Don't play the song until I tell you for the best experience.

~~~~~

Skylar POV

I'm standing in a damp, dark cellar in front of a tall, red door. Colton is to my right, his hand holds my right bicep with a firm grip. Beta Larson and Theo are behind us. I can feel their eyes on me. A radio is playing in the background, but I am not sure I know the song.

I feel Colton let go of me as he turns to talk to his beta about something, but I can't focus on what he says. I don't care what he has to say. 

I just feel so lost, so empty. My stomach hurts from the hit Colton gave me earlier, but I'm too numb to worry about it. 

I just don't care anymore.

(play song)

"Like a small boat, on the ocean..." A beautiful voice sings on the radio. I begin to focus on the familiar words. 

"Sending big waves, into motion. Like how a single word, can make a heart open. I might only have one match, but I can make an explosion." 

I feel the words of the song spark something within me. It's small at first, but builds into something stronger. 

"And all those things I didn't say, wrecking balls inside my brain. I will scream them loud tonight. Can you hear my voice this time?"

The words are fuel to the spark inside me and the flame grows stronger, driving the darkness inside me away. I can feel my wolf peeking out from her cage. 

"This is my fight song. Take back my life song. Prove I'm alright song. No power's turned on. Starting right now, I'll be strong. I'll play my fight song. And I don't really care if nobody else believes." 

"'Cause I still got a lot of fight left in me," I whisper with the song. 

And that's it. That's what I needed to send the darkness away completely. The fire inside burns strong within me. My wolf howling - not in sadness anymore, no - with hope. A tray with tools sitting on a table a mere five feet from me catches my eye. I feel myself smile. 

Too easy. Ailith hums. 

I walk over to the table and grab the first thing that my hand touches. Shoving it up my sleeve, I return to Colton. He eyes me suspiciously but doesn't say anything. Theo, however, gives me a knowing look. 

"Are we ready for this?" Colton asks, still looking me over. I can see his eyes searching for something in me, but I refuse to let him find it. 

Instead, I nod my head and turn away from him. I hear him huff before he unlocks and opens the door. I follow him inside and the first thing I smell is the metallic scent of blood. It's so strong I can taste it. I allow my eyes to look over the room. It is large, much larger than any cell that I have been in. There is a wood table in the centre. A man is chained to the far wall with a cloth bag over his head. Even with the bag, I know the man is my father. 

I want to run to him, free him and tell him everything will be alright, but I know I can't. So instead, I look down at the floor as Colton steps toward my father. 

"Good morning, Dad." Colton sneers as he rips the bag from his head. "Rise and shine!"

My father groans, making me lift my head. His face is black and blue. The sight fuels the fire inside me even more and I begin to shake with rage. I watch him slowly peel his eyes open, blinking back the sleep. It isn't long before he sees me, shame and sorrow floods his hazel eyes. 

"Skylar." He croaks, his voice weak from lack of water - and screams of pain. 

I send him a small smile, trying to silently tell him that everything will be okay, but I know he doesn't get the message.

"Well, today is the day you get what I promised." Colton states. "I hope you are ready." 

In a flash, Colton is at my side. He lifts me and places me on the table, kissing the mark on my neck softly. 

I hear a low growl escape from my father's lips. 

"Silence." Colton bellows, glaring at my father. 

I take this as my opportunity. 

I pull the small dagger from my sleeve and drive it into Colton's chest. He releases a painful howl and snaps his head back to me. His black eyes stare at me and my hands fall to my side. 

I watch as he brings one of his hands to the dagger and slowly pulls it from his chest. 

"It isn't silver, love." He says with a sick smirk. 

Before I can react - hell, before I can even blink - I find myself against the wall with Colton's hand around my neck, my feet dangling beneath me. My hands scratch at his but it's useless. I can feel him squeezing tighter and tighter, not letting a single molecule of oxygen enter my lungs. 

I can feel myself begin to fade. My head grows dizzy from the lack of air and my eyes slowly close on their own accord. 

