Page 128 of Crystal Luna

“Maybe you should’ve spent less time in his bed and more time on the mat.”

Oof, he should not have said that.

But Ash knew that. Vel immediately struck him so hard in the chest that he stumbled. “Say that again and I’ll make you regret ever taking me from my home.”

“Maybe you weren’t as important to him after all. He’s probably found someone else.”

Isaiah’s heart raced as Vel’s entire demeanour changed. Her muscles bulged beneath her skin, a dark shadow took over her face and she grew in height until she towered over the both of them. An animalistic grin revealed her sharp canines as she grabbed Ash by his throat and lifted him until his feet dangled a foot above the ground.

Ash paled as he realised what was happening in front of him. She barely gave the thought time to register before she hurled him across the room. Glass shattered as Ash hit the mirror, crumpling to the ground.

The pain that pierced through the bond rendered Isaiah catatonic. Vel returned to her human form as if it were the easiest thing in the world and closed the distance between her and Ash.

“Don’t fuck with me, Asher,” she spat. “Because unlike you, I don’t make promises I can’t keep. I told you I’d beat your ass no matter who was watching.” She kneeled before him and gripped his jaw. ‘If it weren’t for Heath, I wouldn’t be here. If I were you, I would stop talking shit about the person I owe my life to. Left up to you, I’d likely be dead.’

Her words were only meant for them, and Isaiah was glad for it. Vel let go of Ash with a shove and without waiting for a response, strode out of the gym with her head held high.

‘What the fuck? They couldn’t have warned us?’ Ash growled as he struggled to stand up amongst the shattered glass.

Shaking his head, Isaiah walked up to his brother, crushing the glass beneath his boots. ‘I’m pretty sure they didn’t want to steal her thunder.’

Axel appeared to Ash’s other side to help him stand. “I might have to adjust my workout plan for her.”

Ash glared at him like he wanted to rip everything and everyone apart. His luna had embarrassed him in front of everyone and he didn’t know how to handle it.

The door sprang open, and Ely flew through the door, seeking out his alphas. “What happened? I just saw Luna Vel and…” He trailed off as he took in the shattered mirror and his bruised and beaten alpha.

“Vel can half-shift,” Isaiah explained dryly. “Ash went a little too far.”

“Half… what?”

“As my beta I thought you would know what a fucking half shifter is,” Ash snapped, wincing as the splinters of glass dug into his back sunk deeper into his skin with each step.

“Sorry, Alpha.”

“Make yourself useful and clean this up,” Ash barked at the other remaining men as he slammed the door of the gym open and stepped out.

Isaiah followed him and nudged Ely to do the same. “Where did Vel go?”

“Clinic, I believe.”

“Good. She has a few cuts that need tending to.”

The rest of the walk home was silent until Ash flung open the front door.

“Fucking half shift,” Ash mumbled in a deep growl as he stormed up the stairs to his bathroom.

Isaiah was close behind, grabbing the first aid kit and digging out the tweezers.

“He fucking knew and didn’t tell us. He didn’t tell us she had a wolf, and he didn’t tell us she could half-shift. And don’t fucking give me the silent treatment.”

“What would you like me to say?” Isaiah asked calmly. “I told you so?”

“It worked on him. When she beat the shit out of him she at least fucked him after.”

“I don’t believe there was actual fucking involved,” Isaiah corrected.

“I’d take anything I could get.”