I swallowed hard. "Forgive me. I thought it best not to disturb your work with the light."He moved closer, the weight of his gaze pressing down on me. "You're lying." His hand shot out, pinching my chin, forcing me to look at him. "You forget your place, maid."I met his eyes, refusing to cower. "I meant no harm."For a moment, there was silence. Then, to my surprise, Cida released me and smirked. "If you want to know something, Amelia, all you have to do is ask." Didn't I already ask?Later that night, back in my quarters, the encounter replayed itself over and over in my mind. Why hadn't he punished me? Was this a test? A warning? Whichever it was, I knew one thing: in deeper than I had thought, and Cida a lot more dangerous than I had given him credit for.Gina's warning echoed in my mind. She wasn't wrong about one thing: playing this game with Cida could very well be the end of me. But I couldn't stop now, not when I was so close to unraveling the truth.The Next Morning:Life i
The figure nodded and opened the letter. The farther he read, the wider the smile spread across his face. "Interesting."I waited, unable to utter another word, until finally the figure spoke. "Tell Cida that we accept his terms. The Convergence will happen as scheduled."As I bowed and turned; my mind whirled: What terms? What plan? I have to find out-but I have to make it out of here first.As I took some steps, a familiar face looked at me. Was that? Derek? I could've sworn it was him but because of the cloak and eerie atmosphere, I didn't have time to confirm. What was he doing there?Heading back to the estate, my mind was preoccupied with Derek. Did his brother know what he was up to? By the time I made it back, dawn was already breaking into the world. Cida was waiting for me, standing in the courtyard."Did they accept?" he asked, his eyes aglow."They did," I replied.Cida's smile turned triumphant. "Good. Everything is falling into place."I nodded, though unease coiled in m
At the heart of it all was Cida, overseeing each detail.I watched from the shadows, my mind consumed by Derek. If he was truly tied to Kyrexi, then he was more dangerous than any of us had realized. But what part did he play in Cida's plan?I didn't have much time to dwell on this, a commotion breaking out near the gate. Derek stumbled in, flanked by Arachne. His eyes met mine, still glowing faintly. Cida nodded to me, telling me to leave. But I stayed in a quiet place, quietly observing them."He's here," Arachne said, her voice cutting through the silence that hung heavy over them.Cida's features changed with a flash of acknowledgment crossing over his face. "Kyrexi's vessel," he said with near reverence.Derek frowned at him. "Do not call me that. I had no say in it.""Choices mean nothing," Cida replied suavely. "You are what you are. And you are critical to the Convergence."His face white, his fists rigid and his whole body brimmed over with defiance. "I will never help you."
Amelia's POV Cida's voice cut clear, sharp, commanding. "Follow me. Now."I followed wordlessly, my heart thudding in my chest. I knew what was coming-a reprimand, perhaps worse. Cida didn't tolerate insubordination, and I had stepped far out of line tonight. But as I trailed him through the dim corridors leading away from the courtyard, I couldn't help but notice the tension in his stride. His movements were less fluid than usual, more measured. Controlled.We entered a room lit by flickering sconces, casting around the walls, dancing shadows on his face, illuminating sharp angles of his jaw and that cold precision in his eyes. Deliberately, he closed the door. The soft weight of sound felt almost heavy. He turned then to face me."What were you thinking?" his voice was soft, still laced with steel.I looked down, unable to say anything. It was too complicated, too raw inside me. "I. I thought I could stop it," I mumbled. "I couldn't just stand there.""You disobeyed a direct order,
She was a distraction-a dangerous one. Her defiance, her passion-irritated me, infuriated me. And yet, I couldn't stop thinking about her.Amelia.She was an enigma, a spark of chaos in the otherwise orderly world I'd built for myself. I'd tried to keep my distance, to treat her like any other subordinate. But every time I looked at her, I felt my resolve start to break.She didn't know, of course. I'd made sure of that. I couldn't afford to let her see the way she affected me. To let her know how often I found myself watching her when I thought she wasn't looking. How often her voice lingered in my mind long after she'd spoken.It was foolish. Weak. But no matter how hard I tried to suppress it, the feeling persisted.When she’d stood up to me last night, defying my orders, I’d been furious. But beneath the anger, there had been something else. Admiration. She was brave, even when she had no right to be. And it was that bravery that made her dangerous.I couldn't let her get too clos
