Gasps from the other wolves..

My wolf was writhing inside me.. such fury in my bones escaping into my muscles.. into every crevice of my body. I let out a roar in her face.. silencing her. Nodding at Dahlia.. i let her have a go at her.. she beat her with fists that wanted to leave their mark.. to make her as ugly as her soul.

Gabriel stepped over to my dad.. his muscles flexing beneath his shirt. "Do you still want this female as yours?" His voice was loud for all the wolves to hear.

My dad, crying... shook his head no.

Gabriel looked up at me.. "My wolf still wants her." His face turned to disgust as he looked her up and down. "But i dont." Eyes met mine once more. "Grant her to me.. I'll make sure she regrets everything shes done and then some. I'll make sure she lives with the things shes done. I wont harm her though." He was serious. Dead serious.

I rose my brow. "Why? Why would you want her now?"

A dark chuckle.. "i have spent my entire life being better.. because she told me i wasnt good enough. Now i have the chance to show her how wrong she is. To do what my sisters mate did to her. Alpha Conrad.. he forced my sister to train.. said she was weak. She watched as he took other females to bed.. she died.. killing herself from that misery. Let me have her.. " determination in those eyes. "Let me teach her a lesson myself. From her true mate."

Thinking it over in my mind.. "but she's marked. You wont be able to mark her."

He laughed lowly.. dark eyes glinting with secrets. "How wrong you are, young Alpha. If he doesnt want her.. if he voices it for the moon... and i make her mark me.. wolf and skin. The mark she bears with Blake will die since they arent true mates. I'll be free to make her mine." Eyes landing on mom who shook in her spot.. blood stained face.. eyes wide with fear.

Glancing at her.. thinking only for a moment, i met Gabriels stare."Take her. As my thanks." I said it with no emotion.

Penelope, no longer my mom, screamed as Gabriel grabbed her from Jack.. hauling her over his shoulder with a devious glint in his eyes. He brought her to stand beside my dad who was still bound, standing with his back facing the crowd. Gabriel set Penelope down.. her feet firm on the ground.

"Blake. Tell the moon you dont want her. That you give her to me. Say it and shes not your problem any longer." He urged.. his muscles flexing out of his tshirt.. ready to burst.

Dad turned to face them.. i walked to the side.. analyzing what was happening. I never knew that this could be done. But only for mates who werent true mates. For their original mates to take them back.. a loophole.

With a weak voice, "Penelope.. I don't want you as my mate any longer. The moon as my witness.. I gift you to your true mate. Gabriel of Dark Moon." Tears stremed down his face as Penelope screamed.. Gabriel smirking ear to ear as he hauled her over his shoulder once more...looking as if he just won the title of Alpha.. proud.. he was going to make her life a living hell and i didnt care anymore.

Maxim watched Gabriels back with a bewildered expression.. a brow arched high, mouth open in surprise. Jack and Dahlia were pleased as they watched her go, kicking and screaming.. being dragged to the pack house by the large beast of a wolf. The wolves in the crowd erupted into cheers.. seeing their former Luna get what she deserves.

"SETTLE DOWN!" i barked out.. my Wolf making our power known as it touched the crowd. "Now we have my father's punishment to dole out. Dad... for your crimes of lying.. of going against pack rules.. of putting others before the good of the pack... im sentencing you to thirty lashes along with partial isolation. You will stay across the lake.. in my old cabin after this is over. You will only attend pack functions when invited. And you will train with the warriors. You no longer have rank. And you no longer have respect from this pack." My voice strong.. loud as i ran the whip through my hand.. feeling the silver singe my skin.

He said nothing, head dropping as i drew my arm back.. snapping the whip forward.. letting the leather and silver lick his skin in a sickening crack as skin broke beneath my powerful throw of the whip.

He made no sound but his body tensed.. another whip.. crackling in the air.. blood oozing from open skin as he still made no movement.

By the time I came to six, he was shaking.. sobbing. A cry coming out along with the blood that spilled as i came to ten.. his body slumping to his knees.. his back a bloody mess.

Wolves were shouting as i took out my agression on my own father.. punishing him for all the wrong he has done.. for all the pain he has caused. For all the times this past year i felt hopless because of his rules.. for times i couldt go against him because of his Alpha command.. because of my weakness.

I wasnt that wolf anymore.

"Twenty five!" I counted.. his body long ago slumped to the ground.. blood soaking the grass.. looking black as the fires glow illuminated the area.

The cries had stopped.. now he was numb with pain. His back a beaten mess as i came to thirty. The last whip thrown at him with not as much force as the first ten.

I dropped the whip, turning away from my dad.. my body exhausted from the events that had occurred tonight... blood soaking my body to the bone.. many others blood on me mixed with my own.

