Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate
Chapter 180: Throwing Shade (and Riona) in the Sun!

Chapter 180: Throwing Shade (and Riona) in the Sun!

The fight dragged on, far longer than anyone had expected. Wintertooth’s pack, known for being a peaceful bunch, wasn’t exactly battle-hardened.

This was their first real brawl with another pack, and it showed. Despite being outnumbered, the Zachs were controlling the battlefield, systematically overpowering the Wintertooth wolves in their own territory.

"Why are we even defending the fanged ones?" one of the werewolves grumbled, panting between swings. He’d only joined the fight to protect his family, not to play hero for vampires.

"Exactly!" another agreed, ducking a punch. "Shouldn’t we be teaming up with the Zachs? They’re werewolves like us!"

The murmurs of discontent grew, especially among those aligned with Vesper. A handful of them quietly peeled away from the fight, heading toward Thorin’s office, muttering about the vampires’ lack of gratitude.

Upon finding the office empty, they realized Florian had already fled. Without wasting any time, they rushed to Riona’s room. She was still asleep when they burst in, yanking her out of bed with rough hands.

Riona jolted awake, her eyes wide with confusion and pain. The moment they dragged her into the sunlight, her skin started to sizzle and burn. Layers peeled off like fragile parchment, and agony tore through her body.

"Wait—where are you taking me? Aah!" she cried, her voice weak as her strength drained away. "Let me grab my hat—no, ugh, it hurts!"

The werewolves barely listened, their grip tight as they dragged her further into the daylight. Her body was quickly withering under the sun’s brutal assault, and she could feel the life draining from her with every painful second.

They dragged Riona to the heart of the battlefield and tossed her into the dust like a piece of discarded trash. "Here you go! The vampire. Take her and get out of our home!" one of the werewolves demanded, their voice filled with frustration and fear.

The entire battlefield froze. Barmin and his group exchanged smirks, their mission looking easier by the second. Trudy, however, stormed forward, shoving one of the traitorous wolves hard in the chest. "What the hell are you doing?!"

Riona lay curled up on the ground, writhing in agony as the sun’s relentless rays scorched her skin. The werewolves who had betrayed her simply shrugged. "What does it look like? We’re taking out the trash. Or are you willing to sacrifice your own kind for a bloodsucker?"

Without hesitating, Trudy ripped off her shirt and covered Riona’s head, shielding her from the harsh sunlight, though it wasn’t enough.

Charna stepped in, quickly adding her outer garment, trying to cover every inch of Riona’s burning skin. Another wolf handed over long pants and shoes, and the pack scrambled to protect her.

Charna shot a withering glare at the traitors, her frustration bubbling over.

"Seriously? You actually believe they came all this way just for Riona and Florian? Wake up! Once they’ve got what they want, do you really think they’ll just walk away and leave us in peace?"

Charna had always been one of the sharpest minds in Wintertooth, outsmarting most of her fellow werewolves. She could sense the Zachs had ulterior motives behind their sudden visit.

After all, why choose this moment—when Thorin was away and the pack was vulnerable?

"The Zachs don’t give a damn about Wintertooth—they’ve never approved of us. And you think they’ll just let us live happily ever after once the vampires are gone?" Her voice cut through the tension like a blade.

Zane’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the battlefield, realizing something was wrong. "Where’s Florian?"

One of the werewolves who had dragged Riona sneered. "Don’t know. Thorin’s office was empty when we checked. Guess he bailed on her."

Things were bad. Florian’s absence only made things worse. The Zachs weren’t leaving—and Wintertooth was now more divided than ever. Zane knew he didn’t have time to search for Florian amid the turmoil.

Now properly bundled against the blistering sun, Riona struggled to her feet. Though she wobbled, the pain that had consumed her was mercifully gone.

Trudy’s shirt was fashioned around her head like a makeshift headscarf, while every inch of her body was swathed in the clothing the werewolves had generously provided.

A wave of gratitude washed over her, igniting a fierce determination. It was time to repay that kindness. Riona narrowed her gaze at the towering werewolves clad in their flashy uniforms. They exuded an air of structure and hierarchy, reminiscent of vampires.

How ironic that their lifestyles mirrored one another so closely, yet they were consumed by hatred simply due to their races. What truly defined someone—was it the blood coursing through their veins or the choices they made in life? Who was anyone to judge?

Riona shook her head, dismissing the thoughts. This wasn’t the time for philosophical musings.

"You’re going to leave us alone and you’re going to do it now," she declared, her voice firm and commanding. It was less a plea and more an ultimatum. "I’ll only say this once."

Barmin let out a derisive chuckle as if he found the situation amusing. "So you think you’re one of them now just because you share half their blood? Your father may have been a werewolf, but that vampire blood will always mark you!" he hissed, his eyes gleaming with malice.

Riona felt her heart drop. This was the first time she had ever heard that insinuation, and a murmur rippled through the gathered werewolves, their gasps echoing with disbelief as they processed this shocking revelation.

"What?" Riona stammered, struggling to comprehend the weight of his words.

Just then, Vesper hobbled onto the battlefield, clearly still reeling from Barmin’s earlier attack.

"Oh, so you didn’t know?" he mocked, a smirk twisting his lips. "How rich! I distinctly heard Thorin tell Zane that you’re the daughter of the infamous Remus!"

"You’re talking nonsense!" Riona shot back.

But Vesper’s smile was wide, a mask for the pain he was trying to hide. "Didn’t you know? The Zachs killed your parents. Yeah, you heard me right. They murdered Remus and his bloodsucking lover."