After My Mate Poisoned Our Son, I Took Revenge

The basement vent creaked open, and Marcus's weathered face appeared in the shadows. His eyes darted nervously around the silver-lined cell before settling on me.

"Luna Sylvia," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the distant hum of the security system. "I couldn't get the cup to you."

My heart sank, but I forced myself to remain calm. "What happened?"

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small lead box. "I hid it in here to preserve the poison residue. The Wolfsbane will still be detectable."

I took the box with trembling hands. It was heavier than it looked, the metal cold against my skin.

"Thank you, Marcus," I said, my voice cracking with emotion. "You've risked everything for me."

The old Omega shook his head. "For Avery, Luna. For the pup."

He reached into his pocket again, this time producing a small vial filled with clear liquid. "I stole this from Healer Janelle's supplies. It's Clarity Root."

My eyes widened. Clarity Root was rare and dangerous—it temporarily dampened the effect of an Alpha Command, allowing a werewolf to resist their Alpha's control.

"Be careful," Marcus warned. "It'll burn going down, and you'll only have about twenty minutes before it wears off."

I took the vial without hesitation. "Twenty minutes is all I need."

Marcus nodded, his eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and determination. "Tomorrow night is the Summit. Alpha Tobias plans to present you as Feral before Elder Garrett and the neighboring Alphas."

My fingers tightened around the vial. "He's accelerating his timeline."

"He knows something's wrong," Marcus confirmed. "The Iron Guard has been asking questions about your condition. He needs to make his move before they discover the truth."

I tucked the vial into my pocket, my mind racing with possibilities. "Marcus, can you—"

A sharp knock from above made us both freeze.

"Marcus!" Tobias's voice echoed through the basement. "What are you doing down there?"

Marcus's face drained of color. "I'll be right up, Alpha!" he called back, his voice surprisingly steady despite his fear.

He turned to me, his eyes urgent. "I've loosened the hinges on your cell door. When the time comes, use your wolf strength."

With those words, he disappeared through the vent, leaving me alone with the lead box and the vial of Clarity Root.

---

The next morning, Tobias's voice boomed through the pack house speakers.

"Attention all members of SilverCrest Pack," he announced, his tone triumphant. "Tonight we host the Pack Unification Summit. Neighboring Alphas and Council Elder Garrett will witness our transition of power."

I pressed my ear against the cold silver wall, straining to hear more.

"In light of Luna Sylvia's tragic mental decline," Tobias continued, "Elder Garrett will officially declare her Feral status. This designation will protect our pack from further instability."

My wolf snarled within me. *Feral*. The ultimate insult to a werewolf—a designation that stripped away all rights, all protection under pack law.

"Following the declaration," Tobias's voice continued, "I will introduce Janelle Weaver as acting Luna until a suitable replacement can be found."

I closed my eyes, imagining Janelle wearing my mother's necklace as she stood beside Tobias before the assembled Alphas. The thought made bile rise in my throat.

*We won't let that happen*, my wolf promised fiercely.

---

Night fell, and with it came the distant sounds of the Summit gathering above. Music played, glasses clinked, and the voices of powerful Alphas filled the Great Hall.

I uncorked the vial of Clarity Root with shaking fingers. The liquid inside shimmered with an unnatural light, its scent sharp and acidic.

"For Avery," I whispered, tipping the vial against my lips.

The liquid burned like fire down my throat, spreading through my body like molten metal. I bit back a scream as it seared through my veins, momentarily stealing my breath.

Then, gradually, I felt it—the crushing weight of Tobias's Alpha Command began to lift. Not completely, but enough that I could move without feeling like I was swimming through concrete.

I heard footsteps approaching the basement door—multiple sets, moving with purpose.

"It's time," I whispered to my wolf.

I closed my eyes, summoning the shift. Pain exploded through my body as I transformed inside the confined space of the cell. My white fur sizzled where it touched the silver bars, filling the air with the acrid smell of burning wolf.

Ignoring the agony, I lunged at the cell door, my powerful jaws clamping onto the loosened hinges. With a metallic screech that tore through the basement's silence, the door gave way.

Just as I burst through the opening, the basement lights flickered and died. In the darkness, I heard Marcus's voice from the stairway.

"The power's cut. Go!"

My father's warriors materialized from the shadows, their movements silent as they neutralized the basement guards before they could raise the alarm.

I stood in the center of the chaos, blood matting my white fur, my eyes fixed on the stairway that led to freedom—and revenge.