LUNA AQUAMARINE’S POV
:
73
55 vouchers
Clifford’s laugh rolled through me, warm, careless, the kind of sound that pulled a smile from me before I realised it.
“Hold still,” he said, brushing a leaf out of my hair. His fingers lingered a moment too long, catching a braid I’d tied myself that morning.
I huffed, swatting at his arm. “My God, Clifford! You’re worse than Zara.”
His presence had a way of doing that–making the weight on my chest lift, even if just for a breath.
He leaned in closer than needed but I didn’t move back. Instead, I felt my wolf moving forward. “You know absolutely nothing about women’s beauty.”
My hand rested on his arm without thinking, steadying myself when his words lowered into something I could barely catch.
But I had one goal in mind- steal more of his rare chocolate from his pouch before I drool to death.
And then the air shifted.
It happened in a flash.
Something warm splattered across my face. I blinked, stunned, until the copper tang filled my nose.
Blood.
Dripping down my cheek, streaking my lips.
The next–screams.
My body jerked at the sound, sharp and panicked, echoing from the edges of the garden.
I turned, breath trapped in my chest, wiping at my cheek, and saw Alexander’s claws buried deep into Clifford’s shoulder, dragging down his arm with enough force to rip him open. Clifford staggered back, teeth bared, blood pouring down his side as Alexander went for him again.
“Stop it!” I shouted, stepping forward, but neither of them moved their eyes from each other.
Alexander’s growl was low, vibrating through the air. “Have you no fear? You think you can touch my mate? My Luna?”
Touch?
I was just trying to steal chocolate!
Clifford spat blood to the ground, steadying himself. “She’s not yours to claim anymore.”
8:50 Tue, Sep 16 ..
Chapter 120
:
The air froze in my lungs. What exactly is going on here?
73
55 vouchers
Alexander’s claws flexed, his jaw tight. “You dare say that to me? Do you know who you’re talking to?”
“Alexander, calm down. What are-”
“You already lost her,” Clifford gritted out, pressing his hand to his wound, but not backing away. “You broke her, and you know it. So why are you still acting like she’s yours while you roam around insulting her name?”
“I will kill you,” Alexander snarled, lunging forward.
I shoved myself between them, hands up, shoving Alexander’s chest hard. “Enough! Both of you!”
Alexander’s eyes snapped to me, wild, burning, his chest heaving like he could barely keep himself contained. Blood stained his fingers, Clifford’s blood, dripping onto the ground.
“Aqua,” his voice cracked with fury, “you dare let him touch you? Smile at him? Like he’s worthy? Is this what you’ve been doing all this while? Under the pretence of being your Kyrexeis?!”
“Stop this madness. He’s my friend!” I snapped, throat raw. “You’re the one who burned my dagger, who cut me away like I was nothing, you called me a man, you insulted me in more ways than one! You made it clear I’m worth nothing to you so why are you acting up now?”
His nostrils flared, his hand twitching like he wanted to reach for me again and tear Clifford apart in the same breath.
“You heard her. She doesn’t need you. Not your rage, not your curse. She has me now.”
I turned, heart hammering in my throat. This isn’t the time or place or whatever, “Clifford, stop—”
Alexander roared, the sound ripping through the garden as he pushed against me, trying to get to him. “I’ll kill you where you stand!”
“And prove what?” Clifford spat, his eyes hard, his body shaking but unyielding. “That you’re nothing but a beast who can’t keep what’s his? I know the truth. I know your secret and we both know what would happen when people find out what you really are.”
Instead of pulling back, he pushed me away from them.
My back slammed against the edge of the fountain. Pain shot through my skull, white sparks in my eyes, but I forced myself up, dizzy, clutching the rim for balance.
And froze.
Alexander’s claws were sunk into Clifford’s chest, blood pouring in hot streams down his ribs, while his other hand closed around Clifford’s throat, squeezing until his feet nearly left the ground. Clifford’s face reddened, lips parting in strangled gasps, but Alexander’s grip only tightened.
“Stop–please, stop!” My voice cracked, but Alexander didn’t even look at me.
His body trembled, every vein burning under his skin, his breath ripping out in violent bursts.
8:50 Tue, Sep 16 d.
Chapter 120
But Clifford was still taunting him. “I know what you’re turning her into.”
Then I saw it.
73
55 vouchers
The vines–glowing, curling up his arms like living fire. Gold lines split across his chest, crawling over his neck, bright and furious. Steam hissed from his nose with each exhale. His skin flushed dark, too hot, too alive.
Oh no.
No, no, no.
Does he want to shift? Here? In front of everyone? In the middle of the garden where half the pack could see?
My stomach knotted. His wolf wasn’t the one rising–this was a disaster.
“Alexander!” I shouted, voice shaking. “Look at me, not him! You’ll ruin everything!”
But his eyes weren’t his anymore–they glowed molten, wild, fixed only on Clifford.
“Mine,” he snarled, voice torn between human and something monstrous. “She is mine and mine alone. Anyone who touches her will die by my hands.”
Clifford clawed weakly at his wrist, choking, his eyes bulging. “You’re–a-” The words rasped out, broken.
I stumbled forward, reaching for Alexander’s arm, heat licking at my skin from the burning lines crawling higher, brighter.
“Alexander!” I screamed again, nails digging into his forearm. “If you shift now, they’ll know–you’ll lose everything!”
For a heartbeat, he hesitated, claws flexing deeper in Clifford’s chest, more blood spurting out between his fingers.
And all around us–gasps, whispers, screams rising again. Then they all seemed to pause.
Their eyes shifted, narrowing to slits as their gazes were now focused on Alexander.
I swallowed hard.
Those eyes. The same one they gave me days ago, is the same one they are giving to Alexander.
As if they were out to kill him?
8:50 Tue, Sep 16
Chapter 121
