Page 47 of The Red Moon

“Natalia,” Nik warns, concern in his low voice.

I take one step forward, preparing myself for her challenge. Jade might’ve had this curse her whole life, but she’d never survive a day outside these castle walls. Live through the things I have. If she thinks I’m just going to roll over, this heiress has another thing coming.

A wide, sadistic grin emerges on Jade’s face. “Don’t worry, Nikolai.” She gives him a quick glance and returns her icy glare to me. “There’s plenty of places to bury her here.”

Indescribable anger surges through me, my tired limbs now exploding with pure wrath. I lunge toward her, letting my arms and legs endure the scorch and thrust my body forward.

“Natalia,” Nik says, stopping me with his palm to my chest.

I try and move around him, but he stands between us, keeping her blocked from view. “Get out of my way!”

“Enough!” he roars, grabbing me by the shoulders. The deafening sound splits through the air, shaking dust from the walls and ceiling. A flash of red takes over the gold in his eyes, dissipating as quickly as the hollow rage inside me.

Silence follows, not just from us, but from everyone in the chamber. Clément and Jade don’t say a word, neither does their council who now stand and peer at the man holding me in place.

“Out,” he says and points to the door, eyes fixed on mine. “Everyone out!”

The council elders are the first to move for the exit, followed closely by Clément. Jade crosses her arms, a reproachful expression emerging on her face. Nik rears his head, and when he does, she finally retreats behind her father, giving me one last smirk before she goes.

“Clément,” he shouts down the stretch of the chamber.

The alpha turns back at the threshold, waving everyone else out.

“The next threat to her is a threat against me. I don’t care who it’s from.”

Clément’s large brows draw together initially, and just when I think he’s going to counter, the alpha nods and leaves the chamber.

After the latch seals, Nik brings his gaze to me once more, the harsh lines of his face softening. “What are you doing?”

Me? Is he fucking kidding? “What am I doing? What about her? You heard what she said!” I try and push away from him, but he grabs me and draws me in close, that intoxicating scent all I can smell.

“Jade is baiting you, Natalia,” Nik says with a sigh. “She keeps challenging you. And you keep giving her what she wants.”

I shove him away this time, newfound anger masking his scent. “So, why did you stop me, huh? Why didn’t you let me give her what she wants?”

“Because you are not ready. Jade has been trained in hand-to-hand combat since she could walk.”

He can’t be serious. Is he asking me to keep my mouth shut and just deal with every horrible insult Jade hurls in my direction? This is like high school all over again. “What should I do, Nik? Let her keep walking all over me? Will that make things better?”

“No. Honestly, that would make things worse. The only way Jade will respect you is if you beat her at her own game.”

Beat her at her own game? He just said she walked out of a werewolf womb primed and ready for a fight. What in the hell is he talking about?

Nik smirks when I don’t respond, as if he can see the invisible wheels turning in my head. “She has training, sure. But she didn’t grow up with a father who couldn’t stomach weakness. I’m going to train you, and when you are ready, my violent little wolf, you are going to challenge her.”

THIRTY-ONE

NIK

“Again,” I demand. She’s getting angry. Vicious, even. It’s adding strength to her attack, sure, but what my little wolf doesn’t realize is how that anger is making her miss her mark. “Use your claws this time. Don’t hold back.”

She charges forward, wild brown hair whipping behind her. Black claws emerge where her cuticles used to be, each sharp and aimed for me with deadly purpose. Five feet. Four. Three. A furious cry escapes her in the final steps, grabbing hold of my shoulders and sliding her leg behind mine the way I taught her. But not quite.

I shove her down to the stone floors with ease. This attempt was better, not nearly enough for a takedown on someone twice her size, though. We started with simple blocks and gradually worked our way up to attacks, this one being the most difficult for her to master so far. Natalia crashes on the ground, landing at her elbows.

“You’re still holding back.” I thrust one arm to the side and display a razor-sharp set of claws. “These aren’t just for slashing.” Lifting my hand, I drive each long nail into the tender meat of my shoulder, burying past cartilage and bone. “The second you do this, all of my attention is on the wound, not my balance. Use that against me.”

She snarls this time, a low guttural sound rattling up her sternum. Do it. Don’t hold back. Natalia drags herself from the floor and dashes toward me, closing the distance within seconds. There’s a fury in her eyes. An unwavering need to get this right. One claw lands at my shoulder, nails latching in. Good girl. Despite the pain and numbness, I can’t help but applaud her aim. Then, she thrusts the other.