I continue to release my anger, punching Ezra over and over. Most of my blows land on his arms, as he’s desperately shielding his face, until I’m suddenly yanked backward by my hair.

"Get off him!" Bryn shouts. She manages to drag me away, but as I hit the ground, she kicks me hard in the ribs.

The pain is sharp, but my adrenaline is too high to care. I scramble to my feet and, as I rise, I put every ounce of my weight into a lunge, tackling her to the ground. We roll in the dirt, clawing at each other. Even though we haven't shifted, I can feel our wolves straining to take control. Bryn gains the upper hand, pinning me beneath her. She raises a clawed hand, ready to swipe at my face, but before she can, she is suddenly sent flying. She sails through the air for a few seconds before hitting the floor with a sickening thud.

Colt stands over her, growling, his fangs bared and his claws extended. Ezra quickly rushes to help Bryn up. She looks battered but conscious.

"What are you all doing?!"

The Luna and Alpha rush outside.

"Are you crazy?!" Bryn screams at me, gasping for breath.

"Yeah! Apparently, I am!" I scream back, hauling myself up. "Everyone here is quick to call someone 'crazy' when they finally lose it, but no one ever considers how they got to that point! And you two are a huge part of the reason!" I point an accusatory finger at them.

"Shut your mouth, you filthy girl!" the Luna spits, marching toward me.

"Let her speak!" Colt growls, stepping between us and pulling me into a protective hug.

The gesture shuts everyone up, even me. I didn't expect that—not in front of the entire pack. The Luna freezes in her tracks, her eyes wide. She was clearly ready to strike me, but Colt’s authority stopped her cold. The rage within me slowly ebbs as he begins to stroke my hair; I feel stunned, yet oddly secure.

The Alpha steps forward, calm but formidable. "What is happening here?"

As Bryn begins to spew her version of the events, I close my eyes and cling to Colt, feeling a sudden, overwhelming sense of safety. I’ve never felt this way before. I don't understand the feeling, but I crave it.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Ezra suddenly asks, staring at us with disbelief.

"What you should be doing," Colt replies, not even bothering to turn around, his eyes fixed on me.

"What?"

"You heard me. You are her mate. It should be you doing this, but I’ll gladly take over."

"What did he just say?" Bryn asks, aghast.

"Get your hands off her!" Ezra shouts. "It was... it was

you

?"

Colt remains silent, but Ezra is livid.

"IT WAS YOU!!" With blinding speed, Ezra charges at us.

Colt releases me and pivots, moving so fast that I only see the blur of Ezra flying backward, his face bloodied. The onlookers gasp in horror.

"Ezra!" Bryn and the Luna rush to his side.

"What did you do?" the Luna screams at Colt.

"He got what he deserved," Colt says, sauntering back to me and pulling me into his side.

"I think it would be best to take this inside," the Alpha says, eyeing the gathering crowd. "To a more private area."

"Agreed," Colt replies.

"The war room," the Alpha commands. Colt nods, takes my hand, and leads me toward the pack house, leaving the pack members behind to whisper among themselves.

"Colt, what are you doing?" I whisper.

"It's time, Angel. Don't worry. Everything will be fine. No one will hurt you again."

I don't know how everything is going to be fine, but when he says it, I believe him. We pass the office and enter a massive room filled with ancient books and oversized maps. Once inside, he closes the door and pulls me into another hug.

"This is just going to make him angrier," I fret.

"Let it. This is about you, not him." He strokes my cheek. "Are you okay?"

I assess my body—my ribs ache, but I’m otherwise fine. I nod.

"Good. You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. Let me do the talking."

He kisses my forehead and leans in to kiss my lips, but the door swings open. I pull away, though Colt refuses to let go, keeping me tucked against his side. The room fills with the sound of arguing voices.

"Enough!" the Alpha bellows. "Someone explain to me what the hell is going on!"

"Gladly," Colt says. "Cass is—"

The door bursts open again. Kaecy, Miles, and the Beta, Christoph, enter.

"You called us?" Kaecy asks.

"Yes. Family meeting," the Alpha says. All three look at me, bewildered, seeing me pressed against Colt’s side.

Ezra slams his fists onto the table, grabbing everyone's attention. "Stop holding her like that!"

"No," Colt says, his voice dangerously calm.

Ezra growls, but the Luna grips his shoulder. "Calm down."

"What the hell is going on?" Miles mutters.

"As I was saying," Colt continues, "Cass is Ezra's mate."

The room erupts in gasps. Everyone is shocked—everyone except Ezra, Colt, and me.

"That has to be bullshit! He can't be mated to that runt!" Bryn spits.

"Watch your damn mouth!" Colt growls.

"Is this true?" the Alpha asks Ezra. Ezra says nothing; he just glares at me and Colt with pure hatred.

