Cina finally took the initiative to capture Malik. "Captain,""Alpha""I need you to question a certain wolf named Malik. Use any means you can but don't kill him"The captain just nodded, his features set. "It shall be done, Alpha."Cina leaned forward, his tone low, intense. "He works for Thane. I'm sure of it. He has information we need, and we don't have the time to play around.The captain bowed and drew back without a word, motioning his most trusted heavies forward. Silent as ghosts, they drifted through the compound of Silvermoon, alert to every movement. They knew Malik was cagey; he would not be easily caught.It was well into the night when they finally saw him: Malik, skulking near the eastern watchtower, half-concealed by the shadows of trees. He moved deliberately; his eyes were intent as he scanned the perimeter.The captain hand-signaled to his men as they fanned out and silently boxed Malik in. When Malik turned to move deeper into the forest, they pounced.Malik shif
I stared at Elder Kato, somewhat suspicious.He looked at me with an unreadable expression in his eyes "I won't help until I'm asked to. No one goes where they aren't wanted."I nodded trying to make sense of it all. He had already began eating but I stood there, waiting to be sent away. As a maid, I needed to be told to leave before I could."You may sit" he said. I was about turning when I realized what he meant. Why didn't he want me to leave?I tried to feel wary but instead I felt calm...an indescribable calmness. Once I sat, he began talking "Tell me about yourself. Your life? Friends? Parents?"Deep down, I felt uncomfortable. He noticed and said "I don't mean to make you uncomfortable but knowing a little more about a friend won't hurt"I stood up abruptly. Friend? When did I become his friend? How come I didn't know we had become friends?He chuckled "You aren't so delighted to be called my friend"I bowed meekly "It's an honor but I'm not so sure I deserve that title"He smi
At first I thought he just wanted to play the cat and mouse game -stalking your prey until you have a chance to pounce but it seemed the Alpha of that pack was tough.Thane was a proud man who had a large ego. I was more like his right hand woman but when it came to showing weakness, he never showed it in front of me. Especially concerning the Silvermoon pack case, he'd just give me good updates concerning it. I had to find out his mishaps from other subordinatesI never questioned him about it, after all he was still my boss.I picked a dusty looking duffel bag and stuffed some old clothes in, I added a few pieces of dried meat and some weapons. I added some other necessities but later decided to hide the weapons on my body.That way, even if they checked my bags, they won't find anything. I started my journey and moved quickly. I didn't like being too far from my pack. It wasn't comfortable. Besides, I like working under twelve hours on missions. Why take time when you could do it i
The two guards looked at me skeptically before softening their expressions.I knew I had already won them over, I only needed to use my trump card for them to give in.I widened my eyes "Is -is this going t- to cost you -your jobs? I'm so sorry. I didn't -know. Just help me tell Greg I dropped by" I stmered and began to walk away.They looked around before the one standing at the right shouted "Wait! You have ten minutes. Tell Greg he owes us a favour"I looked at them with joy in my eyes "Thank you so so much. I'm so grateful. Where do I find him?""Second floor. He's guarding the dining entrance. Keep your head down throughout. If any guard stops you, tell them 'oversle eetme'"I pretended to repeat it before nodding and walking in. I must say their packhouse is really furnished. It's better than ours to be frank, it's spacious and very clean. The ground is marbled and a red rich rug runs from the entrance to goddess knows where. There were many rooms along the side and a waiting ro
Frozen, my blood ran cold. Who were they talking about?"She'll make a mistake," another voice answered, but even so, just as threatening, "When she does, we'll be ready."Confusion came, like a weight between the eyes: were they speaking of me?Panic welled up in my chest, yet I willed myself not to freak out. I couldn't afford to get caught now. I sidled backward from the door, trying to be really quiet, turning to my way back.But turning, something solid came in the way.I hunched backward, my gaze rolling upward aghast. A guard towered over me, his face set in grim resolution."What are you doing here?" he grumbled back, his voice echoing off the dungeon."I'm lost?," I staed, trying to sound as harmless as possible. Although it came out more of a question.He looked unconvinced. "You shouldn't be here."Then suddenly, another voice cut through the silence."Let her go."I turned to find a figure emerge from the dark, a portion of his face shrouded in shadow. The air ordered him,
I sat up calmly; staring at this masked young man. His physique was quite alluring but not in a seductive way -more like a protective way. Those eyes.. where had I seen those eyes?"If you keep looking at me like that, I'd think you've fallen for me" With his tone you could easily tell that he was smirking.I scoffed and rolled my eyes. Yeah right!"What do you want?" I asked. "Thane would soon send men to find me. I suggest you kill me or let me go""You really aren't afraid of death" he stated. I rolled my eyes at his statement but deep down, I knew he was right. There was really nothing to live for anymore.I shrugged before saying "Life is just not so important" With our present discussions, it wasn't still clear what he wanted. Or was he just trying to stall for time? But why?I got up, his eyes watching me like a hawk. That was it! My patience had run thin. I had important things to do. I thought he was going to snitch on me but he didn't, guess he was done lousy creep.I steadi
