Chapter 4: The Revenge Plan Began While I Was Dying

Stella POV

"Forty-eight hours remaining."

The System's voice echoed quietly through my mind.

Two days.

Two days until my contract was fulfilled.

Two days until I returned home.

Two days until Kaelen Blackthorne discovered exactly what he had thrown away.

The city lights shimmered beyond the hospital window like distant stars.

For seven years, I had looked at this skyline and imagined building a future here.

Now I was counting the hours until I left it forever.

A violent cough tore through my chest.

Blood splattered across the white blanket.

The dark crimson had become almost black.

The Lycan blood was winning.

"Physical deterioration at sixty-two percent," the System reported.

"Estimated survival time remains within mission parameters."

"Good."

"Host emotional state remains stable."

I laughed softly.

"After everything they've done, stability is easy."

The System processed that statement in silence.

Then a new window appeared in my vision.

"Data collection progress: sixty-seven percent complete."

"Show me."

Thousands of files flooded across the holographic display.

Financial transactions.

Private emails.

Pack surveillance footage.

Medical records.

Corporate reports.

Years of hidden corruption.

Years of carefully buried crimes.

And at the center of almost every file—

Selene.

My eyes narrowed.

"Open file series Delta-Seven."

"Confirmed."

Video footage appeared.

A parking garage.

Three months ago.

Selene stood beside one of Blood Moon Corporation's senior engineers.

An envelope changed hands.

Money.

A lot of money.

The engineer handed her a data drive.

"What is this?"

"Security archive from autonomous vehicle development division."

The video shifted.

Another camera angle.

Another day.

Selene entering a restricted laboratory.

Selene accessing administrative controls.

Selene altering code.

My code.

The anti-collision system I personally designed.

The same system that failed during my accident.

No.

Not failed.

Sabotaged.

Proof.

Actual proof.

For years she had manipulated every situation carefully enough to avoid consequences.

Now her own arrogance was about to destroy her.

"Archive all evidence."

"Completed."

"Create public release package."

"Release conditions?"

A faint smile touched my lips.

"Upon confirmed death."

"Dead-man's switch configured."

Perfect.

If they wanted me dead, then my death would become their nightmare.

Another notification appeared.

"Additional irregularity discovered."

"Explain."

"Financial fraud involving Blood Moon Pack emergency funds."

More files appeared.

This time involving Kaelen.

I frowned.

"Kaelen?"

"Indirectly."

"Clarify."

"Funds repeatedly redirected toward Selene's personal projects under Alpha authorization."

My stomach twisted.

Not from emotion.

From disbelief.

Millions.

Millions of dollars taken from Pack welfare programs.

Medical funds.

Housing assistance.

Veteran support accounts.

All redirected.

Not by Kaelen personally.

But under permissions he had granted Selene.

Without oversight.

Without accountability.

Because he trusted her blindly.

The same way he distrusted me blindly.

"Add it to the package."

"Completed."

The hospital room fell silent again.

Hours passed.

The pain grew worse.

The blood grew darker.

The weakness spread further.

At some point I drifted into an uneasy sleep.

When I woke again, someone was standing beside my bed.

Beta Marcus.

Kaelen's Beta.

Unlike most members of the Pack, Marcus had always treated me with respect.

His expression looked troubled.

"Luna."

"Marcus."

"You look terrible."

"Thank you."

He almost smiled.

Almost.

"I spoke to the Alpha."

"And?"

"He thinks you're exaggerating."

Of course he did.

Marcus looked ashamed.

"I tried to explain."

"You don't owe me an apology."

"Maybe not."

His jaw tightened.

"But I owe you the truth."

That got my attention.

"What truth?"

Marcus hesitated.

"The Pack has been talking."

"About?"

"Selene."

"What about her?"

"People are starting to notice things."

Interesting.

"Such as?"

"The accidents around you."

"The conflicts."

"The timing."

"And the Alpha always taking her side."

I remained silent.

Marcus lowered his voice.

"There are rumors."

"What kind of rumors?"

"That Selene isn't the victim she pretends to be."

A cold satisfaction settled inside me.

Not because people finally believed me.

Because they were finally opening their eyes.

"The Pack Council has questions," Marcus continued.

"Questions Kaelen refuses to answer."

"That sounds like his problem."

"It will become everyone's problem soon."

He wasn't wrong.

The dead-man's switch guaranteed it.

"Marcus."

"Yes?"

"When everything comes out..."

"Everything?"

"Take care of yourself."

He frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"Just promise me."

"...I promise."

For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

Then Marcus stood.

"Get some rest, Luna."

"I will."

"And Stella?"

"Yes?"

"You deserved better than this."

The words hit harder than they should have.

Because they were sincere.

Because they came from someone who had no reason to say them.

"Thank you, Marcus."

He nodded once and left.

The door clicked shut.

"Host," the System announced.

"Dead-man's switch package ninety-four percent complete."

"Excellent."

"Estimated release capability achieved within six hours."

Everything was falling into place.

Selene's sabotage.

The financial fraud.

The hidden surveillance footage.

The lies.

The manipulation.

The corruption.

Years of secrets compressed into a single digital bomb.

A bomb that would detonate the moment my heart stopped beating.

"Countdown update," the System reported.

"Thirty-six hours remaining."

Thirty-six hours.

A day and a half.

That was all.

I looked toward the night sky beyond the window.

Somewhere in the city, Kaelen was probably still with Selene.

Still believing her.

Still protecting her.

Still convinced I was the villain.

A strange calm settled over me.

Because for the first time in seven years, I no longer needed him to understand.

Very soon, the truth would speak for itself.

And when it did, there would be nowhere left for either of them to hide.