Chapter 3

••• Victoria’s POV ••• Two warriors immediately strode toward me, their hands clamping down on my arms. I thrashed violently, glaring at Elijah, my voice erupting like fire. “On what grounds?!” He advanced step by step, eyes sharp as blades. “On the grounds that you harmed Evelyn’s child. Didn’t you?” The words pierced straight through my chest like a dagger. I could barely breathe, my heart crushed in his fist. “That’s not true!” I roared through clenched teeth. “You know damn well I didn’t touch her! She’s using you!” “Victoria,” he sneered, gaze cold, as if staring down prey that was already dead, his voice low and merciless. “Don’t forget—I am still your Alpha. Under pack law, no one can stop me from punishing you. One word from me, and you’re guilty. Your title, your wealth, even your freedom—stripped away.” Fury surged hot through my veins. I locked eyes with him, unyielding. If Leia were here, I’d already have leapt and ripped his throat out. But I couldn’t let anyone know. Not now. “Elijah, the council will condemn you for this. They will,” I warned. His pupils narrowed, killing intent flooding his gaze. He lifted a hand and gave the cold command: “Drag her away.” “She may be strong,” he announced to the gathered crowd, “but Luna Victoria has never given us an heir.” “And now, she dares attempt to kill the only heir we have.” The wolves gathered at the hospital began to murmur their judgment. I recognized most as Elijah’s loyalists. My eyes swept to my former Beta and Gamma. Anger burned in their eyes, but I ordered them silently not to move. Elijah would seize on any excuse to punish them. Guilt washed over me in waves. I hadn’t protected them long enough. “No one is to approach her. No food, no water. She tried to kill the heir of the Golden Claws—this will be her punishment!” Elijah’s final order cracked like a whip. I stared at him in disbelief, for the first time realizing just how cruel he truly was. I tried to run, but it was already too late. Elijah had bonded not only with Beta Hendricks, but with his Gamma, Mason, and several warriors as well. Mason and the others seized my arms and dragged me. I struggled, but without Leia and against so many stronger males, resistance was futile. I let them haul me along. Then I looked at the warriors gripping me, and remembered—they had once been mine. Members of White Claw. Loyal to me. I shifted tactics, speaking to them instead. “You were White Claws once. You swore loyalty to me. Why betray me now? Why follow Elijah, a useless Alpha?” My voice rose with every word. Behind me, Elijah’s laugh cracked like a whip. “You care so much for my pack, Victoria? The Golden Claws see how pathetically you cling to me. Now both packs despise you!” His words hit me like a blow to the skull. I had been foolish—abandoning my own wolves for a man. Now ignored, humiliated, punished—it was what I deserved. But by my father’s name, I swore I would earn their respect again. I let them drag me into the dungeons. Mason and the warriors shoved me forward roughly. Suddenly, one of them sneered and swung his fist toward my face. I snarled, jerking my head aside. His blow grazed me, splitting my lip. Rage erupted in my chest. I lashed my elbow back, slamming into his jaw. He grunted, stumbling away. I couldn’t shift, but I was still Alpha-blood. My strength was undeniable. “You’re weak,” I taunted, my voice dripping with contempt. He flushed with fury, hand flashing toward the blade at his waist. But another warrior—Jax—caught his wrist in a crushing grip. “Enough!” Jax’s voice rang like iron. “The Alpha ordered her locked up, not butchered. Cross that line, and you’ll face his punishment.” The air tightened, warriors glancing at each other. The attacker’s face went ashen, but he released the blade. I lifted my eyes to Jax. He didn’t look at me again, only turned coldly and continued the march. But my chest warmed faintly—because I remembered. His wife had been dying of illness, and it was I who saved her. Maybe that was why he stopped the blade. He said nothing, but I knew: not everyone had forgotten what I’d done. Even shackled and disgraced, I still held a shard of respect in some hearts. I would remember this moment. —— I don’t know how long it was. In the dungeon, silver shackles cut into my wrists, draining me of power. I wasn’t even allowed to sit. Elijah meant me to suffer. The air was damp, cold, lightless—like a coffin swallowing everything. With nothing to do, I could only lick the wounds of losing my mate, of losing Leia. If she were here, at least I wouldn’t feel so utterly alone. Time shredded apart. I couldn’t tell night from day. No one came. No food. No water. Hunger and thirst sliced my insides. The silver drained me, and days of forced standing pushed me to collapse. I thought I was dying. I even wondered if death would be a mercy. But just as I was ready to give in, a spark reached me—someone trying to connect. Familiar. Warm. Not malicious. I opened my barriers. Felix. My old Beta. After White Claw merged with Golden Claw, he became Elijah’s second Gamma. “Luna, I can help you.” His voice pierced the darkness, and I nearly cried. He’d sworn loyalty to Elijah, but now—I knew he hadn’t forgotten our bond. “Allison knows what’s happened to you,” he added. Allison. My dearest friend. We’d met at a business summit, both heirs to our packs. Both bound by responsibility. We became allies. Sisters in spirit. She was Evelyn’s cousin, but always stood with me. She despised Evelyn, despised those shallow she-wolves who married Alphas just for bloodlines. She knew I could have survived alone, that I’d been heiress to a famous perfume empire. That I’d abandoned it all for love. For Elijah. Foolish, blinded. But Allison had never doubted me. “She’s called on her father’s pack,” Felix whispered, voice burning with suppressed fire. “They’re sending warriors to Golden Claw’s borders. Demanding Elijah answer for this.” My heart clenched. Allison had chosen not to wait. She would tear the situation open with force. And I knew what that meant—the council would be forced to intervene. Elijah would no longer be free to do whatever he pleased with me.