Chapter 5 Lie's And Loyalty

There was something so electric in the air that was moving between Naomi and Damian, as if they could feel violent eyes on them, the edges of her mouth stretching wider and wider with every second that they remained beside one another. Naomi's hands fitted at her sides, her wolf growling inside her, wanting to break free and rip Violent to shreds. She'd done more damage than that, already laying poison inside of Naomi, manipulating Damian, poisoning the pack with lies.

But she wasn't going to let Violent triumph. Not this time.

"What are you doing here, Violent? "And you're going to tell me," Naomi said, anger feathering her tongue, malice pinching the heart. She wasn't going to give this woman the satisfaction of being rattled.

"I'm here to reclaim what's mine," Vi yelled, cutting eyes at the Goddess of Darkness, grinning devilishly. I was the one always next to him, Naomi. You know that. You were the Luna. That doesn't mean he ever wanted you.

Naomi's gaze shifted to Damian as her heart thudded painfully in her chest. She saw in his eyes the confusion, the conflict, the betrayal. It was he who had abandoned her, and now he was standing there, caught in the vice of the past and the truth she was trying to show him.

"Damian..." Naomi's voice softened despite the fire burning the insides of her ribcage. You've got to understand who she is. She poisoned me. She betrayed you, the pack... me.

Damian's gaze flicked toward Violent, and for an infinitesimal second Naomi thought, perhaps he would finally see the woman for what she was. But then he turned away, jaw tight. "I don't know which one I should believe, Naomi. You had been lost, and I didn't know if I would ever find you again. I just couldn't."

"Don't," Naomi said, her tone sharp as a blade, and he held her gaze. Don't use that as an excuse. You chose to believe in her. You chose her lies.

It was a violent laugh, a piercing yelp that shrieked through the night, its high pitch causing Damian to tighten his shoulders. "Oh, Naomi, you poor thing. Because you really think Damian's going to choose you over me? We have history, a bond. 'You can't just come back in and say this is all mine as if you never left.'

Naomi took a step forward, her eyes ablaze with anger. "I do not have to claim anything. I am the Luna of this pack. You tried to take it from me, but I was always the Luna. "The truth will come out, and Damian will see you for the lying, manipulative bitch you are."

A violent face contorted with rage, advancing into Naomi's space, her voice a low hiss. "You honestly think you can come in and screw it all up? You were weak before, Naomi. You are a far cry from who you were before. "And however many times you go back, you'll never be enough for him."

Naomi's wolf spiraled into a rage at Violent's words, the base animal inside her stoking her into a frenzy, her blood on fire with an adrenaline high that begged her to fight, to protect what was hers. Yet she kept it together, well aware that to physically express her feelings was to only give violent weapons to use against her.

Damian stepped up then, his voice firm. "Enough."

Naomi and Violent both looked at him. His gaze was anguished, caught between two women he had once loved, one who had perished, one who had wronged him. His hands had tightened into fists, his entire body stiffened by the burden he sought to take upon himself in the decisions he wrestled.

"Naomi," he said, his voice low but steady. "I need the truth." Tell me everything."

Naomi swallowed beneath the weight of his gaze. "I've told you the truth. Violence poisoned me. She orchestrated the whole thing and killed me so she could have my life. She lied to you, Damian. You had been her prey blinded by her manipulation. You have to open your eyes."

Damian shook his head. "You don't understand. I wanted to believe you. I wanted to believe there would be a way for all of it to go back to how it used to be. But you're not that Naomi, anymore. "You've changed, and I don't know how to fit into that now."

Naomi's heart broke, but she wouldn't let on. "I played the entire story out differently, Damian. I've had to die in order to realize who I am today. But I'm not asking you to go along with this with me. So I'm going to ask you to choose reality. To choose me. You owe me that."

There was a long silence. Violent stepped forward, but Damian raised a hand and she quieted. He flicked his eyes between Naomi and Violent and back to Naomi, his gaze scouring her face as though trying to find something that had been lost.

Finally, he spoke not loudly, but with determination. "You're right." I've been living in a lie. Dangerous... the violent... not the girl I was dating. And I can't live with that. I cannot live with the guilt of thinking I could trust her over you.'

