Vengeance Reborn

Chapter 11 ~ No...

Leona’s POV

Something is weird.

I don't know exactly what, but something is definitely weird.

I narrow my eyes across the dining hall at Gabrielle and Dominick as we gather our things for class.

Gabrielle has been watching me when she thinks I'm not paying attention.

Dominick is worse.

Every few minutes, I catch his silver eyes tracking me, then quickly shifting somewhere else the second I notice.

Earlier, I caught him staring at the doors.

Then the windows.

Then me.

Now he's pretending to be deeply fascinated by his phone.

Suspicious bastard.

“What?” he asks without looking up.

I fold my arms. “You tell me.”

His eyes lift innocently.

Too innocently.

“I have no idea what you're talking about.”

“Uh-huh.”

Gabrielle appears beside him, sliding her bag over her shoulder. “We should probably leave unless you want Professor Hudson to murder us.”

I keep staring between them.

They're acting weird.

Both of them.

And considering these are the two people who know me better than almost anyone—

Cold.

I freeze.

Something brushes against my senses.

Dark.

Ancient.

Wrong.

Tempest immediately rises inside me.

Leona?

Snow goes silent.

My head snaps toward the far side of the dining hall.

Nothing.

Pack members are clearing breakfast plates. Children are leaving with their parents. Warriors are heading toward morning assignments.

Normal.

But for one second...

I could have sworn something was watching me.

Not someone.

Something.

Did you feel that?

Tempest prowls restlessly within my mind. Yes.

Snow's voice is lower.

Gone.

My pulse quickens.

I reach instinctively for Soul Sight.

Nothing happens.

No silver.

No strange threads.

No hidden presence.

Just the dining hall.

I stare another few seconds before shaking my head.

Great.

Now I'm paranoid.

As if being reborn eight years into the past with memories of my murder, three divine bloodlines, an ancient prophecy, mysterious powers, and some unknown corrupted force hunting me wasn't enough.

Apparently, I'm adding imaginary creepy feelings to the list.

Wonderful.

“Leo?”

Gabrielle touches my arm.

I blink.

“What?”

“You spaced out.”

“Sorry.”

Dominick's expression has changed.

The humor is gone.

“You okay?”

There it is again.

That weirdness.

I study him.

He studies me right back.

For half a second, I consider asking.

Then I glance at the clock.

“Oh, shit.”

Gabrielle follows my gaze.

“Oh, SHIT.”

Dominick grabs his bag.

“Move!”

Mystery temporarily forgotten.

We hurry toward the doors.

“Leona.”

I groan before I even turn around.

I know that voice.

Mom is standing near the entrance with her arms folded, looking far too amused by my suffering.

Gabrielle pats my shoulder.

“Good luck.”

“Traitor.”

Dominick points toward the doors.

“We'll get the car.”

“Double traitor!”

They disappear.

I walk toward Mom.

“Yes, Luna Sophia?”

Her eyebrow rises.

That was apparently the wrong approach.

I immediately smile.

“Mommy?”

“Don't Mommy me.”

Damn.

She hooks her arm through mine and pulls me a few steps away from everyone else.

“You remember we have work to do this evening?”

My smile disappears.

I groan.

“Mom.”

“Leona.”

“I trained this morning.”

“And?”

“I have classes.”

“And?”

“I'm going shopping with Gabrielle and Dominick afterward.”

“I know.”

“And I'm exhausted.”

Her expression softens, but not enough.

“I know that too, sweetheart. I'm not asking you to train again.”

That gets my attention.

“What are we doing?”

“Your father and I need to begin teaching you about our family history properly. Not the watered-down version you grew up with.”

Oh.

Right.

Ancient divine family secrets.

Because my day wasn't busy enough.

Mom continues quietly, “And we need to begin documenting what you remember from the other timeline.”

My stomach twists.

“That sounds fun.”

“It won't be.”

At least she's honest.

“But it is necessary. You don't need to tell us everything at once. We'll start with major events, names, dates, anything that might help us recognize changes before they happen.”

I nod.

She's right.

Unfortunately.

“Fine.”

“After shopping.”

“Yes.”

“No mysteriously disappearing until midnight.”

I gasp.

“I have never—”

Mom gives me a look.

“Okay, I've rarely—”

Another look.

“Fine.”

She smiles and kisses my forehead.

“Have fun today too, sweetheart.”

I pause.

Mom's ocean-blue eyes soften.

“We have work to do, but that doesn't mean your entire life needs to become work.”

I hug her.

“Love you.”

“I love you too.”

Dad approaches just as I release her.

“You leaving?”

“Trying to.”

Mom elbows him.

Dad ignores her.

“Phone?”

“In my bag.”

“Charged?”

“Yes.”

“Stay with Gabrielle and Dominick.”

“Yes, Dad.”

“Don't leave Salem territory.”

“Yes, Dad.”

“If anything—”

“Feels wrong, I call you immediately.”

His eyes narrow.

“Don't mock me, little one.”

I smile and wrap my arms around him.

“I'm not.”

His arms close around me.

For one second, I allow myself to sink into his chest.

Safe.

Then I pull away and kiss his cheek.

