Page 79 of Crystal Luna

“But you’re sending me away.” Velora wasn’t scared anymore. Pure anger flowed off her in waves.

“There’s no other way.”

Her throat tightened as she swallowed hard and her hands turned into fists before she hid them behind her back.

“How about we talk about your departure tomorrow morning? We can all meet here again.”

“Fine.” She turned and stormed out without another word.

Heath braced himself and turned to the other two alphas in the room. “I believe she just needs time.”

The hot head opened his mouth, but his wiser brother spoke first. “We’ll meet you again in the morning, but we’re both here for her if she wishes to see us.”

Though he clearly didn’t like it, the one with a temper didn’t say anything. They left quietly and Heath was left with a horrendous feeling that made him sick.

Unable to do anything else with himself, he left for a run before his work was finished. He hated everything about this situation. He wanted nothing more than to keep Velora safe, but they were alphas—he couldn’t do anything for her.

As he approached the village again, he followed Marvin’s pull to the gym. He entered to find his warriors surrounding a spectacle in the middle: Velora and Rayan. Velora hit Rayan again, sending a splatter of blood spraying back on her. Her eyes were dark, the shadow of her wolf hovering just beneath the surface. Rayan—like the maniac he was—didn’t surrender even through feeble attempts to push her away.

Heath pushed through the circle of warriors. “Enough!”

Velora’s eyes shot up with a growl. Her rage was now focused on him. She was mad, her mind clouded by a storm of emotion.

“Get out,” he commanded the other warriors without taking his eyes off her.

Everyone quickly obliged, though Marvin hesitated. He helped Rayan to his feet, then left.

“You’re not mad at them, Velora. You’re mad at me.”

“You promised,” she spat.

“I did,” he said as calmly as he could, taking a careful step closer to her.

“You promised,” she repeated between bared teeth.

“I did.”

The words had barely left his mouth when her fist hit him full force. Blood filled his mouth as he steadied himself again to take the next blow. He didn’t fight back. He let her take out every bit of her frustration on him. With her wolf so close, she was stronger than most. She left behind bruises and cracked his ribs.

But he didn’t move—he deserved it.

He’d failed her.

Though the beatings didn’t seem to help her. She only got more enraged the less he fought. It finally occurred to him that maybe that’s what she needed: a good, fair fight. When she least expected it, he swung, his fist connecting with her jaw. Tears filled her eyes, but the moment she regained balance she struck again. Only this time, he captured her wrist and sent his other hand into her ribs.

She fell to her knees, her tears mixing with the blood dripping from her lips. He thought she would get back up, but she broke apart into a thousand pieces before his feet. Her shoulders slumped again, and she let out a sob so heart wrenching that he crumpled before her.

“I hate them,” she whispered as she hid her face in her hands.

“I know,” he soothed, pulling her into his chest so his shirt could soak up her tears.

“I don’t want to go,” she wailed into his skin, voice muffled.

“I’m so sorry, Velora.”

“Please don’t let them take me,” she begged.

“I can’t do that.”