Chapter 32

“Listen to me, Justin,” Selene said, grabbing his arm, her voice trembling with desperation. “Your father and I only meant to corner Richard—he was in the study because we were going to accuse him of corporate espionage. We wanted to scare him into signing the cooperation deal. That was all. We never intended for things to go this far!”

Justin stared at her—at the woman who used to tuck him in at night and bandage his scraped knees. Now, he wasn’t sure if he was looking at a stranger or a monster.

Selene clung tighter. “You have to believe us. We were just as shocked as you were this morning. Weren’t you the one who threw the first punch because you thought Richard hurt Mia?”

“We would never hurt her, Justin. She is our daughter.”

But the words rang hollow.

Justin’s heart twisted painfully. His mind swam in confusion. He wanted—needed—to believe them. But how could he? Everything he’d just seen…the look in Mia’s eyes… the lies.

Selene, growing more desperate, tried again. “Sweetheart, is that really what you think of me? That I’d do something that vile? Think about how we’ve treated you and your siblings your whole lives!”

“Stop!” Justin pulled his hand away, his voice cracking. “I can’t—I just need space.” He clutched his head like it was going to split open, then turned and ran. Out of the house. Out of the lies. Out of Snow Moon Pack.

Straight into the nearest bar.

---

Meanwhile, I didn’t dare head straight back to Golden Claw Pack. After everything that happened last night, I wouldn’t put it past Selene and Shawn to send people after me. Instead, I slipped into a hoodie and mask, ducked into a mall, and decided to grab ingredients to make Kane a nice dinner.

But the universe clearly had other plans.

I had barely picked out a handful of vegetables when I heard screaming from the far end of the aisle. People were scattering. Panic erupted like wildfire.

I dropped my basket and ran toward chaos. A man stood at the center of it, tall and rail-thin, holding a hostage in a chokehold. One handheld was a blade, the other, the man’s trembling neck.

“Move, and I’ll stab him through the throat!” the attacker barked.

He wasn’t bluffing.

There was already an old man on the ground, bleeding out through a stomach wound. I spotted the transformation before anyone else—the man’s body shuddered, bones snapped, and then… fur. A rogue werewolf.

“Nadia!” he bellowed. “If you don’t come out right now, I’ll kill every single person here!”

A girl emerged from the crowd, trembling. She looked like she was my age. “Pane… please… stop. We already broke up. Just let it go.”

“I never agreed to break up!” he roared. “Come here, or I’ll gut him!”

This was insane.

She started walking, her body shaking with every step. Warriors stood nearby, frozen. No one dared make a move.

Except me.

As soon as Pane turned his attention to Nadia, I snatched a bottle of shower gel off the shelf. With a flick of my wrist, silver acupuncture needles flew through the air and embedded into the pressure points at the base of his neck.

His body spasmed.

That was my cue.

I charged, smashed the bottle against his skull, and sent him sprawling. The dagger clattered away. Nadia collapsed in a heap. The hostage, finally free, looked up—and our eyes locked.

Even through our masks, we recognized each other instantly.

Justin.

My stomach dropped. Of course it had to be him.

---

Lilith pushed through the crowd, sobbing dramatically as she threw herself at Justin. “Oh my god! I thought you were going to die! Are you okay?!”

“I’m fine,” he muttered, pulling his mask higher.

“Come on—we’ve got that commercial shoot,” she said quickly, eager to drag him away.

But Justin wasn’t looking at her. He was staring at me, like I was something new and unknowable. I could feel his thoughts screaming: Why would she save me?

I didn’t have time to care.

Just as I turned, I heard the knife scrape across the floor.

Pane had gotten up.

He lunged.

Justin moved to jump between us, but I was faster. I dodged right and raised my arm. The blade sliced across my forearm—deep enough to flash bone.

Warriors tackled Pane to the ground, finally pinning him. Justin was blocked from view, and Lilith shrieked, “Let’s go! What if he gets loose again?!”

Coward.

I looked down. Blood poured from the gash in my arm. The Pack doctor arrived, but I waved him off. “Help the old man first.”

Using a few well-placed needles, I sealed the bleeding points myself and stayed conscious just long enough to be bundled into a transport to the hospital.

---

By the time I was stitched up and bandaged, it was already evening.

I stepped out of the hospital just as a sleek car pulled up in front of me. The door opened, and Justin stepped out.

He looked haggard, disheveled—and drunk.

“I heard you were hurt…” he said, eyes falling to my bandaged arm. “You… you saved me?”

I walked past him without a word.

But he followed, grabbed my uninjured wrist, and stopped me. “Mia—stop being so damn stubborn. I’m your brother, not your enemy.”

His breath reeked of alcohol.

“I just… I wish you could be like Lilith, you know? Safe. Cared for. Spoiled.” His voice cracked. “If you needed money, I’d give it. If you wanted your dreams, I’d make them happen. You could throw tantrums, scream at me, be the sister you should’ve been. Just… be okay. Please.”

For a moment, something in my chest softened.

Then the headlights of another car cut through dusk.

Zack stepped out. His expression darkened the moment he saw Justin’s hand on me. Without a word, he grabbed Justin by the collar, yanked him back, and shoved him to the ground.

The world spun around Justin. His mask slid down, revealing his flushed face.

Zack opened the back door for me, and I slid in—straight into Kane’s waiting arms. I hadn’t even realized he was there.

Behind us, Justin scrambled to his feet, face twisted with fury.

He jumped into his own car, turned the ignition, and tore off after us.

In the rearview mirror, I watched him weave dangerously between lanes, and my blood ran cold.

He was drunk.

I didn’t hesitate. I pulled out my phone and called the police.

Two minutes later, near the hospital, he was pulled over. He made a scene—screamed about needing to follow the car—and in his drunken rage, he even struck a Warrior.

They cuffed him on the spot.

---

In the car, Kane stared silently at the wound on my arm.

Zack had already filled him in on what happened at the mall. His jaw was clenched tight, eyes unreadable.

He didn’t say a word, but his silence screamed louder than any lecture ever could.

I looked away.

This was the Mia he knew—reckless, stubborn… and never willing to stand by while others suffered.

But this Mia? She was starting to break.

And Kane could see it.