hapter 9
Luna Daisy kept cursing us, venom in every word.
But Finn suddenly coughed up black blood and collapsed, limp on the ground.
Daisy’s shrieks stopped cold. Her twisted face melted into panic. “Finn, what’s wrong?”
“Get the pack doctor! Save him! My son’s innocent–he knew nothing about this!”
My mother, the pack doctor, sneered. “Don’t bother. Your son’s been dead for years.”
“Haven’t
you noticed how cold he’s been? I laced his potion with vampire venom. Half his blood is vampire now. I turned
him into a hybrid with my drugs. You thought he was getting better, but you’ve been living with a half–vampire–the very
thing you despise!”
The potion’s grip on Finn slipped away. He became a lifeless husk again.
He looked at me, then at Daisy, and murmured, “Mom, you’ve ruined me.”
“I could’ve been with Alina, the one I loved, forever. I truly wanted her as my Luna.”
“Look at what you’ve done.” He slumped, lost in thought.
“No,” I said, meeting his gaze. “If you really loved Alina, you wouldn’t have let your parents keep picking Lunas for you.”
He gave a faint, bitter smile. “You’re right.” Then his breathing stopped.
Daisy broke at the sight of her son’s bloodied body. She scrambled to him, frantic, but it was useless.
My mother let out a wild laugh. “Eight years, Daisy. Now you know my pain. This is your reckoning!”
Then she coughed up blood herself.
I rushed to her. “Mom, what’s wrong?”
She gave a weak smile. “The drug I gave Finn–it’s taken its toll. My body’s been hollowed out for years.”
“Harper, you’re on your own now. The money I left you won’t make you rich, but it’ll keep you fed and clothed for life.”
“Forget this hate. Live well.”
As her hand fell limp, the last warmth in my heart slipped away.
I clutched her, sobbing uncontrollably. The crowd looked on, faces heavy with pity.
Luna Daisy was hauled off to the werewolf prison, pending investigation. The werewolf detective helped me up, wanting to comfort me but finding no words
I said nothing I took my mother’s body and buried her beside my father and Alina
The stars twinkled above, like they were whispering
Chapter 9
1731%
I wiped my tears and stepped into the endless night.
One day, I thought, we’d meet again under those stars.
C
