Chapter 13

Emily’s POV

“…Did he do this to you?” Nathan asked. His voice was low, and that was the scariest part.

I couldn’t force any words out. My whole body trembled, but I managed a small, terrified nod.

Ryan laughed nervously. “She’s always clumsy. You know her.”

“I’ve changed my mind,” Nathan said, his tone dangerously calm.

“What?” Ryan’s confidence slipped. “What do you mean?”

Nathan moved in a fraction of a second. Before Ryan could even react, Nathan grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off the floor as if he weighed nothing. My ex-mate struggled and kicked, but Nathan didn’t care. His eyes were dark, burning with rage.

“HOW DARE YOU TOUCH HER!” Nathan roared, squeezing Ryan’s throat tighter. “You call yourself an Alpha, yet you hurt her on purpose.” His voice shook with raw fury.

Ryan’s face turned purple as he gasped for air. His Beta tried to jump in, but Liam slammed him onto a desk with one hand.

“Stay down,” Liam hissed.

Ryan’s eyes started to roll back. Beta Blake stepped forward, placing a firm, warning hand on Nathan’s shoulder.

“Alpha Nathan, you’re killing him,” Blake urged.

Nathan’s chest heaved violently as he fought his wolf, Asher, for control. His claws were still half-extended, having cut into his own palms from the sheer force of his clenched fists.

“Nathan,” the Beta repeated.

“Back off, Blake,” Nathan snarled, his voice rumbling.

Blake didn’t retreat.

“Alpha King Garrett will handle him,” Blake argued. “Ryan is still an Alpha heir. Only the Alpha King judges pack leaders.”

Nathan’s jaw flexed, a terrifying tension rolling off his frame.

“Not for much longer,” Nathan whispered, finally dropping my ex.

Ryan collapsed to the floor, coughing violently as he desperately tried to breathe. He looked weak.

Nathan took a slow, deliberate step toward him.

“Soon, that crown will be mine,” Nathan growled, his voice dripping with dominance.

The room fell completely still. No one dared to move.

“And when that day comes,” Nathan sneered, leaning down into Ryan’s terrified face, “you’d better pray my father reaches a verdict quickly. Because if I get my hands on you, I will tear you apart piece by piece.”

Ryan flinched, a weak whimper escaping him. For years, he had made me feel worthless, but now he was the one trembling.

Nathan looked Ryan up and down with absolute disgust.

“Pray to the Alpha King that you leave here alive. For now,” Nathan said, his voice ice cold.

I watched from the floor, my heart pounding. I had never seen anyone overpower my abusive ex-mate like this.

Suddenly, Nathan’s sharp gaze swept across the room and locked onto me.

“He’s looking at us,” Nyx whispered in my mind.

“What about Emily?” Blake asked.

“She stays,” Nathan hissed, storming out.

“Guards, get in here! Get them out of here,” Blake commanded.

Ryan tried to speak, to mock me one last time, but Blake blocked his view of me, silent and imposing. The guards grabbed Ryan and his Beta by the arms and dragged them out of the office.

The room went quiet, but my body was still shaking. I was safe from Ryan, but I was still terrified. I didn’t know whether to cry with joy or fear. Nathan had protected me, but he had still stormed off. He still hadn’t accepted me as his mate. And Stella… I knew Stella would make me pay for this the second she became Luna.

I probably would have stayed on the floor if I hadn’t noticed that Liam was still in the room. He’d been watching me quietly from the corner. Finally, he brushed some nut crumbs off his hands, walked over, and reached out to me without a word.

I took his hand. He lifted me up effortlessly, then gently straightened my torn shirt and looked into my eyes.

“It’s okay,” he said softly. “Don’t be mad at my brother. If he had stayed in this room any longer, he would have ripped everyone here into tiny pieces.”

I walked out of the office with him, and Jessie ran over to us right away.

“What did they do to you?” Jessie cried, turning on Liam. “Was this you?”

“Hey, take it easy,” Liam said, stepping back and frowning at her. “Her ex-mate was here. He’s a real piece of work.”

It made me feel a little better to know that I wasn’t the only one who saw how rotten Ryan was.

“We need to get you changed right now,” Jessie said, grabbing my arm.

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