119- The Bondbreaker
POV Lunara Grimwald:
“You’re really that stupid of a bitch?” I sneered, pointing my chin toward Alessio. “He hates Edric for touching me and for killing his trusted males. He’ll kill me to get at the alpha.”
The bastard slapped a hand over his heart and let out a dramatic sigh.
“Oh, my love, do you have so little regard for my word?” he blinked slowly. “But I understand — it’s my fault, after everything I did for you. I’m being sincere, my dear. I only want you back, to have you at my side as my wife.”
“I’d rather die!”
“Ouch, that one stung!” he mocked. “You didn’t say that months ago.”
“Why believe you? Why not kill her and end Edric’s life?” Anton asked, taking a subtle step back, moving us slowly away from them while trying to distract them.
Alessio ruffled his hair with his palm.
“Because I know how the Tharnak packs behave, and I’d spark a war I don’t want if I killed him. Valmorin stopped selling us the heat suppressor since we began attacking Eldoria lands. I kill Edric and the next day my territory is invaded and more of my wolves are slaughtered. That’s not what I want.” He stared at me, hate plain on his face. “I only came to reclaim what’s mine—the she-wolf that was given to me in a blood vow when she was a pup.”
My mind could not think straight. I only wanted a way to run from them with Anton. Edric wasn’t nearby; even if he sensed my despair, he wouldn’t arrive in time. We had to find a way to attract the guards’ attention, to reach the boundary of the territory.
“You stopped belonging to me the moment you killed my father, breaking the vows, you damned liar!” I hissed.
He rolled his eyes.
“I didn’t kill your father. I killed your mother! My father was the one who killed yours, in case you’ve forgotten.”
I took another step back, pulling Anton with me.
“Where is my sister?”
“As much as I wanted that little brat in my hands, unfortunately I couldn’t find her. I have no news of her.” He smiled briefly. “For a while I thought she was with you; I only discovered she wasn’t after accidentally meeting this beautiful omega at a bar.” He looked at Thalira, letting his eyes run over her face. “Even though she rejected me—since she only has eyes for the almighty Edric—she gave me very interesting information. She didn’t know you had a sister. It was a shock to both of us: to me, because I didn’t realize Elowen wasn’t with you, and to her, because she knew nothing.”
“I was already suspicious something was wrong,” Thalira interjected. “I saw Anton and Andrei parading through the town like two lost dogs, looking for something they couldn’t find.”
“So you thought it would be an incredible idea to trick all of us?” Anton retorted, turning his head toward the female. “To deceive Edric, the male who trusted you, who always respected you?”
She hissed in a thin voice.
Alessio nodded.
“Actually, it was Thalira’s idea—I can’t take her glory. One more step.”
She looked at the male and widened her eyes.
“And didn’t we make a great pair in the end?”
“Absolutely! You’re so clever; Edric is lucky to have someone like you in his life,” Alessio complimented.
“Finally, someone who values what I do out of love.”
“Edric will never forgive you; he’ll finish you off when he discovers everything you did,” I spat, wrinkling my nose in disgust.
Thalira clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth.
“Oh yes, he will. Edric doesn’t like you; he only likes the comfort you give him, making him forget Catalina. He’ll come to his senses eventually, but if I can help him react sooner, why not?” she hissed. “I’m the one who’s been by his side all this time, for the last fifty years; he needs me and it’s me he loves. I’m his escape valve—he always returns to me, one way or another.”
I heard more footsteps from the forest and some of Alessio’s males came into view. It really was an ambush. We were considerably outnumbered and Edric wasn’t here.
My nails broke Anton’s skin as panic washed over me—the realization that Alessio would take me and there was nothing I could do. My worst nightmare was coming true.
“You’re nothing but a lunatic traitor,” I whispered, my voice rough with fear. “What you feel isn’t love; it’s obsession.”
She licked her lips and tilted her head, not at all offended by my words.
“I’ve done far worse for him, Lunara. Things that hurt me deeply. I caused the death of my best friend to rid him of her and prevent him from making the mistake of mating with her.” She laughed, looking me up and down. “Sending a mongrel back to her pack isn’t even one of the worst things I’ve done—or will do—in my life.”
My mouth opened, but no sound came out. Anton stiffened beside me, every fiber of his body recoiling at the revealed information.
I couldn’t believe what I’d heard; I couldn’t make the information cohere.
Thalira was responsible for Catalina’s death? She was the one who ruined Edric’s heart and nearly took his soul too, by cutting down his destined mate? Her—his best friend?
I felt nauseous; my stomach flipped and everything I’d eaten threatened to come back up.
“You… did what?” Anton asked in a whisper, too incredulous to react like I was.
She sighed.
“That’s not relevant right now.” She looked at Alessio. “Anyway, here’s your reward—I fulfilled my part of the bargain. I hope you fulfill yours.”
Alessio nodded.
“Not to kill her until I sever her bond with the alpha and prevent her from returning to Eldoria, because I never want to see her again.”