Rayne POV
"You shouldn't have come back here."
The deep voice sent a shiver down my spine. I froze, my heart racing as I spun around to face the figure in the shadows. His grip tightened on my shoulder, strong enough to keep me in place, but not enough to hurt—yet.
I couldn't see his face clearly, but his presence was overwhelming, like he was daring me to make a wrong move. "Who are you?" I demanded, trying to shake him off. The power I'd felt earlier still buzzed in my veins, but something about this wolf made me pause. He wasn't just any pack member.
"You don't recognize me?" His voice was low, amused. "I'm not surprised. You never saw me as a threat before." He stepped forward, into the dim light of the moon. I gasped.
Jaxon.
The Gamma. Quiet, always lurking in the background, never drawing too much attention. But now, his eyes glowed with a dangerous intensity, like he had been waiting for this moment.
"Jaxon?" I managed to say, my voice trembling. "What do you want?"
He smirked, and it made my stomach churn. "I want to know why you're here. After Mateo rejected you, I thought you'd be halfway across the territory by now."
The reminder of the rejection hit me like a slap. The pain was still raw, but I swallowed it down. I wouldn't show weakness. Not anymore. "I came back to get what's mine," I said, my voice hardening.
"Yours?" Jaxon raised an eyebrow, stepping closer, his breath hot against my skin. "The pack was never yours. Mateo made sure of that."
I clenched my fists, trying to hold back the rage bubbling up inside me. "That doesn't matter now."
"Doesn't it?" His gaze flicked over me, studying, calculating. "You're different, Rayne. I can smell it. You reek of power. But it's not natural, is it?"
My heart skipped a beat. He knew. Somehow, he knew about the stranger and the power I had taken. "What are you talking about?" I asked, trying to play dumb.
"Don't lie to me," Jaxon growled, his grip tightening. "I've seen power like that before, and it always comes with a price."
I yanked my arm free, stepping back. "What do you care? You're not my Alpha. You're not even close to Mateo."
Jaxon's eyes darkened, and for a second, I saw something dangerous flash in them. "That's where you're wrong, Rayne. You think this is all about Mateo? He's just the beginning."
I blinked, confusion twisting in my gut. What was he talking about?
"You're walking into something bigger than a rejection," Jaxon continued, his voice cold. "There are things happening in this pack that you don't understand. And you've just put yourself right in the middle of it."
"What things?" I demanded, but Jaxon just shook his head, stepping back into the shadows.
"Stay away, Rayne. Leave this pack while you still can. Because the next time we meet, I won't be so... friendly."
And just like that, he was gone, melting into the darkness like he was never there.
I stood frozen, my mind racing. What was Jaxon talking about? Bigger than Mateo? I had no idea what he meant, but one thing was clear—there was more going on in the Crescent Moon Pack than I realized.
I didn't have time to dwell on it. I needed to focus. I was back for revenge, not to get caught up in whatever game Jaxon was playing. And if he thought he could scare me off, he was wrong.
I turned back toward the pack house, determination coursing through me. But as I approached, I caught sight of movement inside. Mateo was standing by the window, his back to me, talking to Cassandra. She was laughing, her arm draped over his like they were already Luna and Alpha.
The sight made my blood boil. They had taken everything from me—my title, my home, my mate. And they were laughing about it.
I moved closer, staying in the shadows, watching as Cassandra's expression shifted. Her laughter stopped, and her face turned serious. She whispered something to Mateo, and his expression darkened. Then, he nodded.
What were they planning?
I pressed myself against the side of the house, listening closely. Their voices were muffled, but I caught pieces of the conversation.
"... can't let her stay... too dangerous..."
Cassandra's voice was sharp, almost frantic. Mateo's reply was low and calm, but I could sense the tension. "I know. We'll handle it."
Handle it? Handle what?
I leaned closer, straining to hear more, but suddenly, the door behind me creaked open. Before I could react, I was yanked backward by a strong hand and slammed against the wall. Pain shot through my back as I gasped, my vision spinning.
Mateo's cold eyes locked onto mine, his face inches from mine. "You shouldn't have come back, Rayne."
His voice was filled with a cold finality that made my blood run cold. He wasn't just angry—I could see the deadly intent in his eyes.
"You think you can just walk back in here after what happened?" he hissed, his grip on my arm tightening painfully. "I told you to leave. You don't belong here anymore."
"Let go of me," I snarled, trying to pull away, but he only tightened his grip.
"You're making a mistake," Mateo warned, his voice low and dangerous. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into."
I glared at him, the pain in my arm almost unbearable. "And you don't know what I've become."
His eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, a sudden loud crash echoed from inside the pack house, followed by a scream.
Mateo jerked his head toward the sound, his grip on me loosening just enough for me to pull free. I stumbled back, watching as he turned toward the house, tension radiating from his body.
"What the hell was that?" I whispered, my heart racing.
Mateo didn't answer. He was already moving toward the pack house, his expression dark and focused.
I followed at a distance, my mind spinning. Something was wrong. Something bigger than Mateo and Cassandra. And whatever it was, it was happening now.
I slipped through the back door, keeping to the shadows. Inside, the pack house was in chaos. Wolves were rushing around, shouting orders, their faces pale with fear.
And then I saw it—inside the main hall, standing in the center of the chaos, was kade. His eyes were glowing, his body trembling with an energy I recognized all too well.
Power.
But it wasn't just any power. It was the same dark energy I had felt when the stranger had given me strength. The same dangerous force now coursing through Kade's veins.
Mateo rushed forward, grabbing Kade by the shoulders, shaking him. "What did you do?" Mateo demanded, his voice panicked.
But Kade didn't answer. His eyes locked on mine, glowing with a terrifying intensity.
And then, with a low, dark laugh, he said, "The real enemy is already here."