Rise Of A Shattered Luna (Natalie) by Kave Derry novel Chapter 48

Chapter 48 The Question

Jensen’s POV

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“Mr. Luke, this matter reeks of something strange,” Hansel said, his voice cautious as he watched me through the rearview mirror. “Miss Natalie barely had any friends, and you basically knew everyone in her circle. Her death was suppressed from the public, too. Who on earth would hate her enough to dig up her grave? What kind of grudge would it take?”

I didn’t answer… I couldn’t. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the empty hole in the earth. It was as if Natalie had been erased twice–once by the fire, and now by this nameless thief. And I somehow feel it’s my fault, probably because Cairn has been blaming me all day.

Hansel sighed, a sound of genuine grief. Over the years, Hansel had received more than a little help from Natalie. She may have helped him only for my sake, but Hansel wasn’t a man who forgot a debt.

I could see the bitterness in the set of his shoulders. I knew he felt the weight of my secrets; the fact that I had hidden my marriage to Sharom without warning Natalie beforehand made him feel he already owed her dearly.

Now she was dead–why couldn’t others let her rest in peace?

My eyes suddenly narrowed. I leaned forward, my fingers digging into the leather.

“What did you just say?”

Hansel froze under my gaze, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. He thought he had overstepped, that his pity for my dead wife had offended me.

“Mr. Luke, I spoke out of turn. I apologize.”

“No. Your last words. Say them again.”

“What kind of grudge… what kind of hatred?” Hansel repeated, his voice small.

My mind instantly conjured Sharon’s image. If anyone hated Natalie the most, it was Sharon.

Sharon had spent eighteen years resenting Natalie for existing. Now Sharon’s wolf had been muted in a mockery of the ritual she had once forced upon Natalie.

I had recently treated her coldly; could it be Sharon who sent someone to desecrate Natalie’s grave? Who else would even know the exact location of that private plot?

And the smashed tombstone was definitely her handiwork; Sharon would hate that the most. She would hate that even in death, I had claimed Natalie as my mate.

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Chapter 48 The Question

“To the hospital!” I instructed.

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Hansel didn’t know exactly what I had realized, but it had been a long time since he had seen me like this. The last time had been five years ago, when I got better. I had gotten rid of the elders and pack members who planned on taking my position as the Alpha.

Now, I was once again consumed with rage. And Hansel was right to think it was bitter–the last time this happened, Natalie was the one to calm me down.

I drove straight to the hospital and stormed into Sharon’s ward.

Even with the pump hissing into her veins, Sharon’s voice was tearing through the heavy doors, screaming at the top of her lungs.

“Are you all dead? I’m in agony, and you idiots can’t think of a single solution? If this pain doesn’t stop, I’ll make sure each of you loses your wolf!”

I stopped outside the door, she sounded like a complete madwoman, with no trace of the sickness she usually wore like a mask.

I saw her mother standing by the bed, her face a mask of practiced indulgence. To her, Sharon was her spoiled princess. To the hospital staff, she was the Luna because she was mated to me.

But I had never seen this side of Sharon before.

Yes, she had been spoiled and unreasonable with me–but this viciousness, these venomous words… they felt like a physical weight. My brows furrowed tightly.

A nurse spotted me at the door and opened her mouth to announce me, but I silenced her with a single look. I wanted to hear and see with my own eyes what Sharon was really like when the mask was off. The nurse shut her mouth and stepped aside, trembling.

Sharon, oblivious to my presence, shrieked, smashing a water pitcher against the floor, her voice ragged with a hate that made my skin crawl.

“Natalie! Even dead, you won’t leave me alone? You filthy bitch–you should’ve been left without a grave, without ashes, eaten by wild dogs!”

The words fell like lead.

“So it was you who dug up Natalie’s grave, wasn’t it?”

I kicked the door wide open. It slammed against the wall with a crack that silenced the room instantly.

I stepped inside.

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15:48 Mon, May 110

Chapter 48 The Question

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Sharon froze.

I saw the ugly reality of her soul, and for the first time, I couldn’t remember what it was I had ever liked about her.

Why did the same face I once thought attractive now feel nauseating to look at?

Her mom noticed the disgust and murderous intent in my eyes. She quickly tugged Sharon’s arm, trying to snap her out of it.

“Alpha Jensen, Sharon only said those things because the pain was too much,” her mom stammered, her voice frantic. “She didn’t mean it. No matter what, Natalie was once part of our family as an adopted daughter. Now that she’s gone, how could we possibly dig up her grave? And Sharon has been here in the hospital since her wolf was muted!”

I didn’t even glance at her. My gaze was locked on Sharon, my voice as cold as a winter morning.

“She may be here, but to get something done doesn’t require lifting her own hands, does it, Sharon?”

“What are you talking about?” Sharon frowned, her confusion appearing genuine for a split second before her eyes darted away. “What grave? Why would I bother with Natalie’s grave?”

“I’ll give you one more chance,” I said, stepping closer until I could see the sweat on her brow. “Hand over Natalie’s ashes, and I’ll let bygones be bygones. Otherwise…”

I didn’t finish the sentence. I didn’t have to.

Her mom opened her mouth to defend her daughter, but I sliced through her words like a blade.

“Luna, you still have time to argue with me here Do you not know your pack is already in trouble?”

“What?” Her heart gave a violent jolt, her face paling.

Sharon’s face also shifted, the pain momentarily forgotten. “Jensen, what do you mean? Hasn’t the pack always had your support? What do you mean something’s happened now?”

She reached out with her good hand to grab my arm, but I shook her off as if she were a leper.

“Back then, when you and Natalie were kidnapped,” I began, my voice a lethal whisper, “why didn’t you tell me right away that Natalie was trapped in that warehouse too?”

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