I Almost Got Killed By My Son's Mate

Atilla's POV

The world blurred around me as Ceresca’s best friends closed in, their eyes glinting with malice. They surrounded me like a pack of wolves ready to tear apart their prey—and I was exactly that. For what felt like hours, they had been slashing, clawing, and stomping me, their laughter echoing in my ears like a haunting melody. Each strike drained me further, the pain becoming so unbearable that I could no longer hold onto my wolf form.

I collapsed back into my human shape, gasping for air, every inch of my body screaming in agony. Blood coated my skin, my vision swimming from the deep gashes that refused to heal under the relentless assault.

The crowd of wolves watching did nothing but gawk, their eyes gleaming with twisted delight as if my suffering was some sort of grotesque entertainment. Naked and broken, I lay curled on the ground, my hands trembling as I tried to shield myself from their stares. My blood smeared across the dirt, and I could feel their gazes burning into my exposed flesh.

There were so many of them. I was simply no match for them even if I was a Luna.

The intense pain and loss of blood almost made me faint. In a daze, I even heard Ceresca cursing at me.

"You filthy slut," Ceresca spat, her voice venomous. "This is what happens when you try to steal another wolf's mate!"

When they finally paused, I forced myself to speak, my voice hoarse and ragged. "Ceresca... I'm Xerxes' mother."

The silence that followed was suffocating, and for a brief moment, I thought I had finally broken through. Ceresca’s eyes widened, and I dared to hope she would stop, that she'd mindlink Xerxes and realize the truth. But then her lips twisted into a cruel smile, and she laughed—a reckless, maniacal sound that echoed through the air.

"Xerxes’ mother? You?" She sneered, her laughter filling the afternoon. "You're nothing but a delusional tramp! You think I’d fall for such a pathetic lie?"

Her words cut deeper than any physical wound. I had no strength left to fight, and my last shred of dignity was slipping away. The onlookers whispered among themselves, their judgmental comments fueling Ceresca’s hatred.

"Look at her—thinking she could ever be more than a pretty face to some desperate wolf."

"She deserved this for daring to meddle with the bond of the future Luna of the Moon Howlers."

I winced, every word like a fresh wound. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain, but from the behavior my son’s mate was showing.

Ceresca’s friend, for a fleeting second, hesitated. "Are you sure of this, Ceresca? What if she really—"

Before she could finish, Ceresca snapped, silencing her with a sharp gesture. "Enough! I already told you, the real Luna Atilla is still in their pack land. She won’t be here until the ceremony begins."

I had told Xerxes I would at their ceremony, eager to meet his chosen mate, but that kindness had sealed my fate. Ceresca had no idea who I was, and yet here I lay—naked, bloodied, and humiliated at the hands of my son’s future Luna.

I could barely see through the haze of pain, but I felt the weight of Ceresca's gaze. "You thought you could steal my mate, didn’t you?" she taunted, her voice dripping with venom. "But look at you now—helpless and pathetic. I’ll make sure you regret ever crossing me."

She bent down, her lips close to my ear. "When I become Luna, I’ll make sure you disappear, and no one will even remember you existed."

With a cruel laugh, she stood up, glancing at the clock tower in the distance. Her face twisted in urgency. “We're gonna be late. Let's hurry and go to the venue. Luna Atilla should be there soon. Xerxes said he wants to formally introduce me to Luna Atilla today!"