Page 57 of Marked By Moonlight
“And what motivation would you have to learn to shift if I did that?”
“I don’t need any motivation. And I’m not going to complete the marking ceremony if it means freeing you from the curse. You deserve every ounce of pain you and your pack feel. You’re working with vampires and witches. You sent them to kill the entire Moonlight pack. You kidnapped my best friend. I’m not going to do anything for you.”
Nyx just stares at me, unmoving. I’m not sure if he processed any of my words or not. I’m not sure if he’s going to call my bluff or not.
I can’t not complete the marking ceremony. I have to break the curse for everyone, even if it means freeing Nyx as well. But Nyx doesn’t know that. Threatening to not break the curse to get Kael back is the only option I have. I can’t fight Nyx. I can’t shift.
“I could tell Ambrose your little secret. Tell him that you aren’t packless. That you belong to the Wintermoon wolves. That you are the reason for the curse.”
I swallow hard, unsure of how to respond. He’s got me. I’m powerless. There is nothing I can do to get Kael back, short of fighting him. Ambrose can’t know my secret. He’ll kill me in hopes of finding a better mate.
“If you did that, then the marking ceremony wouldn’t happen. Ambrose wouldn’t choose me as his mate. He’d kill me. And you’d still be cursed.”
“Won’t matter since you can’t shift anyway. And I’m not sure you’re worthy of being an alpha’s mate.”
I growl, hoping something kicks in. Claws, sharp teeth, speed—anything to help me attack this man.
Nothing appears. No new traits or senses. But I’m not going to let Nyx get away with everything he’s done.
I run at him with everything I have, throwing my arm back like I’m going to punch him and then sweeping my leg into a kick just like Emeric taught me.
Nyx simply takes a step to the side as I fly through the air, landing hard on the cold ground.
“You’re fearless; I’ll give you that. You and Ambrose have that in common. Along with that annoying, determined attitude that causes you to never give up. But let me stop you before you hurt yourself.” Nyx pushes a foot into my back, applying enough pressure that it makes it hard for me to breathe. I have no idea how to get out of this position.
He wins.
But if I can shift. If I complete the marking ceremony. If I become an alpha alongside Ambrose, then maybe together we can defeat him and his pack once and for all.
“Keep my secret, and I’ll end the curse. Hurt Kael and I’ll kill you. And I won’t end the curse. If Kael dies, I won’t have a reason for ending the curse.”
“Kael is completely safe as long as you complete the marking ceremony on the next full moon. If you fail, I have limited reason for keeping him alive.”
I wince as his foot digs deeper into my back. “I won’t fail.”
“I know; you’ll do anything for your friend. So I’ll keep your secret. But you’ll owe me a favor. You’ll learn I don’t do anything for free, little snow wolf. Especially not any favors for Ambrose or his mate.”
I growl, knowing I need to talk to Ambrose. I need to let him know where I am. And I need to know what happened between him and Nyx. I need the whole story. And I need a better plan to get Kael back before the full moon. Despite how badly I want this, I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to shift in time.
“Oh, and one more thing before I let you go. Ambrose was the one who gave me Kael. He traded his life to me like it meant nothing to him. So if you want someone to blame for my capture of Kael, blame Ambrose.”
Chapter 24
Lumi
“Ineed to talk to you. Now,”I growl at Ambrose through our mental connection. It doesn’t matter how far away he is or if he’s trying to block me out. Nothing is going to stop me from getting the message to him.
“I’m a little busy at the moment,”Ambrose snaps back out of breath.
“I don’t care. Where are you?”I’m already sprinting back to the Moonlight wolve’s home, assuming he’s still helping them recover instead of out looking for Kael.
“Fighting a couple of vampires. Get back to the house. I’ll be there as soon as I’m finished with them.”
I roar at his alpha command. I’m done taking orders from him. The hold his command has on me withers away with each step I take, until it feels like tiny little bubbles floating around me.He’s not my alpha; he doesn’t get to command me.
I run faster than I’ve ever run before. I’m not sure if it’s new wolf abilities developing, or I’m just so angry with him that my legs carry me faster than ever before.
“Why did you give Kael to Nyx?”I send the words before I think better of it. If I truly care about Ambrose, I shouldn’tdistract him while he’s fighting. But then again, I’m so furious with him right now that I might just kill him myself.
