“I will find who did this to you,” I whispered, though she couldn’t hear me. “And they will pay with blood.”
??))
The wolf inside me howled in agreement, demanding vengeance. Elizabeth’s scent signature was unmistakable, her guilt written in every molecule she’d left behind. A Collins–challenging me by harming what was mine.
This was no ident. This was an attack. An act of war against an Alpha.
42
As I pushed through the door toward the waiting car, Reba stirred slightly in my arms, a small whimper escaping her lips. I held her closer, forcing my rage to cool enough to focus on her immediate needs.
“Get her to safety first,” I reminded myself. “Then hunt.”
Raymond drove us swiftly to Silver Moon Medical Center, the private facility reserved for pack members. I kept Reba cradled against me, monitoring each breath, cataloging each injury I could see. The head wound was the most serious, but bruises were already forming on her arms and shoulder.
When we arrived, Dr. Winters was waiting with a team, her calm efficiency a stark contrast to the chaos in my mind.
She directed me to ce Reba on a gurney, then began her assessment.
“Alpha Sterling,” she said quietly, “we’ll take good care of her. But I need you to step back now.”
Every instinct in me rebelled at the thought of leaving Reba’s side, but I forced myself to nod and move away. As they wheeled her through the double doors into the treatment area, I turned to Raymond, who had followed in a
separate car.
“Find Elizabeth Collins,” I said, my voice low and deadly calm. “Bring her to me.”
Raymond hesitated, his expression grave. “Sir, with all due respect, I think you should reconsider.”
“You’re questioning me?” I growled, my control slipping further.
“No, Raymond said carefully, lowering his eyes in deference. “But Elizabeth Collins isn’t Silver Moon Shadow. You don’t have direct authority over her.”
“She attacked what’s mine,” I snarled.
“Yes, sir. But handling this incorrectly could have serious repercussions between our packs. Your father has spent decades building the alliance with the Collins family. If you seize another Alpha’s wolf without proper protocol…”
I stalked away from him, my hands clenching and unclenching as I fought for control. He was right, and I knew it. Pack politics wereplex, territorial boundaries sacred. Even as the future Alpha of Silver Moon Shadow, I couldn’t
<b>20:39 </b>Wed, Sep <b>24 </b>
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simply abduct a member of another pack, no matter how justified.
42
I leaned against the wall, forcing deep breaths into my lungs. The wolf in me howled for immediate vengeance, but the Alpha in me knew better. There were rules, protocols. Breaking them would only give Elizabeth’s family ammunition against me.
“Fine,” I said after a long moment. “But make no mistake–she will pay for this.”
Marcus approached, his phone in hand. “Security footage is being retrieved. We’ll have the full recording within the
hour.”
I nodded, a cold smile spreading across my face as a n began to form. “Elizabeth thinks she’s untouchable because of her family name. But there are many ways to destroy someone withoutying a hand on them.”
Raymond watched me warily. “Sir?”
“She wanted to be part of Sterling family so badly,” I said, my voice hardening with resolve. “Let’s see how she fares when every business connection, every social circle, every opportunity in this city is closed to her. By the time I’m finished, her own pack won’t want to im her.”
The clinical lights of the hospital corridor reflected in my eyes, which I knew had taken on the blue glow of my wolf. Elizabeth had made a critical mistake. She’d assumed that because I couldn’t touch her directly, she was safe.
She was about to learn how wrong she was.
I turned back toward the treatment area where Rebay, the mate bond pulling me toward her. “Stay with her,” I instructed Marcus. “I need to make some calls.”
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