Another Chance for the Luna Queen

Third Person POV

The mysterious woman stood near the entrance of the room, her face shadowed. Amanda narrowed her eyes. There was something familiar about her-something in the way she spoke. It almost sounded as though she was disguising her voice. That didn't make sense. The woman was older than her by a fair bit. It wasn't as if they had gone to school together or socialized in the same circles. There was a distant possibility she was a friend of Amanda's parents, but that didn't seem likely either.

Not knowing who she was working with bothered her, but not enough to make her stop-especially since the stranger clearly knew what she was doing.

"You're sure?" Amanda asked skeptically.

The woman grinned. "Absolutely," she confirmed. "I told you there was nothing to worry about. Ella has been taken. Now, we only need to decide what to do with her."

"Bring her to me," Amanda said instantly, anger slipping into her tone.

She imagined what she would do if she got her hands on Ella-how she would make her pay for everything. For the way she had treated her and David. For her spoiled, selfish behavior. For refusing to follow the path they had laid out for her.

Ella had ruined everything.

Now, Amanda might finally have the chance to make her regret it.

It wouldn't help David now, not directly. But it would ensure Ella couldn't testify against him. That, at least, was something.

"You're a fool," the woman said flatly.

There was no anger in her tone, no irritation. Just a statement of fact.

Amanda bristled. "How dare you—"

The woman merely grinned. "I understand your frustration!" she said smoothly. "And I appreciate your desire to take a hands-on approach. But it would be a mistake. And not one I'm willing to allow."

Amanda clenched her jaw. She wasn't the one in control here, and she hated it. This woman had captured Ella. Amanda had done nothing but watch from the sidelines.

"And what do you propose we do?" she asked tightly.

"I'm going to order the driver to take her over the northern border," the woman said, her voice calm, patient. Several miles in. Then he's going to leave her there. We'll let the rogues take care of her. I can only imagine how that will go."

11

Amanda's eyes widened.

It was cruel, And brilliant.

Whatever happened to Ella, it wouldn't be traced back to them. She would simply disappear. No more roadblocks. No more threats to their plans.

Still, the thought of being abandoned in rogue territory, lost and defenseless, made Amanda shudder.

"What's wrong?" The woman tilted her head. "Suddenly grown a conscience? Or maybe you're feeling a bit of pity for your old friend?"

"We were never friends," Amanda snapped. "Do whatever you want with her. Just get rid of her."

The woman's grin widened-more than Amanda had thought possible. And when she spoke, her voice was laced with barely restrained amusement.

"Leave it to me."

Ella POV

I watched as my phone screen lit up-first with a text notification, then, a few seconds later, a series of incoming calls.

Alexander's name flashed across the screen. I considered trying to tap my nose against the accept button, but the car had gone quiet. The only sound was the steady rumble of the road beneath me.

If I took the risk of answering, the driver would hear me. He had already warned me not to make things more difficult. I was still sore from the rough way he had handled me, and I knew that if he caught me on the phone with Alexander, he wouldn't just be angry-he'd be furious

When the calls stopped, panic settled in. Was Alexander giving up? Did he think I was ignoring him, still upset after our fight?

The thought was ridiculous, but my doubts were difficult to shake.

Then, the phone lit up again. Another text.

The preview of Alexander's message filled me with overwhelming relief.

On my way.

I could have cried. He understood. He knew what was happening, and he was coming for me. I couldn't remember ever feeling so relieved.

I struggled harder against my restraints, twisting and pulling in an attempt to free

my arms. But it was useless. When I felt something wet trickle down my wrist, I realized I had pushed too hard.

If I kept going, I would injure myself-maybe even badly enough that I wouldn't be able to fight back when the

time came.

I had no choice but to lie there in the cramped, dim space, hoping Alexander would reach me in time.

The exhaustion hit me all at once. The fear, the tension, the adrenaline-it had drained me completely. Despite my best attempts to stay alert, the steady hum of the road beneath me was soothing, lulling me into a haze. My eyelids grew heavy.

I didn't fight it as hard as I should have. Maybe a little rest would help. My mind was too muddled to think straight, and if I could sleep-just for a few minutes- maybe I'd be sharper when I woke up.

That was what I told myself as I drifted into unconsciousness.

It felt like I had only been out for seconds when the car suddenly spun, throwing

me hard against the side. My head slammed into the metal, and I cried out in pain, but I had no time to recover before the vehicle made another violent maneuver, sending me crashing into the other end of the small trunk.

I had no idea what was happening. The driver had become erratic, his movements

chaotic-until, all at once, I understood.

I remembered the way Alexander had driven, how he had outpaced the others in

his desperate race to reach Dr Mcintyre.

He must be here.

He must have caught up to us.

And, of course, he had no idea I was in the trunk. He wouldn't be careful. He wouldn't slow down.

Honestly, I didn't care. I could take a few more bumps and bruises. I just needed Alexander to reach me. To save

1. me.

I didn't know who this kidnapper was, who he was working for, or what he had planned, but I knew it was nothing good. And once again, Alexander was coming to my rescue

It had to be him. No one else knew where I was.

My wolf reacted to his presence. I wasn't sure if she could scent him even through

the metal and distance between us, but instinct told me he was close.

She was happy.

And then, there it was-that warm, fluttering feeling that always settled in my chest

when Alexander was near. It had to be him.

Then, all at once, the car screeched to a halt.

I rolled, hitting the trunk door with a dull thud, and then-silence.

I held my breath, listening, waiting.

Nothing.

Then, after a long, heavy pause, I heard the driver's side door creak open.

Footsteps.

Crunching against gravel.

Moving closer to the trunk.

I braced myself, expecting the door to fly open, sunlight to flood in—but it didn'tnoveldrama

happen.

Instead, I heard another set of footsteps approaching.

Then, a voice.

Not Alexander's.

Or... at least, it didn't sound like him.

And yet, I knew it.

A voice I had heard before.

A voice that sent a chill down my spine.

A voice from another moment just like this one.