Chapter 4
A week later, the monthly Ashgrave pack dinner rolled around.
With Theron still gone, Nyra had to face it alone.
The moment his mother spotted her, her face went stone cold. “Where the hell is my son?”
Nyra kept her head down. “He’s tied up with something. Can’t make it back.”
The former Luna’s laugh was cold, but before she could respond, the house manager rushed over with a gossip rag.
The front page blazed with photos of Theron and Delilah kissing on some yacht!
‘SLAM!
His mother’s fist hit the table so hard the dishes jumped. “Sylvae Fenwick! Get your ass to my study. Now!”
The moment they were alone, she snarled: “On your knees!”
yra silently dropped down.
Pathetic! Can’t even keep your own mate interested!” The woman was shaking with rage. “Here’s your choice-call him back right now, or face pack justice!”
¡yra’s lashes fluttered.
he knew calling wouldn’t bring him back.
nd she couldn’t risk pissing him off by interrupting his time with Delilah. If he snapped, the alliance between their packs could crumble.
I’ll take the punishment,” she said quietly.
is mother’s flew into a rage. “What did you just say?!”
I won’t call him.” Nyra met her eyes, voice steady. “If pain is the price, I’ll take it.”
he woman’s fury exploded as she ripped the discipline whip off the wall and brought it down across Nyra’s back!
Gonna call him now?!”
RACK!
How about now?!”
RACK!
yra bit her lip until it bled, her back on fire, but she kept shaking her head.
ventually the pain became too much and everything went black.
he came to on a hospital bed, lying on her stomach with her back wrapped in bandages.
heron sat in the chair beside her, looking pissed.
Why didn’t you call me back when she was beating the shit out of you?” His tone was harsh.
Jyra gave him a weak smile. “Didn’t want to ruin your vacation with Delilah.”
heron went completely still.
He stared at her pale face, remembering what that nurse had said.
She loves him so much that she’s willing to care for his mistress…”
Did she really love him that much?
Chapter 4
Enough to take a beating rather than bother him?
Something twisted uncomfortably in his chest.
For the next few days, he actually stayed at the hospital-something he’d never done before.
Nyra kept telling him to leave, but he didn’t.
Until discharge day, when his phone rang with some business crisis.
“Handle getting home yourself.” He threw the words at her and walked out.
Nyra nodded and slowly made her way out of the hospital.
At the bottom of the steps, she accidentally bumped into some guy.
“Watch where you’re going, bitch!” he screamed. “You know what this shirt costs? Look at your discount store bullshit-my clothes cost more than your entire
existence!”
Nyra started to apologize when a cold voice cut through the air.
“Back off.”
Theron had gotten out of his car and slapped a thick roll of cash across the guy’s face. “That cover it?”
The asshole took one look at Theron’s expensive suit and dangerous energy, then scrambled away.
Theron gave Nyra a cold look. “Sylvae, don’t the Fenwicks and Ashgraves give you money? Why do you dress like this?”
Nyra said nothing.
The Fenwicks had never given her a dime, and while the Ashgraves had set up accounts for her, she wasn’t really their Luna-so she’d never touched the mone
Her silence irritated him for some reason. He grabbed her arm and dragged her toward his car.
We’re going shopping.”
At the mall, Theron picked out outfit after designer outfit, each piece worth more than most pack members saw in a year.
Vyra went along with it quietly, like some lifeless doll.
But just as they were leaving-
Theron?”
A broken voice called out.
Vyra looked up to see Delilah standing there in a cheap waitress uniform.
Her eyes were red and desperate as she stared at them. “You said it was a pack emergency. So what the hell is this?”
Delilah…” Theron’s expression shifted.
“You don’t have to love me back…” Tears started falling. “But you don’t have to lie to me either. I never should’ve come home. I’m just screwing everything up…”
She spun around and ran.
“Delilah!” Theron took off after her.
Nyra stood there watching him go, feeling absolutely nothing.
But then-
CRASH!
A massive sheet of glass broke loose from the mall’s upper level and came screaming down, slamming straight into Delilah’s skull!
She didn’t even make a sound before collapsing into a pool of blood…
