Liz POV After too many stitches to count and another barrage of tests, the doctor hands me a bottle of pain medication and tells me to take it easy. The doctor quickly leaves the room and I slide off of the hospital bed. Gingerly, I slip off the hospital gown and slide the bloodied oversized t-shirt back over my head. I peek out of the hospital room and see the hospital is in full swing. The hallways are busy with nurses and doctors running from one room to the next. Looking down at my clothes, embarrassment washes over me. Between the blood on the shirt and the bruises on my face, I know people will be watching me as I leave the room. I step back into the room and wait for several minutes but it is clear that no one is coming to get me. I will have to find my way back to the pack house on my own. "You are the Luna of this pack," I whisper to myself. “You can do this.” I hold my head high, pull the t-shirt down around my hips, and walk out of the room. I weave my way in and ou

Deimos POV Elizabeth hops out of the car and dashes across the driveway at the pack house before I can even get out. I know she feared I would carry her from the vehicle into the pack house. When I carried her across the hospital parking lot, I could see her pale skin flush with embarrassment. While I carried her, I could not help but feel angry. With each limp of my leg, she kept insisting she could walk herself. I don't know which irritated me more—her concern over my leg or how comfortable she felt in my arms. I had to keep reminding myself that I don't need or want a Luna. Having Elizabeth around is only proving to make my life harder. Slamming my car door shut, I hobble into the pack house. Hobble. I hate that word. It implies I am incapable in some way, but there is no other word for how I walk these days. Irritation is still bubbling under the surface of my skin as I make my way into my office. My father tries to stop me as I head to my office. "Where have you

Liz POV I awkwardly sit down beside Stella and try to keep a smile on my face. It is not an easy task. I am sitting across from Deimos's brother, and he keeps looking at me like I am a snack. Nico and Deimos are sending each other death glares from across the table. The only one who seems to be excited about my presence is Stella. Stella turns in her chair and looks me up and down. She is stunningly beautiful. She has raven hair and striking blue eyes. Her skin is pale white. If Snow White were a person, it would be her. She reaches out to touch my cheek, and I flinch away from her. "What happened to you?" She asks me. Nico clears his throat loudly, and I jerk my head away from Stella. "It was a misunderstanding," I whisper. Deimos scoffs loudly at my response. "Tell the truth," he growls, looking in Nico's direction. I shake my head and look at the plate in front of me. I should have known I would have been humiliated by Deimos's family. "She had a run-in with

Liz POV I stand rigidly until I am sure Deimos has left the dining room and is not going to return. The Omega he assaulted is moaning loudly on the ground. She is holding onto her neck, trying to stem the bleeding, but she is failing miserably. “Shh,” I whisper to her as I kneel beside her. With a cloth napkin in my hands, I press it to her neck. Bile rises in my throat as my hands become soaked in her blood. “Don’t let me die, Luna,” the Omega whispers. Her breathing is ragged, and I am not sure she is going to make it. With each breath, she takes more blood pours from the wound. “It will be okay,” I whisper. “Just hold this right here while I go get some help.” I move to stand up, but the Omega grabs my hand and forces me to stay with her. “Don’t leave me,” she whimpers. “I have to go for help,” I plead with the woman. “I will be right back. I promise.” “He will kill you if you help me,” the Omega cries. “Then so be it,” I say as I get to my feet. I run th

Liz POV When I hear the door to the bedroom shut, I look over my shoulder to make sure Deimos is gone. When I don’t see his dark figure looming in the doorway, I let out a sigh of relief. I didn’t think I could remain in his presence any longer. I know in some packs when the Luna is insulted, it is a crime punishable by death, but I never expected to see it firsthand for myself. Death is ugly, and unfortunately, I have known it from a very young age. A knock on the door grabs my attention, and I hold my breath, praying to the Moon Goddess that it is not Deimos on the other side. “Come in,” I choke out hoarsely. The door swings open, and Stella stands with her arms crossed, looking furious. “There you are,” she says as she enters the room. “I have been looking for you everywhere.” “Why would you be looking for me?” I ask. “Because that was some traumatic ass shit you went through this morning,” Stella grumbles. “It’s fine,” I say, wiping the tears from my cheeks. “I a