Cida's POVThat night, I gravitated toward the quiet corners of the compound where I knew she often went to be alone. It wasn't intentional-or at least, that's what I told myself. But as I rounded the corner and saw her sitting on the stone steps, staring up at the stars, I felt this strange sense of relief.She didn't notice me at first; her attention was elsewhere. Her silhouette was outlined by the soft, silvery shine of moonlight, and for a moment, I let myself simply watch her.She looked peaceful, but I knew better. There was a storm under her serene surface, much as there was under my own."Can't sleep either?" I asked, my voice breaking the silence.She jumped a little and then turned, glowering at me. "Alpha"Amelia's POV I sat outside because I was trying to persuade the moon goddess to help me. I didn't know what I was doing anymore.Was it my destiny to disrupt the Convergence? I was angry! I wanted revenge, nothing more than to see the whole pack in flames. They deserved
"It's not like he ever did!""Maybe Bolton should take over…"The last comment hurt more than he cared to admit.He couldn't take the disrespect and ordered them to move. They scrambled, each going to do his own thing.The room fell silent the instant he stepped into the main hall. Dozens of eyes swung to him, anticipation and wariness etched on every face. Bolton stood near the center of the room, his stance casual, though his eyes were razor sharp.Derek drew in a deep breath, and forced himself to meet those gazes. "I know my absence has created… uncertainty," he started off, his voice firm against the storm that was within. "But I promise you, I did not abandon you."A low murmur spread through the crowd. One of the older wolves, Miza, stepped forward. His grizzled face was etched with concern. "Then where were you, Alpha? And why didn't you tell us anything?"Derek hesitated, the truth slipping like sand through his fingers. "I was… handling a threat," he said vaguely. "One that
Dorian's POV In my dreams, I found myself standing in an endless expanse of silver light. The air shimmered like starlight, and the ground beneath me was smooth and cold, as though made of polished moonstone.Amelia stood before me, an apparition of a figure and so sad with unshed emotions brimming in her eyes. Her fingers brushed my cheek; I felt the same warmth I felt the last time she touched me. "Dorian," she said, soft yet audible. "Why do this?"My breath clung to my throat. "Amelia, I do this-for you -to bring you back.Her face clouded, and she shook her head. "You waste your time. The Tooth of the Moon Goddess is not to bring me back"I staggered back, her words going through me like a physical blow. "That's not true. Kali said-Kali," Amelia cut in, her voice sharp. "You can't trust her, Dorian. You've always been stronger than she lets on, but she's leading you down a path she dared not take herself. Isn't it strange?""No." I shook my head, refusing to believe it. "You do
She took a deep breath, her eyes snapping open. The pool was calm, its reflective mirror of the moon's glow unbroken. Aurora was not. She could feel it. The power that lay within her was no longer latent. It was alive, humming with energy, the essence of White Luna.She looked at Selene, her eyes shining with sudden understanding. "I… I think I understand."Selene's face erupted into a warm smile."The way has just been opened, Aurora. There is much to learn, much to prepare you for. But you will not be doing it alone. I will be here, every step along the way."Aurora's heart was a tempest of the expectation and terror that battled within it. She was a goddess, a new White Luna. Her journey would be challenging, but giving up was not an option.The weight of a new life was heavy on Aurora, more heavily even than any material weight. She was the White Luna, a goddess reborn. Her mind was heavy with the words, a reminder of just how great a weight was on her shoulders. She looked at her
Those words hung heavily in the empty garden, alone-an affront to all she had ever conditioned to understand about the world. She was an Omega, the lowest one to exist within the pack, born to take orders and not give them. This… this could not be. And yet, visions, power flowing through her veins, Selene's presence here-everything screamed for a truth she could not help but believe."Preparations?" she managed to croak with a throat parched and raspy. "For what?"Selene's visage became unbroken. "For war coming. The war you saw earlier. One to raze not your pack alone but all the packs. A war unlike any other."Her mind was a wild knot of possibilities. The rumors of the Thane of Redblood-whispers of another foe-it fit together all too sickly. This, however, was not a pack war; this was a war against something older and far more evil than anything imaginable. Survival war."But..but I am just myself," she stammered without faith in herself, helplessly waving her hands. "I know nothin
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,
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