Page 197 of Halfblood Deceived

“I—I am not coming b-back,” Luna said, voice tremulous, but determined. “I don’t forgive you for selling me away to that monster as if I were a broodmare.”

“We’ll find you a better mate this time,” her mother said, as if that solved everything.

Luna’s nostrils flared, eyes bright with tears. “I have chosen my mate. The one who saved my life. I am never going back.”

“You heard her,” Ethan said, his voice loaded with approval and warning. “And you will respect her choices.”

“You are dead,” Luna’s father snarled at Ethan, his large body shaking with his impending transformation. “I will kill you for soiling my bloodline!”

Ethan carefully pushed Luna a step back. The giant werewolf with red hair placed his arm around Luna’s waist and half hid her behind him. The lean, goth-looking vampire stood shoulder to shoulder with Ethan, zeroing his black eyes on the werewolf who looked similar to Luna, marking him as prey. The small fey with pink hair flashed her teeth at Luna’s mother.

The pack half crouched, growling in unison. They practically vibrated with rage and the energy coursing through their bodies before the change.

Luna and Ethan’s friends leaned forward and roared as one. There were just four of them counting Ethan, and Aella had the sinking suspicion they were not a match for the pack. The bouncers would help them, of course, but it was still dangerous. Luna was frozen in place aside from the shaking she clearly couldn’t control. She would be an easy target if all Hell broke loose.

Aella’s stomach twisted with sympathy.

She’d been serving champagne to Luna, Ethan, and their friends mere minutes before. And hiding a smile as the petite fey told the group a story about Ethan. Namely, how Ethan stole chickens and silverware from a noble family he used to work for when he was young.

Aella bit her lip and carefully slid half behind the redheaded werewolf and Luna. Taking the female’s hand in hers, she got ready to protect her somehow.

She knew Rod, Vaz, Tim, Reese, and the others were capable and badass, but the pack of werewolves was full of rage and bloodlust. And she needed to keep Luna safe. The young werewolf was whimpering low, fear and rage pulsing from her. She squeezed Aella’s hand hard enough to hurt, but Aella didn’t let go.

“What the Hell is happening here?” asked a commanding female voice.

Relief spread inside Aella’s chest even before she saw Kamilla approach, followed closely by Zeydan and Andreas.

Zeydan’s jade eyes found Aella’s gaze at once.

Her stomach flip-flopped. Her muscles tightened with longing, regret, and affection so deep that she inhaled sharply.

A wave of Kamilla’s kinetic power slammed against the angry pack, forcing them all to stumble back.

Aella’s eyes returned to Kamilla, who sauntered with her usual grace and stood right between her security personnel and the angry pack. She narrowed her eyes at the werewolves. Her silver, strappy heels, and sleeveless red dress made her no less intimidating.

The pack sniffed at the vampire princess, and—except for Luna’s mother and father—gawked at her as if she were the very Kraken, ready to devour them all, and froze.

Zeydan and Andreas flanked Kamilla, looking imposing and utterly nonchalant. Zeydan was clad in a black suit and coat. Andreas wore a jacket over a long-sleeved blue shirt and black trousers. Aella wondered how many hidden knives he had on his person.

“I asked you a question,” Kamilla said with lethal calm, directing her question to the leader of the pack.

He clenched his teeth. “I came here to take back what is mine.”

Kamilla arched a golden brow. “And what is it you claim as yours?”

“My daughter,” he growled, glaring at Luna who had stopped shaking and was instead staring in awe at Kamilla.

“Your daughter is a who, not a what,” Kamilla said, in the tone a teacher uses to correct a child. “And she will go nowhere with you unless she wants to.”

The werewolf dared to take a step closer to Kamilla. They were matched in height thanks to Kam’s heels. “That leech,” he pointed at Ethan, “kidnapped her, brainwashed her, and intends to breed her. I will not allow him to soil my bloodline!”

Ethan growled and lunged forward, but the redheaded werewolf and Luna grabbed him simultaneously. “Watch your fucking mouth, you bastard! Or I’ll knock your fucking teeth out!”

Kamilla pretended not to notice Ethan’s threat and met Luna’s gaze instead. “I remember you, Luna. I’ve bought some lovely dresses from you.”

Luna dipped her chin. “You are one of my best clients, Lady Davashkov.”

Kam’s lips tilted minutely. “Am I right to assume that you wish not to leave with your family, but to stay with your fiance and friends?”

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