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Chapter 8

last update 最終更新日: 2025-03-21 09:25:40

Hidden Secrets

The pack was on edge from the battle's aftermath. Even though they had won, the rogues had made it clear that they had no intention of giving up. Tension hovered in the air like a storm waiting to break, yet the warriors intensified their efforts and strengthened defences.

Lena had a nagging suspicion that things was not quite right. Although the rogues had launched a fierce onslaught, their withdrawal was too well-managed. They had a leader who understood strategy, so they were not just dumb brutes.

That implied that they will return.

She trained the scouting teams over the course of the following few days, teaching them how to move covertly and identify threats before they materialised. She was aware that some of them still had doubts about her, but she did not give a damn. It was one thing to prove herself to Damian, but quite another to prove herself to them.

But Jace seems to have grown fond of her. He even sparred with her during training sessions and showed her something approaching respect after their altercation.

One afternoon, as they circled one another with blades in hand, he asked, "You ever think about what you will do when this is over?"

Lena easily sidestepped his blow. "I do not believe this will ever end."

Jace gave a quick exhale. "Yeah, I was afraid of that."

Lena was familiar with the emotion. The effects of this conflict would endure even if they prevailed and drove the outlaws permanently. She had been running for too long to think that things would be simple.

She had trouble sleeping that night. As she lay on her cot, she listened to the camp's soft murmurs while gazing up at the wooden ceiling. She became tense at every whisper and groan. There was a problem. It was palpable in her bones.

At last, she stopped attempting to sleep and put on her boots. When she went outside, the moon shone on the clearing, and the air was fresh. With their silhouettes scarcely discernible in the darkness, warriors patrolled the perimeter.

Attracted by the forest's edge, she headed for the northern watchtower. She could not quite hear the whispers that the trees whispered as they moved softly in the night breeze.

Then she noticed a shadow moving from one trunk to another.

Lena stiffened. There was a spectator.

She did not make an assistance call. Rather, she trailed after, disappearing like a phantom into the wilderness. It was a subtle yet distinct smell. An outlaw. But behind it, there was another—familiar—thing.

A long-buried recollection awoke. As she drew nearer, her breath stuck in her throat.

Lena froze as the figure turned.

"Hi, younger sister."

Her heart almost stopped. "No," she said in a whisper.

The towering man in front of her had black eyes that gleamed in the moonlight. There was no mistaking him, albeit his face was older than she remembered.

Kieran was the one.

Her sibling.

Lena's thoughts were racing. Kieran was dead, of course he was. Years before, she had witnessed him fall in combat. However, he was standing among the enemies, still very much alive.

He tried to move forward, but she resisted. "You should be dead by now."

He grinned. "I could say that about you, too."

She gripped her dagger more tightly. "Why are you in this place?"

He said, "I came to warn you." "Lena, you are in over your head. Damian is not who you believe him to be.

Her laughter was sour. "And I guess the good guys are the rogues?"

Kieran's face grew serious. "The whole story is unknown to you."

"I am sufficiently knowledgeable."

"Do you?" He cocked his head. "Did he explain to you our parents' true situation?"

Lena gasped for air. "What?"

Lowering his voice, Kieran took a step closer. "Damian did more than simply murder our dad. He killed him.

The earth swayed under her feet. "You are telling lies."

Kieran's eyes remained fixed. "I wish I was."

Lena's thinking begged her to turn and flee and to seek for assistance. She stood motionless, however, caught between the past and the present.

Kieran whispered, "Lena, you have a choice." "Avoid making the incorrect one."

Then he vanished, vanishing into the darkness.

Lena's life was falling apart as she stood there, her heart pounding.

Section Two: The Importance of Veracity

The first signs of dawn had already started to tint the sky by the time she got back to camp. Her thoughts was a battleground of its own, and her steps were heavy and slow.

She had been grieving for Kieran for years, thinking he had lost his life defending their family and their people. And yet—he was alive now, moving among the same outlaws she had vowed to oppose.

He had also charged Damian with murder.

She did not want to accept his story. She was unable to. Several times, Damian had saved her life. When no one else would trust him, he had. What if Kieran was correct, though?

What if she was mistaken about all she believed to be true?

"Lena."

When her name was called, she jerked and turned to see Damian observing her. With his arms folded, his amber gaze scrutinised her.

"You spent the entire night out."

Lena made herself maintain a neutral expression. "I could not sleep."

