Page 260 of His White Moonlight
“And did you find out if she was working alone or if someone in the office was helping her?”I asked.
“Olivia was working with her,” Mom said.“Don’t worry.We already know who to hold responsible and will make an example of them before we leave.”
“Leave?”I looked at Bennett.“Did that many people sign the petition?”
He shook his head.
“No, Sweetheart,” Mom said.“We won’t stay where the entire pack doesn’t love you as much as we do.”
My eyes watered as Bennett kissed my forehead.I hadn’t realized how much I’d needed them to put me first for a change.I thought I’d moved beyond that, but knowing they were willing to give up everything for me, not because they’d lost faith in their pack, almost broke me.
Bennett inhaled as I pressed my face into his chest.
“Mom.Dad.We’ll talk more at the house.”He hung up and scooped me into his arms, holding me close and comforting us both.
“You can head to the car,” Konni said.“I’ll follow with this one after I clean up in here.”
“Thank you,” Bennett said.
We’d just cleared the doors outside when the windows farther down on the second level exploded with flames.I watched the glass rain down as Bennett put me into the front seat.
“Konni?”I asked.
“It’s okay.He’s cleaning the scene with dragon fire.If anyone can trace Lindi to the building, they’ll think she died there.”His fingers brushed over my cheek.“Are you really okay?”
I looked into his loving eyes and nodded.
For the first time in my life, I genuinely believed I could have the future I wanted, filled with love, laughter, and family.
* * *
The woods were quiet,as if all the animals in the area knew what was about to happen.
Lindi, Storm, and Olivia knelt in front of several of Mom and Dad’s supporters.This time, more people were standing behind Mom and Dad than those who weren’t.The people who stood opposite didn’t look as angry as they had last Saturday.
I glanced at Storm’s parents, who were off to the side.Her dad was silently crying.Her mom wasn’t doing anything, just staring straight ahead, pale and vacant.
“The people in front of us attacked me outside of a challenge with the intent to kill our future alpha’s mate,” Miranda said.“I demand blood for blood.”
“She wasn’t killed,” someone from the other side said.
Grandma stepped forward.“Storm and Olivia turned against our own outside of a challenge.”
“She’s a human,” Storm growled.“She’ll never be our own.”
“She’s human,” Grandma said.“Just like the human you worked with to try to kill her.The world is filled with them.Trying to deny them their place is like trying to deny the air you need to breathe.Our laws exist for a reason.We do not harm humans unless in defense for a reason.
“The hatred that you carry for humans won’t fade.It will warp and grow until humans notice and tear this pack apart.To save the pack, we need to cleanse it.I demand blood for blood.”
“Blood for blood has been called according to our laws,” Dad said.“All are required to witness.Those who don’t are exiled from the pack.”
Everyone started to undress.Storm’s dad turned to his wife and started to help her out of her clothes.
I looked at Grandma.She took my hand, patted it, and shook her head discreetly.
“I’ll walk with you rather than run,” she said.
“So will we,” a voice called from the trees.I watched my brothers stride through the opposing people.Tall with dark hair and dark eyes, they looked so much like Bennett.But with more laugh lines.
