ISLA POV
Pain exploded through my neck. Riley's teeth tore deep, hitting something vital. I tasted blood—my own blood—filling my mouth.
This was it. This was how I died.
Not in some heroic way. Not fighting for justice or changing the world. Just another omega killed by wolves who thought I didn't deserve to exist.
My wolf whimpered, growing weaker. The world started going dark around the edges.
But through the pain, through the dying, I felt one thing clearly: Damien's anguish. His soul screaming through the mate bond as it shattered between us.
He'd tried to save me. Threw himself in front of his own sister's attack. And I'd jumped in front of him because—because—
Because I loved him.
The thought came clear and sharp, cutting through everything else. I loved Damien Blackwood. The playboy alpha I'd sworn to hate. The rich boy who represented everything wrong with my world. I loved him, and now I'd never get to tell him.
Riley's jaws released. I hit the ground hard, my wolf form flickering. Too weak to hold the shift. My human body appeared, naked and bleeding in the dirt.
"Isla!" Damien's voice broke on my name. His hands pressed against my neck, trying to stop the blood. "Stay with me. Please. Don't leave me."
I wanted to answer. Wanted to tell him it wasn't his fault. That Riley was sick, his father was evil, and none of this was because of him.
But words wouldn't come. Only blood.
"Someone call Dr. Martinez!" Damien screamed. "NOW!"
"She's rogue," one of Riley's pack members said coldly. "Rogue wolves don't get medical care. It's the law."
"Then change the law!" Damien's Alpha power exploded outward. "I'm ordering you as future Alpha—get help or I'll rip your throat out myself!"
Through blurry vision, I saw wolves scatter. Running to obey or running away, I couldn't tell.
Riley laughed. Even now, covered in my blood, she laughed. "You're pathetic, brother. Begging for an omega's life like she matters. Like she's not exactly what Father said—trash pretending to be treasure."
"Shut up." Damien didn't even look at her. His eyes stayed on me, desperate and terrified. "Isla, listen to my voice. Focus on me. The bond might be broken, but you're still breathing. Still fighting. That's what you do—you fight."
I did fight. All my life, I'd fought. Fought poverty, fought prejudice, fought a world that told me I was worthless.
But I was so tired of fighting.
My eyes drifted closed. Damien's voice faded to a distant echo.
Then—light. Warm and golden, wrapping around me like a blanket. I floated in it, peaceful for the first time in forever.
A woman appeared in the light. Beautiful and ancient, with eyes that held the wisdom of centuries.
"Isla Monroe." Her voice was everywhere and nowhere. "Do you know who I am?"
"The Moon Goddess," I whispered. My voice worked here, in this in-between place. "Am I dead?"
"Nearly." She moved closer, studying me with those infinite eyes. "Your thread of life is almost cut. But I have a choice to offer you."
"What choice? I'm dying."
"You can die," she agreed. "Release this pain, this struggle. Find peace in the afterlife with your mother. She's waiting for you, you know. Eager to hold her daughter again."
Mom. The thought of seeing her again made my heart ache with longing.
"Or?" I asked, because there was always an or.
"Or you can live." The Moon Goddess's expression grew serious. "But living means suffering. Means facing the Lunar Council's judgment. Means fighting Damien's family, changing ancient laws, birthing children who will be rejected by both sides of their heritage. The path ahead is soaked in blood and tears."
"That's not much of a choice."
"Isn't it?" She tilted her head. "Death offers peace. Life offers purpose. Both are gifts, Isla. Which do you want more?"
I thought of Damien, broken and sobbing over my body. Thought of Maya, my best friend who'd stood by me through everything. Thought of all the other omegas suffering under laws that said they were less than nothing.
Thought of my mom, who'd died trying to change those same laws.
"If I live," I said slowly, "will I be strong enough? To change things? To survive what's coming?"
"Strength isn't about surviving," the Moon Goddess said gently. "It's about choosing to stand back up after being knocked down. You've done that your whole life. The question is: do you want to keep doing it?"
Did I?
Part of me wanted to say no. Wanted to choose peace, choose rest, choose my mom's arms and an end to pain.
But another part—the part that had fought through four years of academy hell, that had survived Riley's attack, that had looked Victor Blackwood in the face and refused to bow—that part wasn't done yet.
"I choose life," I whispered. "I choose to fight."
The Moon Goddess smiled. "Then fight well, little omega. You're going to need every ounce of strength you possess."
She touched my forehead, and power flooded through me. Not healing—my wounds still screamed with agony. But something else. Something that felt like armor settling over my soul.
"What did you give me?" I gasped.
"A gift. And a curse." Her form started fading. "You'll understand soon. But Isla? Remember this: true mates cannot be severed by mortal laws. The bond you feel broken? It's only sleeping. Wake it up, and you'll find power you never imagined."
The light disappeared. The pain came roaring back.
I gasped, my eyes flying open.
Damien's face was inches from mine, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Isla? ISLA!"
"Still here," I croaked. My throat felt like I'd swallowed glass. "Can't get rid of me that easy."
He let out a sound between a laugh and a sob, pulling me against his chest. "You died. Your heart stopped. You were gone for almost a minute—"
"Met the Moon Goddess," I whispered. "She says hi. Also, she says our bond isn't actually broken."
"What?"
Before I could explain, Dr. Martinez arrived with a medical team. They swarmed around me, pressing bandages, checking vitals, muttering about miracles and impossible survivals.
Riley stood frozen, watching me live when I should be dead. Her face showed pure hatred.
"This isn't over," she hissed. "You think surviving changes anything? Father will still destroy you. The Council will still reject you. And I'll keep hunting you until one of us is permanently dead."
"Looking forward to it," I said, my voice stronger now. Whatever the Moon Goddess had given me was working, healing me from the inside out. "Because next time? I'm not running. I'm fighting back."
Riley shifted back to wolf form and ran, her pack following. Cowards, all of them.
Damien helped Dr. Martinez load me onto a stretcher. As they carried me toward the estate, I felt something stirring inside me. The bond. Still there. Still connecting us.
But different now. Stronger. Fiercer.
And something else—something that made my blood run cold.
A second heartbeat inside my body. Tiny and fragile, but definitely there.
I was pregnant.
The Moon Goddess's words echoed: "Birthing children who will be rejected by both sides of their heritage."
Oh no.
"Damien," I whispered as they loaded me into the ambulance. "I need to tell you something. About why I can't die. About why this matters more than—"
The ambulance doors slammed shut, cutting me off. Through the window, I saw Damien running after us, shouting my name.
But the vehicle was already moving, speeding toward the hospital.
And standing in the road behind us, watching with cold satisfaction, was Victor Blackwood. He held up his phone, showing me a text message.
"The omega lives? Fine. But she won't keep that baby. I've already arranged for the hospital to 'accidentally' give her medication that causes miscarriage. By morning, your problem solves itself. - V"
He smiled.
And I realized the fight wasn't over.
It had only just begun.