His careless words struck like a whip, igniting a fury Addison hadn't even realized she was holding back. She had convinced herself she had let go of the disrespect, the disdain, the suffocating weight of every slight and insult, but maybe she hadn't. Maybe she had only buried it deep, pressing it down until now.
Like a long-dormant volcano, she erupted, the burning rage in her chest finally breaking free.
The pain and anger mixed together made her whole body tremble; she could understand if her mate was looking down on her because she was weak and her wolf was unresponsive, but to question her quality as a Luna and not knowing what she was doing? That is something she couldn't accept.
She knew she had done everything she could, yet someone had the audacity to question her as if all her efforts for the pack were meaningless compared to what Claire had done.
Fueled by rage, Addison—who had always kept her emotions in check—finally snapped. For the first time since joining the pack, she let her anger explode.
"Then let's dissolve our mate bond and reject each other! That way, you can make Claire your official Luna!"
Her chest rose and fell violently, her breaths ragged with fury. Her eyes burned red with pure, unfiltered anger. No one had ever seen Addison lose control like this—never heard her raise her voice, never witnessed her temper flare. The entire hall fell into stunned silence, every pair of eyes wide with shock.
"What did you just say?!"
Alpha Zion's fury ignited like a wildfire, his anger erupting in an instant. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Addison, his hand clamping around her throat as he slammed her against the wall.
Her feet dangled above the ground, struggling for balance as his growl rumbled through the room. His eyes flickered with a golden hue, his wolf barely restrained. His nails had already elongated, sinking into her skin, leaving a bloody mess around her neck. The sharp, metallic scent of blood filled the air, thick and suffocating.
"I dare you to repeat that," Zion growled, his hot breath caressing Addison's face as his glare bore into her.
But she didn't back down. For the first time, she stood her ground against her mate, meeting his fiery gaze without flinching.
The taste of blood coated her tongue, a bitter reminder of Zion's strength. He had forgotten—forgotten how fragile she was, how her strength was only slightly above that of a normal human. His attack had hit her with full force, leaving her body battered and struggling to endure the pain.
Yet, even as her vision blurred and her body screamed in agony, she refused to show weakness. This was the last shred of dignity she had left, and she would not let him strip it away.
"I said, let's—"
Before Addison could finish, Alpha Zion let out a fierce roar, his fury erupting like a storm. The sheer force of it shattered the glass in the hall, sending shards flying. Claire screamed in terror, instinctively curling up and ducking her head for cover.
She expected Zion to rush to her side, to comfort and support her like he always did—but this time, he didn't move. It was as if he couldn't hear or see anything except Addison. Her words echoed relentlessly in his mind, fueling the fire raging in his chest. His breathing was ragged, his eyes locked onto her with an intensity that bordered on predatory.
Yet, despite the storm of rage before her, Addison held her ground, her stubborn gaze unwavering. That only made Zion's fury burn hotter. He looked at her as though he wanted to consume her whole.
"How dare you say that? Have you forgotten what you owe me and my pack?!" Zion snarled through gritted teeth, his voice laced with warning. His grip tightened ever so slightly, a reminder for Addison to know her place—to remember the debt she carried.
In the past, those words would have been enough to silence her. She would have bowed her head, swallowed her pride, and reminded herself that she owed them too much to resist. But not this time.
This time, Addison met Alpha Zion's blazing gaze head-on, unflinching and resolute.
"I know exactly what I owe you and your pack," she said, her voice steady despite the crushing weight on her throat. "But I have played my role as your devoted Luna. I did everything I could to rebuild and revitalize your pack in your absence. And I believe that alone is enough to repay my debt."
Her breath came in ragged gasps, Zion's hand clamping down harder—but even as the air thinned, she refused to let him see her falter. Not now. Not ever.
Alpha Zion sneered, his mockery sharp enough to cut. "Do you think you have the right to decide what is enough? No, Addison, you are overestimating yourself."
He leaned in, his breath hot against her skin as he enunciated each word with chilling finality. "You belong to me. Whether in life or death, you are mine—and you will die as my Luna."
His declaration sent a ripple of shock through the pack. No one had expected their Alpha to refuse to let Addison go. But none of them mistook his words for love.
They all knew the truth—Zion didn't want Addison because he cherished her. He wanted her close so he could break her, so he could watch her suffer. To him, her pain was a spectacle, a slow-burning revenge that fueled his cruelty. He would flaunt his affection for another woman while Addison, bound by a decaying mate bond, withered under the agony of their severed connection.
Zion might have been suffering too, but with his Alpha blood, he could endure it. Addison, on the other hand, was different. She was weak. Wolfless.
And for her, the pain wasn't just unbearable—it was enough to drive her mad.
Thinking of this, the pack members smirked, their gazes settling on Addison with a mix of disdain and twisted satisfaction. Redirecting their hatred onto her was easier than acknowledging the truth. They conveniently ignored the sacrifices she had made, the ways she had fought for their survival. None of it mattered to them.
In their minds, they wouldn't be in this situation if not for her. That was the narrative they clung to, the excuse they needed to justify their resentment.
No one harbored more hatred for Addison than the former Luna. If anyone despised her more than the rest, it was her. And now, with Zion's chilling declaration hanging in the air, the former Luna's contempt burned even brighter.
Hearing Zion's words made Addison's eyes sting, and despite her best efforts, she couldn't stop the tears from falling. She felt trapped, suffocated by the weight of his words. "What do you mean? I've already stepped aside for you. Do you really have to go this far?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Zion's expression remained unreadable, but his voice was quieter this time. "What do you think?"
His gaze followed the path of her tears as they trailed down her cheeks, dropping onto his hand. The instant he felt the warmth of her tears against his skin, he recoiled, pulling his hand back as if burned. Yet, despite the instinctive reaction, his face remained cold, indifferent—as if her pain meant nothing to him.
He stared at her for a long moment before, without warning, he hauled her over his shoulder and strode out of the hall. The sudden action left everyone stunned, and by the time they snapped out of their shock, Zion was already gone—Addison still struggling in his grasp, desperately trying to free herself from her mate.
"What do you think you're doing? Where are you taking me?" Addison thrashed against his hold, her fists pounding against his back. But Zion's grip around her waist was unyielding, like a steel vice, and the pressure of his broad shoulder digging into her abdomen sent a dull ache through her body. "Put me down!" she screamed, kicking her legs in frustration.
"To teach you a lesson…" Alpha Zion's voice was calm, ominous, offering no further explanation. But he didn't need to—those words alone sent a chill down Addison's spine, her face draining of color.