No Longer Be your Luna (Jane and Xander) novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Die!

*Jane*

Everything played out like a sick horror movie. One moment I

was trying to leave and the next my mother was trying to kill

1. me. I looked into her eyes, saw the pure feral expression and

knew without a shadow of a doubt that she meant it.

Every inch of my body wanted to twist and escape from this

hellish and familiar control. But I felt as if I had returned to the

age of eight, holding onto hope tightly, hoping that this time

would be different, hoping that the look in her eyes when she

looked at me would no longer be contemptuous.

“Let me go” I said but her claw dis deeper into my skin.

“Not unitl you promised me”

I struggled to break free, but she held on tighter, nails… no,

claws digging into my arms. My blood pooled, dripping down

my arms. I didn’t just feel pain, I saw it. It triggered memories,

almost as if my life were flashing right before my eyes.

There was no love in her eyes, it was never there. It wasn’t there when she’d punish me for spilling milk, or when she’d lock me

Chapter 23: Die!

in a room for hours for going out for shifting. Or those long

lonely nights when she’d lock me outside in the cold, leaving me

shivering and humiliated.

I’d survived all those torments. And now, she’d come to finish

the job she’d started all those years ago.

“You’ve always been a disgrace to our bloodline,” she snarled.

“Everyone can see that there’s something wrong with you.”

“Xander is the Alpha every female would kill for,” she

continued. “Every woman dreams of him, and you… you still

manage to fail him as a mate.”

My throat tightened. I knew she felt this way. To her, I was a

faulty child, lucky enough to marry a powerful Alpha. But I

didn’t deserve to die for that. I didn’t!

“I gave birth to five children. Five!” She thumped her chest with

her free hand. “And you have given him none. Not even one cub

to carry on his line. That he still wants you despite your flaws is

a miracle. No other man would ever tolerate someone like you…

definitely not an Alpha.”

She traced the curve of my cheek with her claws. I winced in

pain as she gripped my chin and forced me to look at her. “You

were supposed to give him the child he wanted. Turn a blind

eye to his affairs. Let him fuck the entire world. At the end of

Chapter 23. Die!

the day, he’s still yours. Stop pissing him off. Be grateful he

chose you.”

The words were like a slap in the face. At that moment, I

realized what my feelings for my mother had been all these

years. I wasn’t sure before, but now I’m sure. That’s hate. I hate

her. She can no longer defeat me.

“Do it,” I growled. I didn’t recognize my own voice. “Push me.

End it.” I leaned toward the precipice, challenging her. “That

way, I’ll never have to look at you again.”

The shock on her face was worth every second of fear that had

come before this. Her green eyes widened, as she froze. I’d

caught her off–guard.

She recovered quickly, snarling as she yanked me even closer to

the edge. The toes of my heels scraped against the loose gravel,

sending them tumbling into the darkness below. I didn’t hear

them hit the water over the blood rushing to my ears.

Still, I held her gaze, silently daring her to do it.

“Hey!” A male voice suddenly pierced through our showdown.

“What’s going on over there?”

Three people approached the bridge. They must have seen that

something was wrong. I expected relief, but I felt nothing.

Chapter 23: Die!

My mother, however, changed instantly. Her claws retracted,

spine straightened, and the feral look in her eyes transformed

into concern.

“Is everything okay?” the tallest one asked, a man dressed in all-

black.

“Oh, everything’s fine.” my mother replied, voice honey–sweet

sometimes.” She turned to look at me. “Don’t you, dear?”

“You can’t mean that, it’s…”

being afraid. You’re dead to me.”

She had the nerve to look hurt, as if she was the victim. It didn’t

Chapter 23: Die!

matter.

I could hear the distant wailing of sirens. In no time, red and

blue lights of a patrol car appeared on the bridge. I watched as

all the color drained from her face. She finally realized that it

was well and truly over.

And I felt nothing. Just a strange, steady calm. I turned in the

direction of the approaching car, already preparing a statement in my head.

On the way home, I tried to push everything out of my head,

her words echoed, almost as if she was sitting in the backseat

whispering, taunting me.

Instead of breaking me as they once would have, they fueled

the storm building inside. My knuckles turned white on the steering wheel. It felt like my whole body was on fire, holding

an entire wave of fury.

However, when I pulled up to the house and saw Xander’s Rolls

Royce in the driveway. I shifted my gaze and saw him, standing

on the porch, waiting.

My wolf growled at the sight of him, redirecting all our anger. I threw my door open, ready to bring the house down.

“Jane,” he called as I slammed the car door. “What happened

Chapter 23: Die!

tonight? Your mother called from the police station asking for

my lawyer.”

He’d spoken to my mother. The first person she’d called for help

after trying to kill me was my husband. I was going to get

answers, and I would get them now. I took a deep breath and

unclenched my fists.

ribs.

I walked straight up to him, heart pounding against my ri

“Did you tell her to do it?”

“To do what? What are you talking about?”

“Did you tell my mother to push me off that bridge?”