Chapter 4

The day before I was supposed to leave, I got an email from the pack. It was a notice about the Hunt.

I'd already made up my mind to skip it, since I was leaving anyway. But then, first thing in the morning, Hank and Dexter showed up at my door.

"Eden wants you to join her for this Hunt, Amy. I hope you'll think about everyone's feelings. Don't be selfish."

With the two of them standing there, I didn't really have a choice.

Watching Alan and Eden's intimate interactions on the way to the hunting grounds sent a sharp pain searing through my chest. It was the unmistakable ache of betrayal from my mate.

The pain spread through my entire body until even walking felt unbearable. Gasping for breath, I leaned against a tree, trying to steady myself.

"Who are you trying to fool with this act, Amy? No one cares. Stop ruining the mood and keep up," Dexter said, brushing past me.

He handed Eden the most beautiful wildflowers he could find.

After seeing that I hadn't budged, Eden stepped away from Alan, her expression soft and sugary-sweet. "You're the one who let me stay in this family all those years ago, Amy. We were so close back then. Come on. Let's relive those good memories today!"

Before I could respond, she dragged me into the depths of the hunting grounds. The farther we went, the heavier my unease became.

Suddenly, Eden whirled around, her face twisted into something monstrous under the moonlight. "Amy, you leaving on your own, or do I have to make you?"

I stared at her, stunned. Before I could speak, a dark figure emerged behind her like a shadow come to life.

Eden moved fast, slipping past the first strike like it was nothing. I wasn't so lucky. The sting of my mate's betrayal made my legs go weak. I couldn't move.

A crushing blow sent me slamming into a tree trunk. The metallic tang of blood filled my mouth before I coughed it up.

But Eden wasn't done. She sent the beast after me again.

The next blow landed with a sickening crack. I felt my ribs shatter as I collapsed. Then came one final hit, and the world began to blur at the edges.

Just before everything went black, I saw Hank and Alan sprinting toward Eden, panic etched across their faces.

Alan scooped her up in his arms and took off out of the hunting grounds like the wind, while Hank tore a strip from his shirt and hastily wrapped it around her wound.

I wanted to call for their help, but I had no strength left. My injuries were severe.

…

When I woke up in the hospital, I couldn't move a muscle. All I could do was lie there, listening to the low murmur of voices around me.

As the healers bustled around the hospital room, their cheerful chatter filled the air.

"Eden's so lucky. She's got nothing but a scratch, and Alpha Alan's acting like it's the end of the world!"

"What on earth did Amy do to deserve this? She's seriously hurt, and her family hasn't even bothered to show up."

I kept my eyes shut, lips curling into a faint, humorless smile. Then, through the haze, I heard Alan's and Dexter's voices.

"It's all Amy's fault!" Alan snapped. "If she'd just done her job and protected Eden like she was supposed to, none of this would've happened! Eden's got a cut on her hand!"

Dexter jumped in, eager to back him up. "I bet she did it on purpose. She's probably just jealous Eden's finally getting the attention!"

Even with my eyes closed, I could picture the disgust on their faces. Some things just weren't worth hoping for.

Just as my body was about to succumb to the darkness again from the pain, I felt a warm hand brush against my forehead.

Mom's tender whisper reached my ears. "We're here to take you home, sweetheart."

In that moment, I knew I'd never have to face the ones who broke my heart again.

…

Alan's POV

Little by little, Eden started to improve under my care. True to her kind nature, the first thing she wanted to do was visit Amy, who was injured.

Eden was so sweet and thoughtful. She was nothing like Amy, who let her jealousy fester until it spilled out and hurt others.

Either way, it was time I finally settled the score with her.

Barely containing my rage, I stormed into Amy's hospital room, only to find it empty.

"Amy still refuses to see me? I knew she didn't want me back. Maybe I should just leave," Eden said.

The sight of her tear-streaked face sent a white-hot wave of rage through me.

"Your family never should've let that viper into your house, Dexter. She unleashed a wild animal on Eden just because she didn't like her. She's going to pay for this dearly once we find her!"

"All Amy ever wanted was to be loved, Alan. I'll go. I don't want to cause any more trouble for anyone," Eden said pitifully.

Even after everything she'd been through, Eden was still defending Amy. She really was too kind for her own good.

I gently stroked Eden's hair, overcome by a single, overwhelming instinct to protect her. "Don't worry, Eden. Amy's too attached to me to just walk away. When she comes back, I'll make sure she apologizes to you."

The news playing in the hospital room was grating on my nerves. I didn't know why not seeing Amy was making me this restless.

For a split second, an image of her—drenched in blood—flashed through my mind. But she was a werewolf. Wounds like that wouldn't even slow her down.

I was just about to turn off the damn TV when a report on the Bloodmoon Pack caught my attention.

The Bloodmoon Pack was powerful and shrouded in mystery, so when I saw news about them, I was stunned. But what truly floored me was the news that they'd finally found their long-lost heir.

According to rumors, the heir had vanished without a trace during the pack's civil war years ago.

This was huge. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the screen. The footage showed the Bloodmoon Pack's alpha making his first public appearance. He smiled as he announced the heir's name.

My eyes widened in disbelief.

"Amy?" I gasped in surprise.