“Love you, old man.”

“Leona.”

“Love you, Mom!”

I run.

“LEONA!”

I laugh all the way outside.

---

“You know we're going to be late because of you.”

I climb into the car and slam the door.

“Drive, Dominick.”

He looks offended from behind the wheel.

“That's not an apology.”

“Drive, vampire.”

Gabrielle twists around from the passenger seat.

“We have twelve minutes.”

Dominick's eyes brighten.

“Oh, that's plenty.”

I immediately grab my seat belt.

“No.”

Gabrielle does the same.

“Dominick.”

He grins.

“Relax.”

“Whenever you say relax,” I tell him, “something illegal happens.”

“Allegedly.”

The car takes off.

“DOMINICK!”

His laughter fills the car.

Despite myself, I laugh too.

For several minutes, we're just us again.

Gabrielle complains about a professor.

Dominick insists he's being discriminated against because morning classes are culturally insensitive to vampires.

I remind him that he doesn't sleep during the day.

He says that's irrelevant.

By the time Salem University comes into view, we're cutting it close.

Dominick pulls into the parking lot.

“See?” he says. “Perfect timing.”

“We have four minutes,” Gabrielle says.

“Exactly.”

I grab my bag.

Then I hear shouting.

All three of us stop.

There's a crowd near the main entrance.

Students have gathered around something—or someone.

“For Goddess's sake,” Gabrielle mutters. “What now?”

I climb out.

“We don't have time for this.”

Dominick gets out beside me.

“Then why are we walking toward it?”

“Because we're nosy.”

“Fair.”

We move closer.

Then I hear a voice that immediately irritates me.

“Maybe next time you'll watch where you're going!”

Oh, no.

I know that voice.

I push through two students.

And there she is.

Ingrid.

Of course.

Because apparently the universe decided my first full day back needed additional punishment.

Her long, fake platinum-blonde hair is pulled high into a ponytail, heavy makeup covering her face and bold red lipstick making her sneer even more noticeable. A tight green tube dress hugs her body while black stilettos make her taller than she actually is.

Her sharp French-manicured nails dig into her arms, which are folded beneath her breasts so tightly they're practically spilling from the top of her dress.

She's staring daggers at someone on the ground.

I roll my eyes.

Same Ingrid.

Different morning.

“What happened?” Gabrielle asks someone nearby.

The girl shrugs. “Some guy bumped into them.”

Them?

My attention moves toward the man standing beside Ingrid.

Must be the new boyfriend.

Makes sense.

Anyone willing to date Ingrid probably has the emotional depth of wet cardboard.

He's standing over another student.

His shoe is planted directly on the poor guy's hand.

My irritation immediately becomes anger.

“Oh, hell no.”

I step forward.

Dominick catches my elbow.

“Leo.”

“He's standing on someone's hand.”

“I see that.”

“Then let go.”

I pull free.

The guy on the ground winces.

Ingrid's boyfriend says something I can't hear.

I move around another student, trying to see his face.

One step.

Two.

Then the crowd shifts.

And I see him.

Everything stops.

Sound disappears.

My bag slips from my fingers.

No.

My heart slams against my ribs.

No.

It can't be.

He turns slightly.

Light gray eyes.

Creamy-white skin.

Short brown messy hair.

Even younger than I remember.

But it's him.

Michael.

My lungs forget how to work.

The university vanishes.

I'm somewhere else.

His hands around me.

His voice.

His scent.

The mate bond.

Our home.

Our bed.

His arms around my pregnant stomach.

Promises whispered against my skin.

Then—

Concrete.

Blood.

Pain.

Screaming.

My babies.

No.

“Leo?”

Gabrielle's voice sounds miles away.

Michael McGarland.

My Alpha.

My mate.

My husband.

Father to my unborn children.

My...

My...

My executioner.

My aura explodes.

Students gasp.

Windows rattle.

The air around me becomes heavy.

Michael's head snaps toward me.

Our eyes meet.

And something inside me breaks.

Tempest roars.

HIM!

Snow surges beside her.

HE KILLED US!

My vision floods blue.

Bloodred consumes my irises.

My fangs descend.

Kill him!

Tempest slams against the barriers inside me.

LET ME OUT!

Snow's rage is worse.

Deeper.

Rip him apart.

My hands curl into claws.

Students begin backing away.

Someone screams.

Michael stares at me.

Confusion crosses his face.

Confusion.

Like he doesn't know me.

Of course he doesn't.

Not yet.

But I know him.

I know what those hands are capable of.

I know what that face looks like twisted with cruelty.

I know—

Silver explodes across my vision.

Soul Sight.

For one impossible second, something flashes around Michael.

Light.

Shadow.

Threads.

Too many.

I can't understand any of it through the rage.

I take a step toward him.

The ground cracks beneath my foot.

“Leona.”

Dominick.

I don't hear him.

“Leona!”

My power surges.

Tempest and Snow slam forward together.

KILL HIM!

I move.

Then arms lock around me.

“What the—”

The world blurs.

Wind tears past my face.

The university disappears.

“DOMINICK!”

He doesn't stop.

