All Chapters of Stronger Than Pain: From Beta To Luna: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Maya's Pov   “Jayden!”His scream pierced the night again. Third time. My heart slammed against my ribs as I threw the blankets off, sprinting barefoot across the stone floor. The halls of the Alpha house stretched dark and cold, lit only by the flicker of moonlight through narrow windows. I pushed open the bedroom door, breathless. Jayden was curled in the corner of his bed, knees pulled to his chest, his small body trembling beneath the covers. His sobs were ragged,deep and guttural, like they were being torn from somewhere far beyond this world. I rushed to him. “Jayden, baby, I’m here,” I whispered, dropping to my knees beside him. “Mama’s here, you’re safe.” He clutched my waist as soon as he felt me, his fingers digging into my skin.

 Maya's Pov The scream tore through the silence like a blade through silk. I was already running before the second alarm blared. By the time I got to the lower cells, the air reeked of iron and burning sage. Two guards lay slumped by the prison gate, their weapons scattered, eyes rolled back in their heads. One had claw marks gouged into his chest,deep, brutal, raw. “Move!” I pushed past the stumbling warriors just as Conan stormed out of the shadows, his scent sharp with rage and panic. His hand flew out to stop me. “You shouldn’t be here, Maya,” he barked. “I have to see him.” My voice shook, but my steps didn’t falter. Inside the cell, Jonathan was on his knees. Blood pooled beneath his hands, a quiet, dark puddle glistening under the torchlight.

Maya's Pov   Under the moonless sky, I pressed my back against the cold stone wall outside the healer’s quarters, heart racing as if it already knew the kind of decision I was about to make. “Are you going to stand there all night or come in?” a raspy voice called from the shadows beyond the door. I flinched, startled, but pushed the door open. The scent of crushed herbs and smoke greeted me like a warning. The hearth still burned low, casting long shadows on the walls lined with jars,some filled with roots, others with things better left unnamed. The healer, Mave, didn’t look up from the dark bowl she was stirring. “I knew you’d come.” My boots scraped against the stone floor as I stepped closer. “I need to ask about the witch you never talk about.” Her spoon halted mid-stir. “I talk about many witches.” 

 Maya's Pov  I woke clutching air, heart pounding. Something cold pressed behind my ear,a pain like fire where seconds ago there was nothing. Morning light found Conan beside me, staring as if he’d seen a ghost. He reached out and gently brushed the spot. “That’s not from this world,” he said, voice low and hollow. “What do you mean?” I asked, pressing a trembling hand to the stinging mark behind my ear. It burned like a brand. Conan didn’t answer. Instead, he stood and turned so suddenly the chair scraped the floor. I watched him stride out, his shoulders rigid, his jaw set. He returned moments later flanked by two guards. The older one carried a small satchel. “What’re they doing?” I asked. “They’re searching Jonathan’s things,” Conan answered grimly, laying out the context. “No ex

 I gripped the balcony rail so hard my knuckles burned white. The cold night air bit into my skin, but it wasn’t enough to numb the heat clawing through my chest. I can't explain what I feel at all, it's suffocating. The thought and feeling of losing my very own son, the only one that has ever given me a reason to move on. Hell! That wouldn't happen, especially not on my watch. “He’s not taking you,” I whispered again, more to myself than to Jayden, who was curled up in a blanket on the couch. “Not now. Not ever.” Behind me, the fire crackled faintly in the hearth. It should’ve been comforting, but it sounded like something else tonight...like the low growl of an animal waiting for the right moment to strike. My thoughts kept circling back to the words Jayden had mumbled in his sleep. Mommy would bleed again. My stomach turne