Caged in Labor novel - Episode 7

Damien’s POV

Damien’s pupils contracted to pinpricks, his breath catching as if he’d been shot with silver. He staggered back a step, but his Alpha instincts roared to life, forcing him to stand his ground. “Impossible! She was stable when I left. There’s no way she’s dead!” he roared. “This has to be another one of her tricks to get my attention. Didn’t I tell you not to fall for her games?” His Beta cowered under the crushing weight of his Alpha’s fury, his voice trembling.

“Alpha, the Luna’s body is outside the silver cage. We’ve run a DNA test… it’s her. It’s really the Luna.” A roar of primal fear rose in Damien’s chest. Panic flooded his eyes-the kind of soul-deep terror that only comes from losing your mate. He snatched the keys from his Beta’s hand and broke into a dead sprint. “To the dungeons! Now!” —- The Beta didn’t dare hesitate, scrambling to keep up with his Alpha.

Damien slammed his foot on the accelerator, his werewolf reflexes making the dangerous speed feel effortless. He reached the dungeons in less than. twenty minutes. A crowd of pack members was gathered there. He shoved his way through them, his breath ragged. The sheer force of his Alpha presence parted the crowd for him. He was still shouting, still lost in denial.

“Elena, if this is a lie,” he snarled, “I swear I’ll kill you myself.” But the moment he saw the body on the ground, his heart felt like it was ripped in two. The sudden, crushing emptiness of the severed mate bond nearly suffocated him. Lying on the floor, covered in blood, was a pregnant woman. It was Elena. Even with her face smeared with blood, he knew her by the unique scent of his mate. —- Damien’s legs gave out and he collapsed to his knees.

The powerful Alpha completely shattered in that instant. He crawled forward, his hands shaking as he brushed the stray hairs from her face. His voice was a broken roar, a desperate attempt to deny the truth before him. “Elena! Wake up! Wake up, damn you!” “A woman as cunning as you… how could you just die? ” “You’re faking it, right? You just wanted me to care about you again. Fine. You win.” “Just wake up, and I’ll give you everything. The Alpha position… the entire pack… it’s all yours.

You can be the true Luna. You can rule this pack!” He rocked her lifeless body, but there was nothing. Not a single trace of life. Damien finally broke. He threw his head back and let out a raw, guttural howl-the sound of a wolf who had lost his mate. Tears streamed down his face. “Please, I’m begging you, just wake up.”