THORNE POV
I'm breaking every speed limit in the state, and it's still not fast enough.
"Kyver, I need satellite on that safe house location. Now!" I roar into my phone, one hand on the wheel while my truck screams down the highway.
"Already on it," Kyver's voice crackles through the speaker. "Dorian's got three safe houses in the territory. Checking heat signatures on all of them."
"Check faster!"
My wolf is going insane, clawing at my control, demanding I shift and run. But four legs won't get me there quicker than this engine.
Dorian's voice keeps replaying in my head: Thank you for leading my wife right into my trap.
I led her there. I manipulated her, stalked her, used her—and now she's paying for my mistakes.
If she dies because of me, I'll never forgive myself.
"Got her!" Kyver shouts. "Safe house number two. Ten miles north of Quillan territory border. Two heat signatures inside the building—wait, three now. Someone just arrived."
My blood turns to ice. "Send me coordinates. And Kyver? Assemble a team. If I'm not out in twenty minutes, come in guns blazing."
"You got it, brother. And Thorne? Don't die. I'm not explaining to the pack why their Alpha got himself killed over a woman he just met."
"She's not just—" I stop myself. Now's not the time. "Twenty minutes."
I hang up and push the accelerator harder.
Fifteen minutes later, I'm parking half a mile from the safe house, approaching on foot through the woods. Silent. Deadly.
My wolf senses are fully engaged—I can smell Celestria's fear from here, sharp and acidic. And underneath it, something else.
Wolfsbane.
Someone's brought wolfsbane to that cabin.
I move faster, rage fueling every step.
The cabin comes into view—small, isolated, bars on the windows. Two vehicles parked outside. I recognize one as Dorian's personal car.
He's here. Personally overseeing whatever he's planning.
I creep closer to a window, peer inside through a gap in the curtains.
What I see makes my wolf roar with murderous fury.
Celestria's backed against the wall, her violet eyes wide with terror. Senna stands in front of her holding a syringe filled with clear liquid. And beside Senna is a man in a white coat—human, judging by his scent. Probably a doctor on Dorian's payroll.
"Please," Celestria's voice trembles. "Whatever he's paying you, I can double it. Triple it."
"Oh, sweetie," Senna laughs. "This isn't about money. This is personal. You've had six years as Luna. Six years pretending you're special because the Moon Goddess chose you. Well, guess what? You're not special. You're just another obstacle in my way."
The doctor steps forward with the syringe.
Celestria's eyes flash amber—her wolf rising. "Don't touch me!"
"Hold her down," Senna orders.
The doctor grabs Celestria's arm. She fights, kicking and screaming, but he's stronger.
I've seen enough.
I don't bother with the door—I crash through the window in an explosion of glass and wood.
The doctor drops the syringe with a scream. Senna stumbles backward. And Celestria's eyes meet mine, shock and relief warring on her face.
"You," Senna hisses. "Thorne Ravaille. Dorian said you might show up."
"Where is he?" I growl, placing myself between her and Celestria.
"Somewhere safe. Watching." Senna's smile is venomous. "Did you really think you could just barge in here and save the day? You have no authority in Quillan territory. No rights. If you touch me, you'll start a war between our packs."
"I'm willing to risk it."
I lunge for her, but she's faster than I expected—shifting mid-leap into her wolf form and diving through the open door.
The doctor tries to run too. I grab him by his collar and slam him against the wall.
"What's in the syringe?" I demand.
"I-I don't know! They just told me to inject her!"
"Liar." I tighten my grip. "Last chance."
"W-wolfsbane! Concentrated wolfsbane! Enough to stop her heart in minutes!"
I release him with disgust. He scrambles out the door and disappears into the night.
Then I turn to Celestria.
She's shaking, her arms wrapped around herself, tears streaming down her face.
"You came," she whispers. "Even after I slapped you. Even after I said I hated you."
"I told you I wouldn't fail you again." I cross to her, gently checking her arms. "Did they inject you with anything?"
"No. You got here just in time."
Relief floods through me so strong it's almost painful.
But we're not safe yet.
I pull out my phone to call Kyver, but Celestria grabs my wrist.
"Thorne, it's a trap. Senna said Dorian's watching. He wanted you to come here."
"I know. But I couldn't just—"
The door slams open.
Dorian stands there, flanked by six of his best warriors. All armed. All ready to kill.
And Dorian's holding a gun—loaded with silver bullets, judging by the smell.
Silver. The one thing that can kill a werewolf permanently.
"Hello, Thorne," Dorian says, aiming the gun directly at my chest. "Thanks for making this easy. Breaking into my territory. Assaulting my pack members. Kidnapping my Luna. That's three crimes punishable by death according to wolf law."
"He didn't kidnap me!" Celestria steps in front of me. "He saved me from being murdered!"
"Murdered?" Dorian laughs. "Dramatic as always, darling. Senna was just giving you medicine for your mental illness. You've been so unstable lately."
"She had wolfsbane! She was going to kill me!"
"Prove it." Dorian's smile is cold. "The syringe is gone. The doctor is gone. It's just your word against mine. And who do you think the Alpha Council will believe? A respected Alpha, or a mentally unstable Luna and the rogue who's been stalking her?"
He's right. Without evidence, this is my word against his.
And I just handed him the perfect excuse to eliminate both of us.
"Here's what's going to happen," Dorian continues. "My men are going to kill you, Thorne. Completely justified—you broke into my territory and assaulted my pack. And Celestria? You'll be so traumatized by watching your would-be rescuer die that you'll have a complete mental breakdown. So tragic. You'll need to be institutionalized. Indefinitely."
"You're insane," I breathe.
"No. I'm smart. I've been planning this for months. Every move. Every piece in place. And you walked right into it."
His finger tightens on the trigger.
I could shift. Could try to fight. But with six warriors and silver bullets, I'd be dead in seconds.
And then Celestria would be alone with him.
"Wait!" Celestria's voice rings out. "Before you kill us, I have a question."
Dorian pauses. "What?"
"The other Lunas. Your previous wives. Did they figure it out too? Is that why you killed them?"
Dorian's expression doesn't change. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes, you do." Celestria's voice is stronger now. Braver. "Three dead wives in eight years. All healthy. All dead within six years of marriage. All with convenient accidents that let you keep their dowries and marry again."
"Conspiracy theories from a desperate woman."
"Then explain the wolfsbane poisoning in Luna number one's autopsy. Explain the evidence of being pushed in Luna number two's injuries. Explain—"
"Enough!" Dorian's control cracks. "Those women were weak. Useless. Just like you. They served their purpose and then became liabilities. Just. Like. You."
He just confessed.
And the small recording device I activated in my pocket when I crashed through the window caught every word.
"Thank you," I say quietly. "That's all I needed."
Dorian's eyes narrow. "What?"
I tap my pocket. "Confession. Recorded. Already uploading to the Alpha Council servers through my phone."
His face goes white. Then red. Then purple with rage.
"Kill them!" he screams at his warriors. "Kill them both right now!"
The warriors hesitate—they heard the confession too. They know killing us now makes them accomplices to murder.
But Dorian doesn't wait for them.
He pulls the trigger.
The silver bullet flies straight at my chest.
And Celestria throws herself in front of me.