Vanya's POV
I knew that only by leaving with Cliff could the two packs remain unscathed, and I could secure their future protection.
At this thought, a chill ran down my spine, and a deep sense of unease washed over me.
Edwin's mind was incredibly meticulous. Every move seemed meticulously planned, which was truly terrifying.
He was like a wolf lurking in the shadows, always ready to strike with a fatal blow, catching everyone off guard.
After a moment of silence, I said, "Thank you, Mr. Hammond. It's getting late, and I'll leave with Alpha Cliff now. I apologize for any rudeness today and will come to make amends another day."
Edwin lowered his eyelids. After a while, he raised a hand in a gesture.
The bodyguards stepped aside, and Cliff's grip on my arm tightened even more as he turned to leave.
I keenly noticed that outside the Hammond family's door, Cliff had also brought his own people.
If I had chosen to stay just now, Cliff's men might have stormed the hall without hesitation.
I couldn't imagine more.
These two powerful figures in Los Angeles, both inscrutable, were like two wolves hiding in the dark, ready to bare their sharp fangs and devour me at any moment.
Cliff's actions were somewhat rough as he pulled me into the car. I felt like my hand bones were about to be crushed. I frowned, looking at him with displeasure.
"Cliff! Are you crazy? Just because Melinda fainted, you don't have to be in such a bad temper, do you?"
Suddenly, Cliff slammed on the brakes, and I nearly hit the dashboard.
In my experience, Cliff never lost his composure like this. It seemed that Melinda's fainting had really driven him to lose his rationality.
Or perhaps it was the frustration he felt with Edwin that had angered him.
At that moment, Cliff's eyes turned fierce, his lips curled into a sneer, revealing sharp fangs.
His body began to change as well. Fur started to grow from his skin, his arms became thick and muscular, and his fingers turned into sharp claws.
He suddenly reached out and grabbed my neck. I saw his eyes filled with anger, the whites of his eyes turning bloodshot, and he let out a low growl.
The growl seemed to come from the depths of hell, shaking my very soul.
I endured the pain without crying out, but fear filled my heart.
I knew Cliff had lost his rationality. His actions were no longer under control.
I tried to stay calm and looked for an opportunity to escape his grip.
"Cl-Cliff!" My breathing became more and more difficult, and my hand fell limply to my side.
Each breath felt like fire burning in my lungs, bringing intense pain.
I felt as if Death had its hands around my throat, and the breath of life was being slowly drained from my body.
The world before my eyes began to blur, the light gradually dimmed, and my consciousness started to fade.
My wolf, which had been curled up in agony in the depths of my soul due to the sudden attack from my mate, let out mournful whimpers.
But as the threat to my life grew, it roared with an unprecedented ferocity, unleashing a powerful aura within me.
The aura surged inside me like a raging tsunami, its roar echoing in my mind.
Cliff quickly released his grip.
"A-hem!" I coughed a few times, taking a long while to catch my breath.
My heart raced as if it would leap out of my chest.
I felt a surge of anger and profound disappointment.
"Vanya, I..." Cliff tried to reach out and touch the red marks on my neck, but I warily stepped back.
At the same time, I released my own aura, a powerful presence that filled the car like a storm, making Cliff feel my fury.
I could sense my wolf roaring inside me, wanting to break free and protect me from Cliff's harm.
Cliff fell silent.
He had indeed lost control just now.
He seemed to realize his mistake and felt the strong power emanating from me.
His eyes showed a hint of guilt and helplessness.
But I didn't care about his attitude at the moment. This madman had almost killed me just now.
For the rest of the ride, neither Cliff nor I spoke a word.
When we returned to the Silver Moon Pack, as soon as I entered the house, I saw that it was decorated very warmly.
No doubt Veronica had asked Jenny to do this on purpose.
Veronica didn't know what Cliff had just done. She was still dreaming that the pack successor she had chosen and the Luna she had picked would reconcile.
But thinking about what had just happened in the car, I couldn't help but give a self-mocking smile.
Living under the same roof with a man who had almost strangled me just now was extremely uncomfortable.
"Vanya!" Cliff called out behind me, but I didn't stop climbing the stairs.
I had no desire to speak with him at all, let alone listen to his explanations.