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Granger stared up at Ashleigh taking shallow breaths. The cold steel of the blade against his throat. He licked his lips.

“Ash…” Caleb called to her. Begged her to come back.

“She’s gone….” Granger replied with a twisted smile. “She’s lost in the rage and gonna kill us both.”

“Shut up,” Caleb growled. “Ashleigh, please listen to me…”

“Do it, Ash… slit my throat,” Granger gave her a crazed smile. “You’ll feel my death, my heart slowing to a crawl until nothing is left. Then, as my life is snuffed out, you’ll hold onto me as you feel that last moment. You’ll see me every time you close your eyes.”

Caleb growled angrily. He wanted to hit and shut him up, but he didn’t know what this Ashleigh would do.

“No,” she whispered.

Caleb looked up at her eyes. Tears fell from the pools of moonlight, and slowly the light began to fade away.

“No,” she said a little louder. “I don’t need to kill you. I don’t need to hurt you.”

Ashleigh threw the knife away.

“You have taken enough from me,” she said, standing up to look down at him. “I won’t take your miserable life because it means absolutely nothing to me.”

“Ashleigh… that’s not very nice,” Granger growled.

“I’m going to let you live, Granger, so I can forget about you,” she said. “You will pay for all the pain you’ve caused. But as far as I’m concerned… you’re already gone.”

“You can’t do that….” Granger retorted. “You can’t just forget me….”

Ashleigh leaned forward.

“I already have,” she whispered.

Granger growled.

“Caleb!”

“Ashleigh!”_.

Shouts came from the entrance of the cavern.

“Here!” Caleb shouted back, still staring at Ashleigh.

Granger tried to lunge at her, but Caleb was beside him. He grabbed and pulled him back, slamming him painfully to the ground.

Summer wolves came pouring into the cavern.

“Ashleigh!” Fiona shouted loudly, running past the others to capture her in a tight hug.

Ashleigh let out a laugh as she hugged her back.

“Get something to bind him,” Galen said to one of the wolves, pointing at Granger. He reached out his hand to help Caleb up.

Ashleigh gasped and pulled back from Fiona.

“The children!” she shouted. “Quick, follow me!”

Ashleigh ran, and Fiona and her team quickly followed.

“Galen,” Caleb said.

“Yes?”

“Take him for me,” Caleb said, indicating Granger. “I don’t think I should be alone with him.”

“Where should I take him?” Galen replied.

“He’ll come back to Summer. Ashleigh wants him to pay for his crimes.”

“Understood.”

***

Galen pushed Granger ahead of him out of the main entrance to the mountain.

“They let him live?” a growling voice from the trees whispered.

Galen lifted his eyes to the forest. He held tight to the bindings on Granger. He would not let this vile creature get away, no matter who stepped forward.

“Who are you?” Galen called.

Granger lifted his swollen eye to the tree line. He wondered for a moment if it might be Holden coming for him.

The leaves rustled as the tall, dark blonde Viking stepped out from the shadows. His hazel eyes held a fire in them neither Galen nor Granger had ever seen before.

“Axel…?” Galen said quietly.

Axel stared at Granger as though nothing else existed.

“Alpha Axel,” Galen quickly corrected himself, giving Axel a respectful bow.

Axel nodded to Galen and then closed the distance between himself and Granger.

“I am surprised,” Axel said. “I expected to find a corpse.”

Axel turned to Galen.

“Is Caleb that forgiving?” Axel growled.

Galen swallowed. Had he felt so intimidated by Axel before?

“Actually,” Granger said with a bloody smile. “It was Ashleigh that spared me.”

Galen tugged aggressively on Granger’s bindings.

“It seems that Ashleigh had lost control of her power and almost killed both this idiot and Caleb.” Galen began. “She regained her senses just in time and decided that he should face judgment rather than receive a quick death.”

Axel turned his head slowly back to Granger. He smiled.

“The mercy of my sister… what a fine gift.”

