Vengeance Reborn

Chapter 15 ~ Ambition Has Teeth

Gabrielle’s POV

Alpha Sebastian and Luna Sophia are finally leaving.

Thank the Goddess.

Not because I want them gone, but because the longer they stand in front of Michael and Ingrid, the more likely someone is to do something monumentally stupid.

Probably Michael.

Alpha Sebastian already looks like he's one bad sentence away from homicide, but Luna Sophia pauses before they can leave.

Of course she does.

She turns toward Ingrid. “Ingrid.”

Ingrid stiffens immediately. “Yes, Luna?”

Sophia's expression is calm, which somehow makes her more intimidating.

“I expect you to cover the medical expenses for the young man who was injured here today.”

Ingrid's mouth drops open. “But—”

“All of them.”

Her mouth closes.

Sophia's ocean-blue gaze moves toward Michael. “And I will be contacting Mr. and Mrs. McGarland personally regarding their son's behavior.”

Oh, damn.

Michael's expression darkens instantly, his jaw tightening as he starts, “Now wait a—”

Luna Sophia turns away.

Alpha Sebastian doesn't even bother acknowledging him.

They simply leave, dismissing Michael before he can get another word out.

I almost laugh at the expression on his face.

Almost.

Then common sense returns.

I'm currently holding Leona's bag, and Michael already looked at me like I was something he wanted to investigate. Staying here long enough for him to start asking questions would be spectacularly stupid.

Nope.

Time to disappear.

While everyone is distracted by Ingrid's humiliation and Michael's rapidly deteriorating mood, I quietly step backward before turning toward the side of the university.

I walk.

Then I walk faster.

By the time I'm out of their direct line of sight, I'm practically jogging.

Am I skipping school today?

I glance down at Leona's bag and then toward the woods where my best friend disappeared.

A grin spreads across my face.

“Thank you, Bestie.”

Educational responsibility can resume tomorrow.

Today, I'm getting the hell out of here.

---

Michael’s POV

What.

The.

FUCK?!

I stare after Alpha Sebastian and Luna Sophia as they walk away without even allowing me to explain myself.

They f*****g dismissed me.

In front of everyone.

My father is already pissed and annoyed with me, and now Luna Sophia is going to personally call my parents about this s**t.

Fantastic.

How the hell am I supposed to explain it?

Hey, Dad. Remember how you ordered me to attend university because I keep embarrassing the family? Well, good news. I showed up. Bad news—I beat a guy down before class, and now the Luna of Silver Lunar is calling you personally.

Yeah.

That's going to go well.

I whirl around and see Ingrid standing behind me.

This is her fault.

I cross the distance between us before she can react and grab her by the throat.

Her green eyes widen as my fingers tighten.

“Do you see what you have DONE?!”

She grabs my wrist, trying to answer, but I'm squeezing hard enough that only a broken sound escapes her.

I know I'm hurting her.

I know the grip will probably leave bruises.

Right now, I. Don't. Give. A. f**k.

I drag her closer until our faces are inches apart.

“You are supposed to relieve stress,” I snarl, “not cause it!”

Fear floods her eyes.

Good.

Maybe now she'll understand.

“You wanted revenge because some guy rejected you?”

I loosen my grip enough for her to speak.

“I—he embarrassed—”

“He said no to you!”

Her mouth snaps shut.

I shake her once. “And now I have Alpha Knight glaring at me like he wants my head while his Luna calls my f*****g parents!”

“I'm sorry.”

“Sorry?”

My wolf paces inside me, agitated by the humiliation.

I release Ingrid with a shove, sending her hard onto the pavement. A few students stare until I turn toward them, and suddenly everyone finds something else fascinating.

Smart.

Ingrid coughs and rubs her throat.

“We're done.”

Her face changes. “What?”

“The fun is over. You heard me.”

“Michael—”

“No.”

I don't need an insecure woman creating problems because she can't handle rejection. I need opportunities, connections, and the kind of power that gets me out from beneath my brother's shadow.

Then the girl from earlier returns to my mind.

Golden-hazel eyes that began turning brilliant blue. Coco-brown skin. Auburn curls threaded with blue. An aura powerful enough to shake windows and make my wolf take notice.

Leona.

That's what Gabrielle called her.

My gaze shifts toward the direction Alpha Sebastian and Luna Sophia disappeared, and the pieces suddenly fall into place.

Leona Knight.

Their daughter.

How the f**k did I not realize it immediately?

She's an Alpha female from one of the most respected supernatural leadership families, and whatever power erupted from her today was unlike anything I've felt before.

My wolf stirs.

Strong.

Very.

A slow smile pulls at my mouth as another possibility occurs to me.

What if Leona Knight is my mate?

If she is, everything I've wanted could fall directly into my hands. The Knight name alone carries money, prestige, influence, and authority. As Sebastian and Sophia's daughter, Leona could eventually inherit a leadership position of her own.

And I could stand beside her.

Not as Finn McGarland's younger brother or Willis McGarland's disappointing second son, but as an Alpha with my own territory, warriors, and authority.

With Leona's status and my charm, I wouldn't have to sacrifice anything else I enjoy either.

Women.

Money.

Recognition.

Power.

I could finally surpass Finn and maybe even Dad.

My gaze drifts toward the eastern woods.

There is one obvious problem.

Leona looked at me like she wanted me dead.

I have no f*****g clue why, but hatred can change. If there's a mate bond beneath all that hostility, eventually she'll have to feel it too.

And if she isn't my mate?

Then I'll find another way to get close enough to understand what she has and how it can benefit me.

Either way, I need to know more about Leona Knight.

Gabrielle.

I turn toward where the blonde girl had been standing with Leona's bag.

Empty.

I scan the courtyard and surrounding walkways.

She's gone.

“Dammit.”

I pull out my phone.

Fine.

If Gabrielle won't make this easy, I'll find another way.

Because after what I felt from Leona Knight today, I'm not walking away without finding out exactly who she is..