Counterback of the Despised Luna by Diana West

Chapter 458 Take the Bullet

Rosaline’s POV:

+8 Pearls

I shook my head, a mix of disbelief and pity creeping it for Lilian. But there was no sympathy. None at all.

“Lilian,” I said, my voice cool and deliberate. “You need to get this through your head. You were the one who started all of this. If you hadn’t helped Wendy plot, making all those terrible decisions, if you hadn’t hired a hacker to break into our company’s network, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

I let the silence settle for a beat. “As for the Moonveil Pack nearly going bankrupt, that’s on you, not me. If your actions hadn’t been exposed, you wouldn’t have ended up in the police station. And I? I was only defending myself. Seeking help from the law to fix your mess. Do you still not see how you screwed up?”

I spoke without emotion, but inside I knew this wouldn’t reach her. Lilian was not only stubborn but reckless. She’d only learn the hard way.

My words clearly pushed her further. Her face flushed crimson, her fists clenched so tight her knuckles turned white.

Before I could process what was happening, she pulled a hunting rifle from her pocket, aiming it directly at me. She slammed her eyes shut, and with a feral scream, shouted, “Then you can just die!”

My breath caught. Was she really going to pull the trigger?

“Rosaline, watch out!” Jasper’s voice sliced through the tension. He lunged, throwing himself between us, taking the bullet.

The crew was thrown into disarray at first, but my bodyguards quickly came to my aid.

The shot echoed like thunder, sharp and sudden.

The air thickened with smoke. When it cleared, Jasper was slumped against me, blood seeping through his clothes, staining everything.

I froze, my mind refusing to catch up with what had just happened.

had taken the

still managed to rasp out, “Rosalin

panic rising like a storm. “Jasper, hold on. The ambulance is coming. Just hang in there!” My hands were shaking, fingers slipping on the phone as I tried to call for help.

rifle still in hand, as if unable to

stormed in, grabbing her by the arms, dragging her away. Someone

far from the city. Within ten minutes, the ambulance arrived, werewolf paramedics rushing

I stayed close, never leaving his side as

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Apr

458 Take

+B Pearls

through his clothing. Panic gnawed at me, tight and cold,

I

close. I couldn’t even allow myself to think of what

it all blurred. Werewolf doctors rushed him toward the operating room, their footsteps loud and hurried. I sat there, still, my hands clasped

trembled, and I could feel the weight of what was happening pressing down on me.

open, and a doctor stepped out. His brow furrowed, face set in grim lines. “Are you

able to breathe. “I’m his friend… Doctor, how is he? Is he going

We need to operate immediately to remove the pellets. If we

voice barely a whisper. I reached for the pen,

mattered right now but

trying to steady my breath. “Can

nodded once. I pushed through the door, stepping into the sterile, bright room. Nurses were already prepping the equipment. And there, lying on the bed, was Jasper. His skin was pale, and a respirator kept his chest rising

in my eyes, hot and sudden. I wiped them away hastily, trying to control the flood of emotion that threatened to

his, and I squeezed it tightly. “Jasper … Jasper, please, are you okay? Can