Chapter 3: Logan is dead

Kylie’s POV.

I woke up to the sound of birds chirping, sunlight filtering through the thin curtains. My heart pounded, my breath coming in ragged gasps. For a moment, I clung to the remnants of my dream, the vivid, glorious vision where I had finally confronted Flora.

In my dream, the scene was set on a bustling street. Flora stood there, her face twisted in arrogance. “You thought you could ruin my life?” I shouted, my voice echoing off the buildings. People stopped and stared, murmuring amongst themselves.

Flora sneered, “You were nothing, Kylie. Just a pawn in a game you didn’t even understand.”

Rage fueled my movements. I stepped forward, grabbing her arm. “I’m more than you’ll ever be,” I hissed, my grip tightening. “And today, everyone will see who you truly are.”

The crowd gasped as I yanked Flora closer, my voice dripping with contempt. “This woman,” I declared, “is a liar and a manipulator. She’s evicted my family, ruined lives for her gain.”

Flora’s eyes widened, panic replacing her smug expression. “You’re crazy!” she shrieked, trying to pull away. But I held firm, the power of truth on my side.

“Tell them, Flora,” I demanded. “Tell them what you’ve done.”

Her resistance crumbled, and she fell to her knees, sobbing. The onlookers’ whispers grew louder, a wave of realization sweeping through the crowd. “Look at her,” I continued, my voice rising. This is the real Flora Muller—a coward who hides behind lies.”

Just as the crowd’s condemnation reached a crescendo, my vision blurred. The street, the people, Flora’s broken figure—all faded away. I blinked, disoriented, and found myself back in Anne’s small home.

“It was just a dream,” I whispered, bitterness coating my words. “Just a fantasy.”

Sitting up, I rubbed my temples, trying to shake off the lingering adrenaline. “You’re not there yet, Kylie,” I reminded myself. “You have to build yourself up first. Become powerful enough to make that dream a reality.”

Anne’s diary lay nearby, a stark reminder of my new purpose. “First, I owe it to Anne,” I thought, determination hardening my resolve. “I need to find out more about Logan, the man who ruined her life.”

But before that, I needed one last look at Flora. I had to see her with my own eyes, remind myself of why I was doing this. “One last look,” I muttered, slipping out of bed.

Sneaking back into the Nightbloom territory was second nature now. I moved silently, blending into the shadows, until I reached a familiar spot near Flora’s house. Voices drifted towards me, snippets of conversation that made my blood boil.

“She’s planning to evict Kylie’s family,” one woman whispered. “She thinks it’s best to get rid of them quickly.”

“Doesn’t she know they’re already suffering enough?” another replied.

“She doesn’t care,” the first woman said bitterly. “Flora thinks they might want revenge.”

Anger surged through me, but I forced myself to stay calm. “They’re talking about my family like they’re nothing,” I fumed internally. “Like they’re just obstacles to be removed.”

I watched Flora from a distance, her every movement filled with a sickening grace. “She’s living her life without a care in the world,” I thought, my heart aching for my mother and brother. “They’re grieving, suffering, and she’s… she’s thriving.”

“I want to storm in there,” I admitted to myself, “to make her pay right now. But I can’t. Not yet.”

I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. “Flora, I’ll let you off once today for now,” I vowed silently. “But one day, I’ll take my revenge on you. Until that day comes, you must take good care of your health.”

With that promise burning in my heart, I slipped away from the scene, my resolve stronger than ever. “This isn’t over,” I thought, my steps light but purposeful. “I’ll be back. And next time, I’ll be ready.”

Leaving my pack, I couldn’t shake thoughts of Anne from my mind. Her words, her pain, her story—they clung to me like shadows. “What kind of man kills a woman’s lover and expects her to marry him?” I wondered, the thought of Logan igniting a cold fury within me. “For the sake of national interests, she wanted to marry Alpha Logan, but how could she bear the pain of her lover’s death?”

The weight of her story pressed on me. “Anne, I promise I’ll make this right. I’ll use your identity to get close to Logan. I’ll stay close to him if I must. And then, I’ll kill him. For you.”

But I wasn’t ready yet. I needed to be stronger, smarter. Umbra Academy. Anne had spoken of it—a place that prepared you for this cruel world. “If I’m going to do this, I need to be the best,” I resolved. “I’ll enroll there and become the assassin I need to be.”

The academy loomed ahead, its dark reputation preceding it. I walked through its gates, my heart set on the mission ahead. “I’m doing this for you, Anne,” I reminded myself as I signed the papers, sealing my fate.

Training was brutal. Every day was a test of endurance, strength, and will. The first week alone nearly broke me. We were pushed to our limits, running for hours, fighting until we could barely stand. “You have to be stronger,” I told myself during the grueling sessions. “You can’t afford to fail.”

One particularly grueling day, we were forced to climb a sheer rock face with nothing but our hands and feet. “Move it, Kennedy!” the instructor barked. “No one’s going to save you out there!”

My fingers bled, my muscles screamed, but I refused to stop. “For Anne,” I thought, dragging myself upwards. Each pull, each grasp, was a step closer to avenging her. When I reached the top, I collapsed, gasping for breath. “You did it,” I whispered, a fierce sense of pride swelling in my chest.

In the evenings, we learned the art of stealth and subterfuge. We were taught how to blend into any environment and move without making a sound. “You’re not just Kylie anymore,” I reminded myself each night. “You’re a weapon.”

