Matthew's Pov

　　"Let go of my daughter, you lunatic!" Tim begs with desperation and anger in his voice. I toss Ava's body in front of him, and she rolls like a sack of potatoes, her breathing ragged and uneven.

　　"She's all yours, Alpha Tim. But first, I'm going to skin you alive, and then your wife. Ava will be last, so she can witness the consequences of her insane actions!" I announce, my voice rising, echoing in the silent night.

　　The stars in the sky shine with a cold, indifferent light, oblivious to the violence and pain beneath them. I pray that the Moon Goddess grants me the strength I need to avenge my beloved Emma tonight.

　　Michael is still unconscious on the ground, a few meters away from his family. I plunge my claws into his shoulder with force, piercing through to the other side. For a brief moment, he gasps in pain, waking suddenly from the excruciating pain I am causing. His scream is an agonizing sound that echoes in the darkness, a desperate wail that only fuels my thirst for revenge.

　　I drag his body slowly across the field, each movement eliciting a groan of pain from his lips. Michael passes out again, and I drop his body at my feet. His blood rises to my flaring nostrils, a metallic scent that drives my fury even more. I want to drench the ground with his blood and that of his entire family, turning this field into a clear reminder of how I, Matthew Anderson, do not let anyone take anything from me without paying for it.

　　"After this, I will make your son suffer for eternity, and Moonshadow Pack will become a graveyard. I will kill every one of your werewolves and use your son as a pet," I threaten firmly, my voice a grim promise of destruction. The terror on Tim and his family's faces is evident, but it does not stir any pity in my heart.

　　I am vengeance incarnate, and I will not rest until they all pay for what they did to Emma.

　　"Now, I will be a bit merciful. I'll let you choose who dies first. You or your wife," I declare with perversity. I walk towards Alpha Tim Davis and crouch in front of him, my lupine eyes blazing at him, ready to devour him with everything I have. "You have five seconds."

　　Tim's wife starts to cry, and Ava clings to my leg with difficulty. I kick her away, like a mangy dog.

　　"Get away from me, you traitorous bitch. Slut!" I order with venom in my voice.

　　"Your time is up. Who will it be?" I ask.

　　Tim doesn't respond, and I slash his face with my claws, leaving a deep cut from his brow to the other side of his face.

　　"I choose for you then. It will be your wife. A mate for a mate. Since your pathetic children don't have any mates, your wife will pay the debt!" I declare firmly, dragging Tim's wife away from him.

　　I leave Tim's wife, who is crying uncontrollably, on her knees in front of Tim and Ava. My hand is about to slice through the kneeling woman's throat.

　　"MATTHEW!" Emma's scream breaks the atmosphere, and I feel someone pulling me back, making my body stumble a few steps.

　　In my field of vision, Emma suddenly appears. Her hand is holding my arm, and I freeze, unable to comprehend that she is here.

　　"Matthew, my love. Look at me, I'm here, my love. Listen to my voice!" Emma pleads with a rushed, sweet voice.

　　I obey her request, focusing only on her. Only on my fiancée, my mate.

　　Emma's hands come to my beastly face. I know my appearance is not the best. There's blood all over my body, and I am in my Lycan form, with rage and anger etched on my face. But that does not scare my beloved. She caresses my face with tenderness and love.

　　"She… she said you were going to die. That there was nothing more to be done, Emma. They, they…" I stammer, tears choking my throat.

　　"I'm here, please. Don't do this. Remember the conference, the peace treaty, my love!" Emma pleads gently, her face coming even closer to mine. "Peace is our right. You helped me achieve it, together. The two of us, remember? They can't win. If you seek revenge, the cycle will repeat," Emma whispers to me, her lips close to mine. "We'll win this, again, together."

　　Slowly, I feel my anger dissipating. With each word Emma speaks, my heart receives it as a remedy. My hands encircle my fiancée's waist, holding her tenderly. My Lycan form fades, and I return to being just Matthew.

　　"Stay here with me. Don't go down a path of violence and hate, because I won't be able to follow you, my love," Emma pleads tenderly, and I nod.

　　"I thought I had lost you forever, Emma," I confess before kissing her lips.

　　"You should be dead," Ava speaks behind us. "How are you still here?"