The rogues were closing in, but Hunter still refused to activate the pack’s protective barrier.

All he cared about was waiting for Artemis, his helpless childhood friend.

But behind us was an entire city of innocent humans—people who relied on our protection. The barrier was their only chance of survival.

As the rogues drew nearer, I had no choice but to use my own strength to reinforce the barrier, sealing it just in time. Artemis, however, couldn’t pass through. She stood there, trapped on the other side, as the rogues descended upon her.

I thought Hunter would rage at me, blame me for her death. But instead, he turned to me, his voice calm, almost grateful.

“Thank you, Savannah,” he said. “You saved the city. You did the right thing.”

I believed him.

But on the night I gave birth to our pup, everything changed.

Hunter waited until I was at my weakest, then sabotaged the pack’s defenses. The rogues broke through, and I could only watch in horror as they tore into our child, ripping apart the tiny, fragile life I had just brought into the world.

Hunter stood by, cold and unmoving, until I lay broken and bleeding, my strength fading.

“If you hadn’t stopped me from saving Artemis,” he said, his voice icy, “she would still be alive. This is what you owe her. Your life for hers.”

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the beginning—the rogues approaching, the city trembling in fear.

If Hunter wanted to save Artemis, I would let him. But this time, he would pay. He would give his life for the child he had taken from me.

---

“Hunter, you’re out of your mind!” I snapped, gesturing to the terrified humans behind us. “If you don’t activate the barrier, they’ll all die. The pack was sent here to protect them, not to abandon them!”

The air was thick with the sounds of crying—children, elders, mothers clutching their babies.

But Hunter stood firm, his jaw set.

“Artemis isn’t here yet,” he said, his voice hard. “We’ll wait a little longer. And don’t act like you’re so noble. Isn’t Artemis one of the people we’re supposed to protect?”

“You’re willing to sacrifice an entire city for one person?” I shot back. “She chose to come with us, Hunter. She knew the risks.”

His face darkened, and for a moment, I thought he might lash out. But then he turned away, his tone final.

“I won’t activate the barrier until Artemis is here.”

The others looked to me, desperation in their eyes.

“Luna,” Joy, my Beta, said quietly, “please talk to him. If we don’t act soon, the rogues will kill us all.”

I smiled faintly and turned to Hunter.

“You’re right,” I said, my voice calm. “Artemis is one of the people we’re here to protect. We can’t abandon her. Let’s wait a little longer.”

Hunter’s shoulders relaxed, and he shot a smug glance at the others.

“See? Savannah understands. Unlike the rest of you, who’d throw Artemis to the wolves without a second thought.”

The pack members exchanged uneasy glances, but no one dared to argue.

“Luna,” Joy said, her voice tight, “you can’t just let him put the entire city at risk because of her.”

Hunter’s smirk widened. “Shut it, Joy. Savannah’s in charge here. You don’t get to question her decisions.”

I kept my head down, hiding the bitter smile that tugged at my lips.

Hunter had always put Artemis first. Every birthday, every important moment, he’d abandoned me for her.

Artemis had a stomachache? He’d stay by her side.

Artemis was afraid of the dark? He’d hold her hand.

Artemis had a cold? He’d nurse her back to health.

And now, even with the rogues bearing down on us, he was still willing to risk everything for her.

Finally, Artemis appeared, stumbling toward us from the direction of the rogues.

She was always so fragile, so helpless, but somehow, she’d managed to make it through the chaos unscathed.

Hunter rushed to her, pulling her into his arms.

“Artemis,” he said, his voice filled with relief. “Are you okay?”

Before she could answer, the rogues surged forward, their snarls filling the air.

It was too late. The barrier had to be activated now.

But Hunter didn’t move.

He just held Artemis, his back to the danger, as if nothing else mattered.

And I knew, in that moment, what I had to do.

This time, I wouldn’t stop him from saving her.

But I would make him pay for what he’d done—to me, to our child, to the city he’d sworn to protect.