Naomi had a spark of hope, but steadied herself. It wasn't about them anymore. This was not about what she should do next.

Speaking to Naomi, calm, as if she looked back one last time at Violent, frozen in disbelief. "I've made my choice. And now, it's your turn to create yours."

Damian dipped his forehead, guilt creasing his face. "I've made it, Naomi. I choose you. I always have."

Moonlight silvered the large clearing. Naomi was still getting her head around this, especially after her conversation with Damian. The weight of his decision, the decision to believe her, settled on her like a leaden cloak. He had chosen her. But that didn't mean everything got better. Not yet.

Her eyes flicked back to Damian, several paces behind her, watching her blankly, like a man misplaced in a lost past. Naomi wanted to believe he could come to be next to her again, but lingering in the back of her head was guilt about whether he would stay. Could they regain what they had lost? Would she ever be able to forgive him for leaving her?

Just then, the sound of footsteps gently broke her thoughts. Violent.

The woman had pulled herself into the clearing, her expression shrewd and measuring, and Naomi's blood turned to ice. It was clear she would not be conceding.

"You feel like you have won, don't you?" Violet's voice was jagged, curt, frosty, spiked with rancor. But you haven't, Naomi. Not yet."

Naomi squared her shoulders and faced Violent. "This is over, Violent. You've lost."

Violent laughed bitterly. "Do you believe you've won because Damian has finally decided to open his eyes? You don't know what I can do. It's taken too long for me to wait for this. It was always supposed to be mine."

Naomi's fingertips curled and became fists at her sides. "You killed me. You poisoned me. And yet you think you still fit in this pack?"

She squinted her eyes, and viciously stepped closer. "You think you can just take it all? You want to take everything from me, Naomi? "You think I'm just going to let you come in here and ruin everything I've built?"

The wolf in her heart rose in her. Violence was overstepping, and Naomi would not allow her to have the last word. Naomi had already given everything to her, and now it was time for Naomi to reclaim herself.

"I don't have to take anything away from you, Violent," Naomi said, her tone silky and lethal. "You've already lost everything. "You just don't know it yet."

Violence wore a look of absolute malice. "We'll see about that."

In the blink of an eye, Violent lunged at Naomi, hand raised, as though to strike. But Naomi was ready. In one motion, she changed, the wolf taking shape in a burst of freedom as her energy and strength were no longer harnessed.

The growls and snarls crisscrossed the air as the two wolves met. Not just for her, but for the pack, for everything she had fought so hard to rebuild, Naomi's heart thundered in her chest as she struggled. It was fierce, but Naomi was driven by something stronger - the need to take back her place as Luna.

In the scuffle, Naomi was partially pinned down by Violent, her teeth flashing in a fierce display, indicating that Kade had to tread carefully. Violence struggled under her, but it was obvious that the struggle had been lost.

Damian jumped in, his voice cutting through the tension. "Enough, Naomi."

Naomi froze, their wolf still low in their throat but hesitating. She gazed up at Damian, whose face expressed concern. "She's not going to stop until she takes everything from me," Naomi said, her voice low.

Damian's eyes softened. "We've beaten her. It's over."

Naomi hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond. But then, slowly, she released Violent, allowing her to rise to her feet. Evil looked up at her with hatred and fury lit in her eyes, but she knew that she had lost the battle.

"You might've won this round, Naomi," Violent said thickly as she gritted her teeth, "but I'm going to make damn sure you pay for it."

Naomi remained on alert, still in wolf form. "You won't get the chance."

After a final poisonous look, Violent turned away and sank into the blackness, into the woods. Naomi sighed long, her wolf's energy fading in fits and starts.

Damian stepped closer, there was something sad in his eyes and something softer, something kinder. "Is it really over?" he said, his tone uncertain.

Her body reverted into her human form, though her transformation had taken a toll on her as the battle caused her great pain, but she was able to maintain her strength. For now. But I am not going to relax. Not with her.

Damian nodded; he looked thoughtful. "I don't blame you." I only needed to do more to protect you.

Naomi's gaze softened, but she wouldn't use the past as an anchor. There's no turning back the things that took place. We can only move forward.

Damian opened his palm, hesitated, then, with more confidence, took her hand in his. "We'll move forward." Together."

Naomi looked up at Damian.