Chapter 4

I decided to leave. There was no place for us in this pack anymore. I gathered our few pieces of clothing and lifted Kyle, who'd just recovered from his fever, onto my back.

The door swung open, and Linda walked in. She held a red apple in one hand and an elegant silver knife in the other.

"Ella, I heard you're leaving?" Linda smiled and settled into the rickety chair. She began peeling the apple slowly and deliberately. "What a shame. I haven't had my fill of fun yet."

"Get out." I stared at her coldly.

"Don't be so mean." Linda toyed with the silver knife. The blade glinted cold and sharp in the moonlight.

"You know what? Julian told me yesterday that Kyle's so ugly. He's like a little monster.

"He said he's grateful he never bonded with you as his Luna. Otherwise, that shame would follow him forever."

"Shut your mouth!" My whole body trembled as I shielded Kyle behind me.

"He also said..." Linda stood and moved closer, step by step.

She lowered her voice. "Once I give birth to our pup, he'll make Kyle a slave. A little horse for my child to ride."

Rage flooded my mind. I raised my hand to shove her away. The instant my fingers brushed the hem of her dress, Linda moved.

She was fast. In one motion, she sliced her own arm with the knife. Blood poured out immediately.

Then she plunged the pure silver dagger straight toward my chest. The blade sank in with a squelch.

Searing pain exploded through me. Silver was a werewolf's weakness. The wound felt like it was on fire, and my flesh sizzled and burned.

Linda let go of the knife and let out a piercing scream. "Help! Murder!"

A black shadow burst through the door almost instantly. It was Julian. An Alpha's speed was truly terrifying.

This was the scene that greeted him—me with a knife protruding from my chest, and Linda huddled on the floor in a fit of weeping as her arm bled.

"Julian! She's lost her mind!" Linda cried as she threw herself into his arms. "I came to say goodbye, and she tried to kill me! She said she hates you; that she'd kill me and then kill her own pup to frame me! Look, she even stabbed herself just to make me look guilty!"

It was such a pathetic lie, but Julian believed it. Or maybe he just didn't care about the truth. He only needed an excuse to unleash his rage.

"Ella Alcide, you vicious bitch!"

Julian exploded. He didn't even give me a chance to explain. He raised his hand, Alpha gravity gathering in his palm, and brought it down hard.

The sharp sound of breaking bone echoed through the tiny room, and my spine shattered. The pain was so intense that I lost all feeling in my lower body immediately.

I collapsed like a broken doll. Even my scream caught in my throat. Kyle stood frozen in the corner, and he didn't dare cry.

A few seconds passed before Kyle seemed to register what happened. He stumbled forward on trembling little legs, but he didn't run to me. He threw himself at Julian instead.

He wrapped his arms around Julian's leg and looked up with tears streaming down his small face. "I'll be good... Daddy, I'll be good. Please don't hurt Mommy...

"I'll behave. I won't make flower crowns anymore..."

Linda smiled and crouched down. She smeared the blood from her arm across Kyle's face, her eyes gleaming with malice.

"Being good isn't just about words, you know. Here's what we'll do. If you stand outside and watch over your mommy tonight without coming inside, I'll make your father forgive you both in the morning. He won't hurt your mother anymore."

"Really?" Hope sparked in Kyle's eyes. "If I stay outside, Daddy won't hurt Mommy anymore?"

"Of course. I promise." Linda's smile was radiant.

My heart was breaking. I shook my head desperately, trying to stop him. "No! Kyle, don't listen to her! You'll freeze to death out there!

"Please, Julian, Linda, leave Kyle alone!"

"Mannerless little bastard. He actually believes such obvious lies. Makes me sick just looking at him." Julian carefully gathered Linda into his arms.

He stopped at the doorway. "Since she wants to leave so badly, I'll grant her wish. Tomorrow, throw her and that bastard into the Borderlands."

Night fell, and wild winds howled. The temperature plummeted below freezing.

Kyle actually believed Linda's words. He stood stubbornly outside in the bitter cold, his small frame shaking violently.

"Kyle! Come inside!"

My spine was shattered, and I had no feeling in my lower body. I could only use my hands to claw at the ground, dragging myself inch by agonizing inch toward the door.

Every movement sent waves of pain through me. Cold sweat drenched my body.

I used every ounce of strength I had to reach the doorway. I then stretched out my hand to pull Kyle inside.

But Kyle stepped back, avoiding my grasp. His little face was already blue-purple from the cold. His teeth chattered, but he turned and draped the blanket over me instead.

"Mommy, go back inside..." Kyle pushed at my shoulder with trembling hands.

"I'm not cold. The lady said... if I stay out all night... Daddy won't hurt you tomorrow..."

"My sweet pup, she lied to you! Come inside!" I cried and reached for him again.

Kyle shook his head stubbornly. With his frozen little hands, he tucked the corners of the blanket around me. His gaze was heartbreakingly determined.

"I'm a werewolf. I'll protect you, Mommy... If I'm good, Daddy will come back..."

With that, he retreated into the wind and snow, standing guard at the door like a devoted little soldier. I had no strength left. I could only lie there at the threshold, watching him.

I didn't know how much time passed before that small figure outside swayed and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"Kyle!" I screamed like a mad she-wolf.

I dragged my broken body over the threshold bit by bit. Ignoring the pain, I crawled desperately to Kyle's side. He'd already passed out from the cold, his body ice-cold.

I clutched him tight against me and dragged us both back inside, inch by inch.