Betrayed Luna's Second Chance Alphas
Betrayed Luna’s Second Chance Alphas – Chapter 44

-Riley-

Everything in me burned, but it was not painful. It was… like an immense power was unleashed within me. Something wild and uncontrollable. My wolf was strangely quiet, though. It was never empty in my head with Gem there, but now it felt empty.

Just looking at Hiran made me seethe with rage. Adrian’s arms were like bands around me, and even though his closeness calmed me down, I knew he couldn’t keep me contained.

Something inside me stirred, clawed to be let out. I felt a shudder, as the burning sensation was soon replaced with intense cold. There was a loud ringing in my ears as my vision blurred.

“Gemmy?” I wanted her consolation, I wanted her support, but she was blurry. It felt like she was… far away. She had always been so close to me. I was scared. I was scared of what was happening on the inside as well as on the outside.

He was the reason. And when he looked at me, his eyes were gloating. My rage bubbled. It wanted to come out and destroy, consequences be damned.

“I claimed you for life, Riley. I sold my own mate to Ramsay, because she was weak, unlike you. You were my- you are my perfect Luna, and no matter who you fu.ck, how many of them you fu.ck, you will always belong to me. Only me.”

His voice cut through the ringing in my ears.

The audacity of his claim was sickening, his selfishness on full display. My mind raced, trying to comprehend the enormity of his actions, the cruelty he had inflicted not only on me, but also on his fated mate! How could one person be… be this cruel, this heartless?

“I didn’t waste two and half years for you to go into the sunset with these Lycan as.sholes.”

His words left me utterly baffled, unable to comprehend the depth of his depravity and the twisted reasoning behind his actions.

My mind spun in circles, desperately trying to make sense of the incomprehensible, but it was hard. Everything was fuzzy.

A woman suffered because of me. If Hiran hadn’t seen me… but what did he see in me? A woman with Alpha b***d, but who didn’t know her own strength. A woman that could be molded into whatever the fu.ck he wanted?

A wave of revulsion washed over me, accompanied by a surge of defiance.

How could he view such manipulation and betrayal as an act of strength? The bond that should have been built on love and trust had been torn apart, replaced by a twisted desire for control and dominance. The rage I felt began to intertwine with a newfound determination, fueling a fire within me and the fire refused to die.

His smug expression only intensified the fury brewing inside me.

He was winning. This was something that went deeper, deeper than I thought it was.

My little Claire… sassy, sweet Claire. How could he do that to her, to me? To all of us, including Mirabel’s father and his own mate?

A roar came out from inside me. A roar, unlike Gem’s growl. What the hell was happening to me? There was no sound, only the guttural grunts and roars.

Hiran laughed. The thin control left in me snapped.

At that moment, time stood still, encapsulating the intensity of my fury. Everything around me slowed down, everything faded, until I felt the red haze burning through my b***d as I ripped out of Adrian’s hold. He stumbled. I lunged down at Hiran, my growl different, even to my ears. Hiran looked like a blur of red and black. His outline was the only thing I saw. And I could smell his b***d pumping through his body.

I blinked and snarled at him. I could feel my teeth growing over my lips, but it felt different. I glared down at Hiran as I punched him in his face.

“You claimed me for life?” I repeated his words, my voice strained with a mixture of incredulity and rage. “You sold your own mate to Ramsay?” The words felt surreal, like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. I heard the sickening crunch of his jaw breaking.

“Because she was weak, unlike me?” I seethed, my voice trembling with anger as I punched him again and again. My knuckles felt sore. I hoped someone would stop me, because I couldn’t stop myself. The darkness wanted to feed… the anger wanted to consume.

My eyes locked with his, burning with an intensity that matched the fiery storm raging within my soul.

And then, just as intensely as the power washed over me, it went away, leaving me weak and trembling. The red and black outline of Hiran became human again.

“I am not yours to claim, or to own,” I whispered as I pulled back and looked down at him. He looked mangled. “I will not be reduced to a possession, a prize for your ego, your greed. I am my own person, and I will decide my own fate.”

No longer would I allow myself to be manipulated, to be shackled by his distorted ideas and claims.

I stood up, and my fingers trembled.

“I-I am sorry,” I whispered, but I didn’t know who I was apologizing to.

“I will call doctor Abel,” Reid said as he walked out. Dee gave me a look that made me want to bury myself under the ground and never come back. Was she scared of me? I was scared of myself.

I looked at my knuckles. They were bloodied and scraped.

“Gem? Come back? I am scared,” I whispered as I took a step back from Dee. I didn’t look at the guys. I didn’t want to see the look in their eyes.

A small g***n came in response. “Riley…”

“Oh, you are here.” I almost sobbed out loud.

“Wha-what happened, Riley? Why did I feel like I was pushed into a vacuum? It was darkness, utter darkness. And you were not there.”

“I don’t know. I don’t know anything.”

I blinked as I looked at Dee, my body trembling.

“I didn’t know what- why I-” I looked at Hiran and I winced. “I am sorry, I didn’t mean- are you scared of m-“

Before I could finish my words, she pulled me into a hug, tightening her arms around me.

“I didn’t know what happened. I- everything was red and black and-“

“It is alright, babe, it is alright. You are alright, and that is the only thing that matters. I am not scared of you. I will never be, because I know you will never hurt me, or anyone who doesn’t deserve to be hurt.”

“Bu-but I did that,” I whispered as I pulled away from Dee.

