Wolves in the Shadows

Chapter 5: Betrayal and Blood

Abby's POV

Hayden looked at me, his eyes dark. “Nobody messes with me and gets away with it.”

Derek coughed, blood trickling from his mouth. “Abby... he attacked me…”

“How could you, Hayden?” I raged, lifting Derek's head.

Derek's voice was barely audible. “Hayden is hiding something bigger. Abby... there’s a conspiracy…”

“What are you talking about? What conspiracy?” I demanded.

Hayden’s jaw tightened, his eyes flaring with frustration and anger. “Abby, Derek’s trying to distract you.” He moved to strike Derek again, but I shouted his name.

“Hayden!”

Derek’s voice was weak but determined. “He knew about the threat to your father’s kingdom. He conspired with the corporation to consolidate power. Hayden's plotting to take control of the entire territory.”

I turned to Hayden, fear rising. “Is it true?”

“Enough!” Hayden’s voice thundered, his face contorted with rage. “That's a lie! My dealings are legitimate.”

Derek struggled to lift his hand, pointing weakly at Hayden. “If you have nothing to hide, show her the documents in your office. The ones you’ve been hiding.”

Hayden’s confidence faltered. “Abby, don’t believe him.” He reached for me, but I stepped back. “Please, trust me — it’s not what it seems.”

Tears welled in my eyes. “How could you?” I rushed out of the garage, heartbroken and tearful as I went home. I locked myself inside a separate bedroom, feeling the pain overwhelm me. I picked up my phone and dialed Freya's number.

“Hello, baby sis,” Freya's voice sounded from the other side.

“Freya…I…I…” I stammered between sobs.

“Abby, what's wrong? Are you okay?” Freya asked with a worried tone.

“Freya… I can’t do this anymore. Hayden has hurt me so much. I don’t know what to do,” I sobbed, barely able to speak.

“Abby, I’m so sorry. I wish I could have been there for you,” Freya said softly. “But Hayden hasn’t allowed me to see you.”

“Why?” I asked, my voice breaking. “Why would he keep you away?”

“I don’t know. Stay strong, Abby. I’ll find a way to see you. Just hang in there,” Freya promised.

Throughout the day, I avoided Hayden at all costs. The next morning, he knocked softly on my door. “Abby, can we talk?”

“Go away,” I muttered, but he persisted.

“Please, Abby. Just give me a chance to explain.”

I reluctantly opened the door, glaring at him. “What do you want?”

“Abby, I’m truly sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I just wanted to protect you and your pack,” Hayden said, his voice sincere. “Those were initial plans. I rejected them as soon as I realized the full extent of the corporation’s intentions and realized my true feelings for you.”

I looked at him, somehow my anger dissipating. “You hurt me, Hayden. But I need time to process all this.”

He nodded, his eyes filled with regret. “I understand. Take all the time you need. I’ll be here, waiting.”

Hayden did everything to make me happy, including throwing a surprise birthday party for me. He led me into the grand hall, which was filled with balloons and streamers. The pack members cheered as I entered, their smiles genuine.

“Surprise!” they shouted in unison. Happy birthday, Luna.”

I was overwhelmed. “You did all this for me?” I asked, turning to Hayden.

“Of course,” he said, smiling. “Happy birthday, Abby.”

As the evening progressed, Hayden took me aside. He held out a small velvet box. “I got you something special.”

I opened it to find a stunning necklace. “It’s beautiful,” I gasped in awe.

“I thought it could replace the one Derek gave you,” Hayden said softly as he removed the old necklace from my neck and replaced it with the new one. His eyes were serious. “I want you to wear something from me.”

I looked at him, realizing his jealousy. “Hayden, you don’t have to compete with Derek. But thank you, it’s lovely.”

As the party wrapped up and guests began to leave, my phone rang. The caller ID displayed Luna Marie’s name. Frowning slightly, I excused myself from the crowd and headed to the garden with Gamma Lucius by my side. She apologized for missing the party due to urgent pack matters.

“I am used to you prioritizing pack duties over family, Mother” I muttered after ending the call. As I turned to head back inside, I spotted two men emerging from the shadows.

“Luna Abby, get behind me!” Lucius ordered, drawing his weapon.

The attackers moved quickly. Lucius fought valiantly but was overpowered and thrown to the ground.

“Run, Luna!” Lucius shouted, but fear rooted me to the spot.

One of the men seized me with a brutal grip. “Hayden!” I screamed, but the chaos swallowed my plea. The kidnappers threw me into a waiting van, leaving Lucius wounded behind. The van sped off, my heart pounding. When it stopped, I was blindfolded and dragged into a building. They tied me to a chair.

“Where am I?” I asked, trembling.

“Silence!” a voice ordered.

The blindfold was ripped off. I blinked against the harsh light and saw Derek standing in front of me, a twisted smile on his face.

"Derek? Why are you doing this?" I gasped.

"Surprised to see me, Abby?" Derek sneered. "You are mine, Abby,” he said, his face looking dangerous. “It's time I taught that bastard Hayden to stop taking what is meant for me,” he added, gritting his teeth.

“Let me go, Derek,” I said frantically.

“Shut up, Abby,” the wolf inside him growled. “I'm waiting for that bastard to fall into my trap. I've been longing to kill him with my bare hands. It will be fun to watch him groan in pain.”

“When did you turn into a beast, Derek? You were not like this before.”

His eyes shot daggers at me. "Hayden made me this way nine years ago. He will pay for the damage he did—"

“Abby,” Hayden growled, bursting through the door.

Derek smirked. “You’re too predictable, Hayden.”

“Let her go, Derek.”

“Not a chance.”

Derek's men overpowered Hayden, binding him with silver chains. Hayden screamed in agony as the silver burned his skin.

“Derek, stop!” I cried. “This isn’t the way!”

“Abby, he deserves this.”

Hayden writhed in pain. “You’re making a mistake, Derek.”

“Am I? Or are you just afraid you will die here?” Derek sneered. “You took the position of Beta from me years back, humiliating me. I won’t allow you to take what's rightfully mine again.”

“It was a fair competition,” Hayden said through gritted teeth.

“Fair? It wasn’t just humiliation,” Derek spat. “It ruined my family’s reputation, crushed our business, and forced us to leave everything behind.”

He pulled out a vial of wolfsbane, the deadly poison glinting in his hand. “This will end it, Hayden.”

“No!” I screamed, my voice filled with terror.

Derek didn’t hesitate. He forced the wolfsbane down Hayden’s throat. Hayden’s eyes went wide, terror etched on his face as the poison began its work.

“Abby…” Hayden gasped, writhing in pain.

“Hayden!” I cried out, anguished.

Derek stood beside me, his voice cold. “It’s over, Abby. You’re mine now.”

Hayden’s anguished cries tore through me, igniting something deep inside. My body trembled uncontrollably as rage took over, a deep, guttural growl escaping my lips. My vision blurred, skin searing, muscles rippling beneath — something unstoppable surged through me.