< Chapter 42 The Reckoning
Chapter 42: The Reckoning
Chapter 42: The Reckoning
(Elena’s POV)
“Oh my goddess? Is this scandal so explosive?” Two pack nurses passed by the corridor, their voices echoing
through the healing institute halls.
“I heard she’s been staying at Moonhaven Estate this whole time,” one nurse whispered excitedly. “But now
that Alpha Marcus has publicly acknowledged Sophia Rivers as his favored companion, is Elena trying to
become the ‘official‘ Luna?”
The other nurse gasped dramatically. “Can you imagine the audacity? Living in his estate while he’s with
another she–wolf!”
Their voices carried so loudly that even I in the recovery ward could probably hear every word.
“Who do you think is the real ‘other woman‘ in this mate bond triangle?” the first nurse continued.
I scoffed quietly at the nurses‘ loud conversation outside my door. Their speculation about who was the
“other woman” in my own mate bond was almost laughable.
If they only knew the truth about Marcus and Sophia’s relationship, they might reconsider their theories. But I
didn’t take their gossip to heart.
I had more pressing concerns than pack rumors. My wolf Cora was still restless, pacing anxiously in my mind
without explanation.
(David Blackthorne’s POV)
I sat in my car in the Underground Parking Caverns, watching Sophia Rivers exit her white sedan. My hands gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white.
The silver–tipped wrench hidden in my sleeve felt heavy with purpose. I knew silver would cause excruciating pain to any werewolf, disrupting their healing abilities.
My wolf senses were heightened with protective rage for my sister. Sophia had orchestrated Elena’s suffer
for too long.
I got out of the car silently, my footsteps echoing in the concrete caverns. Tonight, this manipulative she–wolf would face consequences for her actions.
(Sophia Rivers‘ POV)
My phone rang as I approached the Steel Ascent elevator. Heidi Cross’s panicked voice made my blood run
cold.
“Miss Rivers, we have a problem,” she whispered urgently. “Alpha Marcus has intervened in the mentally
unstable attacker’s case.”
I felt my stomach drop. “What do you mean intervened?”
“The fool might reveal my involvement through pack interrogation methods,” Heidi continued frantically. This could jeopardize my husband’s position at the institute!”
< Chapter 42: The Reckoning
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Frustration boiled over inside me. I wished I had ordered the man to use silver–laced acid instead of pepper spray. Then Elena would be scarred forever, and Marcus would never want to look at her again.
Suddenly, my wolf instincts screamed danger. Someone was behind me. I spun around abruptly, my heart
racing.
David Blackthorne stood there with cold determination in his young eyes. Before I could react, he raised the silver–tipped wrench and struck.
My phone clattered to the corner near the waste disposal. Heidi’s voice echoed desperately from the device,
“Miss Rivers? Miss Rivers?”
The silver contact sent searing pain through my werewolf system. My supernatural healing abilities immediately began weakening under the toxic metal’s influence.
(Elena’s POV)
I was carefully consuming healing broth in my recovery ward when I accidentally scalded myself. The hot
liquid splashed across my hand, but that wasn’t what concerned me.
My wolf Cora felt inexplicably uneasy, pacing restlessly in my mind. Her anxiety was infectious, making my
own nerves fray.
Catherine Hayes noticed my distress immediately. “Luna Elena, what’s wrong?”
I shook my head, unable to explain the warning signals coursing through our bond. “I don’t know, Catherine. Something feels off.”
Just then, my phone rang. David’s name appeared on the screen, and I answered quickly.
“David, you-”
“Sorry, sister,” David’s voice cut through the line with grim finality. “I won’t listen to you this time.”
Through our sibling bond, I heard Sophia’s voice crying desperately in the background. “Elena! Your brother is
a madman! He wants to kill me! I’m going to die! Marcus won’t let you go!”
My hand trembled violently. The healing spoon fell from the thermal container, clattering to the floor.
“David, don’t… don’t do anything foolish! Where are you now!”
(David Blackthorne’s POV)
sealed Sophia’s mouth with silver–lined tape, watching her wince as the toxic metal burned her werewolf skin. The silver would prevent her from calling for pack assistance through supernatural means.
“All of Elena’s misfortunes were caused by you,” I told her coldly. “You masterminded the pepper spray attack
and spread vicious rumors against her.”
Sophia’s eyes widened in shock. She realized I knew everything about her schemes.
Elena’s voice came through the phone, terrified and desperate. “I know, I know all this, David! Don’t do anything foolish!”
I could hear Catherine Hayes supporting my sister in the background. Elena’s breathing was rapid and panicked.
“Quick… quick, find Marcus…” Elena pleaded.
Chapter 42: The Reckoning
I felt a pang of guilt for causing her such distress, but this had to be done.
+4 Front 2
“Don’t worry, sister,” I said firmly. “I’ll take responsibility for everything I do. Even if I’m banished from the pack, I will protect you.”
I ended up the call. Elena needed to be protected from what came next.
(Elena’s POV)
“David!” I screamed into the dead phone line, but he had cut the connection completely.
I tried to reconnect him, but he had blocked me out entirely. My face went pale as the full implications hit me.
If David really hurt Sophia, he and the entire Blackthorne family would face Marcus’s wrath as Alpha. I couldn’t let my brother destroy his future over protecting me.
I immediately reached out through the mate bond to contact Marcus. Despite our complicated relationship,
he was the only one with enough power to stop this disaster.
(Sophia Rivers‘ POV)
Inside the Abandoned Ruins in the outskirts territory, terror consumed every fiber of my being. David had
brought me to this desolate place where no one would hear my screams.
My wrists were raw and burning from struggling against the silver–laced restraints, The toxic metal
suppressed my healing abilities and sent constant waves of agony through my system.
I had to find a way to escape before he decided to kill me. My eyes frantically searched the deteriorating
room for anything useful.
A sharp piece of glass caught my attention in the corner. I slowly moved my chair towards it, trying to reach
the makeshift weapon without making noise.
Just as my fingers brushed against the glass edge, footsteps echoed outside. David was returning.
(David Blackthorne’s POV)
Sophia paled as her wolf instincts screamed danger at my approach. I noticed her movement immediately
and saw the glass she’d been reaching for.
I picked up the sharp fragment, examining its deadly edge with cold satisfaction. The scent of fear and something else filled the air.
There was a puddle of liquid on the floor beneath her chair. I was stunned for a moment before realizing what had happened.
Sophia had lost control of her bladder out of pure terror. I laughed coldly at her complete humiliation.
I held the sharp glass to her cheek, pressing just hard enough to dimple her skin. “Do she–wolves like you who
interfere in sacred mate bonds also have times when they’re afraid?”
Sophia couldn’t calm down enough to listen properly. She was completely terrified, and large tears rolled down her face uncontrollably.
“Stop crying! You’re so damn pathetic and annoying!” I shouted, my patience snapping.
I hated seeing females cry, except for my sister Elena. Sophia immediately stopped making any noise and didn’t even dare to look at me with her wolf eyes.
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< Chapter 42: The Reckoning
I tore off the silver–lined tape from her mouth, causing her to wince in pain from the burns it left behind.
She trembled violently and whispered, “You… will you let me go? I’ll agree to anything you say!”
I sneered at her desperate submission. “Anything?”
Sophia nodded repeatedly, her wolf completely submissive in the face of fear.
Points
“Good.” I lightly ran the glass across her cheek, then held it against her throat where her pulse betrayed her
terror.
“I want you to publicly apologize to my sister and admit that you’re the one who orchestrated the attacks against her!”
Sophia froze at my demand. Admit it publicly to the entire pack? That would destroy her reputation and
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