His eyes remained on her face, intent and inquisitive. "Something is not right."

She paused. She was not sure if she wanted to be honest with him for the first time since they first met.

She could still hear Kieran's voice. The complete story is unknown to you.

At last, she responded, "I am fine."

Damian did not seem persuaded. "If you need to tell me something—"

"There isn't." She saw something flicker in his expression, and the words came out sharper than she had intended. Are you hurt? A letdown? She was not certain.

Before he could say another word, she looked away.

She stayed away from him the remainder of the day. No amount of perspiration or bruises could calm the storm inside her, even when she exercised harder and pushed herself to the limit.

Kieran was still alive.

A leader led the rogues.

Damian also had secrets.

She lay awake that night, gazing at the ceiling again.

She would have to decide tomorrow.

With whom did she have faith?

Her history?

Or her future?

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  • His Moon, His Mate   Chapter 9

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  • His Moon, His Mate   Chapter 1

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    The Alpha’s PrisonerLena knew she was in trouble as soon as they got to the Shadowmoor packhouse.The building loomed before her—massive, built from dark stone and timber, its walls whispering of old power. A long set of stairs led to the grand entrance, where two guards stood watch. Their sharp eyes locked onto her the moment she arrived, their expressions unreadable.Elliot tightened his grip on her arm as they ascended the steps. “Behave, little criminal.”Lena gave him a mean look but said nothing. Her mind was racing, trying to piece together an escape. This wasn’t just any pack—Shadowmoor was one of the strongest in the region. Damian Thorn was not only a ruthless Alpha but also an unforgiving leader. And now, he was her mate.No. She refused to accept it.The heavy doors swung open, revealing a grand hall lined with warriors and pack members. They all turned to watch her, whispering among themselves. Some looked curious. Others are careful. A few seemed outright hostile.A wom

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    Strategy and ShadowsAfter deciding to stay, Lena was not sure what she had anticipated, but she should have realised that trust was not something that was gained quickly. The pack members murmured behind her back while the warriors observed her like an animal in a cage. She chose to ignore them and concentrate on the current assignment.Damian did not waste any time. He called her back to the war room that morning. As she entered and saw his golden eyes, the tension in the air was palpable.He remarked, "You wanted a say." "This is your opportunity."Eyeing the map that was laid out on the table, she crossed her arms. There was more rogue activity. Even Damian's warriors were having difficulty holding the line as the northern borders were constantly being attacked.On the map, Lena tapped a point. "They are going to hit here next."Standing next to Damian, Elliot scowled. "How do you know for sure?""Because I understand their thought process," Lena answered. They do not go straight

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    The Initial ConflictThe warning horns sounded across the camp just as the sun was about to rise. Lena had already woken up and was looking around the thick woodland from the northern watchtower. Between the woods, shadows moved more quickly than any human could.Here were the outlaws.She snatched up the rope ladder and slid quickly down, her boots slamming against the floor. The warriors were rushing to their posts. Already in the war room, Damian gave commands with the assurance of a commander who has witnessed innumerable conflicts.Lena rushed into the room and declared, "They are coming in from the north." "Just as I predicted they would."With no surprise at all, Damian nodded. "Let us make sure they regret it after that."Leaning over the chart, Elliot traced a route with his finger. "We can drive them into the valley, where they will not have any cover, if we cut them off here."Lena gave a headshake. "No, that is just what they desire. They anticipate an ambush, so they want

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最新チャプター

  • His Moon, His Mate   Chapter 9

    The Binding TiesThe following morning was gloomy and tense. The entire camp was bathed in a gloomy grey as the clouds above grew with the promise of rain. Lena moved robotically, correcting a warrior's stance, assisting with drills, and nodding briefly when someone talked to her, but her thoughts were not at all there.She was troubled by Kieran's remarks.Lena noticed Damian talking softly to Elliot and Jace by the main firepit after the training was over. She became tense at their solemn looks and hushed voices. She thought about coming closer, but changed her mind and turned to face the camp's edge.The woodland called her back to the place where her world had fallen apart the previous evening, looming like a black curtain."Are you running away again?"Lena turned to see Jace with his arms folded and leaning against a tree. His typical playfulness was gone from his smirk."Just pondering," she remarked."That is what you have been doing a lot lately." His eyes grew softer. "What

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  • His Moon, His Mate   Chapter 6

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  • His Moon, His Mate   Chapter 5