This time, Hunter Reed would lose everything.

The civilians behind us, unarmed and defenseless, wore expressions of utter despair. The faces of my pack members weren’t much better. Time had run out to organize any kind of defense, and frustration boiled over among the group.

“Hunter, are you trying to get everyone killed?” one of the warriors snapped, his voice laced with anger.

“And you, Artemis,” another growled, “why did you have to go back for that stupid egg? Are you out of your mind?”

Artemis clung to the white egg in her arms, shrinking behind Hunter as tears streamed down her face. “I—I just thought it was so helpless. It’s still a life, isn’t it?”

Joy, our Beta, let out a bitter laugh. “A life? What about the lives of everyone in this town? Do you realize your little stunt could get them all killed?”

Artemis fell silent, her fingers tightening around Hunter’s arm as she sobbed. Hunter immediately stepped in front of her, shielding her from the accusing stares. “Enough!” he barked, his alpha tone reverberating through the room. “Artemis was just being compassionate. What’s wrong with that?”

He turned to me, his tone dripping with disdain. “Besides, Savannah’s here. She’s got enough power and resources to protect us all. What’s the big deal?”

The others exchanged uneasy glances, their frustration now directed at me. “Luna,” one of them said, “we trusted you to lead us, but this… this isn’t leadership. You’re letting emotions cloud your judgment. Are we just supposed to watch these people die?”

I bowed my head, guilt twisting in my chest. “You’re right,” I admitted. “I let my feelings get in the way. That was my mistake.”

Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a small, intricate device. “This is a temporary barrier generator. It’ll hold off the rogues for seven days. We’ll use that time to regroup and come up with a plan.”

Hunter scoffed, his hand still resting on Artemis’s shoulder. “You’re all overreacting,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension. “It’s just a rogue attack. In seven days, they’ll be gone. You’re all acting like cowards.”

Joy glared at him, but there was no time to argue. The immediate threat was still looming. We made our way to an inn in the town, where the grateful civilians insisted on giving us the best rooms, refusing to take any payment.

“We saved their lives,” Hunter said with a shrug, his arm still around Artemis. “They owe us. Besides, we deserve it after all that.”

He turned to the innkeeper, his tone commanding. “Bring us your best dishes, and make sure my room has the finest accommodations.”

The others exchanged looks of disgust, but before anyone could speak, Joy’s communicator buzzed. Her face paled as she read the message. “Luna,” she said, her voice tight, “the pack just relayed intel. This rogue attack isn’t normal. They think it could last up to forty-nine days. Our barrier won’t hold that long.”

Hunter rolled his eyes. “Relax. Savannah will figure something out. Or we’ll just fight our way out. You’re all acting like we’re doomed.”

I placed a calming hand on Joy’s shoulder and pulled out my own communicator, sending a message to the pack. “It’s fine. I’ve already requested reinforcements. They’ll help us evacuate the town.”

Hunter grinned, turning to Artemis. “See? I told you it would be fine. Once we get back to the pack, I’ll talk to the Alpha and make sure you can stay with us.”

The two of them disappeared upstairs, leaving the rest of us in stunned silence. Joy turned to me, her voice low. “Luna, if it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be in this mess. We wouldn’t have had to call for reinforcements.”

I smiled faintly. “Tell me, Joy, what’s the punishment for harboring a rogue creature in the pack?”

“Expulsion,” she said without hesitation. “And imprisonment in the pack dungeon.”

I nodded. It took her a moment, but then her eyes widened as she realized what I was implying. The egg Artemis had been so desperate to save wasn’t just an ordinary egg. It was something dangerous, something tied to the rogues.

I’d known it the moment I saw it. But Hunter had been so eager to defend Artemis, to praise her “compassion.” If he wanted to take responsibility for her choices, I wasn’t going to stop him.

Though I had to wonder—when the consequences came crashing down, would he still be so willing to protect her? The pack dungeon was no place for the weak. I doubted even Hunter could endure what awaited him there.