VIVIENNE's POV
My hand curled around the lace panty, tightening into fist till I felt my finger poke holes into the fabric.
My lips quivered as my breath came in uneven gasps, my head aching from replaying Sasha's words over and over and over again.
'How shameless can you be? Tell me, will you only be satisfied when you have all four brothers to yourself?'
I bit into the inside of my cheek till the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.
I wanted all brothers for myself??
She couldn't have deserved that slap more!
I tightened my hand into fists despite my palm still burning from the intensity of squeezing too hard.
Ignoring the pain, I push open the door with enough force to have the hinges ripping off if they weren't already ripped off and stepped into my room, chest heaving.
I threw the torn panties into the trash can and stormed out of the room, my chest heavy with barely restrained anger.
I quickened my pace as I headed for the back terrace of the main house, my knees trembling.
The air was cool, but it did nothing to put out the fire raging in my veins.
As I rounded the corner near the stone pillars, the sound of hushed, hurried voices made me stop in my track, my breath hitching.
''It's a shame… the once vibrant pack is now in poor shape.'' A female voice whispered, laced with a bit of mockery and anxiety.
My ears perked up.
''Shame indeed. Not sure about the real deal but rumors are spreading that the attacks are tailored by rogues.'' Another voice bloomed.
It wasn't a feminine voice though. It was masculine.
His voice lowered a bit and the sound of foot scraping against granite told me he was shifting closer to her. ''In all of this mess, what is the Luna doing? She's just sitting in her quarters and watching as people die for her.''
My hand tightened into fist, my nails digging into my trembling palm.
For a moment, I couldn't breath, his words making a deep cut in my heart.
It was the first time I was overhearing a pack member speak Ill of me.
''Exactly!'' The she-wolf agreed, her voice choked with malice. ''Speaking of which…Thank goddess Sasha came into the pack when she did. Have you seen how active she's been with the pack duties? She's the only one actually working with the Alphas to keep the borders standing."
I stood there, my jaw locking so hard my teeth ached.
A wave of white-hot fury crashed over me.
I gritted my teeth, continuously digging my fingernails into my palms until the skin threatened to split. My eyes brimmed with barely restrained tears and I sucked in a shallow breath to keep myself afloat.
The gossips continued.
"With the history between Sasha and the triplets, honestly... she might actually be the next Luna.'' The she-wolf whispered, dropping the final, devastating blow.
"The triplets are already acting as the Alphas anyway. It's been days since Alpha Roman left for Silver moon pack to seek help.'' A mocking laughter escaped her lips as she said it.
''Who is to say he hadn't left his people to die? That he is too scared, he fled.''
Anger coursed through my vein at her words. I uncurled my fist and made to step out of the shadow when the man's voice followed.
''Don't say that!'' His voice rose, filled with reprimand.
I waited, my legs morphing from jelly to ice.
''You can't just say anything you like. Someone might hear!'' His voice was soft this time, the tone dropping till I had to strain my ears to hear.
''I don't think Alpha Roman is a coward. He'd never run away just like this. What I think is….Alpha Roman might be dead.''
My heart did a violent leap.
The word vibrated in my chest like a knife to the chest and my chest swarmed as shock overtook me.
Dead?!
''Rumors have been spreading around the pack. Everyone knows the Alpha of Silver moon pack is a vicious leader. He's even worse on his wolf form. I have a feeling Alpha Roman has been torn to shreds by now.''
My heart thumped loudly in my chest, it was a shame both gossipers were too deeply into their shit talk, they didn't notice.
Anger bubbled up from my chest, surpassing the shock I had been feeling.
Treason!
Big ass treason!
To think that Roman would risk his life for the likes of this two people.
He had been nothing but a good Alpha to his people!
My face burned from anger as I stepped out from the shadows, intending to confront them, to tear them apart for their treasonous words, but my shoe caught on a loose piece of gravel.
The small skritch of stone against stone echoed sharply and the sound of them gasping followed.
Their head flew to the sound, to the shadow where I stood.
Realizing someone was watching, they scattered, disappearing into the dark corridors before I could catch their faces.
''Fuck!'' A curse rippled from my throat before I could even stop it.
I angrily kicked the rock on my feet, my breath ragged.
I was done.
I was so damn done with Sasha coming into this pack, disrupting it and trying to take control.
The triplets were dumb enough, including her in any of the pack activities!
A loud exhale escaped my lips as a drop of tear ran down my cheeks as the harshest, most agonizing reality crashed into me.
Those gossiping pack members were telling the truth. I didn't want to admit it—I had spent days pushing the terrifying thoughts away…but Roman hadn't reached out to us in days.
He might actually be dead.
Exhaling a sharp, shaky breath, I channeled all that grief and terror into raw, unyielding anger. I turned on my heel and marched straight toward the armory.
As I reached the heavy iron reinforced doors, a guard instantly stepped out from the shadows, blocking the entrance with his massive frame.
"Luna," he said, his voice hesitant but firm. "I'm sorry, but you're not allowed in here."
I stepped right into his space, my eyes flashing with a dangerous, unstable light. "You dare question the Luna of this pack?'' I didn't know where the strength came from, I stepped closer and stared at him intimidatingly. ''Move aside."
He didn't back down. "The Alpha specifically gave us instructions not to let you into the armory.'' He insisted, sweating under my cold glare. ''He said it's too dangerous for you right now."
A bitter, mocking laugh escaped my lips. "The Alpha? As of now, Roman is no longer the Alpha. But I am still the Luna. Do you dare disobey the Luna of this pack?"
The guard swallowed hard, his eyes darting to the floor. The weight of my title was enough to make his instincts waver.
Slowly, hesitatingly, he stepped aside, clearing the path.
I marched into the cold, metallic room, bypassing the rows of guns and going straight for the bladed weapons.
I grabbed a lightweight set of tactical body armor, strapping it tightly over my chest, and pulled a silver-weighted hunting blade from the rack. I wasn't going to hide anymore.
Armored and armed, I stormed out of the building, marching purposefully toward the western border.
"Luna! Vivienne!" A frantic voice cut through my tunneled vision.
I bumped directly into Violeta, the pack's nurse, who was running from the medical wing with a crate of supplies.
She staggered back, looking at my armor and the silver weapon in my hand in absolute confusion.
"Luna Vivienne? What the hell—'' Her words caught in her throat and she swallowed. ''What's going on? Are you—''
I didn't even look at her.
I brushed past her without responding, my pace quickening as I pushed through the outer gates and headed straight into the dark, bloody chaos of the forest.
The first thing I noticed was a few of the pack members, mainly warriors baring their fangs as they stood guard.
I moved forward, my hand tightening around the armor.
Immediately one of them, Elder Jabel, Fiona's father, sighted me, his eyes almost bulged from the socket.
''Luna!'' He stepped forward, letting his guard down.
Warriors immediately stepped forward and covered him while the snarls and noises of the rogues increased.
''What are you doing here?! You can't be here! The Alpha wouldn't—'' He stopped talking when he felt my red eyes fall on him.
''Step aside!'' My voice was hard, cold and distant, I could barely recognize it.
''No I can't. Take the Luna back to her quarters.'' He barked the orders and a few tired soldiers stepped forward.
Most of them already had blood trailing down their arms and most looked like they'd aged badly.
I gritted my teeth. ''I said step aside!'' My voice rose, my eyes flashing with anger.
They shifted nervously, ignoring my command.
Just when they reached to grab me, a rogue wolf with a claw like scar flew in my direction, his teeth bared and eyes bloodthirsty.