Chapter 29: Bite Back – 1
Thea’s POV
Everyday made me flinch after that attack. My body was healing, the bruises fading to sickly yellows and greens, but the mental scars ran deeper. Sleep came in fitful bursts, filled with nightmares of rough hands and a cold knife. Three attempts on my life. Three times I’d somehow survived. But as I stared at my reflection in the grocery store window, tracing the bruises on my face, I wondered how much longer my luck would hold. The person who wanted me dead clearly wouldn’t stop until I was six feet under, never seeing Leo grow up.
The thought of missing my son’s life sent stabbing pains through my chest. I’d miss his first steps, his teenage years, graduation, everything. My hands trembled as I pushed the shopping cart down another aisle, trying to focus on my grocery list instead of the dark thoughts threatening to overwhelm me.
These days, I felt like I was sleepwalking through life. Everything seemed distant and unreal, like I was watching someone else go through the motions. Deep down, I was still waiting to wake up from this nightmare, even though I knew it was all too real.
“Dear, are you alright?” A gentle voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts.
I looked up to find an elderly woman studying me with concern, her kind eyes lingering on the healing split in my lip and the purple-yellow bruising along my cheekbone.
“I’m fine, thank you.” I attempted a smile but couldn’t quite manage it.
“Are you sure? Would you like me to call someone for you?”
Her kindness, offered so freely to a complete stranger, made my throat tight. If only everyone could show such simple compassion.
“Really, I’m okay. Just tired.” I forced more conviction into my voice.
She squeezed my hand gently. “Things will get better, dear. Keep faith.”
I watched her walk away, grateful for the brief moment of human connection. But my solitude was short-lived.
“Well, don’t you look absolutely wrecked.” A familiar, sneering voice made my shoulders tense.
Shit. Of all people to run into, Callista was the last person I wanted to deal with right now.
I tried ignoring her, focusing intently on the shelves of canned goods before me. But Callista, true to form, wasn’t about to let me escape that easily.
“What happened? Try seducing another woman’s man and get what you deserved?” She smirked. Callista was the Ashworth Pack’s Liaison; she assisted the Alpha and Luna with daily pack affairs and coordinated meetings with other packs. It was a prestigious position, one that gave her significant influence. But she’d always looked down on me, wolfless Luna.
I clenched my fists, fighting for control. The whole city knew about the attack—someone had leaked the story to the media, along with details about the previous two attempts. Sebastian was still investigating who’d betrayed pack confidentiality.
“What do you want, Callista?” I kept my voice steady. “We both know you’re aware of what happened.”
“Oh, I don’t want anything. Just speaking the truth. Maybe the one trying to kill you is some she-wolf whose mate you tried to seduce? After all, that’s your specialty, isn’t it? Seducing taken men because no real wolf would ever want a wolfless thing like you.”
I studied her, taking in her immaculate appearance while I looked like I’d gone ten rounds in the training ring. Same old Callista, still bitter that Sebastian had never noticed her obvious attempts to catch his eye.
“Really? That’s the best you can do? Same tired insults after all these years? You need new material.” My tone dripped sarcasm.
She quickly regained her composure, a wicked gleam entering her eyes. “How does it feel, watching Sebastian with your sister? Knowing he’s finally with the woman he always wanted?” Her painted lips curved into a cruel smile.
Chapter 29: Bite Back – 2
Did it still hurt? Sometimes. But I was slowly killing that love, helped along by Kane’s gentle presence in my life.
“You know, Callista, when I was Luna, you did everything possible to humiliate me, thinking it would make Sebastian notice you. You kept trying to seduce him, but he never gave you a second glance. Yes, he didn’t love me and I wasn’t his mate, but at least I was his Luna. What were you? Nothing. So tell me, how does it feel knowing you’ll never be his woman? That he’ll never see you as anything but a convenient tool? That even when he hated me, he’d rather touch me than look twice at you? And now that Aurora’s back, what chance do you think you have?”
“You bitch!” She lunged at me with a screech.
I sidestepped smoothly, sending her stumbling in her heels. She recovered quickly, charging at me again. Without thinking, I grabbed a carton of milk from my cart and hurled it at her.
We both froze, watching milk soak into her expensive dress. Her scream of rage echoed through the store as she flew at me again. I kept throwing whatever I could reach, our scuffle drawing a small crowd of onlookers. Someone had their phone out, recording everything.
Just as she was about to slap me, strong arms wrapped around her waist. Someone else grabbed me, pulling me in the opposite direction.
“Let go of me!” I shouted.
They ignored our struggles, dragging us both outside the store.
“You’re both banned from this establishment. If I see either of you near here again, I’m calling the police.” A man who looked like the manager glared at us before storming back inside.
“This is all your fault!” Callista shrieked.
“My fault? Who attacked who? I was just defending myself from a crazy woman.”
“You’ll pay for this, Thea. Mark my words.” She spun on her heel and stormed off.
I sighed, heading to my beat-up car. The drive home was a mix of satisfaction at finally standing up to Callista and annoyance at letting her provoke me into a grocery store brawl.
Everyone knew she’d always wanted Sebastian’s attention. But he’d never noticed her obvious pursuit, so she’d taken out her rejected feelings on me instead.
When I pulled into my driveway and saw Kane sitting on my front steps, it was the first good thing to happen all day. I parked and got out.
“Where have you been?” He stood, concern evident in his voice. “I called but you didn’t answer. I was worried.”
“Sorry! Left my phone at home when I went to get groceries,” I explained while unlocking the door.
I led him inside, heading for the kitchen.
“Oh? Where are the groceries then?”
I looked at him sheepishly. “I got into a fight and got kicked out of the store. Actually, I’m permanently banned now.”
“What?!” His eyes widened.
“I know it was stupid, but Callista’s been bullying me forever. I just… I couldn’t take it anymore.” My voice dropped.
I waited for the lecture. It’s what Sebastian would have done – tell me to stop acting like a child, to grow up, say I was just seeking attention by fighting with his Liaison.
Instead, Kane pulled me close, hands settling on my waist. He tilted my chin up, making me meet his captivating gaze.
“I’m glad you’re not hurt,” he said softly. “Never apologize for defending yourself, physically or emotionally. I’m proud of you for finally fighting back.”
He was mesmerizing like this. His eyes, the strong line of his jaw, his lips. Like being under a spell, I watched his head lower slowly. My heart thundered in my chest as his lips claimed mine, our tongues tangling as the kiss deepened.