NEVER LET YOU GO

I open the door and witness the unpredictable...with Gwyneth sitting on Derek's lap and the other werewolves watching them, sitting in a big circle.

"What...is going on here?" I ask, confused about the situation.

"We are just messing around." A werewolf says and clears his throat. He looks at Derek and Gwyneth who are still in the same position.

"Gwyneth, um...sit down," Derek says softly, pushing Gwyneth off of his lap. But the dense woman replies with,

"No! This is more comfortable! Your lap is so comfortable for me. I might just fall asleep here, Derek. Hmm..." Gwyneth snuggles into his neck shamelessly. The others turn to me, finding the scene inappropriate. I look at Gwyneth and notice that she has a smirk. She must be trying to elicit a reaction out of me.

"What are you guys playing?" I ask, ignoring Derek and Gwyneth completely. The others, even though I'm not close friends with them, make space for me as I join the circle.

"We were just talking. We have to go for dinner later." One werewolf from the group responds. It feels as though my presence is boring to them. They are aware that their Luna has lost the heir in a car accident. Maybe some of them are even holding it against me. But I don't care.

I can blame it on Derek too. He wasn't there when I needed him to get those supplies. I had to drive myself to the medical store, while I was sick and bedridden and pregnant. But I'm not that kind of a person.

Well, dinner time comes by and the table is filled with important members of the pack. And of course, Derek sits at the head of the long table. Meanwhile I'm thrown to the corner of the table. Shouldn't a Luna sit beside her alpha? I can't seem to bother about this either.

"And, and by the way. It was our luna's birthday yesterday. So I, as her loving mate, bought her a gift." Derek says and my eyes widen. Is he finally coming back to his senses? Derek stands up and walks to me.

"Here you go." He fishes out a beautiful diamond pendant and puts it around my neck.

"That is so pretty." Gwyneth, irritatingly, is the first one to comment. The others melt at his sweet gesture, and to an extent, I do, too! This is the Derek that he was when we first started dating. Gwyneth stepped back into his life and changed everything I knew about Derek.

His preferences are more inclined towards Gwyneth now. It is as if she's done some black magic on him to steal him back. I'd give him up gladly. But why does she want to see me suffer?

"But wait. There is more." Saying, Derek leans close to whisper in my ear. "I'll give it to you after the ceremony. In private."

My eyes shine with anticipation and excitement. However, it is short-lived as a jealous wench swiftly walks to us.

"Hey, but that is after the ceremony. Until then, my friend will spend time with me!" Says Gwyneth. She holds Derek by his arm, purposefully grinding her chest against his arm. I couldn't feel more disgusted at her. I didn't have the energy to confront her either. I was discharged from the hospital just two hours ago!

After dinner, we all assemble around the packhouse to witness the beautiful lunar event. Every year, the moon turns a magnificent shade of blue and purple. It signifies rebirth and a new start to the year. I smile at the sky, about to make my wish. They are said to come true when wished during this ceremony.

However, I turn my gaze to my right and witness something I didn't think I would.

Derek holds Gwyneth in his arms lovingly, tenderly and adoringly. He stares down at her with his eyes shining like he's looking at his forever mate. That...should have been me.

All this time, I thought it was just Gwyneth's antics to get on my nerves as she attempts to steal Derek from me. But today, I realize that it always takes two to play this wicked game. Well, I hope they're ready to let one more player add in.

That's because I have changed my mind. I realize how toxic Derek has turned towards me. How his priorities have changed and things just aren't the same anymore. With the pain my body and my mind are going through, I decide to do something drastic. Something unthinkable, which most people here would think is impossible coming from me.

Just you wait, Gwyneth.

I'll punish you in my way, for I have now become the Redeemer.