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Chapter 44: The Shadow Weaver
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2025-04-03 21:28:01
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The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   The Shadow Weaver
Zeke's POV"Three days' journey," Ronan added, already calculating.I nodded, hiding my fear. This wasn't meant to happen so quickly. The Syndicate needed more time."There's something else," Sienna said, her voice strange. "I saw her, Zeke. The Queen. And you're rightâshe has mom's face.""That's impossible," I whispered, though I knew it wasn't."Unless..." Sienna's eyes widened with horrible understanding. "Unless our mother never died. Unless she became the Queen."The ground trembled beneath us as her power surged with feeling."We leave at dawn," she stated.As we walked back toward the packhouse, I felt my enchanted Syndicate mark burn against my ribsâa call I couldn't ignore.Tonight, I would have to report that Sienna was coming for the Queen. Tonight, I would have to decide where my true commitment lay.With the blood that made me, or the blood that raised me.Isolde's POVI smiled as I put the last black candle at the edge of my newly drawn chalk circle. The small stone cot
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-04-03The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   Shadows of Memory
Isolde's POVAfter he left, I returned to my workings with renewed purpose. The scene was set: Sienna and Zeke heading toward the Queen, Ronan following his heart rather than his mission, Kieran struggling against his curse, and now Caius with his vampire schemes. Perfect chaos.As I began planning for a deeper divination, I noticed something odd about my workspace. The arrangement of my tools had changed slightly. Someone had been here while I was at the window with Caius."Lily," I called loudly. "Bring me fresh sage."My helper appeared in the doorway, head bowed submissively. "Yes, mistress."But as she approached, I saw itâa tiny silver pin on her collar. The Midnight Queen's mark."You poor, foolish girl," I said softly. "Did she promise you power?"Lily's head snapped up, her eyes now black as pitch. "The Queen sees all, traitor."Before she could move, I flicked my fingers. The chalk lines of my circle blazed with purple fire, locking us both inside."You've made a grave mista
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-04-03The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   Blood Moon Rising
Ronan's POV"At least a dozen forming a perimeter." I scanned the trees. "They're scouting, mapping your patrol patterns.""Why would they need to do that?" Tomas asked. "They already have Darius feeding them information."I shook my head. "Darius doesn't know everything. The Syndicate never relies on just one source."A twig snapped to our leftâtoo deliberate to be a mistake. A distraction."Down!" I shouted, tackling Elena as a dart whistled through the air where she'd been standing.Jax growled, shifting partially into his wolf form. "Where are they?"I drew my blades, eyes tracking the slight movement in the underbrush. "Three o'clock, two hostiles. More at our six."Tomas sniffed the air furiously. "I can't smell anything!""Trust your eyes, not your nose," I directed, falling easily into combat mode. "Move in pairs, watch for traps underfoot."I barely finished speaking before the forest exploded in chaos. Syndicate scouts in black tactical gear swarmed from hidden places. These
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-04-03The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   Ruby Dreams
The Midnight Queen's POV A snort came from the corner of the room. Victor, my newest assistant, stepped forward. His amber eyes gleamed with challenge."With respect, my Queen, you've failed to catch one girl multiple times. Why should we believe this plan will succeed?"The room went quiet. Eyes darted between us, eager for blood.I straightened slowly, feeling power build beneath my skin."Do you question me, Victor?"He didn't back down. "The Syndicate follows strength. Your obsession with these twins has cost us time and resources. Perhaps new leadershipâ"I moved before he finished speaking. My hand shot out, fingers curling in the air as my ruby markings blazed to lifeânot the bright red of Sienna's, but deep crimson like old blood.Victor froze, eyes widening as his breath caught in his throat. I walked toward him slowly, each step careful."I was hunting wolves when your grandfather was a pup," I whispered, close enough that only he could hear. "I've conquered death itself."
