Vengeful Luna

chapter 8

DELPHINE POV

As I peeled off my clothes, I couldn’t stop thinking about Japhet. There was just something about him that felt different, deeper somehow… his eyes, his lips. I shook my head, scolding myself. "Alright, stop acting like a thirsty girl," I muttered under my breath, trying to shake off the thought.

I said it a couple more times as I shuffled to the bathroom for a shower. My feet were aching from the stilettos I’d worn earlier, but the instant the cool water poured over me, a wave of relief spread through me. Ash, my wolf, stirred in my mind, always ready to chime in.

*Maybe he’s not as bad as everyone says,* she mused.

*I don’t know, Ash,* I replied cautiously. *I can’t say yet.*

*Come on,* she pressed, *there’s no way he’s as ruthless as people claim. Did you see how handsome he is? That smile doesn’t have an ounce of cruelty in it!*

*Looks don’t tell us everything,* I reminded her, but even as I said it, I couldn’t deny the same thought had crossed my mind.

Just as I finished rinsing off, I heard a loud noise – the front door slamming open. My heart leapt, and I froze, listening. Who’s there? I called out, voice shaky, but there was no reply. Panic crawled up my spine. I grabbed my pink towel and wrapped it around me, as if it could somehow protect me.

Tiptoeing into the living room, my breath felt tight in my chest. The door was wide open, a breeze slipping in, chilling the air. Ash urged, *Let me take control.*

We weren’t at our strongest, but I let her anyway. My body shifted, fur bristling as we took on our wolf form. Ash’s small frame didn’t exactly scream intimidation; she looked more like a fox than a threat. A soft growl slipped from her mouth as we crept closer to the door.

Then, a voice sliced through the silence behind us. “Aren’t you ashamed to shift into that little thing you call a wolf?”

I spun around, shifting back to human form as fast as I could, and came face to face with Isabelle. Anger sparked inside me. “What the hell was that about?” I snapped, stalking back to my room to find some clothes.

She followed, arms crossed, her eyes narrowing with that usual disdain. “Watch your tone when you talk to me, Delphine,” she sneered.

I held back an eye roll and bit my tongue, pulling on my pink nightwear. But Isabelle wasn’t done. “So,” she started, her voice dripping with mock curiosity, “do you have feelings for Jaffrey?”

I shot her a glare. “Why would I? I have no feelings for that piece of trash.”

She raised an eyebrow, a smug smile creeping onto her face. “Oh, please. I know what you’re doing. I saw you flaunting yourself around the Alpha at the ball tonight. And now, you want Jeffrey too? Make up your mind.”

Her words were sharp, jabbing at me until I couldn’t keep it in. “I don’t care about Jeffrey, and it’s none of your business what I do with the Alpha,” I said, my tone cold.

She smirked, leaning in closer. “But you want Japhet, don’t you?”

I narrowed my eyes, fists clenching. “Why does that bother you so much? Maybe you should worry about your own mess.”

“Oh, like I have anything to hide?” Her laugh was hollow, mocking. “I’m not like you, Delphine.”

I took a step closer, voice low and laced with fury. “You think I don’t know about how you rejected your omega mate? You should be ashamed. You slept with my fated mate, and you’re still seeing him. But after tonight, after what he did at the ball, it’s clear just how little he cares about you.”

She stood there, mouth open, speechless. I stared her down, then turned away, pulling the door shut behind me. Finally alone, I collapsed onto my bed, letting the weight of the day wash over me. I closed my eyes, and before I knew it, sleep wrapped around me like a warm, heavy blanket, pulling me under.

**Next day**

---

The evening sun cast a warm glow as I finished getting ready. I slipped into a simple, black, sleeveless bodycon dress, one I had bought back in California. A slim necklace and a watch were my only accessories, and my stilettos were modest – just high enough to be elegant. I kept my makeup light, letting my hair fall loosely, partially covering my back where the dress dipped to reveal a bit of skin. Clutching my small bag, I glanced at the clock. I was fully ready, a bit too early, but the excitement for the evening had gotten the best of me.

Just then, I heard my door creak open. I turned, expecting to see no one else but Isabelle, yet after our argument yesterday, I hadn’t expected her to stop by. She lingered for a moment in the doorway before her eyes met mine in the mirror.

“You look beautiful, Del,” she said softly, and her words threw me off guard. It was the first time Isabelle had ever complimented me, and though part of me felt a small warmth, I stayed cautious.

“What do you want?” I asked, keeping my tone steady as I looked back in the mirror, adjusting my dress.

Isabelle walked in, her face filled with an unexpected softness, almost as if she were genuinely sorry. “I wanted to apologize, for pushing you too hard yesterday. I know I deserve the way you reacted.” Her voice trembled as she continued, “I just… I love Jeffrey. I’m sorry for sleeping with him when you two were still together.”

