Chapter Four

Blake

By the next morning, I woke up in my bed with a pounding headache. The party was over. At some point, I must have passed out, because I had no memory of getting back to my room. I was still wearing the tight silver dress Leo had forced me into.

The memories from last night came crashing back. The humiliation. The laughter. The way Mason, Gaige, and Leo had treated me like a toy in front of the entire pack. And Shawn, the one person I thought would stop them. My former best friend had stood there and watched. Worse, he had kissed me. The memory alone made my lips burn, and I squeezed my eyes shut. How had everything become such a mess? A few weeks ago, Shawn had been the one person I trusted most. Now he was no different from the rest of them.

I pushed the thoughts away and grabbed my phone. I needed to focus. The Canadian Art competition was my only chance. If I won, I could leave this pack forever and take my mother with me, far away from Alpha Cody, far away from his sons, far away from this nightmare.

My heart jumped when I saw a message from Mary. Immediately, hope filled my chest. Maybe she had forgiven me. Maybe the committee had changed their minds. Maybe I still had a chance. The message was short: *Come meet me. We need to talk.*

I didn't waste a second. I changed into comfortable clothes and slipped out of the pack mansion before anyone noticed, especially Shawn. The last thing I wanted was to see him.

An hour later, I arrived at the small café Mary had chosen. She was already waiting, and the moment she saw me, her expression softened.

"Blake."

"Mary."

We hugged briefly before I sat down. Her face immediately fell.

"Moon Goddess, girl. You look terrible."

I laughed weakly. "Rough night."

The smile vanished from my face. "Mary, please." I leaned forward. "What happened wasn't my fault. I didn't know Shawn would follow me there. I didn't know his bodyguard would shoot someone trying to help me”.My voice cracked. "I need to win this. Please."

Mary's expression became sympathetic. Too sympathetic. My stomach dropped.

"I'm sorry, Blake."

The words hit me instantly. "What do you mean?"

"The committee made a final decision this morning."

I stared at her. "No."

"The incident created too much publicity."

"No."

"The board officially disqualified you."

Everything inside me shattered. The academy. My future. My escape. Gone. Just like that. Tears burned behind my eyes.

Mary reached for my hand. "I'm really sorry." Then she stood up and left.

I remained frozen at the table long after she was gone. I had spent years preparing for this. Years. Now it was over. I lowered my head into my hands. What was I supposed to do now? How was I going to save my mother?

A ringing phone interrupted my thoughts. I glanced at the screen. Unknown Number. I answered immediately.

"Hello?"

"Miss Blake?" A male voice. "I'm Doctor Harris from Crescent Moon Hospital."

My heart skipped. "Doctor?"

"Your mother has been admitted. She requested to see you."

I shot to my feet. "What happened?"

There was a pause. "Please come as soon as possible."

The call ended, and panic exploded inside me. Within minutes, I was racing toward the hospital. The entire drive felt endless.

The moment I arrived, I ran through the hallways. When I finally reached her room, I stopped cold. My mother sat on the hospital bed covered in bruises, bandages wrapped around her arms, her face swollen. My heart broke.

"Mom." I rushed to her side. "What happened?"

She smiled, a small, tired smile, the same smile she always wore whenever she was suffering. That smile hurt more than the bruises. Tears blurred my vision as I hugged her carefully.

"Was it Alpha Cody?"

She remained silent. Instead, she stroked my cheek. "It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does."

She looked away, and then tears filled her eyes. My stomach twisted. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

"Mom?"

Her lips trembled. "The healers found something."

Fear gripped my chest. "What?"

She inhaled shakily. "I have blood cancer, Blake."

The world stopped. "What?" The word barely escaped me.

She nodded, and I couldn't breathe. "No."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart."

"No." Tears rolled down my cheeks. She was sick. Seriously sick. And Alpha Cody was still hurting her. Rage flooded my chest, and I was seconds away from storming out when the door opened.

Alpha Cody walked in. The room immediately felt colder, more oppressive. His Alpha aura filled the space, and my mother instinctively lowered her gaze. I stood, fury burning inside me, but my mother grabbed my wrist. A warning. A plea.

Alpha Cody barely looked at her injuries. "Get up," he ordered. "We're leaving."

That was it. No concern. No guilt. Nothing. I couldn't take it anymore.

"Wait."

The Alpha stopped. His cold eyes landed on me. I swallowed hard. I couldn't fight him. No one could. But maybe I could bargain.

"My mother is sick." He remained silent. "Please release her from your bond." His expression didn't change. "Please." My voice broke. "Take me instead."

The room went silent. Even my mother gasped.

Alpha Cody studied me for several seconds. Then a cruel smile appeared. "I don't want you." Hope died instantly. But then he spoke again. "However..." My stomach tightened. "I'll release your mother if you become Luna to one of my sons."

I froze. "What?"

"Choose one."

The words sounded unreal. Marry one of them? Shawn? Mason? Gaige? Leo? The very men who despised me?

Alpha Cody continued. "Once the mating ceremony is completed, your mother will be free." I stared at him, unable to speak, unable to think. Then he delivered the final blow. "Until then, you'll have no contact with her."

The next morning, he carried out his threat. I stood outside the mansion watching his convoy leave. My mother sat inside one of the SUVs. Weak. Sick. Terrified. She pressed her hand against the window as tears streamed down her face.

I ran after the vehicle. "Mom!"

The convoy didn't stop. Alpha Cody lowered his window, and his eyes met mine. "When you become my son's mate, you'll see her again." Then the convoy disappeared, taking my mother with it.

I stood there long after the dust settled. Eventually, I forced myself back inside. If marrying one of his sons was the only way to save her, then I would do it. I would endure anything for my mother. Anything.

But the moment I entered the mansion, my heart sank. The house was empty. Shawn. Mason. Gaige. Leo. All four of them were gone. Alpha Cody had taken them with him.

I had been tricked. My mother was gone. And so were the only four wolves who could help me get her back.