Chapter 29

I stood amid the chaos, my gaze locked on Sharon as she stood defiantly by the broken form of the Rogue King. His once imposing figure slumped in submission, blood matted in his fur, each ragged breath a reminder of the battle he'd lost. Kayden and Francis barely managed to remain upright, their bodies battered and scarred, but nothing prepared us for the betrayal that followed.

"Sharon…?" Kayden's voice cracked with disbelief, and there was a hurt in it that cut straight through me. "What are you doing with him?"

A cruel smirk twisted Sharon's lips, completely at odds with her usual innocent demeanor. There was nothing innocent about her now. "Oh, Kayden," she sneered, her eyes glinting with cold malice. "I thought you'd figure it out by now. I never belonged to you. Or the Shadow Pack." She lifted her chin in defiance, casting a disdainful look at me and the others. "I'm exactly where I belong, with my father."

Father? The word echoed through my mind, disbelief pounding in my chest.

Francis's voice came out barely above a whisper, his face pale with shock. "The Rogue King… he's your father?"

Sharon's laugh sliced through the air, sharp and unnerving. "Surprised?" She tilted her head, her expression a mixture of contempt and satisfaction. "Oh, I loved every second of pretending to be that innocent little omega, letting you all fawn over me like I was something special. It was laughable."

She turned toward her father, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. Her voice softened as she spoke to him, a tenderness I hadn't seen before. "Don't worry. I won't let them hurt you."

"No, Sharon," the Rogue King rasped, his voice thick with pain and a hint of warning. "This is too dangerous, "

"You're not going anywhere," I cut in, my voice cold and sharp as steel. Fury surged beneath my skin, my Lycan blood burning with the need for justice. I stepped forward, locking eyes with Sharon. "So, the real Sharon finally shows herself."

Sharon's eyes blazed with twisted madness as she turned toward me. "You're one to talk, Malinda," she spat, venom lacing her words. "Always looking down on me, keeping me at arm's length as if you were better. But look at you now, with your father dead."

Her words struck like a blade, slicing through my anger and igniting something darker, something dangerous. How dare she.

But I held my ground, clenching my fists, forcing myself not to break. "You think this changes anything?" I said, my voice cold and unwavering. "All this time, you hid behind lies. That's the difference between us, Sharon, I don't need deception to prove my strength."

Her lip curled into a snarl. "Strength? You want strength? I'll show you strength." Dark energy crackled around her, her wolf emerging, pitch-black, her fur absorbing the very light around her, the air charged with an electric danger.

Francis's voice trembled with fury. "So, all this time, you were just using us?"

"Oh, yes," Sharon sneered, her satisfaction evident. "Your father's head, Malinda, I specifically asked for it. Too bad only one of you survived." She chuckled darkly. "Pity I didn't kill him myself."

The world around me blurred, my rage growing, transforming into something primal, something unstoppable. My wolf, ancient and powerful, roared within me, and I embraced it fully. "You murdered my family," I growled, my voice low and deadly. "And you're going to pay for it."

I let the transformation take over. My bones stretched, muscles shifted, and in moments, I towered over her in my Lycan form, my fur bristling with raw power, my heartbeat a drum of vengeance.

Sharon lunged, her wolf as black as night, swirling with dark energy like smoke. I met her attack head-on, claws and teeth flashing in a savage storm. We collided with the force of two storms, teeth snapping, claws tearing through the air. I raked my claws across her side, but the dark energy around her cushioned her, healing her wounds in seconds. She twisted, jaws snapping at my throat, but I dodged, feeling the heat of her dark power scorch my fur.

"You've got no chance, Malinda," Sharon taunted, retreating enough to gather her energy. "All that Lycan blood of yours is nothing but a curse."

"It's power you'll never understand," I snarled, pressing forward, unwavering. "And it's going to be the last thing you ever see."

She lunged again, teeth aimed at my throat, but I was ready. I sidestepped and drove my claws deep into her shoulder, feeling the sickening crunch of bone beneath my grip. Sharon screeched, the dark energy around her flickering, weakening for just a moment.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him, Damon. He was locked in a brutal fight with the Rogue King, his strikes swift and lethal, each one landing with precision. And then, with one final, devastating blow, Damon ended the Rogue King's life. Blood splattered the ground as the king crumpled, lifeless.

"No!" Sharon's scream echoed with pure agony. Her eyes went wide with shock and desperation as she turned to see her father's body, motionless. Her gaze snapped back to me, her fury now burning with grief. "You'll pay for this," she screamed, her energy crackling like wildfire.

With a ferocious cry, she threw herself at me, her strength fueled by the loss of her father. But I held my ground, feeling my own power surge as I tapped into the deepest reserves of my Lycan bloodline. Her fury met my resolve, and we clashed once more, the earth trembling beneath our battle.

"You'll die alone, just like he did," Sharon spat, claws flailing, desperate to land a blow. "No one here cares about you, Kayden, Francis, even Damon, "

Her words fell on deaf ears. They chose me, Sharon. I'd make her understand. With one final, powerful strike, I forced her back, my strength overpowering her dark power. "You're wrong, Sharon. They chose me. Not you."

She snarled, launching at me one last time, her energy flaring. But I was ready. Drawing from my Lycan blood, I breathed deeply, letting the ancient strength of my ancestors flood me. With a final, unrelenting lunge, I drove my claws into Sharon's chest, tearing through her defenses, feeling the dark energy sputter and die.

Her eyes widened in shock, desperation flickering in them. "No… no, it can't… end like this," she gasped, her energy fading as her body weakened, each breath growing fainter.

"It's over, Sharon," I whispered, my voice cold and steady. With one final twist of my claws, I ended her life. Her body went limp in my grip, and I watched as the light faded from her eyes.