Alice

She is back. She is fucking back,.
Her scent hits me as soon as I round the corner of the hallway leading to the front door. I need to reign myself in before i just do us all a favour and maim the bitch.
My mom is close on my heels, Rox in her arms as we both come to an abrupt halt. Right behind my livid mate. Sort of. Half? Oh who bloody knows.
Gia is here.
And she is carrying a secret it seems.
Interesting.

Gia looks like hell. Thinner than I remember. Rough around the edges, when she was always polished and perfect. Her clothes hang off her body like dirty loose rags and a new scar sits prominently on her forehead.
And there is something else that is new. It's small but it's there.
A perfect round bump.

Before i even have a chance to take any of this is in and begin to process it, Ellena bursts into the entrance way from the kitchen and her face is stricken. It's a desperate mixture of surprise and fear that flitters across her face in a parade of emotions before her nose catches up on what we are all aware of.
Gia is pregnant. With a male. And it is not her Mi Luna Mates child.

I dont move my eyes from Gia as i watch her take in everyone in the room, her gaze snagging on my mother and Rox behind me briefly, before moving on to her mother.
A small falsely demure smile blooms on her lips but even my mother who has never before seen this female, moves a stepo closer to my back, shielding Rox. We can all see straight through whatever charade she is about to attempt. Its all a game and Gia is the only one still playing.
The smell of her reeks of desperation. And strangely... fear.
Finally, she opens her mouth and I brace myself for what bullshit is about to spill out.

"Mother, oh thank goodness you are here" She begins demurely, her voice even wavering as she steps forward with an over the top limp, her hands around her small but obvious bump.

"I finally made it home to you." She starts again but ellena raises her palm, effectively silencing Gia before she has a chance to spout any more lies.

We have all seen this episode.

"Save it Gia. We are all very aware of what you are. There is no reason to pretend you have not been sent here carrying this... this... mutt... with anything but intention to spew more harm. Now out with it before we kick you back out on your ass. Pup or no pup." Her words hit Gia like ice water to the face. Still, false bravado in place, I know it hurts Ellena to say these things. Gia's face falls flat for all of a heart beat as mine catches in my throat. But then, recovering fast, her eyes narrow, her face taking on her usual scowling mask.

"I see they have poisoned you with their lies have they? You always did like these males more than me. Your own child. You take in filthy strays everywhere dont you mother?" Gia's voice in nails on a black board. Sharp. Accusing. Her eyes find mine and then brush over Rox as her eyelids narrow to slits.

Ellena only scoffs in response to Gias Vitriol but her shoulders sink, just the slightest and her scent changes just the tiniest amount. As much as she is putting on a brave face, this scene, Gia baring her darkest soul infront of everyone, its hurting her.

I take a step to my left, without thinking, taking me one tiny place closer to Ellena in solidarity and thats all it takes. Gia explodes.

"It's all your fault you filthy, stupid slut. Everything would have been fine. No one would have been harmed. I wouldnt be here.. With... with... this.." she spits, her hands grabbing her belly with bruising fingers and her eyes locked firmly onto me. Her wolf peeks out, showing false dominance but it makes no difference to me.

Fuck. This. Bitch.

My wolf? She is an Alpha female.

I hear Ellena gasp once and see from my peripheral that Gainey has made a move but im already there. My hands around Gia's scrawny neck, her back against the wall, my knee at her stomach. I only apply pressure to her neck, just enough to blow her pupils wide. I make no move to harm her pup. Its not in me to do so.

But i have had enough. Of her. Of her cruel words. Of the hurt she continually causes. To me. Gainey. Her mother. And her mate, who chooses that second to enter the room, with their daughter in his arms.

Gia never even glances their way.

Bitch.

"Listen to me carefully you ungrateful, selfish cunt." I know my own mother will pinch me hard later for using the c word but, seriously, their just arent enough words in the world to describe this bitch.

I wince a little and continue. It's been a long time coming;
"All you have done since i came here is bitch and moan and generally make an ass of yourself. You have exactly one minute to tell us why you are here, before i drag your ass to the village and let all of those refugee wolves know exactly whose pup you are carrying and let them decide your fate'. I keep my voice steady but my heart is literally beating in my throat and my hands shake just the tiniest amount. I feel the adrenalin spiking in my body for one beat. Two. Before i feel the warmth of him at my back. No words. No physical touch. Just him. Letting me know thast he has my back. If i need it. And i know then, without a doubt, that this mating, its going to be ok. As much as it took us both by surprise and shock and lets be real, disappointment.
Its going to be ok. For tonight anyway.

So i push on. I squeeze my hands just a little, restricting her air supply just a tiny bit more. And she squeals like the bitch thsat she is.

"Fine. Fine. You bitch! Its all uour fault.I never would have gone to him if you didnt show up and fuck shit up for me. Gainey was coming around. He would have been mine if you didnt screw it all up". A scoff sounds behind me but i pay him no attention.

"Continue" I insist, leaning in with my elbow on her chest.

Tears spring from Gia's eyes and run down her more prominent cheek bones but no one moves.

Her eyes search mine but find no sympathy there, nor from anyone else as her gaze flits around the room.

Everyone here has suffered in some way from her selfish acts. From her decisions. She wont find any allies here. Not anymore.

The silence cracks her final resolve.

"He will be here soon. Dont bother trying to run. Its time for it all to end". Her words are meant as a threat but her voice is nothing more than a backing track in the whirring sound of my mind.

"Why Gia. what does he want?" Its Gainey that speaks, that has the ability to voice what we are all wondering.

Her eyes snap tp his over my shoulder, softening for a second before they snap above his head and another voice answers for him.

"She wants to finish it." Benji says and my hands drop to my sides, letting Gia flop forward, her hands flying to her neck. She lifts her elbow to shove at me but Gainey is there,. Muscling her away and handing her off to the men who brought her from the border.

"Take her to the infirmary and secure her." He tells them and no one pays her any attention as she grumbles and screams for her mother. For Gainey. For Benj, as they haul her out of the room.

All eyes find Benji as he slowly edges his way into the centre of the hall.
He looks so tired and lost. Not at all like the stoic and strong Alpha i met all these months ago. He looks like i feel. Like we all feel. And i realise then that the Demons reach has been much further than just his physical attacks. He has done this. Destroyed us all, from the heart outwards.

I hate it. I hate him.

But what does Benji mean by her?

As he makes his way slowly towards us, i try to put all the pieces together.
The male babies dying.
The attacks.
Taking the women.
The control.

Benji reaches the front door, closing it before turning to look at those gathered here in the hall.

He lets out one single, heartbreaking breath as he looks around the room.

"The demon is not the one pulling the strings or making the calls. Its his mother. My mother. And i know what she wants. What she thinks was hers all along."

Mi Luna.