    A Deal with the AlphaAs Lena looked into Damian's golden eyes, her breath came in short, sharp bursts. What he said hit her hard in the chest and made her question everything she thought she knew. Stay. Fight with me. It wasn’t a command. It wasn’t a demand. It was a deal.She wasn’t sure what she had expected after agreeing to stay, but she should have known that trust wasn’t earned overnight. The warriors watched her like she was a caged animal, and the pack members whispered behind her back. She ignored them, focusing instead on the task at hand.But was it one she could accept?Damian wasted no time. That morning, he summoned her to the war room again. The air was thick with tension as she stepped inside, meeting his golden gaze.“You wanted a say,” he said. “Here’s your chance.”She crossed her arms, eyeing the map spread across the table. Rogue activity had increased. The northern borders were under constant attack, and even Damian’s warriors were struggling to hold the line.

  • His Moon, His Mate   Chapter 4

    Escape or AllianceLena lay awake in the small room they gave her and stared at the ceiling made of wood. The jail was better than the dungeon, but it was still a prison. Damian gave her some time to decide, but she already knew she could not stay. Now she would be stuck in a new way if she agreed to his plan. She would be tied to the Alpha and his war. If she said no, he would never let her go.There must be a different way.She had a lot of ideas, and each one was more risky than the last. It was not easy to get out of Shadowmoor. It was a fortress surrounded by dangerous land and guarded by trained soldiers. But she had learned how to get out of tough spots before.She sat up when there was a light knock on the door. As he leaned against the doorway with his arms crossed, Elliot smiled at her.He said, "You look like an animal in a cage."Lena's eyes got narrow. "What do you want from me?""I might want to help you."She laughed. "Why would you do that?"He cocked his head. "Becaus

  • His Moon, His Mate   Chapter 3

    The Alpha’s PropositionLena did not sleep much. The cold of the dungeon got into her bones, and the thin cot did not warm her up much. But she could not sleep because of him, not because she was uncomfortable.Damian.His words haunted her, tangled with the primal pull of their mate bond. I don’t want a mate. His rejection should have been a relief. Still, it hurt more than she wanted to say.She jumped up when she heard a sharp clanking sound.The dungeon door swung open, revealing Damian standing there, his golden eyes closed. Two guards stood on either side of him, their expressions neutral, but their presence was an unspoken warning.“Come,” Damian ordered.Lena didn’t move. “To Where?”He exhaled, impatient. “You’ll eat. Then we talk.”Her stomach turned. She did not know why she should trust him, but she had to. She could not get acne if she was not fed. As the guards moved out of the way, she forced herself to stand up and squared her shoulders. Damian turned around and led he

  • His Moon, His Mate   Chapter 2

    The Alpha’s PrisonerLena knew she was in trouble as soon as they got to the Shadowmoor packhouse.The building loomed before her—massive, built from dark stone and timber, its walls whispering of old power. A long set of stairs led to the grand entrance, where two guards stood watch. Their sharp eyes locked onto her the moment she arrived, their expressions unreadable.Elliot tightened his grip on her arm as they ascended the steps. “Behave, little criminal.”Lena gave him a mean look but said nothing. Her mind was racing, trying to piece together an escape. This wasn’t just any pack—Shadowmoor was one of the strongest in the region. Damian Thorn was not only a ruthless Alpha but also an unforgiving leader. And now, he was her mate.No. She refused to accept it.The heavy doors swung open, revealing a grand hall lined with warriors and pack members. They all turned to watch her, whispering among themselves. Some looked curious. Others are careful. A few seemed outright hostile.A wom

  • His Moon, His Mate   Chapter 1

    Captured by the AlphaThe scent of pine and wet ground filled Lena Carter’s lungs as she ran. She stepped on broken twigs, and the cold wind hurt her skin. She turned around and left. She did not need to. More and more screams could be heard.Faster. Move.Her wolf encouraged her to keep going, but she was too tired to follow. She had been running for hours, and her body was worn out. They found her. After years of hiding, Shadowmoor's guards had finally found her. They were now going after her like an animal.A branch cut her cheek. She barely moved. She could hear them now—at least four wolves closing in, their paws hitting the ground in the forest. Her heart pounded. Her only chance was to reach the river. If she could get to the water, she might be able to mask her scent and throw them off.She leapt over a fallen treeShe felt a lot of pain in her head. She was hit from behind by something that knocked the air out of her lungs. She hit the wet ground hard and rolled around a lot

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