5. A Deal With The Devil

LUNA

Over the next few days, the pain in my belly worsened dramatically. The bond inside me was rotting away, and the mark on my neck faded little by little, draining my strength with it. Even breathing felt heavier now.

My personal maid, Lisa , assigned to me by Brian brought herbal drinks to my room every morning and night, forcing me to swallow every bitter drop. She acted concerned about my well-being, but I no longer trusted anyone in this pack.

Kira had advised me to keep a low profile until the right moment to strike.

But I wasn't completely hopeless. There was still one person powerful enough to help me.

—Alpha Dante Kendrick.

The Supreme Alpha and devil’s incarnate.

If our pack had one thousand five hundred wolves, his pack boasted over five thousand. He was feared across every territory for his brutality and cunning. Rumors claimed he once killed five wolves with nothing but his claws and fangs.

But what made him even more terrifying was the way he treated women.

Dante Kendrick never stayed with the same woman twice. He avoided emotional attachments like a plague and discarded anyone foolish enough to expect more from him. He is cold, ruthless, and untouchable.

I had met him once during college at the spring festival.

He was the stepbrother of my former best friend, Mac.

He had only stayed for an hour to watch her receive an academic award, yet somehow, during that entire hour, I could feel his eyes on me.

He was beautiful in the most dangerous way possible, the kind of man whose presence made instinct feel like a threat.

The memory of his stare still sent chills crawling down my spine.

After graduation, I promised myself I would never cross paths with Dante Kendrick again.

But desperate times called for desperate measures.

I picked up my phone and dialed the only number I still remembered by heart.

The line rang three times before a familiar voice answered.

“Luna?” Mac sounded stunned. “Holy shit. Are you okay? Brian actually let you call me?”

My throat tightened painfully.

“Mac… my life is falling apart.”

Silence.

Then her voice sharpened instantly.

“What happened?”

I closed my eyes and forced the words out.

“Brian has marked another she-wolf.” My voice cracked. “I lost my baby, Mac… and now I’m practically imprisoned inside my own pack.”

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Then Mac exhaled shakily.

“That bastard,” she hissed. “I always knew he was up to no good. What do you need?”

I swallowed hard before whispering, “I need to speak to your stepbrother.”

Another pause.

“I need Dante’s help.”

The line went deathly quiet.

“Luna…” Mac spoke carefully now. “You know what he is, right? Dante doesn’t help people out of kindness. Everything with him comes at a price. A very steep one. And once you make a deal with him, there’s no turning back.” She hesitated briefly before adding, “Besides… he’s Brian’s greatest enemy. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes,” I said immediately, gripping the phone tighter. “I have nothing left to lose, Mac. That’s exactly why I have to do this. I want my pack back, Mac. Before Brian destroys everything my father built.” My voice softened. “Please. Help me.”

Another long silence passed.

Finally, she sighed.

“Okay. I’ll contact him for you.” Her tone turned serious. “But Luna… you need to be very careful.”

“I will.”

Mac exhaled softly. “I’ll call you back within the hour.”

The line disconnected.

I sank against the bed, my heart pounding violently against my ribs. The pain in my belly flared again, but this time it mixed with hope.

Not long after, my phone rang again.

I grabbed it immediately.

“Hello?”

“Luna,” Mac chirped. “Alpha Dante agreed to meet you the day after tomorrow. He’ll be attending the Alpha Summit at the Lotus Pack.”

Shock washed through me.

I had expected Dante to keep me waiting for months because of how my friendship with his sister had ended after I became Brian’s mate.

But he was coming here in two days?

A flicker of excitement stirred inside me before I quickly pushed it down.

This was my chance to take back what Brian stole from me, and finally leave this pack with dignity.

“That’s wonderful news, Mac,” I breathed. “Thank you so much.”

“Don’t get emotional on me,” she teased lightly. “I wanted to come too, but my idiot brother dumped one of his award ceremonies on me again.”

I frowned slightly. “Why can’t his Luna attend in his place?”

Mac let out an exhausted sigh.

“Because Alpha Dante refuses to get married. He’s thirty and still waiting for his mate. I’ve told him countless times to just choose someone already.”

A small hum escaped me. “Maybe you should try talking to him again.”

“I absolutely will not,” Mac said immediately. “The last time I interfered in his personal life, he punished me by making me manage pack business in the human world for almost a year.”

I blinked. “That’s insane.”

“Tell me about it.”

Despite everything, I found myself laughing softly for the first time in weeks.

“Well… thank you again, Mac. It’s really nice talking to you.”

“I know, girl,” she replied warmly. “Catch ya later.”

The call ended.

For the first time in what felt like forever, the darkness around me cracked open just enough for light to seep through.

If Dante Kendrick was arriving in two days, then I needed to prepare carefully.

I spent the rest of the day writing down everything Brian had done to me, the rejection, the betrayal, the stolen authority, the imprisonment.

Every detail mattered.

Lisa was the only person allowed into my room, so I used the privacy to prepare my case meticulously for Alpha Dante.

My only concern now was how I would manage to meet him alone… without Brian or Becca finding out first.