But as quickly as it started, it ends. Colton's hand leaves my neck and I fall to the ground, coughing and savouring the air that quickly enters me. I hear a commotion in front of me, but it takes a moment for me to register what's going on. 

Somehow my father is free and he, along with Beta Larson and Theo, is fighting Colton. I watch nervously as the four of them dance in a sickening battle of three versus one. My heart is in my throat and I can feel the bile in my stomach try to pass it unsuccessfully. 

Colton quickly shifts into his large wolf and the three follow suit. My father is the first to attack with an unsuccessful lunge to my mate's neck. Colton is too quick for him though. Beta Larson and Theo take the opportunity to both tackle Colton to the ground with a thud. 

Colton releases a growl and scratches at the two smaller wolves and eventually throws them off of him. The four wolves form a big circle. Colton's eyes dart between the three, looking for who dares to attack him next. What he wasn't expecting were the three wolves to strike at once. All three of them clamp down their jaws on the unsuspecting Alpha. 

But it's not enough. I watch in horror as Colton sends Theo flying into the concrete wall of the cell. A sickening crack echoes around us, making me gasp. I scurry over to him, but I'm too late. 

"He's dead," I whisper to myself as I watch the blood pool around his head. "He's dead."

I turn towards the three wolves who are still fighting, not hearing or noticing the fallen wolf.

"He's dead," I say louder, still not believing my words. 

This catches their attention. All three stop and turn to me. Colton shifts into his human form.

"He's fucking dead." 

"What?" He says with disbelief. His eyes wide with shock.

"He's dead! You fucking killed him!" I yell at him. I feel my wolf taking over my body, shifting as I run towards my mate. She throws me into the back of my mind, making me a spectator of the fight to come. 

Ailith lunges at our mate, who is still in his human form. Her teeth pierce through the soft skin of his shoulder and blood fills her mouth. I hear Colton grunt in pain, followed by the cracking bones indicating his shift. 

His wolf towers over mine, but I don't care. Ailith growls and lowers her head, preparing to strike at any moment. I see Beta Larson and my father getting into position, but Ailith sends them a quick 'mine'. This is her fight; our fight. 

Ailith and Colton circle one another, each waiting for the other to strike first. Seconds pass, but they feel like hours, when Colton finally jumps into action. 

But, he is too slow. Ailith dodges his attack and lands her own bite on the other shoulder, tearing away some of the flesh in the process. I see the anger in his eyes as he turns and lands his own attack, scratching our side. The wound is deep and I can feel the blood, but it doesn't stop us. 

She slashes his eyes - a cheap, but effective shot. Not allowing the opportunity to pass her, she plants her razor-sharp teeth into his neck. I feel his panic through the bond and it makes me smile knowing it is coming from his end for once. Even Ailith purrs in appreciation. 

Colton fights against us, cutting us with his claws and kicking us with his back legs. But, we are relentless. Our grip tightens with each hit we take until we feel him slowly submit to us. Baring his neck to us and holding still, it is only then we release our hold and step away from him. Ailith shifts back and lets me take the reigns once again. 

"Shift." I command. I can feel a new power form within me. 

The 'Alpha' submitted. We are Alpha now. Ailith howls in excitement and pride.

He reluctantly shifts in front of me. I can see and feel his rage, but it doesn't scare me. Not anymore. 

"Well, aren't the tables turned?" I taunt with his smirk now on my face. "Isn't this new?" 

He scoffs. "This changes nothing."

"Oh, that's where you're very wrong, mate," I growl. "So, very wrong." 

It's then I notice Beta Larson and my father staring at me. I see something flashing through their eyes, but I have no idea what it is. Happiness? No. Pride? Definitely not. Respect? 

That's it. They respect me. 

"You killed him. Your own fucking brother. He is dead - because of you!" I scream at him. "I loved him. I wished he was my mate. Did you know he kissed me? He loved me too." 

Colton growls. "You cheating whore!" He goes to get up from his knees, but Beta Larson's hand keeps him still. "You fucking bitch! Remove your hand Larson!" 

"No."

"I am your Alpha and you will obey!" He demands. 

Larson smiles and shakes his head. "Nope, I won't anymore. You are no longer Alpha. You submitted to the Luna, Colton."

Realization hits Colton like a smack in the face. 