“If you hadn’t, I would have,” Dee said, her face completely collected now, but I had seen that flash of fear in her eyes. I was glad that she didn’t let it get to her.

“Thank you.”

“Guys? Stop staring at her and move, maybe? Reassure her? She is scared and you two are like a freaking kid in a circus, watching a double-headed monkey doing tricks,” Dee said with a scoff. “Hello? I am talking to you two dumbheads?”

I smiled a little. She really knew how to comfort me. That was why no one could ever be Dee. There was only one Dee.

“I am the double-headed monkey,” I said under my breath as I finally braved myself to turn around and look at the two Lycans. They still looked baffled and still frozen. They were scared of me. These two powerful Lycans were scared of their little Luna?!

“Riley, it is-” Roman finally broke the silence. The look in his eyes was indecipherable. I wanted to know what he was thinking.

“Guys, get the hell out of your own heads.” Dee clapped her hands together and they both jumped before Roman walked to me and hugged me.

“Finally!” Dee hissed.

“You are alright, Kitten.”

“Rome, what – what happened? Why was I- what was I?”

He pulled back from me as Adrian and Dee joined me.

“We don’t know, but maybe a hybrid, but it is impossible for a hybrid to have both the sides?” Adrian whispered as he rubbed my chilled arm. I was so cold.

“A hybrid between what? I had never seen anything like that,” Roman said, his eyes perplexed.

“You were- you were-“

“Uncontrollable? Rabid?” I said with a wince.

“No, powerful, wild, primal,” he said in a hoarse voice, and my eyes widened as I looked into his eyes. My pulse jumped. The dark look in his eyes… not fear or repulsion. It was l**t. Pure and fierce.

“And he was aroused,” Adrian said without a flicker of emotion in his eyes. “Because we are sick.”

“Were you aroused too, then? I didn’t miss that you said we are sick,” Dee said with an amused chuckle. “I will never understand this dynamic, but as long as you make Riley happy, I will be happy.”

“For a second. I mean, you saw her. Her eyes were glowing and her hair felt like it was caught on fire. She looked-” Adrian paused as he sighed. “Like a fierce goddess.” Adrian licked his lips as he pierced me with his eyes filled with l**t, and Roman punched him on his shoulder.

“So you were not scared? You didn’t think I was a freak?” I mumbled, still worried.

“Well, if you are a freak, then you are a cool one,” Adrian said with a light chuckle. “Isn’t she, Rome?” he said as he nudged Roman, who was simply staring at me with those dark brown eyes that made me want to strip naked and submit.

“Hmm…” he mumbled as he bit his lips and I flushed. What the hell was wrong with this Lycan?

“Whatever it is, I like it. I like that he is absolutely wrong for us, yet also right.”

Gem looked clear and not so hazy and blurred.

Reid came in with doctor Abel. Nobody talked. Doctor Abel moved towards Hiran, who was still moaning, half conscious.

He started to remove the bullets first, because when the bullets were gone, he would get some of his strength back and with it, the wounds would heal.

“Go. You can go. I will be here,” Reid said to me.

“I am sorry, Reid,” I said with a guilty look. No matter what, Hiran was his brother and I- I did that to his brother.

“You don’t have to be. You have been pulling your punches and you exploded. It happens.”

He was wrong. We all knew. It didn’t happen, not like this.

I didn’t respond.

“I have to sedate him,” Doctor Abel looked at me. “Should I, Luna?”

I almost wanted to tell him to let Hiran feel more pain, but I nodded.

“Do whatever you have to, doctor Abel. He has Claire and I get her back only if…” I sighed. Doctor Abel’s eyes narrowed in disgust, but he was a doctor, first and foremost. His hands didn’t stop what they were doing, even as his eyes turned cold and dark.

“I will do my best, Luna.”

“Thank you, Doctor Abel.”

We walked out of the room, leaving Reid alone. Dee came out and then stopped.

“Riley… I- I should be with him,” she whispered. “I know he hated Hiran, but…”

I shook my head. “Go. He needs you in there.”

Dee nodded before she walked back inside. I turned to the two Lycans. “Can you call and ask-ask about Claire?” I said and Roman nodded.

“Come on, you need to rest for a while,” Adrian said as he opened the room they were staying in.

“I don’t need to rest. I need to know-“

Roman nodded. “I told you, Kitten, we would replace her. It was a long day, wasn’t it? Go and lie down for a minute or two.”

I shook my head. “I don’t want to-“

“Kitten, stop being so stubborn. You- you look terrible.”

I bared my teeth at him.

“He means… he meant to say you are tired. You still look sexy as hell, Red, and not terrible at all. He just means…” Adrian stumbled over his words, trying to help Roman. I rolled my eyes.

“Yes, Kitten, you know… you always look gorgeous. Now, off to bed, please,” Roman whispered as he caressed a finger down my cheek. And I shuddered when I saw his fingers glowing white with his power. It was warm wherever he touched me. Soothing. My eyes grew heavy.

“This will help you sleep.”

“Wha-what did you do, you stupid Lycan? Did you just put me to-“

“Magic,” he whispered as he pulled me up in his arms. “You need sleep. Go to sleep.”

“I am going to murder you when I wa-wa-” I yawned and my eyes grew heavy.

“Sleep tight, Kitten.” I felt his lips pressed on my forehead. “And always wake up, Kitten.”

“Dream only sweet dreams, Red.”