97 Chapter 97 Dawn of Reckoning
Elena’s POV
The moment I reached the packhouse, I shifted mid–stride and snatched spare clothes from the laundry room. My hands trembled with rage as I dressed.
I burst through the front door to find Damien and Marcus locked in what looked like a fight to the death. But I had no interest in their petty squabble. I marched straight past Damien, seized Marcus by his shirt front, and slammed him against the wall with enough force to crack the drywall.
“Damn,” Damien muttered, stepping back.
“What the hell did you do to those people?” I snarled, my face inches from Marcus’s.
“Nothing they didn’t have coming,” he spat back.
“They’re innocent. Every single one of them is innocent, and you know it.” My voice cracked with fury.
“I don’t give a shit. I’m the Alpha of this pack, and they mean nothing to me.”
The coldness in his voice snapped something inside me. I drove my knee into his stomach, and when he doubled over, I brought my knee up to meet his face. Before gravity could claim him, I fisted his hair and yanked his head up, driving my elbow into his nose. Blood exploded across his features as I pulled back and delivered a crushing punch.
Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around my waist, dragging me backward. “We’re not here to commit murder,” Damien said firmly.
“We’re not here to let him breathe easy either,” I shot back, struggling against his grip.
“Hey. You need to breathe. Go check on your mother,” Damien suggested, his voice gentle but insistent.
“Stop treating me like some fragile little girl. If that bastard needs his face rearranged, I’m perfectly capable of doing it myself,” I snapped.
“Please? Just give us some time alone with him.”
I glanced at Marcus, who was painting the floor red with his blood, then stalked to the kitchen. I needed coffee. I needed air. I needed to hit something else.
17:33
97 Chapter 97 Dawn of Reckoning
I took my mug outside and lit a cigarette, pacing the length of the porch. Sitting still felt impossible with this much rage coursing through my veins.
Julian emerged from the house after what felt like hours. “Your mother’s still sleeping,” he reported.
“You should go. Dawn’s coming,” I said, not bothering to look at him.
“I know. That’s why I came down. You saw Tessa earlier?”
“Yeah. Why the hell was the entire town wandering around in the middle of the night?”
“Marcus forces them out. Drags them from their beds, their homes. But they show up because they protect each other. They’re good people, Elena. Really good people.”
“Then why the fuck did you tell them about me? Why did you promise them I’d be their savior? I just want to be with my mother and make her comfortable before she dies. Then I want to get as far away from that psychopath as possible.”
“I saw what happened in there. You witnessed what he’s doing to those humans, and you nearly killed him.”
“Is there a point to this conversation?”
“That is my point.”
“Get out of my sight before I give you the same treatment,” I warned.
“We’ll talk later,” he said, wisely retreating.
When
ned inside, Damien and Marcus were still in the living room, but I ignored them completely. I climbed the stairs to my mother’s bedroom and positioned a chair facing the window to watch the sunrise paint the sky in brilliant oranges and pinks.
Soft murmuring drew my attention back to the bed. Mom was awake, her eyes clearer than they’d been in days.
“How do you feel?” I asked.
“I’m not sure,” she whispered.
I helped her drink through a straw, watching her struggle with something so simple. It broke my heart.
“I thought I heard shouting last night,” she said,
“Just a misunderstanding. Nothing for you to worry about.”
97 Chapter 97 Dawn of Reckoning
“You wouldn’t lie to your dying mother, would you?”
“No, but some things aren’t worth your energy.”
“Next time you attack Marcus like that, make sure you finish the job. Make him pay for what he did to you.”
“Mom, please don’t worry about this.”
“I really like Damien. He’s a good man.”
“You mentioned that already.”
“I want you to believe it.”
“I do.”
A nurse interrupted our conversation, bringing breakfast on a tray. I stepped into the hallway while she helped mom eat and get cleaned up. Once alone, I pulled out my phone and dialed.
“Hello?” Skye answered.
“Hey, how are my babies?”
“They’re okay. Missing their mama, though.”
“I miss them too. I need you to bring them here.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I don’t care about Marcus. My mother needs to meet her grandchildren. It’s not right keeping them apart.”
“If you’re certain. I can rent a car and drive out today.”
“Thank you. I’ll see you soon.”
Damien appeared in the hallway as I ended the call, stopping directly in front of me.
“You look exhausted.”
“The day’s not over yet. I just called Skye, She’s bringing the kids.”
“Are you sure that’s wise? You swore Marcus would never get near them.”
“We’ll protect them. But mom deserves to meet them. I know she doesn’t have much
time left.” A tear escaped despite my efforts to contain it.
97 Chapter 97 Dawn of Reckoning
Damien cupped my face gently, forcing me to meet his eyes. “You don’t have to hide
from me.”
“I know.” The words barely made it past my lips before he kissed me softly.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” A shrill voice screeched from down the hall.
I turned to see Viviana tottering toward us in a wrinkled dress, heels dangling from her fingers like she’d just finished a walk of shame.
“Perfect. Here comes the other nightmare,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.
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