Page 91 of Chased By My Grumpy Alpha
My decision crystallizes. “You’re not going to survive this,” I say quietly.
Andrew’s relief instantly transforms into fear. “What? No, Astra, please!”
I crouch back down in front of him, my hand reaching out to grip his jaw firmly. My voice is gentle, almost tender, which seems to frighten him even more than if I were shouting.
“Even if I am a latent shifter,” I say softly, “I’m still a wolf at heart. And wolves don’t forgive threats to their pack.”
His eyes widen with genuine terror now.
“I’m not going to forgive you, Andrew.” My fingers tighten on his jaw. “Not for what you did to me. Not for what you did to Luna. Not for what you planned to do to my children.”
“Astra, please—”
“I want him to die,” I say, standing and turning to Lucian.
He smiles at me. “As you wish.”
He steps toward Andrew, but I hold up a hand. “Not in front of me.”
Lucian’s eyes meet mine. “Of course.”
He grabs Andrew by the ankle and starts dragging him toward the trees. Andrew’s screams pierce the air, desperate and terrified.
“Astra! Astra, please! Don’t let him do this! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
I watch him being dragged away, and I feel...nothing. No guilt, no regret, no second thoughts. Just a cold, empty satisfaction that justice is finally being served.
“Please!” Andrew’s voice gets fainter as Lucian pulls him deeper into the forest. “I love you! I’ve always loved you! Don’t do this!”
Even now, even facing death, he’s still a liar.
The silence that follows is deafening.
I stand alone in the clearing with Luna, who has appeared from wherever she was hiding and is now rubbing against my legs. I pick her up and hold her against my chest, waiting for Lucian to return.
A few minutes pass, and suddenly, Luna begins struggling in my arms. Before I can stop her, she leaps down and bolts into the trees where Lucian disappeared with Andrew.
“Luna, no!” Panic explodes through me as I chase after her. “Come back!”
The thought of losing her again, of her getting hurt because I wasn’t careful enough, terrifies me. I crash through the underbrush, branches catching at my clothes and hair.
“Luna!” I whisper desperately. What if there are other dangers in these woods?
I’m following the sound of her soft paws when I hear voices ahead. I freeze behind a thick tree trunk, my heart hammering against my ribs.
“—thought you would get a painless death, you were wrong.” Lucian’s voice is cold, deadly.
I creep closer, staying hidden behind the trees. Through the gaps in the foliage, I can see them. Andrew is on the ground, whimpering, while Lucian stands over him with an eerie calm.
“I’m going to make you suffer for everything you put her through,” Lucian continues, his voice carrying a promise of violence that makes my skin crawl.
I press my hand over my mouth to stifle my gasp.
“A human like you never deserved somebody as precious as Astra.” Lucian crouches down beside Andrew’s broken form. “You had no right to touch her. No right to lie to her. No right to make her believe you cared about her.”
My heart is pounding so hard, I’m sure they’ll hear it. The possessiveness in Lucian’s voice, the way he speaks about me like I’m something sacred, sends heat racing through me despite the horrific circumstances.
“I’m going to make sure she forgets your name,” Lucian continues, his voice dripping with malice. “She won’t even remember who you were. You’re that insignificant. Do you think you could hurt my woman and walk away unscathed? What I have planned for you will make you beg me for death.”
