Chapter 10 +25 Bonus Chapter 10 Elysia's POV One month later. A video clip spread through the werewolf world. "Blackmoon Alpha Damon Blackmoon was found passed out drunk in the snow last night, muttering to himself, 'I've lost Elysia for good'..." I turned off the news and held my baby closer. My son. Adrian's son. A pure-blooded Alpha, so powerful that every wolf in the pack could feel his presence. "He'll be the strongest Alpha," Adrian whispered, kissing my forehead. "Just as strong as his mother." Knock, knock, knock- A knock at the door interrupted our peaceful moment. "Luna, you have a visitor," the maid's voice was nervous. The door swung open, and Lydia swept in. She was just as pregnant as I, draped in a gown so lavish it was absurd for a casual visit, and clutching a certificate like a trophy. "Congratulations, Elysia," her voice was sickeningly sweet. "A mother at last." I glanced at her belly. Eight months along. "What do you want?" "Business, of course," she held up the certificate. "I wanted you to see this." It was an official mate bond certificate from the Werewolf Council. Her name and Damon's were on it. "I'm the official Luna of the Blackmoon Pack now," she smiled smugly. "And you... you used so many of our pack's resources over the years...' "} She paused, greed flashing in her eyes. 1/4 +25 Bonus "It's time to settle your accounts." "Accounts?" Adrian frowned. "Of course," Lydia said matter-of-factly. "Elysia lived in the Blackmoon Pack for six years. She needs to pay for the six years of resources she consumed. It's only fair, don't you think?" She produced a list. "A total of thirty million gold coins." I looked at the number and laughed. "Thirty million?" "That's right," Lydia puffed out her chest. "And that's with a discount." "Fine," I nodded. "I'll pay it." Lydia's eyes lit up. "Really?" "Of course. But..." my tone shifted. "If we're settling accounts, let's be thorough." "This," I said, my voice like ice, "is an itemized invoice for strategic services rendered to the Blackmoon Pack." I began to read. "The Northern Trade Route: an annual profit of fifty million. The Eastern Quarry Development: a total value of eighty million. The Southern Alliance Treaty: valued at one hundred and twenty million..." Lydia's face started to drain of color. "What... what is this..." "It means that, by your logic, Damon owes me three hundred million gold coins for strategic consultation fees," I smiled. "So, after we subtract your pathetic thirty million, he still owes me two hundred and seventy million." "That's impossible!" Lydia shrieked. "Why is it impossible?" I asked calmly. "Were my contributions worthless?" Just then, frantic footsteps sounded outside. Damon burst in, his face pale and his eyes bloodshot. "Lydia! What are you doing here?" "Alpha Damon!" Lydia cried, running to him. "She wants you to pay her three hundred million!" Damon froze and looked at me. CAMERA 2/4 +25 Bonus "Elysia " "She's the one who started this," I said calmly. "If we're settling accounts, let's be clear." Damon looked at my list, and his face fell even further. He knew those numbers were real. "..." he gritted his teeth. "I'll pay." He pulled a deed from his coat, his hand trembling. "The North Mountain Iron Mine. It's worth three hundred million," he said, sliding it across the table. "Now... we're even." "NO!" Lydia suddenly screamed, lunging for the table. "That's our mine! You can't give it to her!" She tried to snatch the deed. "Lydia, stop!" Damon tried to block her. "I won't!" she shoved him away frantically. "Why does she get to take our mine for doing nothing?" "Enough!" Damon roared, his Alpha dominance flaring. But he was too angry, too out of control. His power surged uncontrollably, forming an incomplete "Alpha's Rage." A destructive force only released in moments of extreme fury. "No-" He realized what was happening and tried to pull it back. But it was too late. The wave of psychic force slammed outward. Lydia took the full brunt of it. The light in Lydia's eyes snuffed out. Her body went rigid for a sickening second, then crumpled to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut. Dead. And her unborn pup with her. "No, no, no..." Damon fell to his knees beside her, reaching out a trembling hand. "I didn't mean to... I didn't mean..." The Elders arrived quickly. "Damon Blackmoon," the head Elder's voice was like chipping stone. "You have murdered your bonded mate and your own offspring. By the oldest laws, you are stripped of your title, your name, and you are hereby exiled. You will be a rogue for the rest of your days." 3/4 Chapter 10 Damon didn't resist. As they led him away, he said one last thing to me. "I'm sorry. I never... I never wanted this." His voice was as hollow as a dead man's. The door closed. The room was quiet, with just my family left. I held my son, feeling his warmth against me. The darkness of the room faded as a warm light filled my mind. +25 Bonus "It's over, my love," Adrian's voice wrapped around me, a shield of pure devotion. "The shadows are gone. I'm taking you and our son home."