Cup of betrayal

A tall figure emerged, climbing up to the center of the assembly. Relief washed over me as I recognized my brother, Aiden. 

Tears welled in my eyes; it felt like a lifeline had been thrown to me in the sea of impending doom.

Lucian's laughter sliced through the air. "Beta Aiden, you traveled all the way to see your sister getting beheaded?" he jeered, a cruel smirk playing on his lips.

Aiden, undeterred, faced Lucian with determination. "Do not hurt my sister. She is innocent," he proclaimed, his voice echoing through the charged atmosphere.

Lucian chuckled, dismissing Aiden's plea. "How could you say that when basically she tried to kill my mate?"

Aiden's response was swift, challenging Lucian's assumptions. "How is Lyra your mate? Isn't Nadia yours?"

Lucian's expression darkened. "Nothing of mine would betray me," he declared. I wanted to speak, to defend myself, but a sharp look from Lucian silenced me.

Aiden persisted, undeterred by Lucian's dominance. "Fine, if she is guilty, do you still have the drink that Lyra tried to drink?"

Lucian, a hint of irritation in his tone, retorted, "Of course, I do not throw away evidence. If not for Lyra's sharp nose, she wouldn't have known she was being poisoned." 

A maid stepped forward, cradling the incriminating cup. Aiden scrutinized it skeptically. "How do we know you didn't change the cup?" he challenged.

Lucian, maintaining an air of authority, asserted, "Take my word for it. In front of my people, I did not change this drink."

Aiden hummed in acknowledgment and turned to me. "You didn't do anything to it, right, Naddy?" he asked. I shook my head, the weight of the impending act heavy upon me.

"Fine, drink it," Aiden instructed, and I took the cup with trembling hands. A sip turned into a searing burn down my throat.

 The cup slipped from my grasp as I clawed at my throat, gasping and uttering a desperate "No, no."

Lucian's laughter echoed through the assembly. "See?" he declared, the satisfaction evident in his voice. 

****

Vance POV

My beta, Jake, approached with urgency in his voice. "Alpha, we are being attacked by the Kimber wolves," he reported, his tone laden with concern.

I growled in response, a surge of frustration coursing through me. "I can't believe it," I muttered, my mind already calculating the potential threats and consequences.

Taking off my jacket, I asserted, "I will look into this." Jake, sensing the gravity of the situation, asked, "Any luck with Lucian's pack?"

"No luck at all," I grumbled, frustration evident in my voice. "He is more involved with his stupid personal matters than helping."

Jake nodded in understanding as I dismissed him, and I made my way to see my mate, Iris. She looked fragile, her weakened state evident as she lay in bed. Kissing her forehead gently, I asked, "How are you?"

Iris managed a weak smile, her position on the bed revealing her vulnerability. Propped up with pillows, she appeared pale, her normally vibrant eyes dulled by the ordeal.

 Despite the weariness, her smile held a glimmer of hope as she saw me. 

"I'm not too good," Iris admitted, her voice soft and tinged with exhaustion. She lay on the bed, surrounded by an air of fragility that contrasted with her usual strength. Propped up by pillows, her eyes reflected the toll the recent events had taken on her.

I sat beside her, my concern evident as I gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. "You need to rest," I urged, my fingers lingering on her cheek. Iris nodded, appreciating the simple comfort of my touch.

As I continued to watch over her, worry welled up within me. The outside threat loomed, but in that moment, my focus was solely on Iris—my mate.

The distant howls of the Kimber wolves reverberated through the air, signaling an impending attack. As the Alpha of the pack, my instincts kicked in, and I swiftly geared up for the confrontation. The urgency of the situation fueled my determination to protect my pack and, above all, Iris.

The night was cast in shadows as the Kimber wolves descended upon us. A fierce battle ensued, the clash of fangs and claws mingling with the tumultuous growls. Moonlight illuminated the chaos, and the air crackled with the energy of the impending clash.

I led my pack with calculated precision, each move strategic in the face of the relentless assault. The Kimber wolves were formidable adversaries, but my determination to shield my pack and Iris fueled every strike, every command barked to my loyal pack members.

The skirmish danced on the edge of chaos, a symphony of snarls and the occasional yelp echoing through the night. It was a battle not just for territory but for the safety of those I held dear. Amidst the frenzy, I fought with a singular focus, my thoughts always drifting back to Iris, the vulnerability in her eyes etched into my mind.

As the dust settled and the last howl faded into the night, a sense of relief washed over me. The pack had held its ground, and we emerged victorious, though not unscathed. My priority was now to return to Iris, to ensure her safety and offer the comfort she needed.

However, upon my return, an unsettling scene awaited me. The room was empty, the bed neatly made, but Iris was nowhere to be found. Panic gripped my chest, my heartbeat quickening as I frantically searched for any trace of her.

"Where is she?" I demanded, my voice laced with a hint of desperation. The pack members exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to explain the inexplicable disappearance of their Luna.

I grabbed a guard by his neck, "I said where is she?!" 

"I .. I really don't know sir." I pushed the guard away, running a hand through my hair. 

A sense of foreboding settled upon me as the realization dawned. 

Iris had disappeared. 

Nadia's PoV

In the aftermath of the searing pain, I found myself in an empty void. It was an abyss of nothingness, and a profound sense of disorientation enveloped me. As I looked around, a pale and weak figure materialized in front of me. Another woman, a mirage in this formless void.

Confusion etched my face as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. "Where am I?" I questioned, the words echoing in the emptiness. The pale woman, a mere reflection of myself, faced me with an enigmatic gaze.

As she drew closer, the space between us began to blur, and a strange energy enveloped us. I felt a magnetic pull, an inexplicable force merging us together. The once separate entities became one, and the boundary between us dissolved.

In the melding of our forms, a voice resonated through the void, declaring, "It is done."