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-04-03The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   The Warning Vision
Sienna's POVI pulled back my sleeve, showing the intricate ruby lines that now covered most of my right arm. "It started after we did the twin-fire yesterday. It's like they're waking up."Zeke's eyes narrowed. "Kieran's proposalâwas that your choice or his?"The question stung. "Mine," I said firmly, though doubt flickered through me. "We need friends, Zeke. You know what we're facing.""The Midnight Queen," he whispered. "Our mother."The word sounded wrong. She might have given birth to us, but she was no mother. She was the monster who'd ordered my death, who'd taught my own brother to hunt me. Who had tried to take me away through my dreams."We leave for the Black Peaks tomorrow," I said, changing the topic. "Kieran thinks we can ambush her forces before they expect us."Zeke's face darkened. "Kieran thinks a lot of things. Like how bonding with you will break his curse."I stood quickly. "I need some air."Outside, the morning was crisp, mountain air filling my lungs. I walked
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-04-03The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   Loyalty's Price
Darius's POVThe moon hung low in the sky as I slipped through the forest, careful to take the route I'd swept for Syndicate tracking devices earlier. The coded message had arrived via a dead dropâurgent meeting at the old hunting camp.My stomach churned with each step. Double spy. Traitor. Spy. The labels stuck to me like burrs, but none caught the whole truth.The cabin emerged between the trees, a shadow against shadows. No lights burned inside, but I knew she was waiting."You're late," Mara said as I entered. My Syndicate contact sat in the only chair, her silver hair gleaming in the darkness. "The Queen is displeased.""The Queen can wait," I answered, crossing my arms. "Kieran's doubled the guards. Getting away wasn't easy."Mara's ice-blue eyes narrowed. "Did you bring it?"I pulled a folded plan from my jacketâmarked with false patrol routes and security blind spots that would lead any invading force straight into an ambush."Kieran's planning to move the pack south," I lied
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-04-03The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   The Alpha's Reckoning
Kieran's POV"We have a traitor in our midst."I watched my pack's faces shift from shock to anger as I slammed the crumpled note onto the table. The early morning meeting had been called without warning, putting everyone on edge."Tomas?" Elena gasped, looking at the empty chair where our gamma wolf should have been. "But he's been with us for years."I nodded grimly. "And feeding information to the Syndicate the entire time."Darius stood silently beside me, his face unreadable. He'd brought me the note last night after finding it in my office. Yet something in Ronan's watchful gaze told me there was more to this story."Where is Tomas now?" Jax asked, his hand already reaching for his weapon."Gone," I answered. "Slipped away during the night guard change. Which means we need to assume everythingâour defenses, our routes, our plansâis exposed."The room erupted in angry voices until I slammed my hand down, silencing them all."We adapt," I growled. "We survive. We fight."Through t
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-04-03The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   The Bond's Price
Sienna's POVFire raced through my blood as Kieran carried me inside. Each breath burned my lungs, my skin hot to the touch. The Ruby Wolf inside me clawed to break free while the ominous clouds gathered strangely fast outside."Put me down," I gasped, fighting against Kieran's grip. "I need toâ""You need to rest," he growled, kicking open the door to his rooms and laying me on his bed. The smell of pine and earth surrounded me â his scent.Elena rushed in with herbs and water, her face pale with fear. "The Blood Moon shouldn't be rising yet. It's too soon."Pain shot through my chest, making me cry out. Through the window, I could see the sky dimming, taking on an eerie reddish glow."It's not just coming early," I whispered, wiping blood from my nose. "It's coming for me."Kieran dismissed Elena with a sharp nod, then knelt beside me. The black veins across his skin pulsed as if answering to my power."The Midnight Queen did this," he said, his voice tight with anger. "She's forcin
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-04-03
āļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ
The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   The Bond's Price
