The Last Fae Princess

5_I'll Make You My Luna

Dean POV

I smile as I watch Dad and Declan leave. Well, it seems my prayers did not fall on deaf ears; the Moon Goddess has been listening. With a little luck, Declan will be unfit to rule, and I now have the perfect opportunity to show Dad my worth.

Determined to be successful, I walk into the packhouse and gather the trackers. We will hunt and catch Elize – proving to Father that I know what I am doing.

Elize POV

Branches claw at my arms as I run, my lungs burning with every desperate breath. My arms and hands are burning the living hell out of me. Stupid me did not count on the backlash when I threw it at Declan. But I do not have time to attend to it. I must get out of Darkwood’s borders before they track me down.

Originally, I planned on shifting, but the wolfsbane in the acid is making it impossible. Now, I am losing valuable time.

I stumble over a root and nearly fall. She caught herself against a tree, her chest heaving. Every instinct screamed at her to keep moving.

I finally reach the border, and tears of relief sting my eyes as I cross. I slow down to catch my breath, but a cold laugh echoes through the darkness, and I freeze. Vampires.

“Dammit,” I mumble, frantically looking around. I must either fight them or return to Darkwood – either way, I am screwed. The only choice I have is how I get caught. And I would rather be sucked dry by vampires than give Declan the joy of paying me back.

My heart hammers violently against my ribs as I push away from the tree and sprint again. My getaway car is not far – I can make it … well, I think I can.

Suddenly, a pale man with black eyes and a smile of sharp white fangs lands in front of me. I skid to a halt and want to turn around when another figure appears behind me.

I back away, trapped between them, and the first vampire tilts his head while the second one laughs.

“Yummy,” he hisses with gleaming eyes. “Dinner time.”

Fear surges through me as I try to reach my wolf but fail. The first vampire moves so quickly that I barely see him, and I gasp when his hand wraps around my throat.

I kick and claw at him when my feet leave the ground as he lifts me effortlessly.

"Human hearts beat so beautifully when they're terrified," he whispers.

“I’m … not … human,” I pant as my vision blurs.

“Save some for me,” the second vampire says, stepping closer.

I finally managed to extend my claws, and I s***h at his wrist. The vampire hisses, but instead of letting me go, he tightens his grip. I try again, and the forest explodes with a monstrous, earth-shaking roar, the sound echoing through the trees.

The vampires instantly stiffen, and a massive shape bursts from the darkness. Golden eyes blaze in the moonlight.

“Dean,” I mutter when I recognise his wolf.

Dean slams into the vampire holding me, and the impact is brutal. Bone cracks, and the vampire is launched backwards and crashes through two trees. I hit the ground hard and scramble away.

“I can’t shift,” I admit, looking at Dean standing between the vampires and me.

Dean's golden eyes never leave the vampires, and a low growl vibrates through the forest floor.

The first vampire emerges from the broken trees, blood running from a cut across his face, and his expression twisted with rage.

The vampires attack together, and Dean meets them head-on. The first vampire lunges, and Dean catches him in midair. His claws rip across pale flesh, and the vampire screams.

“Dean!” I shout as the second one darts behind Dean, moving with impossible speed. “Behind you!"

Dean spins around, but the vampire's claws s***h across his shoulder, and blood sprays into the night. Dean roars in pain, and the sound shakes the leaves overhead. For a terrifying second, I thought the vampires might win, but something wild ignites inside him, and his muscles tighten.

The first vampire rushes forward, and Dean bites into his throat, lifting him effortlessly and throwing him into a boulder. The rock shatters, and the vampire does not get back up.

Dean pounces on the second vampire, and the forest becomes a blur of claws and violence. The vampire fights desperately, striking again and again. Dean endures every hit, then drives the vampire hard into the ground. The earth cracks beneath them, and the vampire's eyes widen. Dean leans forward, rips the vampire's head off and then there is silence.

My breathing is ragged as I look at Dean, standing motionless in the clearing. Blood drips from his shoulder as his chest rises and falls heavily.

"Dean?" I swallow, knowing perfectly well that I might have escaped one horror, but I am about to face another.

Dean shifts back, looks at me and steps forward. I swallow hard and force myself not to run away.

“Th … thank you,” I stutter, intertwining my trembling fingers.

“Don’t thank me … yet”, he sneers, and I swallow when I look into his blazing eyes.

“Just … let me go,” I beg. “You won’t see me again, I promise. I’ll find another pack, I’ll …”

“Quiet!” He snaps, grabbing my arm and yanking me against his chest. “Do you honestly think Declan would stop searching for you?”

“Norway,” I say in a panic. “I have a cousin there; I’ll join their pack. He’ll never find me there.”

“I can’t risk that,” he smirks, a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

“Please, Dean,” I beg. “Declan humiliated me … publicly. He broke my heart, and I only stood up for myself. He doesn’t deserve to be the alpha; he … he …”

“I agree,” Dean cuts me off, his answer surprising me. “You did me a favour tonight, so I’ll extend the same curtesy.”

“You’ll let me go?” I ask as relief washes over me.

“No,” he shakes his head, crushing my hope. “I’m about to do the unimaginable, and I need someone like you on my side.”

“I … I don’t understand,” I frown. “What do you want me to do?”

“Help me become the next alpha,” he smiles. “And I’ll make you my Luna.”

“But you’re not my mate,” I argue, weakly.

Dean is not as handsome as Declan, and I am not attracted to him, but … being the Luna is tempting.

“Declan was your mate,” Dean sneers. “And look where it got you.”

Speechless, I stare at him. Seriously, I do not want to live with my cousin in Norway. I have friends here, a life. And now, I have the opportunity to become the Luna – a woman of status.

But I assaulted his brother, and the future alpha. How can I trust Dean? I bet this is a ruse to lure me back.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Dean interrupts my thoughts. “Trusting you is a risk for me, as well. What I’m about to do is nothing short of treason. Father is never going to see Declan’s mistakes, and Declan is weak. He doesn’t deserve to be the next alpha. I’m more dedicated and equipped to lead. Nobody has ever stood up against Declan. Nobody, but you. That’s why I want your help. So, what do you say? Help me get rid of Declan, and I’ll make you my Luna.”

Still, I only stare at him. This sounds too good to be true. Also, do I really want to spend the rest of my life married to a man I do not love?

“Elize,” he sighs, my name. “I understand your hesitation, but either you help me, or you’re a fugitive for the rest of your life. I’ll help you hide, and I’ll care for you until I’m the alpha. And if you don’t want to be my Luna, I can give you money.”

I look at the two puddles of blood that used to be vampires. Travelling is dangerous. At night, there are vampires, and during the day, the wolves will hunt me. And what if I find a new mate? I would not be allowed to settle down with him, because Declan will not stop until he finds me.

“Okay,” I finally say, looking at Declan. “But I want it in writing.”

“Deal,” he smiles, extending his hand, and I accept it.