Hate. I hate myself. Self-loathing filled me and threatened to explode. I felt like I was going to combust. How? How has he done it? How can he still stand to touch me, to be near me? Just the thought of what I’ve done is enough to make me sick. I’m disgusted with myself. This world is getting blurry and I focus on the moon above. I’m out of air, out of the will to live, out of time. I don’t deserve it, I shouldn’t want it, I shouldn’t dare, but I do. I wish to see him. I want… I want to see those obsidian eyes one last time. My hands fall to my side as my head lolls to the side.There’s a roar that cuts through my thoughts and fills the garden. The hand around my throat loosens as green eyes turn from me and for the first time oxygen fills my lungs. Little breaths of air as I suck in more and more air. I follow his gaze, my eyes locking on the open door. Light spills out from the party and a dark shadow fills the doorway. My body convulses as my eyes lock on obsidian eyes. Betrayal s

“Watch as I kill the man that cursed us,” Shane murmured.Everything clicks into place and my mate’s glowing eyes stare back at me. I lean up and press a kiss to his chin. Shane’s breathing shutters and he devours my lips as I cry. His hand slides up my neck and cups my cheek. I nuzzle into it, but he releases me too soon. My knees are weak and I sway on my feet without him. Turning to look down at Ethan, I follow Shane’s gaze and take in the man on his knees. His hair is in his face, blood drips down the side of his face, and oozes down his body. He’s losing a lot of it and fast.“The two of you need help,” Ethan spat.“I don’t think you’ve got much time left,” I said to Shane.I should sick at the sight of what Shane has done to him, but all I can think about is how fate still brought us together. Even as Shane fought for me, it was as if this was all a fairy tale story with a shitty ending. And somewhere out there, an author was getting off on our pain. That, or the Moon Goddess pu

 “Do you know how many times I’ve killed you? You won in the first life, but I made it my mission, to end every one of yours after. I’ve become the villain so many times, I don’t know if I can be the hero. I don’t know if I can be the man she deserves. What I do know is that I’m the man she’s got…,” Shane trailed off. His shoulders shook and I wondered if he was crying, when he started laughing.“I should not atone for sins I know nothing of. This is not the way an alpha should run a pack. There was no trial, and I wasn’t given the opportunity to defend myself,” Ethan grunted.“Defend?” Shane asked incredulously. “Defend?! At what point did you give my mate the opportunity to defend herself? Was there a single moment in the time she spent shackled to you that you gave her a reprieve? On the nights she begged you to stop, did you?&rdq

Odis takes a step to the side, and the crowd’s attention turns to me and my mate. As my gaze travels over them, their cheeks stained, their eyes are shocked, and blood splattered at their feet. A lot has happened and everything is moving so quickly now. I don’t know what I was expecting to happen after Shane killed Ethan. I thought everything would go back to the way it always should have been. Becoming Luna and taking over a pack wasn’t what I had in mind. My mate turns to leave, but Odis block him. “Move,” Shane growled. Odis tucked his chin, but held eye contact. “While I am not your chosen Beta, I will hold this position until you choose your own,” Odis growled. “I’ve already got a lineup. Your services are no longer needed,” Shane said coldly. “Until it’s official then,” Odis replied firmly. “Please allow me to have my-to have the remains moved.” My mate went still. He didn’t look back at the body, and I didn’t either. His gaze remained on Odis. “Permission granted,” Shane sa