"Doesn't it feel great? Losing to your weak, pathetic whore of a mate?" I snarl. "How does it feel, love?" 

He doesn't answer, still struggling with the loss of his beloved title. 

"Now I believe I promised you something," I state. "What was that promise? Hmm?" 

He shakes his head. For the first time, fear trickles through our bond from his side. 

"Ah yes." I step closer to him and bring my mouth to his ear. "I promised to end you. I promised to drive a silver dagger into your black heart."

I step back and walk over to a cabinet that was beside the door we entered. Opening the first drawer, I am met with dozens of tools - probably used for torture. My eyes scan over the tools until the land on one. I smile and grasp the cold item in my hand tightly, ignoring the burning. 

"Any last words?" I ask.

Colton shifts his beautiful blue eyes to mine and sighs. "Nothing I say will change your mind. I know I deserve this more than anyone. Just know, I love you." He says, his voice unwavering. 

I feel a pang in my heart at his words, but it's too late. "Love?" I question. "Love is raping your mate? Love is beating your mate? Love is whipping your mate? That is an odd version of love, Colton." 

"I know." He replies, sadness in his eyes. 

"It doesn't matter anyway. Nothing will stop this." I shrug before driving the dagger through his chest, pushing it farther and farther until I feel it pierce his heart. The light slowly fades from his eyes and I feel the crippling pain rip through my body as our bond officially breaks. The pain, so intense, I fall to my knees and release a howl in mourning. 

Hours pass, or maybe it's minutes, I have lost all sense of time and my surroundings. I feel arms wrap around me, but I am not sure who it is. I don't have it in me to look. I feel the tears seep from my eyes, but don't bother to wipe them away. 

I sit like this, on my knees for a long while - unable to focus in on anything that goes around me. Sounds surround me but are muffled and strange to my ears. Ailith is howling at the loss of her mate. The mournful howl is so painful that it sends shivers down my spine. 

I guess it didn't matter that her mate was an asshole. He was still her mate. 

I feel a hand on my cheek and it snaps me out of my stupor. It's Beta Larson. He is looking at me with so much worry and pain. I know he is also affected by Colton's death, even if he too fought against him. 

"Skylar." He whispers. 

"I'm here," I reply. 

"Are you okay?" 

"As okay as I can be," I tell him with a sad smile on my face. "Even though I hated him with every fibre of my being, he was still my mate and it still hurt to kill him."

"It hurt me too." 

I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him tightly. "I'm sorry," I whisper in his ear.

"Don't be." He responds. 

We sit like that, in each other's arms for a while - finding comfort in one another's grief. That is until a small cough catches my ears and I realize we are not alone. 

"Father," I state, removing myself from Beta Larson. I fling myself into his arms and he swings me around. 

"I'm so proud of you, baby girl." He says and I can hear the truth behind his words. 

"Thank you, Daddy." 

I pull from him and give him a genuine smile, but that is when my eyes land on the naked, dead body of Theo. When a wolf dies, they return to their human form. And that's what I was looking at now. 

I slowly walk towards him and fall to my knees. "I am so sorry, Theo. I wish I could have stopped this from happening. I love you. I will always love you." I say, placing my hand on his cheek. "May you forever be happy with your true mate and the Moon." I close his eyes gently and wipe my tears from my face. 

Standing, I turn to Beta Larson. "Larson, can you please have someone prepare their bodies? Have Elder Jonathan perform the funeral ceremony. I suppose I should introduce myself to my pack." I chuckle to myself.

"Of course, Alpha." Beta Larson responds with his own smile. I take his hand in mine and we leave the cell together, my father following close behind me. 

It's all over. Ailith states. 

No. I say. It's just begun. 

~~~~~~

Author's Note:

Wow. It's done. Well, almost. I have the Epilogue left to write. 

'Fight Song' has always been my own personal motivator and I wanted to use it in this book. I feel like it fit well with what I needed it to do. Let me know what you think. 

I really struggled with the direction I wanted to go in, but I figured we needed something happy to end with. Let me know if you want to read the 2 alternate endings I was playing with. 

I really, sincerely appreciate you all reading this story. It means a ton to me and I hope you enjoyed it. 

Thank you again!