DANE'S POV
"Camilla," I called out, my voice firm. She didn’t even flinch, her cold, hard glare fixed on Astrid.
Astrid, who looked exhausted and fragile. She had just given birth. She needed rest, not this. She shouldn’t be standing here, facing Camilla.
All I could think was, ‘Have I ever done anything right?’ Ever since she came into my life, all I’d done was cause her pain and worry. And now I had a son too.
I couldn’t let this cruel fate fall on them both. They deserved peace— ‘they deserved better than me.’
Camilla took a step forward, her lips curling into a cruel smile. Her eyes locked onto the baby. My son. I stepped in front of Astrid, blocking her view.
"I’m going to need the child," Camilla said, her voice dripping with malice. The smirk on her face widened, her eyes glowing with hatred.
My jaw tightened, my body tense. "What makes you think I’ll give you my son?" I growled, glaring at her.
But my words only made her smile bigger. She looked back at me with the same chilling confidence.
"I don’t want him," she replied. "What would I do with him? But I do want ‘her’ dead. And the child too. You and everyone else who killed my father." Her voice cracked as she shouted the last words.
It was clear—Camilla was here for revenge. I had expected this for months. After her father died, I waited for her to strike, but nothing happened.
Months passed. The first, second, third… still nothing. I started to believe she had gone into hiding, that maybe she was starting over somewhere far away.
I even sent my men to search for her, but they found nothing. She had vanished.
But now, she was here. I had been a fool to believe she’d run away.
I looked her in the eye. "I gave you a chance to leave. Your father died, and you had a chance to walk away. But you didn’t. And now you’re here, still making bad decisions." I clenched my fists, rage boiling in my veins. "Did you kill Astrid’s mother?"
Camilla let out a bitter laugh. "Of course, I did. She deserved it. It was justice for my father. You all killed him, and now I’ve evened the score."
She was smiling, but her words made my blood run cold. "I’ve been planning this for eight months," she continued. "I didn’t come alone, and it’s a full moon tonight. I know you can barely control yourself under the curse. There’s no escape for you."
As soon as the words left her mouth, men began to emerge from the woods, one after the other. They surrounded us. Camilla had come prepared.
I turned to Ethan and Ivar. "Get Astrid out of here," I ordered. "Take her to the pack house. Protect her, and don’t come back until she’s safe." I glanced at Astrid, who looked pale and scared, but she didn’t protest.
Ivar helped her into the car, and they drove off. I breathed a little easier knowing they were safe for now.
Camilla laughed, the sound mocking. "How heroic. I’ll kill you first, then I’ll go after them. Once you’re gone, no one will be able to protect them." Her eyes gleamed with wicked glee as she signaled her men to attack.
They came at me all at once. Swinging at me, stabbing at me with daggers, their claws cutting through my skin. But I wasn’t going to let them win.
My wolf was in control now. The curse took over, feeding my thirst for blood. I slashed through the attackers, tearing into their flesh, ripping them apart one by one.
My claws dug deep into their bodies, breaking bones, shredding skin. I could feel the blood splatter on my face, dripping down my arms. I didn’t stop until the last one fell, his head torn from his body.
When the fight was over, I stood surrounded by bodies, the snow stained red with blood. My chest heaved, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I was covered in blood, but I had won.
Camilla stood frozen, her face pale with fear. Her eyes darted around, taking in the carnage. "Please," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please, let me go. I swear, I’ll leave. I won’t ever come back."
I stared at her, remembering the last words her father had said. **Those were his words too.** He had begged for mercy, just like she was now.
I stepped toward her, grabbing her by the hair and pulling her to her feet. She gasped in pain, her hands clawing at my grip, but I didn’t let go.
"I promised you the last time we met that you would suffer," I said coldly.
"This is for Astrid’s mother. This is for my family." My grip tightened around her neck, squeezing the life out of her.
Camilla’s eyes rolled back, and her body went limp. She passed out, but I wasn’t done with her yet.
I let her fall to the ground, then grabbed her legs. I started dragging her body across the ground, the rough ice cutting into her skin as I hauled her up the bridge.
She wouldn’t get an easy death. I had promised that.
The full moon hung high in the sky, casting a cold, pale light over the blood-soaked floor. I dragged Camilla’s unconscious body to the edge of the bridge, her legs scraping against the ground.
It was time to end it all.