A/N: Put down your pitchforks everyone! I know I said I would update ONYX next but I couldn't stop thinking about this chapter so just zip it and take what you can get 😉

I rolled my eyes, the only part of me that I could actually move.

And you had to paralyze me in order to talk to me? I questioned, my voice thick with sarcasm. I wasn't really scared. It's not like Thane would hurt me, and I'm basically a pro at dealing with over dramatic Alphas.

"And you had to mutilate my mate in order to train her?" He snarled, and I could see that his wolf had complete control over him.

Rolling my eyes, I responded in exasperation, Chill out, Drama Queen. She had a couple of bruises. There's no reason to get hysterical about it.

Thane clenched his fists as he menacingly took a step towards me.

"Release the Luna right now or I swear I will fucking tear you apart," Axel's deep voice reverberated through the room from the doorway. His eyes were completely black, and he was shaking from trying to control his wolf. He was shirtless, only clothed in cotton shorts.

I had this under control, Axel, I try telling him.

"Shut up for once, Ares," Axel snarled at me, and I was surprised by his intensity. I hadn't seen him this angry... well... ever, actually.

"She hurt my mate," Thane hissed. "She will pay for that."

With those words, Axel was replaced by an enormous tan wolf as he shifted. Thane followed immediately after, transforming into his grey wolf. Size-wise, Thane was only slighter larger than Axel. Axel snapped his canines at him, growling threateningly.

Thane attempted to bite Axel first, but Axel dodged it and sank his teeth into Thane's torso. Thane shook him off and managed to bite his leg, but Axel was able to get away.

As they took turns snapping at each other with their jaws, trying to get bites in where they could. Thane must have had to put all of his energy towards fighting Axel, because his magic started to dissipate and I was able to move.

I threw a wolfsbane soaked dagger into Thane's side, and his wolf let out a whining sound.

I summoned another one and held it to his neck as he was panting in pain on his side. Shift or I'll give your other dagger a friend. I think it's lonely in your kidney, I hissed to Thane.

Thane growled, but shifted back to his human form. Due to exploding out of his clothes, he was nude. Nudity isn't really a big deal to werewolves, since we're used to shifting around others, but I still tossed him a towel, which he tied around his waist as he glared at me.

You too, Axel, I commanded. I was shocked when he snarled at me.

Must protect Luna, he growled through our mindlink.

I put my hand on his head. I'm fine. Go back to your room. When he looked like he was about to protest, I spoke again. I'll be fine, Axe. There's no door on my wall for fuck's sake. You'll be able to hear if anything happens. Go. That's an Alpha Command.

He looked down in submission. No wolf could ignore an Alpha's command, and he exited, but not before snapping his teeth at Thane once more.

Thane stood with his arms across his chest, the towel tied around his waist. His eyes were narrowed at me, but back to their usual green color. The wound from where I stabbed him in the abdomen was an ugly green color as blood still seeped out. Wolfsbane is a bitch.

We stared each other down for a couple of minutes, neither of us saying a word.

I decided, for once, to take the diplomatic approach. Thane has always been a very good friend to me, and he is Cain's cousin after all. Though I could imagine that Cain wouldn't be too thrilled if he found out about this incident.

Look, Thane. You asked me here because you know that I'm the most qualified person to train your mate. If you do not believe that to be true anymore, then tell me and Axel and I will leave tonight, I say genuinely. If he didn't want my help, I wouldn't give it to him.

He was silent, confirming what I already knew. You have to let me train her the way I need to. Treating her like glass will only lead to her being shattered. A few bruises from me is nothing compared to what that little bitch from your pack will do in the challenge if Onyx cannot defend herself.

Thane was silent. "It's hard," He mumbled. "Trying to control my emotions. Ever since I found Nyx, my wolf is constantly about to come to the surface. I've never felt so little control," He confessed.

I nodded. I didn't really understand, because my wolf was submissive to me, but after seeing the way Cain acted before we were mated, I could see where he was coming from.