Walking slowly, my body finally feeling the affects of the wounds on my body.. i came face to face with Jack.

"Beta Jack. Call Doc would you?." My voice hoarse as I left him, walking toward the crowd.. Jack rushing behind me to untie dad from the post.

I eyed the wolves.. all of them exposing their necks to their new Alpha. I had earned their respect tonight.. through fear.. and just punishment. Now they know what I wont tolerate. They know what i want for this pack. That i want it to be better.. but i wont tolerate what dad did. I wont let challenges go.. i wont be human because im not.

I stood in the center around the throng of wolves.. my eyes tired as my body."Everyone, enjoy yourselves the rest of the night. If you can. Families of the challengers that met the moon tonight... I will personally see to it that a funeral procession is held and you will be taken care of. As your new Alpha.. if any of you have concerns.. we will hold a meeting two days from now to go over new pack laws. Some will not change. I wont be present for the rest of the night. Im leaving Beta Jack in charge of all of you for the duration of this barbecue.. if any of you can stomach to stay. Goodnight." I was tired.. emotionally and physically. I had turned my own mother over to her true mate.. punished my father.. taken his title..

I just wanted to shower the blood off my body and sleep.

Turning away from the mass of wolves.. I made my way to Alpha Maxim who was still standing near the fire.. assesing me from head to toe as the wolves behind me cheered to one another.. happy for a new day. The downfall of the pack was no longer on the horizon. I managed to make it all better. Now i just have to make myself better.. I need Nova to do that. My mind was breaking the stronger i became..

Maxim had that signature smirk on his lips that Gabriel always held. Taught by the master i guess. "Well well Alpha Zaryn. I have to say.. im impressed. You know.." he mused, "we didnt think you'd win tonight. No offense. Its just... its only been two months since your training.. not many wolves could ever do that."

His praise had my wolf prancing in my head but i kept my face blank. Void of emotion. "Thank you. For your help. Gabriel has been one of the best. If you wouldn't mind.. I would actually like your help.. giving me a few pointers on how to keep this pack running smoothly.. on helping me keep my sanity.. " I wiped my bloody hand down my chest.

He chuckled. Bright crystal eyes finding my appearance amusing. Says alot a bout a wolf.."yes. Yes i guess you will need some help in that area.. tell you what... since you are my family.. and you helped me get retribution for my sister... I'll let you have Gabriel for another two months. To get your pack situated. And ill stay here for two weeks to help out. I left my Beta in charge. He's capable. We can go over the details the day after tomorrow when your better.. but... I want to form a firmer allainace with your pack. For my males. They need mates.. they haven't been able to sniff out females from this pack since my father ruined things with your grandfather. Would you be inclined to let our packs mingle once a year? To let our members sniff out their mates?" He rose a brow.. his frame quite larger than my own.

My mouth rose at the corner... "of course. The mate bond is sacred. I wouldn't mind at all."

He broke out into a grin, "done." He held his arm out and i grasped his forearm firmly in a shake.

"Thank you. For everything." I looked him in the eyes.. not to challenge.. but to convey my thanks.

He let out a scoff, a roll of his neck, "I should thank you. For dethroning your father and giving my sister the peace she deserves." He laughed as i shook my head with a smirk.

I slapped him on the back twice. "Enjoy yourself. Im going to rest off these injuries." I sent him a nod, walking away up the backyard toward the packhouse. I decided i would make use out of the presidential suite that went unused on the third floor that belonged to the Alpha and Luna of the pack.. or just the Alpha.. one lonely Alpha.

I deserved this.

I've won whats rightfully mine.

--------------

Lying in the giant unfamiliar bed that held no smell.. not of my parents.. not of anyone. My wolf was restless.. all the adrenaline we had used tonight had plummeted.. leaving my body aching.. but it was enjoyable.

My mind wandered to Penelope and how she was faring right now. Im sure Gabriel was making her his tonight. In a way she probably wasnt too happy with.

I never knew a bond could be broken if it wasnt between true mates. I was raised to believe the bond was for life.. it made me question everything i have ever learned.

Lying on my back, my hand traveling over my wounded torso.. i glanced down, lifting the waistband of my boxerbriefs to see the infinity symbol there in thick black ink.

Nova.

What would she think of me right now?

Whats she doing?

How is she doing?

Despite all the anger I always felt.. for everything.. despite being angry at her for leaving me... I knew why she did it. Because i made her. Because i was a weak boy.

And now im a man.

I let my mind drift.. the only thing that keeps my wolf sane at times when we miss her...

The night that i marked her.

Only this time.. i found myself drifting.. thinking of her. The moon was going to grant me a dream.. with Nova in it.