Chapter 4

The morning air bit at my skin as Waylen dragged me toward Leech Lake. His fingers dug into my arm, bruising the flesh beneath my sleeve. I stumbled behind him, my body still weak from the wolfsbane burns and the strain of early pregnancy.

"Waylen, please," I gasped, trying to keep pace with his furious strides. "This isn't the way to discuss things."

"Discuss?" He spat the word like poison. "You've left me no choice, Phoebe."

The lake appeared ahead, its surface a dark, glassy mirror reflecting the gray sky. Leech Lake—named for the microscopic parasites that infested its waters, fatal to any wolf whose defenses were compromised. My stomach twisted with dread.

"You froze the accounts," Waylen snarled, spinning me to face him at the water's edge. "Every single one. Do you have any idea what you've done?"

I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze despite the fear coursing through me. "I know exactly what I've done."

"The pack is in chaos!" His voice rose, echoing across the water. "Warriors aren't getting paid. Food supplies are halted. The armory upgrades—"

"Are all funded by my family's money," I finished for him, my voice steadier than I expected. "Money you've been taking credit for. Money you've been using to build your empire while neglecting your mate."

His eyes flashed gold with Alpha power. "You will fix this. Now."

"No." The word felt foreign on my tongue—I'd never defied him so directly before. "Not until you start treating me like your Luna instead of your prisoner."

Waylen's face contorted with rage. "You ungrateful bitch. After everything I've given you—"

"Given me?" I laughed, the sound brittle and sharp. "You've given me nothing but eight years of neglect. Eight years of watching you prioritize Nova over your own mate."

"Don't you dare speak her name!" He stepped closer, his Alpha aura pressing against me like a physical weight. "She's suffered enough without your jealousy."

"Jealousy?" The accusation ignited something fierce within me. "This isn't jealousy, Waylen. It's reality. You've been emotionally cheating on me since the day your brother died."

His hand shot out, gripping my throat. "That's enough!"

I clawed at his fingers, gasping for air. "You're... suffocating... me..."

Something snapped in his eyes—a moment of clarity, perhaps, or shock at his own violence. His grip loosened slightly.

I sucked in a breath, then shoved him hard. "Don't touch me again."

"Phoebe—"

"Stay away from me!" I backed toward the lake, my hand instinctively covering my stomach. "I won't let you hurt our child."

His face darkened. "There is no child. There will be no child until I say so."

Something in me broke. "You don't get to decide that. You don't get to decide anything about me anymore."

"Enough!" Waylen lunged forward, his hands connecting with my chest in a violent shove.

Time seemed to slow as I felt my feet leave the ground. The world tilted sideways. Water rushed up to meet me, cold and dark.

"NO!" I screamed as I plunged into Leech Lake.

The water closed over my head, freezing and viscous. I thrashed wildly, trying to surface, but my limbs felt heavy, unresponsive. The wolfsbane had weakened me more than I realized.

Something sharp and burning pierced my skin—the parasites. They were everywhere, tiny mouths latching onto my flesh, draining my strength.

"Help," I tried to call out, but only bubbles escaped my lips.

Darkness crept at the edges of my vision. My wolf's presence flickered weakly within me.

"Phoebe," she whimpered. "We're dying."

With the last of my strength, I reached into my pocket and crushed the moonstone pendant Luca had given me.

The world spun. Water filled my lungs. I was going to die here, in this cursed lake, with my unborn child...

A massive splash erupted nearby. Through the murky water, I glimpsed a silver blur cutting through the darkness toward me.

Strong jaws wrapped around my arm, pulling me upward. My head broke the surface, and I gasped desperately for air.

"Stay with me," a deep voice commanded as powerful limbs dragged me toward shore.

We collapsed on the muddy bank, my body convulsing as I coughed up lake water. Through blurred vision, I saw a massive wolf standing protectively over me—silver-tipped fur gleaming in the dull light.

Luca.

He turned to face Waylen, who stood frozen at the water's edge, shock written across his features. A low, dangerous growl rumbled from Luca's chest.

"Phoebe!" Waylen finally broke from his paralysis, stepping forward with his hand outstretched.

Luca's growl intensified, his massive body tensing as if to attack.

"Don't come any closer," he snarled, his voice vibrating with barely contained fury. "You've done enough damage."