Chapter 81: Chapter 81
"We need to see this rogue," Christian said, already moving toward the door even though he could barely walk yesterday.
"You’re still injured—"
"I’m fine." Christian’s jaw was set in that way that meant arguing was pointless. "Marcus, assemble an escort."
Twenty minutes later, we were heading to the border with Marcus and six warriors flanking us. My stomach was doing weird flip-flop things because something about this felt wrong. A rogue showing up right after Harold’s cryptic warning? Too convenient.
The rogue was waiting in wolf form at the territory line, and even from a distance, I could see the trembling. The submission posture. This wolf wasn’t here to fight.
Christian positioned himself slightly in front of me as we got closer. Protective Alpha mode fully activated.
Then the wolf shifted, and my entire world tilted sideways.
Lily.
Lily was on her knees in front of me, covered in bruises, wearing torn clothes, and looking like she’d been through an actual war. Her left eye was swollen and completely shut. Her lip was split and bleeding. Fresh injuries mixed with older ones that were still healing.
"Sophie," Lily’s voice came out hoarse and broken. "Please."
I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. The girl who’d been my best friend. Who’d betrayed me by accepting Tom’s mate bond? Who’d chosen him over our friendship. She was here. Like this.
Christian’s hand found mine, grounding me.
"Why are you here?" Christian’s voice was ice-cold Alpha authority.
"I need sanctuary." Lily was crying now, still on her knees. "Please. I’m begging you. He’ll kill me if I go back."
"He?" I found my voice. "Tom?"
Lily nodded, and I saw her whole body flinch at his name.
"You accepted his mate bond," I said, and yeah, I sounded bitter. "You chose him. You betrayed our friendship for him."
"I know." Lily’s good eye met mine. "I know, and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Sophie. But please. You’re my only hope."
Marcus moved closer to Christian. "Alpha, we should move this conversation somewhere more secure."
But I couldn’t look away from Lily. From the bruises. The terror in her expression. The way she was shaking.
"Tell me what happened," I said.
Lily’s story came out in broken pieces. How accepting Tom’s bond was the worst mistake of her life. How he became controlling immediately—monitoring her phone, her movements, and who she talked to. How he isolated her from everyone she knew.
"He uses the bond," Lily whispered. "To hurt me. When I disobey, he can make me feel pain through it. I didn’t know that was possible."
Christian’s hand tightened on mine. Through our bond, I felt his rage building.
Lily showed us her arms. Scars I hadn’t seen before. Burns. Cuts. Things that made my stomach turn.
"He says I deserve it," Lily continued. "For betraying you. He says, I’m a traitor, and traitors need to be punished."
I wanted to feel vindicated. I wanted to feel like this was karma for what she’d done to me. But all I felt was sick.
"Why should I help you?" The words came out harsher than I meant them. "You destroyed our friendship for him."
"I know. I was jealous. Of your position, your life, everything." Lily was fully sobbing now. "I thought Tom could give me what I wanted. Status. Power. I was so stupid, Sophie. I don’t expect you to forgive me. I just... I need to survive."
Christian looked at Marcus. "Verify her story."
Marcus disappeared, and we stood there in painful silence. Christian never moved from his protective position in front of me. The warriors maintained their defensive formation.
Diana showed up ten minutes later, which wasn’t surprising because Diana somehow always knew when something was happening.
She examined Lily without saying a word, and her expression got darker with every injury she catalogued.
"Mate bond abuse," Diana said finally. "It’s rare, but this is textbook."
"You’ve seen this before?" I asked.
Diana’s eyes met mine, and something flickered there. "Yes."
Marcus returned with his phone out. "I contacted sources in Tom’s territory. They confirm he’s been searching for Lily for three days. They describe him as ’increasingly unstable.’ His Alpha refuses to intervene."
"Of course he does," Christian muttered.
I stepped away from the group, needing space to think. Christian followed but kept his distance, letting me process.
My mind was racing. Lily betrayed me. Hurt me. Choose Tom over our friendship. But she was also being abused. Tortured through a mate bond she couldn’t break.
What kind of Luna would I be if I turned away someone asking for help? Even someone who’d hurt me?
What kind of person would I be?
I thought about the leader I wanted to become. Not just for Christian, but for myself. For Shadow Ridge.
I walked back to the group.
"Lily will be granted sanctuary," I said, and my voice didn’t shake. "Under conditions. You submit to Shadow Ridge pack laws. You submit to my authority as Luna. Sanctuary doesn’t mean we’re friends again. It doesn’t erase what you did. But I won’t send you back to an abuser."
Lily’s entire body sagged with relief. "Thank you. Thank you, Sophie. I’ll do anything—"
"Then follow the rules." I looked at Christian, who nodded his support immediately.
"Marcus, arrange secure housing," Christian ordered. "Guards stationed outside. No one in or out without Luna Sophie’s approval."
Lily performed the formal submission—on her knees, head bowed, pledging loyalty to Shadow Ridge and to me. I watched it happen and felt nothing. No satisfaction. No closure. Just exhaustion.
Diana escorted Lily away, and I watched them go.
Christian’s arm wrapped around my shoulders. "You made the right decision."
"Did I?"