The physical training was intense, but the psychological aspect was just as challenging. We were constantly tested, pushed to our mental limits. Deprivation, manipulation, and fear were tools used to harden us. “Remember why you’re here,” I would tell myself, gripping the edge of my cot. “Remember what they did to Anne.”

Three months passed in a blur of sweat and blood. I learned how to move silently and strike without hesitation. The final test was the most daunting: a simulated mission in which failure meant expulsion. We were dropped in the middle of a dense forest with nothing but a dagger and a target to eliminate.

“Stay focused,” I muttered, stalking through the underbrush. My target, a seasoned instructor, was cunning and quick. But I was faster. I caught him off guard, my blade at his throat before he could react. “Got you,” I whispered, a victorious grin spreading across my face.

When I finally graduated, I felt the weight of my new skills. I was an assassin, ready to face the world. “This is just the beginning,” I thought, packing my things one last time at Anne’s place. “I’m ready now.”

Before leaving, I took something precious from Anne’s belongings—a locket with her family crest, something that could prove her identity. “This will get me into Logan’s pack,” I thought, holding the locket tightly. “This will be my key to revenge.”

As I left for Logan’s territory, my heart pounded with a mix of fear and anticipation. “Logan, you don’t know what’s coming,” I whispered to myself. “I’ll get close to you, and then I’ll end you.”

As I arrived at the WildWind pack, the atmosphere felt heavy, almost suffocating. The usual liveliness of a pack was absent, replaced by a somber stillness. “What’s going on?” I wondered, stepping through the gates. The air was thick with mourning, faces drawn, and eyes downcast. Something terrible had happened, but what?

I made my way towards Logan’s place, my heart pounding with anticipation and unease. One by one, I passed the betas, their expressions grim. The royal guards stood like statues, their faces hard and unreadable. As I approached the final gate, a guard stepped forward, raising his hand to stop me.

“Who are you?” he demanded, his voice rough and suspicious.

“I-I’m Anne, the Luna,” I stammered, trying to steady my voice. The words felt strange on my tongue, but I had to stay in character.

The guard’s eyes widened in shock. “Luna? We weren’t informed of any Luna.” He looked me up and down, doubt flickering in his eyes. “Prove it.”

With trembling hands, I reached into my bag and pulled out the locket with Anne’s family crest. “This,” I said, holding it out. “This is my proof.”

He took the locket, examining it closely. After a moment, his expression softened, and he nodded. “This is indeed the crest of Anne’s family. Welcome, Luna.” He stepped aside, motioning for me to follow him. “Let me explain our customs.”

As we walked, he spoke of the pack’s traditions, the words blurring in my mind. My thoughts raced, barely keeping up with his explanations. “According to our rules,” he said, “the Luna must be buried with the Alpha after his death.”

I stopped in my tracks, my heart skipping a beat. “Buried? With Logan?”

He nodded solemnly. “Yes, it’s our way of honoring the bond between Alpha and Luna. There are also items that must be buried with you. Special wine, ceremonial weapons, and other sacred objects.”

Panic surged through me. “Logan is dead?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

“Yes,” he replied, his expression mournful. “He passed away suddenly. It’s a great loss for our pack.”

My mind spun. “Logan’s dead before I could even get here? And now, I’m supposed to be buried with him?” I thought, struggling to process this new reality. My mission, my revenge—what would become of it?

As the guard continued speaking, I could barely hear him over the roaring in my ears. “I need to survive,” I thought desperately. “I can’t die here. Not now, not like this.”

I forced myself to focus. “You have to think, Kylie. You have to find a way out of this.” My heart raced, fear and determination battling within me. “I need to stay calm. There has to be a way to use this to my advantage.”

“How could this happen to me?!” I said, numb.

The guard nodded. “His demise happened suddenly.”

As I stood there like a statue, my mind raced with possibilities. “I can’t let this be the end. Logan might be gone, but Graham and Flora are still out there. I have to find a way to survive this ritual. I have to complete my mission.”

I clenched my fists. “Anne, I won’t let your death be in vain. I’ll find a way to live.”

Staring at the locket, I made a silent vow. “I will avenge you, Anne. And I will take back everything from Graham and Flora. This isn’t the end. It’s just another challenge I have to overcome.”

The urgency of my situation pressed down on me. “Think, Kylie, think,” I urged myself. The guard’s words about being buried with Logan rang in my ears. I couldn’t let that happen. Then, a desperate idea formed.

“I’m pregnant,” I blurted out, the lie slipping from my lips before I could second-guess it. “I’m carrying Logan’s child.”

The room erupted in chaos. Betas and guards exchanged bewildered glances. Some murmured in disbelief, while others stared at me with shock and suspicion. “Pregnant? With Logan’s child?” one Beta whispered, his voice thick with skepticism.

“How could this be?” another muttered, shaking his head. “We weren’t informed of any Luna.”

The main Beta, a tall man with a stern expression, stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. “We can’t take your word for it,” he declared, his tone cutting through the noise. “A claim like this requires proof.”

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to maintain my composure. “I understand,” I replied, meeting his gaze. “Do whatever you need to confirm it.”

He nodded sharply, turning to the others. “Fetch the doctor,” he ordered. “We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

As the room buzzed with tension, I fought to keep my nerves in check. “This must work,” I thought, my heart pounding.

Minutes later, the main Beta returned, his face a mask of disbelief. “The doctor has confirmed it,” he announced, his voice shaky. “You’re indeed pregnant.”

The room erupted again, but this time, the murmurs were tinged with respect and awe. Some Betas exchanged glances, while others stared at me with newfound acceptance. “This changes everything,” one of them muttered.