Scarlett’s POV"Thank you, respected elder, for your honest opinion," he started, speaking with respect for the elder's smarts. "Your ideas remind us of the complicated things we're dealing with right now."People quietly agreed, showing they thought the elder said something good. The King looked at everyone in the room, especially at different people, like me. He said, "Does anyone else want to share their thoughts about this?"I felt nervous. She looked at an older person she knew was Elder Alistair because it was written on his chair. Elder Alistair looked back at her, seeming sure and wise, showing he wanted to say something.The King saw this and understood without words. He nodded at Elder Alistair, saying he could talk.Elder Alistair stood up, making everyone pay attention. I watched him closely, excited to hear what he had to say. He began, "Your Majesty, everyone in the council, and all the important people here," Elder Alistair started talking, sounding serious and caring.
Scarlett’s POVI saw Michael stand up slowly from his chair. He had hurt our kingdom a lot before. His face looked really serious, and then he coughed to get everyone's attention.He said, "Hey, King and everyone listening. I'm Michael. I'm the one who made Swiftclaw attack the Lycan Kingdom. That's why your old king died and Scarlett got caught." He stopped talking for a moment so everyone could understand what he'd done.People started talking more and more, like they were upset. It seemed like lots of folks didn't like Michael being there. The King knew things were getting bad, so he spoke louder to calm everyone down."Shh! Be quiet!" the King said loudly. It was so quiet after that, and everyone looked at Michael again.Michael kept talking. He knew he'd done some really bad things. "I know you all might be really mad at me. I caused a lot of pain. But I'm not here to fight. I want to make things right.""Hey King, important people, and everyone listening," Michael said, sounding
Scarlett’s POV"I want to thank all of you for spending time with us and sharing your thoughts," she said sincerely. She seemed really respectful and serious about our important talks. People started to look at each other with curiosity, wondering what Elara's question would be.Finally, she asked a question. It was like a sharp knife cutting through the quiet. "Can I ask Michael just one thing?" She looked at me with determination and a bit of shyness. Her eyes were strong and vulnerable at the same time, which surprised and excited me.So many thoughts rushed through my head in an instant. I wondered what Elara knew. Time felt like it was moving slowly as we all waited for her to speak. I got ready and looked at her confidently. The King, who had been watching calmly, seemed curious too, waiting to hear what she would say.Everyone in the room felt excited as the King spoke, trying my best to sound calm he said. "Of course, Elara. You can go ahead and ask your question." My heart wa
Marco’s POVSwiftclaw's grin grows bigger, and he looks mean. "Oh, Marco, you really don't know, do you?". My heart races, the steady gallop of the horse beneath me now joined by the fast beating of my chest. The news about Sage's betrayal hits me hard, leaving me shocked and confused.I feel both mad and hurt inside me. Sage, my Beta and best friend, had been working against me all this time? It's a thought that's hard to get, too weird to be real. But Swiftclaw's mean grin and his cold words leave no doubt. Why does betrayal keep following me?The world blurs around me as I try to get what I just heard. Sage had been the one who had supported Swiftclaw, who had promised me our plan would work. The bond we had, the trust we built—it's all broken now."How... How can that be?" I talk with a shaky voice, showing how confused and upset I am.Swiftclaw's laugh is harsh, a mean sound that cuts through the air. "Oh, Marco, don't act so surprised," he teases, his words filled with satisfact
Scarlett’s POVAs I felt the tension in the room become nearly unbearable, the scene was shattered by the abrupt entrance of a guard, his face etched with urgency. The air practically crackled with the sudden intrusion, and my heart lurched in my chest.Before anyone could react, the King's thunderous voice cut through the turmoil. "How dare you interrupt? Don't you realize there's a delicate meeting underway?" His anger was palpable, his displeasure casting a heavy cloud over the already charged atmosphere.The guard, clearly flustered, stammered out an apology, his words rushed and breathless. "My lord, I beg your pardon, but the matter is of utmost urgency."The King's fury only seemed to intensify as he snapped, "Speak then, and make it quick. It had better be worth this interruption."The guard wasted no time, his words tumbling out in a rush. "My liege, we are under attack. The pack is being assaulted from all sides."Before anyone could fully process the guard's words, the King
Marco’s POVI was sitting on the cold, hard floor of a dimly lit cell. I felt tired and slouched, my face reflecting the weariness within me. The damp floor sent shivers through me, making me feel cold from the inside out. I had been in this place for over three hours, and the determination that had driven me to find Scarlett was slowly being replaced by doubt. The cell remained quiet, except for the distant echoes of guards' footsteps and occasional shouts from outside.Leaning against the rough wall, my thoughts churned like a storm in my head. I kept replaying how I had ended up here – the urgency of my mission, the intricate path I'd navigated through the prison, the thrill as I drew closer to the cell. But now, all I felt was exhaustion and a sense of confinement.I recalled the conversations I'd had with Swiftclaw, that enigmatic figure who seemed to possess all the answers I sought. Yet, Swiftclaw's motives remained elusive, much like the shadows dancing on the walls. I thought
Marco’s POVSwiftclaw's face didn't show his feelings, and he tapped his fingers lightly on his wineglass. "It's simple, Marco. Just a different way of looking at things."Swiftclaw smiled a bit, and the light and dark on his face made him seem mysterious. "Sorry for being direct, Marco. But you're not just a prisoner now. You're in my place, and I can do anything to you if you're not helpful."His words made me feel uneasy, reminding me that my freedom here was fragile. I moved in my seat, staying determined despite the threat in what he said."Remember, I have something at stake too," Swiftclaw said seriously. "But don't think I'm weak because I'm being nice."I looked at him without fear. I might be in an unfamiliar and dangerous place, but I wouldn't be scared. "I know," I said confidently. "But I won't let you control me.""Since we're talking about secrets and different views," he started, his tone lighter but with darkness underneath, "how about I tell you a little secret?"I l
Marco’s POV In my cell, I sat down on the cold, hard floor. My mind raced as I played the talk with Swiftclaw over and over. His words, his promises, and the weight of what he told me weighed heavily on me. The puzzle pieces were spread out in front of me, and I really wanted to put them together. In the quiet of my thoughts, I heard a familiar voice. "Hey, Marco, you doing okay?" I looked up and saw Dave looking at me through the bars of the next cell. I tried to smile, even though I felt all messed up inside. "Yeah, I'm okay, Dave." Dave watched me for a moment, looking concerned like he knew something was wrong. After a short pause, he shook his head slowly. "Nah, something's not right. I've known you long enough to tell when you're holding stuff in. You want to talk about it?" I sighed, realizing I couldn't hide what I was feeling from Dave, who'd become someone I could trust in this weird situation. "It's just... Swiftclaw, you know? He told me things, things that don't make