I Almost Got Killed By My Son's Mate

Atilla's POV

Ceresca's sudden slap was a shock, but the venom in her insults stung even worse. I could feel the eyes of the gathered wolves on us, watching as if we were putting on a twisted show—a fated mate beating down the supposed "other woman."

“She looks so well-mannered, and yet…” “Who would’ve thought? Seducing another wolf’s mate at her age? Shameless.”

The whispers pierced through the growing pain in my face, but I kept my composure. I had to. I stepped forward, raising my voice over the din of the crowd. "Ceresca, you’ve misunderstood. I am Xerxes's—"

But she didn’t let me finish. Rage consumed her as she grabbed my hair, throwing me down to the ground with a vicious snarl. The impact knocked the breath out of me, but I could already feel more claws tearing into my back, her friends joining the fray, slashing and stomping with feral glee.

I growled low in my throat, trying to push through the pain. "Enough!" I roared, shifting into my wolf form in one fluid motion, shaking them off like leaves in a storm. My voice boomed through the square as my wolf, silver-furred and commanding, towered over them.

But my attempt at restraint only seemed to provoke them. Their eyes darkened with fury as they shifted into their wolves, ready for blood.

"I won’t stop until you’re dead, slut!" Ceresca snarled, her words dripping with hatred. "You seduced my mate, and now you’re denying it? Pathetic."

She lunged at me, intending to tackle me. But I sidestepped and successfully dodged her attack.

My wolf instincts were flaring, but I held back. She was my son’s mate—the future Luna of our pack. Hurting her was the last thing I wanted.

Ceresca landed lightly on her paws, a sneer curling across her muzzle. "Luckily, the Moon Goddess is on my side," she taunted. "She led me right to you. Now, I can finally rid the world of a lowlife like you." She rushed at me again, claws aiming for my throat.

This time, I didn't have much time to avoid it, so I parried her off with my muzzle. She crashed backward, but since it was not forceful, it didn't take her far away.

"You think you’re clever because I haven’t landed a blow on you yet?" she spat, circling me. "Pssh! You’re just nothing. Just a pathetic she-wolf who thought she could rise above her station. Well, when I’m Luna, I’ll make sure you’re sold to the black market, forced to serve every filthy wolf who wants you."

After that, she charged toward me, this time faster, and jumped, her claws gleaming as she aimed for my neck. I barely managed to block her with my foreleg, her claws cutting deep into my skin. Blood matted my fur, but I stood tall, staring at her down.

Amid such offensive insults and aggressive attacks, I kept my composure and explained, "Ceresca, listen to me. I’m not Xerxes’s lover. If you don’t believe me, mindlink him. Ask him yourself."

Before, Xerxes often talked about Ceresca whenever we mindlinked. He always told me how gentle, considerate, and intelligent she was.

But now that I faced her, it seemed otherwise. I didn't expect Ceresca to be this aggressive and mean.

Despite me remaining calm while explaining, she still didn't give me a chance to explain.

Instead, she signaled to her friends, who closed in around me. My wolf crouched low, preparing to defend, but I knew I was outnumbered. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to hurt them—not unless I had no other choice.

Ceresca spat at me again, her voice dripping with malice. "Just 'Xerxes'? No title at all, huh? So you're not only a cheap whore but also disrespectful. Well, what can I expect from your kind?"

Distracted by her venomous words, I didn’t notice the she-wolf behind me until I felt her teeth sink into my hind leg. A cry escaped me as I struggled to free myself, blood dripping from the wound.

"Don’t worry," Ceresca continued, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "I’ll drag you to our ceremony. Then everyone will see who Xerxes belongs to, and you’ll be nothing but a bad memory."

I growled low, my body tense as the circle around me tightened. But this time, I had learned. I was now wary of my surroundings, sensing each of them, waiting for the next attack.

However, I didn't expect that all of Ceresca's friends would attack all at once. Having several wounds, I couldn't move fast and avoid them on time. Claws raked my sides, teeth sank into my fur, and the sheer weight of their bodies pressed me down. I tried to fight, but my legs buckled beneath me, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

Ceresca approached slowly, triumph in her eyes. She placed a paw on my head, pressing down with cruel satisfaction. "Xerxes will toss you aside like the trash you are," she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "You’ll never reach my rank. You’re nothing but secondhand goods."

Her words were like knives twisting in my gut. This was the she-wolf Moon Goddess matched with my son? This cruel, vindictive creature? I had been so excited to pass on my title, to welcome her as the next Luna. But now, all I could feel was a growing dread. If Xerxes bonded with her, our pack would be doomed to her tyranny.

"Let’s not drag this out. Finish her," Ceresca instructed, her voice cold and final.