I smirked, "I thought you knew everyone and everything.""Well, I do," she returned serenely, "but I cannot be everywhere at every time."I lifted an eyebrow. "Mm. I would agree, but why do you think I would trust you?"She smiled. "Because my offer is quite good. There's no lie there."I nodded flatly. Who wouldn't want to know what happened in their past?Just when I was going to ask about the payment and service, she interrupted my thoughts. "I would tell you some of it. Once I make sure your loyalty, you'll meet someone important."I shrugged. "I don't care about meeting anyone important."She leaned in. "That person is related to you."I hesitated and nodded in agreement. I didn't have anywhere in particular to go, and this seemed like an opportunity."I hope-She cut me off. "Don't you worry, you'll be comfortable. I don't let my partners suffer."I wanted to burst out laughing at the term "partner," but I nodded, and that's how I became Luna's right-hand man.Fiona's job had ma
Memories swarmed my mind in a flood, and for a moment, I wasn't Mateo but Edward, the brother who was looked after by his sister , who was protected and was a friend. The tide was drawn back just as fast, setting me squarely in the present-a rogue werewolf forged in pain and loneliness."I don't. I don't know," I stuttered, my second step backward. "I can't remember all that."Lena's face fell but her feet didn't back down. "It's you," she said, implacable. "I know it's you, Eddie. Look at me!"But her agitation was claws and I turned from her. If I was her brother, if I was Edward, then what was the interim? What exactly had happened in between? why did the highs and lows of my mysterious memory feel like someone else's?"Stop," I growled low, my voice coming out sharper than I had meant. "I-I need time. I won't be able to do this, not now.""But-""Please!" I roared. My eyes flashed dangerously, and she hunched, tears streaming down her face.I whirled and ran deep into the woods, t
Thane's POVJames edged himself a bit sideways. "But that isn't the worst thing. I caught something in passing, though."I raised my head towards him. "Continue".James leaned somewhat forward, tone lowered. "I heard two Redblood guards talking… It was about both packs, only that someone seeks an alliance with them."Dead silence.Greggory's expression darkened. "Whom?James shook his head. "They didn't say a name. But they were talking about a pack that sees our pack as a threat. A pack that's looking for allies to take us down."A slow, dangerous growl built in my chest.Grim, who had been leaning against the far wall, pushed off and walked forward. “And you’re sure they were talking about us?”James nodded. "Yeah. The way they spoke about it… Seems like some kind of personal vendetta that's gotten out of hand. Whoever this is, he's getting ready for something."I balled my fists. Of course. All along, I'd assumed my only hurdle was Redblood. If there was some other pack in the mix,
I swore softly. "Can he prove it?""No," James said. "But he's watching me close. If I make one wrong move, I'm dead."I blew out a sharp breath. "You need to be careful. If you're exposed, Thane won't just kill you--he'll use you as proof that we've been meddling in his affairs."James nodded. "I know."I watched him for a moment. He had done well, but the risk was going up. "For now, maintain your cover. Thane sent you to spy on us, so keep him with just enough information to satisfy him—but nothing to place us at a disadvantage."James smirked. "Of course, Alpha."I stood, letting out a sigh. "War is coming, James. We must prepare for it."James nodded "So what do I tell him exactly about the Lena that never showed up?"I thought long and hard before answering "Tell him the truth. She's not here and Malik is still here.""Yes Alpha-"Then I smirked "Also let him know that we're not the only ones that have enemies.""I understand perfectly Alpha" he replied.He was about to leave wh
Grim crept in, his voice reduced to a whisper. "Don’t play this down. I've watched you fight, your technique. You're too smooth, too polished. You're no rogue, no vagabond, Robert. You're something else."A cold sweat erupted on my brow. Grim was not letting this go. I needed to deflect him, and quickly.I forced a laugh, attempting carefreeness. "You're sore because I beat you, Grim," I exclaimed, attempting teasing. "I assure you, I'm a humble warrior attempting to make a name for himself."He still didn't look convinced."Listen, Grim, assuming I'm a spy, don't you think I'd be stupid to taunt one of the most powerful brutes in this pack?" I protested, my best shot at sounding logical.I just wanted him to let go of the thought that I was a spy. Even one suspicious person could ruin my plans.The eyes of Grim turned in my direction long enough, then finally, flicked away. He then said with an emotionless expression but a threatening and killing, low voice."I have my eye out for yo
