Take a breath.”
I slumped into a chair, gasping for air, my vision fading to tiny dots of light. The anger that had fueled me was now morphing into a suffocating force that was overwhelming me.
“Are you okay?” Mother whispered, kneeling before me. “Child.”
“Yes,” I finally managed to say. “I’m fine.”
Mother took my hands in hers. “I’m sorry. If I hadn’t accepted and married an evil man, you would not have had such a cruel father.” Her voice cracked. “Everything is my fault.”
“No, it isn’t your fault, Mom,” I responded. “He is your mate.”
After my breathing steadied, we returned to our planning. I reluctantly agreed to focus our retribution only on my father and his vicious evil wife. By nightfall, we had decided: we would attack at dawn.
“I guess you won’t be needing me for anything,” Jack mumbled.
“Yes, Alpha,” I replied, softening my tone. “We’re not attacking the entire pack— just him and his wife.” I met his gaze directly. “Thank you for wanting to help us.”
His lips curved into a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “At least allow my mother to follow you.”
My eyes drifted from him before shifting to his mother who stood tall beside him.
“Okay,” I conceded, “let’s do that.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, her voice laced with a deadly calm that sent chills down my spine. “I can’t wait to rip his bones from his body while he still breathes.”
The viciousness of her words made me wonder what personal hell my father had put her through. The depth of her hatred mirrored my own.
We finished our preparations quickly before escorting Jack and his mate back to their car. His mother stayed behind, ready for our dawn attack.
“So,” Luna Light asked tentatively, her fingers twisting nervously at her sides, “can I always come to visit, Luna?”
I smiled, noticing how tense she was. “Yes. You are free to visit anytime, any day, Luna.”
Relief softened her features as she returned my smile. “Thank you, Luna. I will be back to check on you.” She squared her shoulders. “We will be on our way now.”
We watched as they drove off before heading back.
Everything went by faster. Mother’s friend insisted on sleeping with her. The day went faster than we expected, and soon it was the next morning.
“Good morning, Luna,” Finn’s deep voice pulled me from restless dreams. His lips brushed my forehead. “I hope you had pleasant dreams.”
“Of course, darling,” I lied smoothly, reaching up to kiss him properly.
All night I had dreamed of killing my father—watching the light fade from his eyes as he begged for mercy I wouldn’t give.