The Lost Queen

Chapter Twenty One

Daya's P.O.V.

My tears dried, and something inside of me shifted.

I let my wolf take control.

In an instant, I was no longer standing on two legs. My body twisted, bones cracking and reforming as I shifted into the beast within me. On all fours, my wolf prowled forward with a predator's grace, her instincts focused on the men in front of us. They were nothing more than prey to her—her next meal.

But I had one rule, one thing I still needed to hold onto.

Don't kill both. Only one.

I communicated with her, my thoughts firm but not without a trace of hesitation. I didn't care what she was about to do to one of them—she was hungry and angry, and I didn't trust myself to stop her.

Her growl echoed in the night air as she stalked the man dragging Malik, and I could sense his fear before he even registered her presence. His eyes widened, and his body jerked back, scrambling to get away from her. Fucking coward.

She didn't waste time. Her front paws slammed into his chest, pushing him down with unrelenting force. His breath hitched, panic setting in as he looked up at the monstrous beast towering over him.

Before he could react, she seized his neck in her powerful jaws, her teeth sinking deep. His strangled cries filled the air, but she only tightened her grip, savoring the moment.

"Daya, don't let her do this. Take back control." Kaden's voice sliced through the chaos. I could hear his footsteps as he moved closer, his tone laced with urgency. "We might need them."

But it didn't matter. My wolf, fiercely protective and relentless, had made her decision.

The man wriggled beneath her, his body desperate for escape, but she wasn't done yet. Her canines dug deeper, and she chewed slightly, adding pain to his misery. It wasn't enough for her to simply end his life. She wanted him to suffer for what he'd done to my family.

The man choked, blood spilling from his mouth, and I watched as the life drained from his eyes, slow and agonizing. His body went limp, the defiance leaving him as he collapsed under my wolf's weight.

Take control now.

It was her voice, low and content, urging me to take back what was mine. I didn't resist.

Okay.

I shifted back, my human form emerging from the wolf's control. As the transformation took place, my body felt vulnerable, exposed, but Kaden was there. His arms wrapped around me instantly, shielding me from the others with a protective embrace.

"Give me the blanket," Kaden demanded, his tone commanding yet full of concern. A moment later, a large, gray blanket was draped over me, cocooning me in its warmth.

I wrapped the blanket tightly around my body, the soft fabric a welcome comfort against my bare skin. Turning to Malik, I saw that Liam was already holding him carefully, mindful of the injury on his back. As soon as I reached them, Malik's small arms wrapped around my neck, and I pulled him close, his head resting against the crook of my neck.

"I've got you, baby," I whispered, my voice soft yet firm as my fingers gently stroked Malik's hair. His small body felt fragile in my arms. We walked in silence, the tension of the night hanging heavily around us. Kaden, Liam, and James had taken charge of the aftermath—handling the bodies, making sure everything was taken care of—while the rest of the men trailed behind, eyes sharp, ensuring no further threats lurked in the shadows.