The Panther's Second Chance (Book 10 of the Regal Eclipse Pack Series)

Chapter 41

Tanami Pack wasn't huge by any means, and they were gathered outside, around their training grounds, curiosity plain on their faces. It was the first thing that had really happened to upset their lives in this new pack.

Natalia was only vaguely aware of what was going on with them all, or anything else. She was solely focused on Anthony and her need to take his life from him. She knew this wasn't going to be that easy but at the same time, she was furious enough that she just didn't care. She wanted to rip him apart.

She had no idea how his pack felt about all of this, or anything else, but none of that mattered. She wanted to get this all over with and get out. Away from all of it. Home to the safety of her pack so she could mourn the loss of her mate.

She stood on the field, half listening to Anthony talk. A small part of her wanted to renounce her own pack and just let him kill her. Let him end her suffering. She knew losing your mate could make your suicidal. She completely understood that now. But she needed to kill him. That need was stronger than her need to die.

'Let me do this,' Nala said deep inside of her.

'Why?'

'Because you don't have a lot of strength left. I will avenge mate,' Nala said.

Natalia sighed and gave her wolf control over her body. Nala wouldn't shift but she would take him out swiftly, which was all they both wanted. Sometimes when they were sparring, they would switch back and forth between who had control. Ragnar encouraged it.

Anthony was brute force, coming at her like a brick wall, solid and unyielding, but Natalia was fast and a Remington and much more powerful than him. Not long into the fight, he began to realize that. She saw his eyes widen as he realized he'd miscalculated and he had a furious she-wolf on her hands that was hellbent on killing him, no matter what.

Anthony came at her then, using his body to drop her to the ground. He lay on top of her, staring down at her, a sick twisted smile on his face. "This is where you belong. Under me. Do you submit?"

Fury ripped through her and Natalia took back control, letting her claws pop out. "Never!" She shoved them into his sides and he howled in pain, and jumped up and off of her.

Natalia stood as well and went after him with all of the fury she was feeling, swiping away at him over and over with her claws until he dropped. She almost couldn't make herself stop. She finally did though, as the adrenaline wore off and exhaustion hit her.

She stepped back, her breathing heavy and screamed letting it all out, then shifted, shredding her clothes, before she took off. Away from the pack, and away from the mess her life had become.

She ran for a while, letting her frustration, pain and sorrow rule her, before she finally turned and headed back. She needed to leave this place. She needed to go. The sooner she was gone, the better. Not that anything would be better again, but she needed to leave. She needed something familiar.

She headed back to the pack house and on inside, shifting as she did and stopped, standing there naked.

A man approached her, his gaze meeting hers for a split second before he dropped it. "Alpha. My name is Evan. I'm the Beta of the pack."

She wanted to scream at him too, but that was about pointless. "Evan, I need a shower, my bag, and then to see the Alpha Queen."

"Okay, I can help you with that. Come with me," he told her.

Natalia followed him down the hall and into a small room. She sighed, as exhaustion started to hit her. She needed to sleep.

"You can shower here." He turned to her, then dropped his gaze again. "Everything you need is in the bathroom. I'll get your bag and leave it here for you."

"Beta?"

He glanced up at her again and immediately dropped his gaze. "Yes, Alpha?"

"There is a book in Anthony's room, on his nightstand. A book about panthers. Can you get it for me?"

He looked at her in surprise, then frowned and looked back down. "My apologies, Alpha. Yes, I'll bring you the book."

"Thank you."

Evan left the room and Natalia headed over to the bathroom. She walked inside and shut the door behind her, locking it. Then she flipped on the water.

Her gaze met that of the woman in the mirror and she stared, not recognizing her. Her face almost seemed different, and her eyes were sad. She wondered if she'd ever feel happy again. Maybe one day, but not any time in the near future.

She stepped into the shower, and watched Anthony's blood run down the drain. Good riddance. She scrubbed her skin harshly, wanting every trace of him off of her. She hated his scent.

Natalia finally got out of the shower, and wrapped the towel around her body. She opened the door of the bathroom and walked back out to the bedroom. Her bag was sitting on the bed, along with the book. She opened the bag and pulled out some comfy clothes, then placed the book inside and zipped it shut.

She found the Beta waiting for her in the hallway. "I'll take you to the Alpha Queen."

She nodded and followed him down the hall and into another room. It was an office, not very big, but she noticed the security cameras and sighed. He'd been watching them the entire time. Her gaze darted to her mother, father and another man she didn't know.

Noelle walked over to her and pulled her into her arms. "What now?"

"I'm transferring the Alpha position to you and then I'm leaving. I can't stay here. I won't stay here," she said firmly.

"I think it's for the best. You'll sleep most of the trip," Nick said quietly, as he too hugged her.

"Let's do this. I need to leave," she mumbled.

Noelle nodded and took the knife Nick was holding and handed it to Natalia who cut both of their hands. "I, Natalia Remington-Seely, Alpha Princess and Alpha of Tanami Pack transfer the position of Alpha to Noelle Remington, Queen of All Werewolves."

Her father's firm hand on her back kept her from stepping back at the power exchange. She felt the emptiness hit her, and bit her lip hard to keep from sobbing.

"The Beta and I are going to drive you back to the airport, Natalia," Nick said softly.

"Let's go then," she told him. "I need to leave this place."

He nodded and looked at Noelle, then left the room, Natalia and Evan right behind him.

Natalia got into the backseat of the car and laid her head back. She closed her eyes.

"Natalia!"

She opener her eyes to see  to see her father leaning over her.

"We're here. You slept the whole way," he said.

Heaviness settled over her again as she crawled out of the car. She hugged her father one more time. "Bring him home to me."

He nodded. "I will."

Natalia sighed softly and turned and walked over to the plane. She boarded it, glad someone else had made the arrangements. She didn't have the energy to do it herself.

Mike greeted her at the door. He looked her over and nodded. "Sleep Natalia. You need it. For a little while, everything will be okay."

She nodded. "Thanks," she whispered. She headed back to the small bedroom on the plane and closed the door, then crawled on the bed and closed her eyes. She was so mentally and physically exhausted that she was out within moments.