THE REJECTED BLOOD BOND

CHAPTER 13

The emergency monitors in the bunker suddenly flickered to life. The screen displayed a live feed of the main boardroom on the top floor.

Lord Sterling sat in Julian’s chair, his feet resting on the quartzite desk. Behind him stood Lady Katherine, her face an unreadable mask of ice, and several armed mercenaries. Marcus was pinned against the wall by two large enforcers, his face bruised and bleeding.

"Julian," Sterling’s voice echoed through the bunker speakers, loud and mocking. "I know you’re down there in your little rat hole. And I know you have your stray with you. Let’s make a deal, shall we?"

Julian stood up, pulling Elena gently behind him as he walked to the console, hitting the intercom button. "State your terms, Sterling.

Before I come up there and rip your throat out."

"Simple," Sterling laughed. "Sign the transfer of the Manhattan territory rights over to the Silvercrest lineage.

Step down as Alpha, and take your little Omega into the human world where you belong.

You can keep your personal bank accounts. I don't care about your human money.

But the pack, the tower, and the transit lines belong to us. If you don't come up here and sign the document in five minutes, I will execute your cousin Marcus on live television, and then my enforcers will hunt your mate down until there’s nothing left of her but bones."

The screen went black.

Julian looked at Elena. The choice was absolute: his life’s work, his family’s legacy, his entire billionaire empire or her.

"Don't do it, Julian," Elena whispered, her hand catching his arm. "If you sign that, the High Council will let them destroy the pack. The people who depend on you for safety will be at the mercy of tyrants."

Julian turned to her, a serene, beautiful smile touching his lips for the first time in months. He reached up, gently cupping her face in his hands, his thumbs wiping away her tears.

"They aren't my pack without you, Elena," he said softly. "An Alpha without his true Luna is just a tyrant with a crown. Let’s go show them what happens when you try to take something that belongs to the moon.”