Sienna's POVFire raced through my blood as Kieran carried me inside. Each breath burned my lungs, my skin hot to the touch. The Ruby Wolf inside me clawed to break free while the ominous clouds gathered strangely fast outside."Put me down," I gasped, fighting against Kieran's grip. "I need toâ""You need to rest," he growled, kicking open the door to his rooms and laying me on his bed. The smell of pine and earth surrounded me â his scent.Elena rushed in with herbs and water, her face pale with fear. "The Blood Moon shouldn't be rising yet. It's too soon."Pain shot through my chest, making me cry out. Through the window, I could see the sky dimming, taking on an eerie reddish glow."It's not just coming early," I whispered, wiping blood from my nose. "It's coming for me."Kieran dismissed Elena with a sharp nod, then knelt beside me. The black veins across his skin pulsed as if answering to my power."The Midnight Queen did this," he said, his voice tight with anger. "She's forcin
The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   The Alpha's Reckoning
Kieran's POV"We have a traitor in our midst."I watched my pack's faces shift from shock to anger as I slammed the crumpled note onto the table. The early morning meeting had been called without warning, putting everyone on edge."Tomas?" Elena gasped, looking at the empty chair where our gamma wolf should have been. "But he's been with us for years."I nodded grimly. "And feeding information to the Syndicate the entire time."Darius stood silently beside me, his face unreadable. He'd brought me the note last night after finding it in my office. Yet something in Ronan's watchful gaze told me there was more to this story."Where is Tomas now?" Jax asked, his hand already reaching for his weapon."Gone," I answered. "Slipped away during the night guard change. Which means we need to assume everythingâour defenses, our routes, our plansâis exposed."The room erupted in angry voices until I slammed my hand down, silencing them all."We adapt," I growled. "We survive. We fight."Through t
The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   Loyalty's Price
Darius's POVThe moon hung low in the sky as I slipped through the forest, careful to take the route I'd swept for Syndicate tracking devices earlier. The coded message had arrived via a dead dropâurgent meeting at the old hunting camp.My stomach churned with each step. Double spy. Traitor. Spy. The labels stuck to me like burrs, but none caught the whole truth.The cabin emerged between the trees, a shadow against shadows. No lights burned inside, but I knew she was waiting."You're late," Mara said as I entered. My Syndicate contact sat in the only chair, her silver hair gleaming in the darkness. "The Queen is displeased.""The Queen can wait," I answered, crossing my arms. "Kieran's doubled the guards. Getting away wasn't easy."Mara's ice-blue eyes narrowed. "Did you bring it?"I pulled a folded plan from my jacketâmarked with false patrol routes and security blind spots that would lead any invading force straight into an ambush."Kieran's planning to move the pack south," I lied
The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   The Warning Vision
Sienna's POVI pulled back my sleeve, showing the intricate ruby lines that now covered most of my right arm. "It started after we did the twin-fire yesterday. It's like they're waking up."Zeke's eyes narrowed. "Kieran's proposalâwas that your choice or his?"The question stung. "Mine," I said firmly, though doubt flickered through me. "We need friends, Zeke. You know what we're facing.""The Midnight Queen," he whispered. "Our mother."The word sounded wrong. She might have given birth to us, but she was no mother. She was the monster who'd ordered my death, who'd taught my own brother to hunt me. Who had tried to take me away through my dreams."We leave for the Black Peaks tomorrow," I said, changing the topic. "Kieran thinks we can ambush her forces before they expect us."Zeke's face darkened. "Kieran thinks a lot of things. Like how bonding with you will break his curse."I stood quickly. "I need some air."Outside, the morning was crisp, mountain air filling my lungs. I walked
The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   Ruby Dreams
The Midnight Queen's POV A snort came from the corner of the room. Victor, my newest assistant, stepped forward. His amber eyes gleamed with challenge."With respect, my Queen, you've failed to catch one girl multiple times. Why should we believe this plan will succeed?"The room went quiet. Eyes darted between us, eager for blood.I straightened slowly, feeling power build beneath my skin."Do you question me, Victor?"He didn't back down. "The Syndicate follows strength. Your obsession with these twins has cost us time and resources. Perhaps new leadershipâ"I moved before he finished speaking. My hand shot out, fingers curling in the air as my ruby markings blazed to lifeânot the bright red of Sienna's, but deep crimson like old blood.Victor froze, eyes widening as his breath caught in his throat. I walked toward him slowly, each step careful."I was hunting wolves when your grandfather was a pup," I whispered, close enough that only he could hear. "I've conquered death itself."