"It is true," Colt confirms.

"Then why are you holding her in such a way?" the Alpha demands. "You didn't tell me this before, and what's worse, you knew and still chose to do

this

? She is your brother's mate."

"He doesn't want her!" Colt declares.

Ezra growls, "Regardless of whether I want her or not, she is

mine

!"

I explode. "Mine?! Are you fucking kidding me?! From the moment you found out we were mates, you hurt me, slept with women, ridiculed me, and treated me like an animal!" Ezra doesn't even flinch. I laugh bitterly. "You mean I’m yours to do exactly that? That’s all you want me for—to hurt me."

"Is this true, son? You knew all this time and did all this?" the Alpha asks.

"Of course not!" the Luna intervenes. "She has to be lying!"

"I am not!" I shout.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that!" she yells back.

"This pack has a problem, and it's you," Colt says, turning his cold gaze toward her.

Her eyes widen. "What?"

"You coddle them. You make them believe they are above everyone else. Look at them now. All they care about is status and material things. That is why he treats her this way—because to him, she is beneath him."

"You

do

coddle them too much, Alice," the Alpha admits.

Colt continues, "People who treat their mates like this do not deserve them.

He

doesn't deserve her." Colt pulls me tighter. "And if he doesn't want her, that’s fine, because I do."

"What is wrong with you?" Bryn cries. "There are a hundred she-wolves in this pack, and you choose

her

? A low nobody?"

"Bryn, shut the fuck up, you stupid little girl," Colt snaps.

Everyone is shocked into silence—until Miles lets out a sudden laugh, then quickly looks embarrassed.

The Alpha takes a deep breath and looks at Ezra. "So, you knew she was your mate for how long?"

"Since I turned eighteen," I answer for him.

The Luna and Bryn glare at me, but the Alpha ignores them. "So, you knew she was your mate for years, but you chose to torture her instead of rejecting her?"

"I never said I DIDN'T WANT HER!" Ezra shouts.

Now I’m the one who is confused. "She is my mate! I want her regardless of how I treat her. SHE IS MINE to do what I want with!"

This hits a breaking point. "FUCK YOU!" I scream.

I sprint toward him, but Colt catches me by the waist. "YOU SADISTIC SON OF A BITCH! You tortured me all these years, and you think I would ever want someone like you? NO! I’m the one who doesn't want you!"

"You are MINE!" he shouts again.

"I reject you, Ezra Beaufort. I reject you with ALL OF MY SOUL! I HATE YOU!"

Ezra lunges, but Colt pulls me back and slams Ezra to the ground, his hand tightening around Ezra's throat.

"Colt! Don't!" the Luna screams.

Colt leans down, loosening his grip just enough for Ezra to hear. "Try to touch her again, and I will break your neck," he whispers.

"That's enough, Colt. You've made your point," the Alpha says.

Colt releases him and backs away, pulling me toward the end of the table. The Luna helps Ezra up, her rage palpable.

"No! I will not allow this!" she shouts.

"Allow what, Mother? She is mine now," Colt says, his eyes never leaving mine.

"No, you can't have her. I forbid it! Neither of you can have her!"

"Yeah?" Colt’s voice is terrifyingly quiet. "Well, I dare any of you to try and stop me. Go ahead! Try!"

Silence stretches through the room. No one speaks.

"Enough," the Alpha says, looking exhausted. He paces for a moment, then stops, staring at Ezra. "I do not have the power to make you reject her, but if I could, I would. Colt is right. After what you have done, you do not deserve her."

"But—" the Luna starts.

"It doesn't matter who she is! If he didn't want to be with her, he should have rejected her from the beginning. Instead, he..." He takes a deep breath. "I have no idea where you learned this shit behavior, but it sure as hell wasn't from me! I would never do that to your mother." He looks at Colt. "Colt, you'll have no objection from me. Do what you wish."

"What the fuck?!" Ezra yells. "You are only doing this because you want him to be Alpha! You always favored him!"

The Alpha turns with a lethal stare. "Do not test me, boy! Accept the girl's rejection. Don't say I didn't warn you." He scans the room. "Now leave us!"

Ezra is hauled out by Kaecy and the Beta. The Luna lingers, pointing at me. "I don't know what kind of spell you have over them, you witch, but I will not stand for this!"

"Enough, Alice," the Alpha says.

"No!" She slams the door behind her.

The Alpha looks at Colt. "He wasn't wrong. I favor you—I always have. You were born to be Alpha... so don't make me regret this."

"I have every intention of taking over the pack," Colt says.

"Good." The Alpha turns to me, and I freeze. "Are you ready for this? Being the Luna of a pack this big won't be easy."

Wait... what?

Did I agree to this? I don't remember saying yes... but I never said no either.

Well... shit.