When I arrived at the grave, the sight took my breath away. Winona was there with her followers, digging up my mother’s remains. They had discarded my mother’s urn to replace it with the ashes of Winona’s dog. Two wolfguards were digging the grave as if they had every right to.
“What are you doing?” I screamed, rushing toward them, my fists clenched.
Winona stepped back, hiding behind Scott. “This is my baby’s new home,” she said sweetly. “I spoke to the cemetery manager. The inscription fits. I’m sure the daughter won’t mind.”
I snapped. I grabbed the shovel from one of the men and started undoing the damage. “Ariana, stop!” Scott yelled, pulling the shovel from my hands.
“How could you let them do this?” I cried, but I couldn't stop. I was on my knees, digging into the freshly turned soil with my bare hands, desperate to reach my mother's urn and undo the damage they had caused.
Winona’s calm facade broke. “Stop her!” she shouted. “My baby has suffered enough. I won’t allow him to be disturbed again!”
Winona's wolfguards grabbed me, holding me back as I screamed for them to stop. "Let me go!"
Scott’s voice cut through the chaos. “Ariana... Winona's already heartbroken over her dog's death. Yet, you're making a big deal just because we had to pause the mating ritual. You’ve gone too far. Apologize to her, now!”
“Never!” I spat, wishing I could turn into a wolf and rip them apart.
Winona dug my mother's grave! Any normal werewolf would tear anyone who would do that to their loving mother. I want them to feel the agony I'm feeling right now.
But Winona saw an opportunity to manipulate Scott more because of my actions. She turned to Scott, her voice dripping with false concern. "Scott, you’ve always said Ariana was a good person, but look at her now. She’s completely unhinged, acting like a rogue. If you actually marry her, you'll be the laughingstock of not just this pack, but every neighboring pack too."
"Who dares to laugh at my woman?" he shot back, his voice cold and sharp. But I saw the flicker of doubt in his eyes, the way Winona's words slowly took hold. She gave him a sweet, triumphant smile, knowing full well she had won.
Scott turned to me, disappointment etched across his face. "Ariana," he said, his voice icy, "I can't believe you're making this all about you. This is ridiculous. If you apologize to Winona, maybe —just maybe— I'll forgive you."