RAMON’S POV

I couldn’t stop myself. The moment Sonia’s lips touched mine, it felt like an inferno ignited inside me.

Heat surged through my veins, burning away every rational thought. Nothing else mattered. Not the crowd of my wolves watching us with wide eyes. Not the fact that she stood on trial for her father’s crimes. None of it.

All I could think about was pulling her closer. My hands found her waist, gripping her soft curves as I dragged her body flush against mine. Her scent wrapped around me like a drug—sweet, wild, and utterly mine. I deepened the kiss, tasting her fully, claiming her mouth with a hunger I had never known. Her small gasp against my lips only fueled the fire. For those few seconds, the mate bond roared to life, demanding I take her right there, mark her, consummate what the moon had decided.

When we finally broke apart, my chest heaved. I could still feel the ghost of her lips, the way her body had melted into mine. My wolf paced restlessly beneath my skin, urging me to finish what we started.

"For someone who says they can hold off until after the full moon, that was one hell of a kiss."

I blinked hard, snapping out of the haze. Blane stood right beside me, arms crossed, a smug grin on his face. How had he gotten so close without me noticing? If this had been an attack, I would already be dead. The realization hit like cold water, but the heat from Sonia still lingered.

"Why are you here, Blane?" I growled low. "You should be out there bringing me Jack’s head."

"I know, and I’m working on it. We move at dark. I just couldn’t miss the trial." His eyes sparkled with amusement. "Imagine my surprise when I walked in just in time to see your tongue shoved deep into—"

I grabbed him by the throat before he could finish, slamming him against the nearest stone wall. My fingers tightened, feeling his pulse jump under my grip. "That was just a kiss. I’m not going to lose the bet!"

Blane raised both hands in surrender, his face turning slightly red. I released him, and he slid down the wall, coughing once as he caught his breath.

"Wow, you’re testy today," he said, rubbing his neck. "Is it the full moon already messing with you?"

"Leave me alone, Blane."

"Why? Don’t tell me you’re worried about what the pack will think." He straightened up, dusting off his clothes. "Their mighty Alpha’s heart compromised by the enemy’s daughter. The man who should be taking revenge on the girl whose father betrayed him, instead standing there kissing her like a starving wolf."

"Enough, Blane!" My voice echoed off the walls, sharp enough to cut.

I hated the picture he painted. I was no weakling. I had built Bloodmoon Pack through blood and strength. This pull toward Sonia had to be the full moon’s fault. It stirred the mate bond like a storm, making it nearly impossible to push her away. Every instinct screamed to protect her, to claim her, but my mind clung desperately to the vow I had made.

How was I supposed to win this bet when the full moon existed for one purpose, to bring mates together?

"I’m just saying," Blane continued, his tone turning serious, "your wolves respect you. If they see you’ve softened toward her, they’ll follow. The only real threat is Lorena. If she senses she’s losing, she’ll turn the pack against Sonia. You know how good she is at manipulation. She’ll whisper in their ears, stir up old wounds. I just hope by then you’ll love Sonia enough to fight for her."

"That’s never going to happen," I said, shaking my head hard. "I could never love the daughter of the man who ruined my life. Never!"

I turned and walked away as fast as my legs would carry me, leaving Blane behind. His words chased me anyway. Everyone seemed to be on her side. No one understood why I had to keep my distance. Feeling anything for Sonia would make me a traitor to my parents’ memory. I had sworn on their graves—an eye for an eye.

The plan had always been clear. Toy with Ferins until he broke, then kill Sonia right in front of him. Simple. Clean. But if I let this desire consume me, how could I go through with it? How could I end her life when every cell in my body ached to make her mine?

My feet carried me without thought until the sound of rushing water filled my ears. I had reached the riverbank. Moonlight danced on the surface, turning the flowing current into liquid silver. I dropped to the ground, folding my legs beneath me, and stared at the water. The cool night air brushed my skin, but it did nothing to calm the fire inside.

Everything felt strange now. Nothing was black and white anymore. It used to be so simple, find the girl, use her against Ferins, kill her. End the cycle of pain.

"How could you make her my mate?" I whispered, tilting my head toward the sky. The full moon hung heavy and bright above the trees, almost mocking me. "What kind of cruel fate is this?"

I had believed I could resist forever. I was Ramon, Alpha of Bloodmoon. Stronger than any bond, stronger than destiny itself. I should be able to grab fate by the throat and force it to obey. Yet here I sat, the battle raging fiercer inside me with every passing hour. My control was slipping. The need to go back to her, to finish that kiss and more, grew harder to ignore.

A twig snapped behind me.

I spun around fast, my hand shooting out. My fingers closed around a throat, and I lifted the stranger clean off the ground before slamming them into the dirt. My knee pinned their chest as I kept the pressure on their neck. With my free hand, I ripped off the dark mask covering their face.

"Who are you? Why are you following me?" I snarled. The face was unfamiliar, thin, pale, with fear-filled eyes.

"I have... I ha-ve a message," the man choked out, struggling under my grip.

I loosened my hold just enough for him to breathe. "A message from who?"

"From Alpha Ferins." He coughed violently, gasping for air.

My heart slammed against my ribs. Finally. The old bastard had responded. "What does he want?"

"He says he’s thought about it long enough. He has a response."

I leaned closer, teeth clenched. "What is it?"

"An eye for an eye."

I frowned. "What?"

"An eye for an eye," he repeated, voice raspy.

"No, I heard you. I just want to—"

Before I could demand more details, the man bit down hard on his own tongue. Blood spurted from his mouth. His body convulsed once, twice, then went still under me. His eyes stared blankly at the moonlit sky.

"No! Wake up, you bastard!" I growled, smacking his face hard. But he was gone. Dead. Useless.

I sat back on my heels, staring at the corpse. I hadn’t even learned how he slipped into our territory undetected. Our security was compromised, but that worry faded under the weight of the message.

"An eye for an eye."

The dead man’s voice echoed in my head again, cold and final. My blood ran hot with rage and something sharper, fear for what it meant.

"Ivy!"

I jumped to my feet, stripping off my clothes in frantic movements. The shift came fast and powerful. Bones cracked and reshaped. Fur rippled over my skin. In seconds, my massive black wolf stood where the man had been. The world sharpened, scents stronger, sounds clearer. I threw back my head and let out a thunderous howl that shook the trees.

Then I ran.