Chapter 239

Ella POV

“When you finally realize the truth, it will be too late.”

My chest tightened as Diana’s words sank in. The words rattled around inside me, burrowing deep into my heart, a cruel echo of the self-doubt I had tried so hard to bury.

But I wasn’t going to let it affect me. Not now. Not when everything was on the verge of shattering.

I glanced at Lexie. There was too much at stake for me to fall apart now.

"You think I know nothing about love?" I spat, my voice sharp and cutting as I took a step toward Diana, my eyes narrowed in fury. "You don’t get to lecture me about love, not after everything you’ve done."

Diana’s smile twisted, dark and bitter. "Oh, Ella, you have no idea," she purred, her voice low and dangerous. "You think you know what love is, but all you’ve ever known is the shadow of it. A love that was never meant to be yours."

My fists clenched at my sides, the weight of my anger pushing me forward. "You don’t know anything about me. About what I’ve been through. And you certainly don’t know anything about love."

Diana’s laughter was cold, hollow, as if the very idea of love was something she had long abandoned. "I know one thing," she said, her voice turning dark. "Everyone I loved was taken from me. All because of him—because of Alexander."

I froze. The words hit me like a slap, a cold rush of realization that made my stomach churn. What was Diana talking about? What did she mean by "everyone"?

My mind raced, but before she could voice my questions, Diana surged forward.

Her long nails were extended and dug in, scratching across my cheek until I bled. I grabbed her wrist as she scratched me and used the momentum of her movement to throw her over onto her back.

She landed with a breathless thud and growled angrily.

I heard a cry and looked to see Lexie staring at me with fearful tears in her eyes. My heart broke at the sight, but I couldn’t hold back.

Diana moved towards Lexie swiftly, forcing me to rush after her.

“You,” she said, pointing at the girl. “Alexander loves you.” Her voice was bitter, angry.

Sabrina stepped in front of Lexie, backing both of them slowly towards the door.

As we neared, I noticed that there was something on Lexie’s leg.

Realization dawned. I had wondered why the hell she was still standing there while Diana and Ironfang were distracted. She was chained to the floor.

I grabbed Diana’s arm, spinning her to face me and sent my fist directly into her nose.

She doubled forward with a curse as blood spewed forward. While she was distracted, I grabbed the back of her jacket and pulled. She struggled against me, but I managed to pull her jacket off.

I tossed it to Sabrina, who caught it easily.

Diana grabbed a handful of my hair and wrenched my head back. I was off balance as both of my hands flew up to grab her hand, trying in vain to free myself from her grip.

"You keep defending him and his bastard,” she hissed. “But you don’t know what he’s done. He has cost me everything," Diana said, her voice low and bitter, "even Michael has chosen him."

My blood ran cold at the mention of Michael’s name.

Michael. Alexander’s younger brother who admired him so much. The one that had been honest with us when he learned what Diana was involved in.

Oh goddess.

"Michael…?" I whispered, the word barely escaping my lips as the weight of Diana’s words settled over me like a suffocating fog. "What have you done to him?"

"I only did what was required," she said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. "To bring him to his senses."

I gripped her wrists, letting my nails dig as I twisted her arms. Reluctantly she released my hair, taking a step back and rubbing her sore arms.

As I stepped away from her, I glanced to Sabrina. Diana’s jacket was discarded on the ground. Sabrina was bent over with a key ring in her hand, frantically checking each one in the lock around Lexie’s leg.

"What does that mean?" I demanded, my voice rising, sharper now. My fists were trembling, my anger growing with each passing second. I wasn’t sure how much longer I would be able to hold my wolf in check.

"What did you do to him, Diana?"

Diana’s eyes flickered with a dark gleam as she tilted her head, studying me with cold amusement. "I see how you’ve won Alexander over,” she said coldly. “You’re a very good actress. I could almost believe you really care.”

"Did you hurt him?" I asked, my voice trembling with both fear and fury. "Did you… do something to Michael?"

"You’re asking the wrong questions, Ella," she murmured. "You should be asking yourself why he’s not here. Why he’s not fighting for you." She took a step closer, her gaze piercing. "Because of your precious Alexander. He’s always been the cause of everything. The reason everything’s been torn apart."

I heard a clink of metal as Sabrina struggled with the chain. I had to give her time. I had to stop Diana.

If she had really hurt Michael, then there was no doubt she would hurt Lexie.

My breath hitched as I looked back toward the fight between the two men.

The sound of grunts, the clash of bodies, and the metallic ring of steel echoed through the room.

Alexander was struggling—I could see it in the way he moved, his eyes flickering between his opponent and us. He was holding back.

Ironfang had no hesitation in his movements. This wasn’t just a fight for victory. This was a fight for survival.

"Diana," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "I don’t care what you think you know. I won’t let you hurt Alexander. I won’t let you hurt anyone else."

Diana’s laughter was bitter, almost insane in its cruelty. "You’re too late, Ella. You underestimated me. Just like Alexander. Just like everyone else." She waved a dismissive hand, as if my words didn’t even matter. "You can’t stop me. You can’t stop any of this."

But I wasn’t listening anymore. My focus was on Sabrina. I saw as she lifted Lexie into her arms, the chain falling to the ground beneath them.

They were free.

"Get out!" I shouted, turning to Sabrina. "Go! Take Lexie and leave—NOW!"

Sabrina hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking between me and Diana, fear evident on her face. But then, with a final glance at me, she gripped Lexie tightly and fled toward the door, her footsteps quick but uncertain.

Diana started to move towards them, but I kicked my leg out, connecting with her knee and sending her crashing to the ground. The heavy metal door shut with a resounding sound.

“Lexie is gone!” I shouted to Alexander. “She and Sabrina are safe!”

I didn’t dare look at his reaction, but I hoped that if he was holding back for fear of Lexie seeing him be violent, that hesitation would be gone now.

I turned her attention back to Diana. She was standing again, watching me with that same cruel, hateful expression.

"You’re not going to win," I said, my voice steady, my hands shaking from the rage that burned inside me. "I’ll stop you, Diana. I won’t let you hurt anyone else."

Diana’s smirk faltered for just a moment before it returned with renewed intensity. "You think you can stop me? You fale Luna."

But I wasn’t listening. I had heard enough. My wolf’s rage surged like a wildfire, and I took a step forward, ready to do whatever it took to bring this nightmare to an end.