Granger furrowed his brows suspiciously.

“Beta Galen,” Axel said, staring into Granger’s bloodshot pale blue eyes.

“Yes, Alpha Axel?”

“As Alpha of Winter, I claim my right of judgment on this former wolf of mine,” Axel growled.

The corner of Galen’s mouth twitched with delight. But then, he quickly relaxed his expression and stood up straight.

“Of course, Alpha. I am sure Alpha Caleb will understand Winter’s claim is stronger than that of Summer,” Galen replied with a bow.

Axel smiled at Granger.

“You’re coming home, Granger,” Axel said menacingly. “Everyone will be so happy to see you.”

Galen handed the lead to Axel.

“Tell Caleb that she can go with him tonight, but my sister must come home,” Axel said.

“But–” Galen started to argue.

Axel let out a low growl.

“My mother, father, and your wife need to know for themselves that she is ok.”

Galen nodded.

“You might as well get it over with now,” Granger said. “I know you want to kill me yourself.”

Axel let out a chuckle as he looked back into Granger’s eyes.

Granger pulled back and tried to step away when he saw the unnatural glow of Axel’s eyes reflecting back at him.

Axel tugged on the lead, pulling Granger so close he would feel the heat of Axel’s words.

“I do want you dead, Granger. We all do,” Axel said. “But, get it over with?”

Axel smiled with a fake laugh before letting out a heavy sigh.

“I’ll tell you a secret, I want you to suffer. I want you to live in pain and misery. But your existence also fills me with a rage I have never known before. So, rather than allowing you to poison my soul with this hatred… I will grant you death. In Winter, according to tradition.”

“What… are you….” Granger started to say, his unswollen eye widened when he understood.

Axel smiled.

Granger took in a ragged breath but spoke no more.

Axel turned to Galen.

“The full moon is in four days. I will pass judgment with her blessing. Consider this a formal invitation for Summer to witness. Alpha Caleb, Luna Fiona, and you are invited to attend.”

“I’m not sure that I am allowed to witness for Summer….” Galen replied.

“Not officially,” Axel smiled, “But Bell’s husband should be by her side that night. She’ll need your support.”

Galen nodded in both acceptance and appreciation.

Axel gave a parting bow and pulled on Granger’s lead, turning back into the trees.

Granger followed, letting out short, ragged breaths.

Axel glanced back at the look in Granger’s eyes. He knew what was coming, what tradition demanded of a traitor. He was terrified.

Axel smiled as he looked back to the path ahead of him.

‘I will make sure you suffer for all you have done… all the people you’ve hurt,’ Axel thought. ‘For Ashleigh, Renee, Whiteridge, Shadowcrest… and Alice.’

A few minutes later, they exited the trees to a waiting car. He had borrowed it from Jonas. After securing Granger in the back, Axel grabbed his phone and dialed his mother.

“Hello?” she answered quickly.

“She’s safe,” Axel said.

He heard the sigh of relief from the other end of the line. Axel smiled, knowing how scared she must have been over the past few days.

“I told Caleb to bring her home tomorrow,” Axel said.

“Oh,” Corrine replied. The disappointment in her voice was unmistakable.

“She’s been through a lot,” Axel continued. “She needs to rest tonight. Tomorrow she will be home again.”

“I understand,” Corrine replied. “It’s the right decision.”

She agreed, but she was still disappointed not to be able to hold Ashleigh in her arms this night.

Axel looked into the backseat. Granger lay against the window, clenching his jaw and letting angry tears fall from his eyes.

“Mom,” Axel said.

“Yes, dear.”

“I do have a gift to make you feel better for tonight,” Axel said.

“What?” asked Corrine, confused why Axel would bring her a gift.

“They chose not to kill him,” Axel said. “I’m bringing the traitor home to face judgment.”

She was quiet, but he heard her measured breathing on the other end of the line.

“Axel,” Corrine said, her voice still and calm.

“Yes?” he replied.

“You’re a good boy, now hurry home.”