Vampire speed turns buildings, trees, and roads into streaks.

“PUT ME DOWN!”

“No!”

“TAKE ME BACK!”

“Absolutely f*****g not!”

“DOMINICK!”

I fight him.

He tightens his grip.

I slam my Alpha aura into him but it doesn't work.

“Leo, stop!”

“HE'S THERE!”

“I know!”

That freezes me for half a second.

“You don't know!”

My voice cracks.

“You don't know what he did!”

Dominick says nothing.

Because he can't.

Because he doesn't know.

Nobody does.

Except Mom.

Dad.

Me.

Tempest.

Snow.

I twist violently.

“LET ME GO!”

“No.”

My aura slams outward again.

Dominick nearly loses his footing but keeps moving.

“I'm sorry, Leo.”

“TAKE ME BACK!”

“No.”

“DOMINICK!”

His voice becomes harder than I've ever heard it.

“I'm not taking you back there so you can kill someone in front of three hundred witnesses!”

My blood goes cold.

Kill.

I was going to kill him.

No questions.

No hesitation.

I stop fighting.

Dominick feels it.

He slows.

Then stops.

We're deep inside the forest bordering university property.

He sets me down carefully.

My legs buckle.

Dominick catches me.

I shove him away.

“Don't.”

He releases me immediately.

I stumble backward.

My hands are shaking.

Tempest paces furiously.

Snow growls.

Go back.

“No.”

The word barely leaves me.

He killed our pups.

“I know.”

Dominick's face changes.

“What?”

Shit.

I close my eyes.

“I can't.”

“Leona—”

“Please.”

He stops.

Thank Goddess.

Because if he asks me right now, I might tell him everything.

And Dad told me not to.

Selene told me the future can change.

Michael doesn't know me yet.

The man standing outside that university hasn't done those things.

Not yet.

But I know him.

I know what those hands are capable of.

I know what that face looks like twisted with cruelty.

I know—

Maybe some things haven't changed at all.

---

Gabrielle’s POV

The second Dominick disappears with Leona, I move.

I don't understand what just happened.

But I know one thing.

Nobody here can realize Leona caused that.

“Everyone back up!” I shout.

A few students stare at me.

I let Dana push just enough wolf authority into my voice to make them listen.

“Something blew near the electrical system. Back away from the building!”

It's a terrible explanation.

I don't care.

Confusion is useful.

Someone starts talking about a transformer.

Perfect.

Let them.

I grab Leona's bag from the ground.

My heart is pounding.

I look toward Ingrid.

She's pale.

Her boyfriend—

Michael, apparently—

is staring at the place Leona vanished from.

Something about his expression bothers me.

Not recognition.

Confusion.

Interest.

I don't have time to analyze it.

I turn away and pull out my phone.

My fingers shake as I search for the number.

Alpha Sebastian.

He answers on the first ring.

“Gabrielle?”

“Alpha.”

My voice comes out breathless.

His tone changes instantly.

“What happened?”

“It's Leona.”

Silence.

Terrifying silence.

“Where is she?”

“Dominick took her away from the university. He used vampire speed. They're somewhere outside campus.”

“Why?”

I look over my shoulder.

Michael is still staring.

“She saw someone.”

“Who?”

“I don't know what he means to her, but his name is Michael.”

The silence on the other end becomes absolute.

Then I hear Luna Sophia.

“What did she say?”

“I didn't hear everything. Her aura exploded. Her eyes changed. Alpha, I've never felt anything like it.”

Sebastian swears.

Sophia's voice comes closer.

“Gabrielle, sweetheart, listen carefully. Are you safe?”

“Yes.”

“Is anyone hurt?”

“Not from Leona. Dominick got her out before she attacked anyone.”

A breath leaves Sophia.

“Good.”

“Luna... what is going on?”

Another silence.

My stomach sinks.

They know.

They know what's wrong with Leona.

And they aren't telling me.

Sebastian's voice returns.

“Where is Michael now?”

I glance toward the entrance.

“Still here.”

“Do not approach him.”

My eyebrows pull together.

“Alpha?”

“Do not speak to him about Leona. Do not tell him her name if he doesn't already know it. Do not tell anyone where Dominick took her.”

The command in his voice makes Dana lower her head instinctively.

“Understood.”

“Can you get away without drawing attention?”

“Yes.”

“Do it. Your Luna and I are coming.”

I grip the phone tighter.

“Alpha...”

“Yes?”

I look toward the forest beyond the university.

Whatever Leona has been hiding is bigger than I thought.

Much bigger.

“Please hurry.”

Sophia answers this time.

“We're already on our way.”

The call ends.

I lower the phone.

Across the courtyard, Michael McGarland is still watching me.

No.

Not me.

The place where Leona disappeared.

His expression is unreadable.

Then, slowly, his eyes shift toward mine.

A chill crawls down my spine.

Dana growls.

I clutch Leona's bag against my chest.

Whatever happened between that man and my best friend...

Leona looked at him like she had seen a ghost.

No.

Worse.

She looked at him like she'd seen the devil.

And for the first time since I've known Leona Knight, I am genuinely afraid of what she isn't telling me.