The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   Blood Moon Rising
Ronan's POV"At least a dozen forming a perimeter." I scanned the trees. "They're scouting, mapping your patrol patterns.""Why would they need to do that?" Tomas asked. "They already have Darius feeding them information."I shook my head. "Darius doesn't know everything. The Syndicate never relies on just one source."A twig snapped to our leftâtoo deliberate to be a mistake. A distraction."Down!" I shouted, tackling Elena as a dart whistled through the air where she'd been standing.Jax growled, shifting partially into his wolf form. "Where are they?"I drew my blades, eyes tracking the slight movement in the underbrush. "Three o'clock, two hostiles. More at our six."Tomas sniffed the air furiously. "I can't smell anything!""Trust your eyes, not your nose," I directed, falling easily into combat mode. "Move in pairs, watch for traps underfoot."I barely finished speaking before the forest exploded in chaos. Syndicate scouts in black tactical gear swarmed from hidden places. These
The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   Shadows of Memory
Isolde's POVAfter he left, I returned to my workings with renewed purpose. The scene was set: Sienna and Zeke heading toward the Queen, Ronan following his heart rather than his mission, Kieran struggling against his curse, and now Caius with his vampire schemes. Perfect chaos.As I began planning for a deeper divination, I noticed something odd about my workspace. The arrangement of my tools had changed slightly. Someone had been here while I was at the window with Caius."Lily," I called loudly. "Bring me fresh sage."My helper appeared in the doorway, head bowed submissively. "Yes, mistress."But as she approached, I saw itâa tiny silver pin on her collar. The Midnight Queen's mark."You poor, foolish girl," I said softly. "Did she promise you power?"Lily's head snapped up, her eyes now black as pitch. "The Queen sees all, traitor."Before she could move, I flicked my fingers. The chalk lines of my circle blazed with purple fire, locking us both inside."You've made a grave mista
The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   The Shadow Weaver
Zeke's POV"Three days' journey," Ronan added, already calculating.I nodded, hiding my fear. This wasn't meant to happen so quickly. The Syndicate needed more time."There's something else," Sienna said, her voice strange. "I saw her, Zeke. The Queen. And you're rightâshe has mom's face.""That's impossible," I whispered, though I knew it wasn't."Unless..." Sienna's eyes widened with horrible understanding. "Unless our mother never died. Unless she became the Queen."The ground trembled beneath us as her power surged with feeling."We leave at dawn," she stated.As we walked back toward the packhouse, I felt my enchanted Syndicate mark burn against my ribsâa call I couldn't ignore.Tonight, I would have to report that Sienna was coming for the Queen. Tonight, I would have to decide where my true commitment lay.With the blood that made me, or the blood that raised me.Isolde's POVI smiled as I put the last black candle at the edge of my newly drawn chalk circle. The small stone cot
The Last Ruby Wolf - Live as a Queen or Die as a Monster   Chapter 44: The Shadow Weaver
Isolde's POVI smiled as I put the last black candle at the edge of my newly drawn chalk circle. The small stone cottage at the edge of Kieran's land was far from luxurious, but it would serve my purposes. Through the window, I could see werewolf guards pretending not to watch me. Their presence amused meâas if they could stop me if I truly wished to cause harm."A bit more foxglove," I whispered to my assistant, a young witch named Lily who had no idea what games I was really playing. She handed me the jar with shaky fingers.After my little performance for the Storm twins yesterday, things were moving faster than even I had expected. The fear in Zeke's eyes when I mentioned the Queen had been wonderful. The Syndicate thought they controlled him, but seeds of doubt were already growing.I sprinkled the foxglove into a copper bowl and watched blue flames rise. "Leave me," I ordered Lily. "I need privacy for this working."Once alone, I settled in the center of my circle and closed my
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