Defying the Rogue Alpha
Chapter 48: Luna

Chapter 48: Luna

Lucas bolted upright, cradling Ava in his arms before anyone could react. He shook her gently. "Ava? Ava, open your eyes."

"What in the hell just happened?" Dorian shouted.

LAnaya turned to the alpha. "I told you she was the child of the moon and her ability apparently is healing."

Lucas lifted his gaze, a storm brewing in his dark eyes. His expression was nothing short of murderous. "What have you done?"

"By law, in this instance, Alpha, I am authorized to disobey you." Lanaya met his glare head-on, unfazed. "When there is no heir, the Alpha cannot die."

Lucas’s eyes flashed dangerously. "Do something, you bitch!"

She knelt beside Ava, checking her pulse. "She’s alive, but exhausted."

Lucas exhaled sharply, brushing a thumb over her cheek. Even in unconsciousness, she looked troubled.

Then his jaw tightened.

"The shot was aimed at her."

Dorian stiffened. "Alpha... why would anyone want Ava dead?"

Lucas looked like he wanted to break something. Preferably the person responsible.

"That’s what you should be figuring out," he growled. "How in the hell did someone get a silver bullet on my land? What kind of Beta are you, Dorian? Maybe you’re getting old. Maybe it’s high time you’re replaced."

Dorian gulped.

"I will do my best finding the culprit, Alpha," he muttered before quickly excusing himself from the room. Self-preservation and all that.

Lucas turned to Lanaya, and the witch barely had time to brace herself before he advanced toward her.

"Alpha, you cannot fault me for obeying the law," she tried, raising her hands in surrender.

His eyes darkened, his wolf barely contained beneath the surface. "You do not put my Luna in danger like that."

Lanaya blinked. Then blinked again.

A slow, satisfied smile spread across her lips. "Luna?" she echoed, as if testing the word. "Luna?"

He hadn’t meant to say that.

Lanaya’s smile stretched wider.

Lucas groaned and ran a hand over his face. "I... I was going to ask her properly."

Lucas sighed, his gaze drifting back to Ava’s unconscious form.

"She was willing to give up her life for me," he murmured. "I don’t deserve her."

*****

Dorian stormed out of the Alpha’s quarters, his boots slamming against the stone floor with a force that echoed through the corridors. His temper was already at its breaking point, his wolf prowling just beneath his skin, eager for a fight. His claws threatened to extend, his vision flickering between human and beast as pure, unfiltered rage boiled in his veins.

Maybe he was getting too old for this shit.

Maybe it was time to finally retire to some remote cabin in the mountains where he wouldn’t have to deal with children of the goddamn moon, whatever the hell that meant or reckless Alphas.

He jumped in front of a fucking silver bullet for a woman! An alpha without an heir jumped in front of a silver bullet.

Who the fucking hell was Ava? What did child of the moon mean and how will this affect the alpha.

Dorian’s nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply. He had half a mind to rip apart every living soul in the territory until he found the bastard responsible for this attack.

He could feel the beast inside him growling, begging for release, eager to hunt.

Dorian’s muscles were still coiled tight when he reached his office. His mind was already ten steps ahead, forming strategies, planning interrogations, considering every possible suspect.

But the moment he stepped inside, his thoughts screeched to a halt.

Sarah was there.

Waiting.

She shot to her feet the instant she saw him, her face pale.

"How is he?" she blurted out, the words tumbling from her lips before he had even shut the door. "I...I don’t know what happened! I told them who to aim at. I specifically said Ava... I even showed them a picture."

Dorian moved faster than thought. One second, he was standing near the door; the next, his hand was wrapped around her throat, slamming her against the wall with enough force to rattle the framed map behind her.

His fingers dug into her skin, his claws threatening to break the surface.

"It was you?" he growled, his voice dangerously low.

Sarah choked, her hands clawing at his wrist, her lips parting in silent panic. Her feet barely touched the floor as she struggled against his grip.

Dorian felt his wolf rear up, screaming for blood.

His grip tightened.

Sarah’s struggles grew weaker.

And still, the beast inside him wasn’t satisfied.

He wanted to end this.

To rip her apart, piece by fucking piece.

But at the last possible second, he shoved her away instead. If she wasn’t the alpha’s concubine, he would tear her limb from limb and make her disappear forever.

She crumpled to the ground, gasping, coughing, rubbing at the red marks around her throat.

Dorian’s jaw clenched so hard it hurt. His fists trembled, his nails digging into his own palms to keep himself grounded.

"Was this our plan?" he spat, voice dripping with venom. "I gave you information that you could use to your advantage. Instead you put the Alpha in danger?" His lip curled, pure disgust flashing in his eyes. "You dim-witted, good-for-nothing whore."

Sarah flinched at the words, her body still shaking, but he was beyond caring.

He took a step closer, towering over her, his shadow swallowing her whole.

"I should never have put something so important in the hands of a useless concubine." he seethed. "I should have expected you would fuck it up!"

He let out a slow exhale, rolling his shoulders, forcing himself to breathe before he ended up doing something Lucas might kill him for.

Then he pointed at the door.

"Get the hell out of my office," he snarled. "Before I decide to finish what I started."

Sarah scrambled to her feet, her legs barely holding her up.

She hesitated for a split second, like she wanted to explain herself, to beg for another chance but the look on Dorian’s face made her think twice.

Without another word, she bolted, nearly tripping over herself in the process.

Dorian listened to the sound of her retreating footsteps, his chest still rising and falling heavily, his pulse a steady drum of anger in his ears.

He should’ve killed her.

Hell, he’d probably regret not killing her.

But right now? Right now, he needed to clean up this goddamn mess.

He had to look for another scape goat because until Ava’s inevitable fall, Sarah was still useful.