Chapter 2: Accusations

Seraphina’s POV

“Pass me the cookies on the pan,” I said to the maid, brushing flour off my hands. It was about time I finally gave in to Evelyn’s advice and tried baking something simple, like cookies.

The maid handed me the tray, her head bowed slightly. I gave her a small nod before taking it and placing the cookies on the cooling rack. They looked good—soft, golden, and slightly crisp around the edges.

“Not bad,” I murmured, more to myself than anyone else.

As I set down the last cookie, I paused. The faint sound of howling reached my ears, low and distant at first. Then it grew louder, sharper, echoing through the packhouse.

My fingers froze mid-air, and the sweet aroma of chocolate and vanilla suddenly felt cloying. My heart skipped a beat. Something was wrong.

“What’s that?” I muttered to myself, wiping my hands on my apron. The howls weren’t celebratory or routine. They were urgent—filled with pain and anger.

The kitchen door burst open Evelyn,

her face pale and stricken, stumbled inside. “They’ve attacked!” she cried, her voice trembling.

I blinked. “Who?”

“The Bloodmoon pack. They came out of nowhere.” She gasped for breath. “Darien—he’s hurt!”

My chest tightened. As much as I disliked Darien, hearing about anyone injured stirred unease in me. “Where’s Lucien and Ryder?”

“He’s out there.” She didn’t wait for my response and ran off, her sobs echoing down the hall.

I hurried to finish up, my hands moving quickly as I arranged the cookies on the cooling rack. The noise outside was growing louder, more chaotic, and the temptation to rush out there and see what was happening tugged at me. Maybe I could help. Maybe I could do something.

Suddenly the door slammed minutes later, and Asher stormed in, his shirt ripped, and streaks of dirt smeared across his face.

“Lucien!” I exclaimed, rushing toward him. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

He waved me off, his eyes hard and unreadable. “I’m fine. Others aren’t so lucky.”

“What do you mean?”

He sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “Darien lost an arm in the fight. One of our warriors is barely alive—he was infiltrating the enemy pack for information.”

I hesitated before stepping closer, resting a hand on his arm. “The pack doctor will do everything she can. They’ll be okay.”

For a moment, his shoulders sagged, and he leaned into my touch. “I hope so.”

*****

The next morning, word spread like wildfire: the injured warrior had woken up but was in grave condition. I was by the window, watching the courtyard below, when the pack doctor emerged from the medical wing, her face pale. Lucien met her halfway, and they spoke briefly before he came back inside.

“I just met with Elena in the courtyard.” His tone was clipped.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, my stomach sinking.

“The warrior woke up.” He paused, his gaze searching mine. “He said something.”

I frowned. “What did he say?”

Lucien hesitated, his jaw tightening. “He claimed… you’re a spy.”

The air left my lungs. “What?”

“He said he overheard a group of packs planning to attack us—and that you’re working with them.”

“That’s ridiculous,” I snapped, my voice shaking with disbelief. “Why would I—”

“I don’t believe it,” he cut in firmly. “But others might.”

*******

It didn’t take long for the accusations to boil over. The pack gathered in the courtyard, their murmurs growing louder by the second.

Ryder stepped forward; his face twisted with fury. “Her? A Luna? She’s wolfless—she has no loyalty to us! Of course she’s the spy!”

I stiffened. “I’m not a spy.”

Ryder growled, his body trembling as he prepared to shift. “You’ve always been unfitted for this role. My brother lost his arm because of her treachery!”

Lucien’s voice thundered across the courtyard. “Enough!”

But Ryder wasn’t listening. His body contorted, fur sprouting as he shifted into his wolf form, his eyes blazing with rage. Before I could react, Lucien was beside me, his own form shifting in a blur of power and dominance.

His wolf towered over Ryder’s, golden and imposing. He let out a ferocious snarl that made everyone in the courtyard freeze.

Ryder crouched low, growling back, but he didn’t dare attack. The air was thick with tension as Lucien’s gaze bore into his. Finally, Ryder shifted back, trembling with barely suppressed anger.

“This isn’t over,” he hissed.

“It is,” Lucien growled. “No one touches my mate. Is that clear?”

Later that evening, the pack held a quieter meeting in the great hall. The mood was tense, with hushed conversations and wary glances in my direction.

Ryder crossed his arms. “My brother has no enemies in this pack. If anyone wanted to harm him, it’s Seraphine.” She jabbed a finger in my direction. “The bird incident was reason enough.”

Lucien scoffed. “By that logic, I’d be the most likely to harm him, wouldn’t I? I’m the one who gave her that bird in the first place.”

A few chuckles broke the tension, but Ryder wasn’t amused. “You can joke all you want, Alpha, but the warrior wouldn’t lie. Seraphine is a spy.”

Lucien growled, stepping forward. His voice was sharp, his golden eyes blazing with anger. “She’s your Luna. Show some respect!”

Ryder flinched but quickly straightened. “Respect is earned, Alpha. A Luna who—”

“That’s enough!” Lucien’s voice boomed. He moved closer to Ryder, his tall frame radiating authority. “You will not disrespect your Luna. Not in front of me. Not anywhere. If you have something to say, think carefully before you speak.”

Ryder froze for a moment, his shoulders stiff and his eyes darting around the room, looking for support. But no one came to his aid. He swallowed hard.

“She’s wolf less,” Ryder muttered under his breath, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear. The crowd shifted uneasily.

Lucien’s jaw tightened, and his fists clenched at his sides. “And yet, she’s your Luna. I chose her.” His gaze swept across the room, daring anyone to challenge him. “If you question her, you question me—and I won’t allow that.”

I stayed seated, my face calm even though my heart raced. Lucien’s words were firm, but the unease in the room didn’t disappear.

“Enough of all this.,” the pack doctor interjected, her voice steady. “He was delirious. He was barely conscious when he spoke. I don’t believe Luna Seraphine would betray us.”

“You’re blind,” Ryder muttered,

“Lucien,” one of the elders said cautiously, “this situation is unusual. It’s possible the enemy is trying to divide us.”

“Exactly,” Lucien agreed. “And we won’t let them succeed. Meeting Adjourned…”

********

When the meeting ended, Lucien found me sitting by the window in our quarters, staring at the stars.

He sat beside me; his presence heavy. For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

Finally, he broke the silence. “Don’t go out at night anymore. It’s not safe.”

I turned to him, surprised. “Are you doubting me?”