Chapter 4

ELIZA’S POV The next morning came faster than expected—not because I slept, but because I couldn’t. Not for a second. The betrayal carved into my bones refused to fade. Derek’s audacity. Maya’s smug grin. Diana’s silence. They circled in my mind like vultures, tearing through any shred of peace I had left. I shoved the last of my clothes into the suitcase and yanked the zipper closed with finality. That was it. I was done. I rolled the suitcase out, the wheels clattering behind me like a war drum. This building was supposed to be a home. A sanctuary. Instead, it had become a graveyard for everything I’d built. As I reached the lobby, ready to leave it all behind, a voice like broken glass scraped against my ears. “Finally leaving the mansion. About time you figured out you’re not wanted.” Maya. I stopped, my spine stiffening. She stood there, smirking like a cat who thought she’d won. Her voice dripped with venom. I didn’t respond. She wasn’t worth it. I was done here. But she couldn’t let it go. “The Lycan King saw what we all knew. You’re useless,” she sneered. “A Luna who can’t fight for her pack is as worthless as the dirt beneath my feet.” My breath caught. My blood roared. I turned slowly. A staff member passed by. I handed her my suitcase without a word. “Take this to the car,” I said. Now, we were alone. “You want to talk about worthless?” I said, stepping forward. “Let’s talk about you. The woman who thought it was acceptable to crawl into a marriage that wasn’t hers. Tell me, Maya, was it desperation? Or are you just that hollow inside?” She opened her mouth, but I raised a hand. “Don’t,” I warned. “You don’t get to speak when I’m speaking.” I let the words slice through the air. “You think wearing leathers and standing on a battlefield makes you a hero? Please. No one believes you actually fought. You were a distraction at best—a well-placed body with good timing. And Derek? He’s always had a thing for distractions.” Her lips parted, stunned. Her face went pale. Good. She needed to understand that claws could be verbal too—and mine were sharper than hers would ever be. Before she could recover, another voice cut through the air. “Do not speak to the future Luna that way.” Derek. Of course. He stormed into the room like he owned it, a sneer curling his lips as he moved straight to Maya and pulled her close. “Face it, Eliza,” he spat. “The bond I share with Maya is real. Strong. You could never understand what we have.” I crossed my arms. “What you have is betrayal, Derek. A connection built on lies and infidelity. Congratulations.” “Watch your mouth!” he shouted. “You’re nothing. A failure. Maya risked her life for this pack. You? You cowered behind ledgers and treaties. You’ll never be what she is.” I stared at him, letting the words hit and slide off. I’d heard enough. “You want her as your Luna?” I said, voice sharp. “Fine. But you’ll pay me back every damn cent you owe me.” His eyes widened. “Pay you? Are you serious?” He scoffed. “Everything you had came from me. From my victories. You lived in luxury because of me, and now you want a settlement?” Then he said it. “You ungrateful bitch.” That word. That filthy, bitter word. My wolf stilled. And something inside me snapped. That word. That filthy, bitter word. My wolf stilled. And something inside me snapped. In three sharp steps, I closed the space between us and slapped him hard across the face. The sound cracked through the air like a whip, echoing against the marble walls. My hand stung, but it felt damn good. “Finally,” my wolf growled, satisfied. “Give the traitor what he deserves.” Derek’s head whipped to the side, his eyes flaring, his fists balling as if ready to explode. I didn’t give him the chance. I turned on my heel and walked away, the sound of my heels striking the tile the only punctuation I gave that moment. “How dare you lay a hand on him?!” Maya shrieked, but her voice was nothing more than static to me now. I didn’t look back. I walked out of that house and never stopped. Outside, I climbed into my car and drove. The Crescent Moon Pack faded in the rearview mirror. So did everything I thought I knew. An hour later, the landscape began to shift—tall trees, dense air, soil damp with memory. The Silver Moon Pack. Home. My chest tightened as the scent of wet earth filled the car. It was too familiar. Too real. And then the memories came. Blood. Fire. Screams. I parked the car at the ruins of my childhood home. The structure stood half-collapsed, walls blackened, banners shredded and stained. I stepped out, slow and trembling. There, beside the broken house, were the graves. My mother. My grandmother. My kin. Tears blurred my vision as I walked closer. Once, this place had been filled with laughter. Training sessions that lasted hours. My mother cooking under the stars. Her fingers in my hair as she whispered stories of the Moon Goddess. My father running through the forest, his voice booming as he coached my brothers. The warmth. The love. Gone. All of it. Gone while I had been elsewhere—entangled in another pack’s politics, blind to the storm tearing through my real home. I fell to my knees, grief crashing into me like a wave. Silent sobs shook me. Each tear a memory. A wound. “It’s not over,” my wolf whispered. “We’ll make them pay. For all of it.” Her voice was calm. Steady. A promise. And I believed her. I bowed my head to the graves, letting the silence be my prayer. Then, I stood. I had one last thing to do. Back at my car, I reached into my bag and pulled out my phone. One name. One person I could trust. Lily. The call rang twice before she answered. “Lily,” I said. “Luna Eliza! Where are you? We just got word from Alpha Derek—” I sighed. “I know. Forget that for now. I need you to book me a flight.” “Where to?” “The Lycan Kingdom. First flight tomorrow.” There was no hesitation. “Of course, Luna.” I ended the call and sank into the driver’s seat. I was going to the Lycan King. I was going to make Derek pay for everything he owed. And when that was done— I would make every last one of them regret ever crossing me.