Her words hit hard, and I felt a sting behind my eyes. I turned away quickly, pretending to adjust my dress again, not wanting her to see how much her apology had affected me. But before I knew it, she came closer, gently resting her hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t ruin your makeup,” she said, trying to keep it light. “Japhet wouldn’t want to see you upset.”

I looked at her, surprised. “How do you know I’m meeting Japhet?”

She smirked, shrugging. “Nothing stays hidden in this pack, Delphine. Just like how you knew I rejected my mate.” We shared a small, awkward laugh, the first in a long time.

A car horn sounded outside, cutting our moment short. I took a deep breath. “Goodbye, Isabelle,” I said softly, heading for the door.

She offered a faint smile. “Bye, Del.”

Outside, the evening chill brushed against my skin as I approached the sleek, black Mercedes Benz parked by the curb. The car looked polished and perfect under the dimming sky. The driver stepped out as I neared, his expression unreadable beneath a fitted black cap, and he opened the door without a word, his face stoic.

I slid into the back seat, smoothing my dress as he closed the door firmly behind me. He slipped into the driver’s seat and gripped the wheel, his eyes fixed straight ahead, barely a glance in my direction. I leaned forward slightly, trying to ease the silence.

"So… busy day?” I asked, my tone light, trying to ease the tension.

Nothing. Not even a twitch in my direction. His eyes remained locked on the road ahead. I waited a few beats, then tried again.

“You work for Japhet often?” I added, this time with a hint of annoyance creeping in. But the man remained silent, his jaw set, his grip on the wheel tightening slightly.

I sat back, swallowing a growing sense of unease. Fine, if he wanted to play the mute chauffeur, so be it. I turned my attention to the window, watching familiar landmarks drift by, the pack’s main grounds fading behind us. But as time passed, the scenery began to change. The path narrowing into something darker, less traveled.

An uneasy feeling crept up my spine, my instincts stirring as the trees thickened around us. After a while, the car rolled to a stop in a secluded clearing, surrounded by towering pines and shadowed underbrush. The driver got out, opened my door, and motioned silently for me to step out.

“What are we doing here?” I asked, keeping my voice steady, though my heart had started to pound.

But he simply looked past me, his face as still as stone. It was then that I heard it – soft footsteps, crunching leaves, and murmurs weaving through the silence. I turned, squinting into the trees, and saw figures emerging from the shadows. Men, their faces rough and leering, stepped forward, closing the distance between us.

Panic surged, my pulse quickening. "Hey," I started, the edge of fear creeping into my voice. "What’s going on?"

One of them snickered, a low, nasty sound that made my skin crawl. “Look at this one,” he sneered, glancing back at the others. “All dressed up, thinking she’s special.”

Another one stepped closer, his gaze raking over me. “Japhet’s little pet, huh?” His tone was dripping with mockery. “Thought he’d actually keep you safe out here?”

I swallowed, the fear twisting tight in my gut. “You—you're making a mistake,” I stammered, fighting to keep my voice steady.

They laughed, cruel and mocking, the sound echoing in the quiet of the forest. "Oh, sure we are," one of them jeered. Reaching out and grabbing a handful of my hair, yanking me forward.

Pain shot through my scalp, and I gasped, struggling to pull away. Before I could react, another man stepped up and slapped me hard across the face, the impact knocking me down to the ground. My cheek throbbed, the world spinning as I struggled to push myself up, only for a heavy boot to press down on my back, pinning me in place.

“A little omega like you thinking she’s tough?” one of them sneered, pressing his weight down harder.

I gritted my teeth, anger flaring up even through the fear. Ash growled in the back of my mind, her fury burning like fire. *Let me take control, Delphine!* she snarled. *Let me tear them apart!*

*No,* I forced back, the word barely a whisper. *We’re outnumbered...*

But they weren’t done with me. Rough hands grabbed me, dragging me to my feet only to shove me back down again. Their laughter rang in my ears as they circled around, each taking turns, hitting, kicking, mocking me.

A blow landing across my ribs, and I gasped, choking on the pain as my vision blurred. Ash was screaming in my mind, desperate to break free, but I could barely hold on to consciousness, my strength slipping with every hit. My body was battered, aching, and my vision started to dim, darkness closing in at the edges as they left me to die.

Is this… really it? The thought drifted through my mind, bitter and heavy. My breaths were shallow, ragged, and I was on the edge of giving in, letting the darkness take me.

But then, through the haze, a scent broke through, familiar and warm. I could barely register it, but it was unmistakable. Alpha Japhet. The scent wrapped around me, comforting in a way that brought tears to my eyes, and as my vision faded, I saw a figure charging forward, his movements a blur of urgency and fury.

He was there, his arms wrapping around me, lifting me from the ground with surprising gentleness. His scent was the last thing I sensed before the world went dark, pulling me under completely.