Thane’s POVIt had been more than a week, both Lena and Malik hadn’t return. I understand that Malik is quite playful but Lena is uptight. I should know, since I trained her for years. She wasn’t someone that could be easily defeated. I slammed my fist on my desk multiple times, the sound echoing through the room. “Cida, that insufferable pain in the neck” just kept getting under my skin.I never really wanted to pay attention to him but he was always challenging me. The first time he tried to destroy my relationship with other packs, then he took my spot at the convergence. He belittled me over and over again.I called for Robert, one of our newly admitted pack members. He was a skilled rogue, ruthless and quick. I just needed him to check the situation at Redblood pack. “Robert, my commander says you’re on par with some of my soldiers and you’re better than most. I have a task for you” I said.James’ POVI had been here for a while, I pretended to be a nonchalant rogue before they c
I pushed the door open, and the hinges shrieked loud in the silence. The air inside was stale, thick with magic. Around the walls, rows of shelves lined them, filled with jars of all things from dried herbs to bones and other things unidentifiable.Arachne herself was standing at the center of the room, commanding and terrifying."Ah, the Beta," she said, dripping mockery into the words. "How predictable."I took another step closer, hands fisting at my sides. "So you're the cause of all this? What do you intend?"Arachne smiled, her mouth curling sweet. "Questions, so many of them. Never you mind. All your answers will be supplied in due time."She turned her hand out to me, and my chest became wrapped in thick, turgid air weighing invisibly on my skin."You'll do one thing for me," she announced, cold-voiced to the final degree. "Go home and tell him the game begins. I never get refused."And in one twitch of the wrist, I was swallowed into the darkness.Derek's POVHours later, Bol
Bolton's POVThe scent was insistent, a bright line laced through the dark brocade of the forest. Moonlight seeped through the canopy high above, slashed in scattered rays on the forest floor. Every step forward was like taking a step deeper within the waiting jaws of something unseen.The smell of the Moonbloom now blew up stronger, thicker, almost miasma, tinged with some darker undercurrent, a nasty metallic tang right on the edges that put me on edge. My wolf growled. His voice low in my mind came as a rumble of concern."This is not right," he said shortly, his tones clipped.I know, I breathed, my voice barely audible. My gaze whipped between trees, peering for motion, a glimpse of anything—the creature or worse, whatever was beyond.It was as if one part of nature was alive, breathing onto me from every corner. Whispers rode the wind down the passage, pricking the back of my neck. Shadows danced on the edge of my vision, always out of reach, and the trees looming closer, it see
I lay there motionless. Well, the plan was something like this, I kept saying to myself: Let it strike, let it feed, but keep the Moonbloom's fragrance around long enough.The beast growled low in its throat and sprang. I closed my eyes as its claws raked across my chest-the sting was sharp and very quick. Blood flowed free, but I didn't wince.The creature sniffed the air, as if noticing the flower pinned to my body. It leaned in, it's growl softened as it tore the Moonbloom into pieces. For one moment, I actually thought my plan was going off without a hitch.But in one moment, it did the most miraculous thing of all: it stopped abruptly. Its gold eyes locked on mine, and something old and awful passed between us. It let out one final guttural growl before disappearing, as if it had never existed in the first place.I stumbled, agony burning in my chest. My shirt was slick with blood, my vision splotchy. I laid a shaking hand over my wound, and mind-linked Bolton."Bolton," I called
Derek's POV"Is it ready?" I asked, my voice low and even.Bolton nodded. "Yes Derek."At his response, my heart began racing slightly.I looked at Derek and his eyes seemed to flash with amusement, but he said nothing. I simply reached out and took the box from him."I'll take it from here," I said, my voice firm.Bolton nodded. I felt a sense of trepidation wash over me. What would happen next?As I turned to leave, Bolton called out to me. "Derek, wait!"I turned back, my eyes questioning. "What is it?"Bolton hesitated, unsure of how to phrase his concerns. "I just...I don't think this is a good idea, Derek. You're putting yourself in a lot of danger."My expression turned ugly. "I can take care of myself, Bolton. I'm the Alpha, after all." I was going to keep walking but I turned back "I know you actually don't care about me, you're just reminding me that I'm not as powerful as Dorian and I won't take it."Bolton looked at me blankly before raising his hands in submission. Why co
In the Silvermoon packErica sat on a bench looking out to the tranquil lake before her. The sun was setting, casting an orange hue upon the whole scene. Yet, though it was a serene moment, the thoughts whirling through Erica's mind were anything but tranquil.If Derek finds out she was the one who caused his beloved pack to suffer so much loss, he won't take it easy on her. Asking for Arachne's help was out of the picture, that bitch had gone crazy. It was after the illusion incident Erica realized she had been used by Arachne.Arachne never really cared about the deal, she only took what she needed. After she had done that, the rest didn't matter. Erica gritted her teeth, with everything she's been through, she was jilted. Ha! Who would've thought?Derek was not the smartest person, but he was her greatest weapon. Now that she had gotten him into so much trouble already, she was going to have to do things on her own.Erica took a deep breath and ran her hands through her hair. Shoul