"I'm scared that I'm going to lose her and there's nothing I can do to stop it," He said quietly.

You can give Onyx the best chance she'll get at winning by having me train her. That means letting me do whatever I want. You know I would never seriously harm your mate, Thane. But I cannot help her if you try killing me every time she comes back with a bruise, I state.

He nods. "I really do apologize, Luna. My wolf was out of control, but that's no excuse. It will not happen again. I owe you my life for what you're doing for me," He barred his neck in submission, a rarity for Alphas.

I just don't understand how you're so worked up over me injuring her during training but you let her challenger bully her, I say in confusion. His reaction was totally disproportional.

He looked up at me in confusion, tilting his head. "What are you talking about, Ares?"

I scratch my head awkwardly. Ah, so Onyx didn't tell Thane. Talk to your mate about it, Thane.

His face was contorted in puzzlement, but I was not going to get in the middle of their pack drama. So do we have an understanding? You don't meddle during the training, and I do my best to make sure you don't have to mop up Onyx's organs off of the floor for months, I harshly state. He needs this reality check.

"Yes, Luna," He says as he winces at my harsh description. "I really do apologize again. I understand if you tell Cain about this, I deserve his wrath."

I wave my hand dismissively. I can handle my own problems without Cain backing me up, thanks. But Thane, I say as I walk closely enough to him that I'm only a foot away.

He raises an eyebrow at me, and then stiffens as I shove my hand into his abdominal wound, twisting it as I speak. He groans in pain.

If you ever attack me or any of my pack members again, I will not be as gentle, nor forgiving, I softly say through our mindlink as I give one final twist before withdrawing it.

He's pale and panting slightly in pain as I wipe the blood from my hand off onto his chest.

I leave him alone in my guest room, and head over to Axel's room next door. He immediately rushes to me and grabs me, scanning my body for injuries.

When he sees the blood residue on my hands, I can see his concern, but I tell him that it's Thane's and it to worry.

He hugs me, and I swear I could hear him sniff my hair. It's not an abnormal thing for wolves to do when checking each other for injuries, but it's so primal, it makes me wonder why he still doesn't have control over his wolf.

I pull away and put my hand on his cheek. Axe, what's the matter? It was just a little disagreement. I'm not even hurt, my confusion is evident in my tone.

I examine him for injuries, but he's in a t-shirt and shorts and all I can see are a few bite marks on his legs.

"I didn't like seeing you like that," He mumbled. "Helpless. It felt wrong."

I snort as I lightly smack his chest. I had it under control, Axel.

His eyes looked pained, and it took me a moment to realize why.

Oh.  I see now.

It brings back memories from the Wilson incident, doesn't it? I question, though I know the answer.

He winced as he recalls the memory. "You don't get it, Ares. You were dead. I heard your heart stop. Your internal organs were falling out of your body. I've never seen someone so close to death. And yeah, you were tied up. So when I see you restrained like that, it makes me fucking angry."

He started shaking again, and I hugged him. Sometimes I forget how much the pack relied on the Luna, and how emotionally attached they feel to them.

Finally calmed down, he pulls away. "You're sleeping in here tonight. I'll be outside guarding the door. But I can't have you in a separate room or my wolf will go berserk," Axel commands me and I'm shocked by his bossiness.

Axel, seriously. I'll be fine by myself, I try saying, but he cuts me off.

"Not tonight, Ares. I just saw you get attacked by an Alpha. You're lucky I'm not telling Cain, but in order for my wolf to feel at rest, I'm not letting you out of my sight," He says and his voice is resolute.

Fine, I acquiesce. But just sleep on the floor. You don't need to be outside guarding the door. I need you rested for tomorrow.

He looks like he's about to argue, but decides against it.

"Seriously," He mutters as he takes one of the spare blankets and pillows off of the bed and throws it on to the floor near the door. "You are so lucky I'm not telling Cain about what Thane did to you."

I know, I wince. I can only imagine what bloodbath would incur as a result of him finding out.