The pristine moonlight illuminated every leaf’s texture in the forest, and pairs of sinister, dark eyes peered ferociously from between the trees at those beyond the electrified fence.
Ethan’s overly pale, long fingers lightly circled in the air, tainted with a murky crimson. He sneered and disgustingly shook off the red substance. “I can sense your desire for this filthy blood from the depths of your soul.”
The word “filthy” cut Grace’s heart like a knife.
Her feet were shackled, and even her hands were tightly bound by Ethan. She was in a humiliating posture as he led her to the outskirts of the Frost Moon Pack’s forest, where rogue werewolves were detained.
Grace fought to suppress her Lunarisvampires craving for blood and glared at Ethan. “Quit stalling. If you want to deal with me, just get on with it.”
Ethan squinted. “Grace, you truly are an untamable dog. No matter how lenient I am with you, you always stand by your former master.”
“You’re the real dog here! You have no respect.”
“Did you ever call Aldrich names like this?”
“You can’t even be compared to him. You’re nothing but a pest that lurks in the shadows, afraid of the light of day.”
Ethan grabbed Grace’s hair violently. “Are you asking for death?”
“Have I misjudged you? All your scheming, even when you don’t set me up for sabotage, is equally loathsome to the wolves. People like that critical male host-did you arrange it all?”
“Shut your mouth! Who are you to call me pitiable? I am a noble prince, and you are just a dog with bound limbs!”
“And you’re the wicked executioner destined for hell!”
Grace’s fragile neck was right in front of him, the pale skin with faint blue veins pulsating. Ethan felt that he could hardly control his own fangs from sinking into her!
He forcefully pushed Grace, and with her hands and feet bound, plus the suddenness of the shove, she fell directly onto the grass.
Her disheveled hair covered her face, making her look disheveled. However, she didn’t rush to get up, just watched Ethan, who was infuriated, through the strands of hair. “Or perhaps that male host is also your doing?”
“If not, what then? I never place my hopes in one place, especially with your lack of loyalty.”
“Are you just testing me?”
“The results have been very disappointing. You not only fled in the face of danger but also tried to escape from me.”
“If I were you, I wouldn’t waste any more time here.”
“Waste?”
“Maggie will join The Blue Moon Pack’s council of elders, a decision personally approved by the Grand Alpha. This honor will only make Aldrich more conveniently competitive. I bet your father is fuming and searching for you everywhere.”
“You’d love to see me get scolded by Alexander, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course, it’d be so satisfying!”
Ethan sneered and revealed his sharp wolf claws.
Grace had once seen him use those claws to pierce a disloyal wolf’s chest in his palace.
Instinctively, she tried to move backward, but in the next moment, she froze in place.
Since she couldn’t escape Ethan’s control, she thought it would be better to face a swift, clean death by his hand instead of enduring humiliation and manipulation.
Ethan squatted down, drawing near Grace, and taunted, “What’s wrong? Not thinking of your beloved Marvin anymore?”
“He’s not my mate; I don’t need to sacrifice myself for him.”
He grabbed Grace’s bound hands and his smile turned colder. “Still being defiant, huh?”
With a swift motion, Ethan’s wolf claws came dangerously close to Grace. She closed her eyes, accepting her fate calmly.
In that final moment, her mind wasn’t filled with sweet memories of time spent with Marvin or standing with Aldrich in the grandeur of The Blue Moon Pack’s wolf tribe, receiving their cheers and adulation. It was a blank slate.
Ethan was right; she was the pitiable one.
As the broken ropes fell to the ground, tears welled in Grace’s eyes. Ethan released her bound hands and lifted her from the grass. “Before I face Alexander’s wrath, I need to have some fun.”
“You can’t bear to kill me?”
“Of course not. Without you, where would I find such a stubborn little pet?”
“Ethan, one day, I’ll seize the chance to send you to hell…”
“I look forward to your performance.”
With those words, Ethan easily lifted Grace with one hand and took her step by step toward the electrified fence at the forest’s edge.
“You’re a lunatic!”
“Letting you experience the joy of killing werewolves will make you thankful.”
“No, I can’t kill indiscriminately. It will only make me lose control over my Lunarisvampires craving for blood.”
“That’s great!”
The fence suddenly opened, and the aggressive rogue wolves quickly gathered. Ethan tossed Grace inside, and she was met with countless hostile and predatory looks from the rogues.
“You’d better pray that Alexander doesn’t break my legs in anger. It will extend your training time. After all, I’m the only one who knows you’re here, and no one will come to open the door for you.”
“Ethan Frost Bourne, you better never let me out!”
Grace roared, but her warning was in vain. One of the wolves transformed and lunged at her, forcing her to dodge, while another attacked from behind. She was able to evade but got scratched on the shoulder by sharp claws. Her restraints made her movements awkward.
“Damn you, Ethan!”
Grace dashed forward as the rogues gave chase, and a forest chase began.
At the very least, she had to make it through this night, enduring until the sun rose and the blood moon disappeared. She needed to maintain control over her Lunarisvampires blood cravings and survive.
Grace, desperate for her life, couldn’t help but unleash an angry howl at the blood moon. This was pure torment on her psyche.