As I stared into her eyes, I felt some form of familiarity. Not because I had met her once but because I had seen her many times. The- the woman in my dreams!"You're the woman in the garden.. you-""The truth is within you," she said suddenly cutting me off. "But first, you must face the lies you have been fed. The Alpha's plans, the Luna's constant criticism-they are but pieces of a puzzle. To see the whole picture, you must step outside the frame."I knew she was right, even as her words spun my head. I couldn't continue to react to the moves others made; I had to make my own.As I left the chamber, a sense of resolve fell into place. Tomorrow, I would begin to amass information-real information. I needed to know who was playing what game and how I might be able to tilt the odds in my favor.But as I reached my quarters, a chilling thought struck me: the only way to find out the truth could very well be to become the thing I feared the most.A spy.The moment I closed my door, ther
Dorian's POVI took a deep breath and followed Kali into the trees. A few minutes of walking in silence were only broken by the sound of leaves crunching underfoot.As we walked, I couldn't help but notice that the forest seemed to grow denser, the trees taller and the underbrush thicker. I could feel a strange energy emanating from the forest, an energy that seemed to be watching me.Then Kali came to a stop in front of a huge stone door. It was covered in ancient carvings of wolves and moons, and it looked like it hadn't been opened in centuries.Kali turned to me, a mischievous glint in her eye. "This is the entrance to the underworld," she said. "And this is where you'll find what I'm looking for."I looked at her skeptically, was this a trap? The underworld? Stories of the underworld, of the ancient gods and goddesses that reigned over the land of the dead, had reached me."What is it that you're looking for?" I asked, my voice gruffy but barely above a whisper.Kali smiled, a gl
Arachne's admittance into our low-key group was a function of kindness but once she learnt the ropes and became very powerful, she seemed to think she was the boss. I left her to do as she pleased until I found out that she had taken an ancient book.That book was closed off for a reason, for the safety of everyone but Arachne didn't know that. I could easily guess what she wanted to do with the book so I had to find a solution immediately. Arachne had been very discrete so I could hardly get information but with tooth, I could attain a lot of power and use it to defeat the army she was unknowingly trying to raise.In Dorian, there was a certain spark. A spark that I believed could be worked into a flame- a flame that would shine brightly enough to illuminate even the darkest place. His defiance and determination were sure to get him through the task.Although Amelia was gone now, she wasn't lost to the shadows. And I knew I could easily find her, and bring her back to me. Because wit
Dorian's POV I nodded even though I was still in a daze of confusion. I knew I had to push on, face whatever lay ahead."What's the next trial?" I asked, my voice firm.Kali's smile grew wider, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "The next trial is the Trial of Reflections," she said. "You must face your deepest fears and desires, and emerge victorious."I steeled myself, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew that I had to face whatever lay ahead, no matter how terrifying it might be."Let's get on with it," I said, my voice firm.Kali's smile grew wider, her eyes glinting with excitement. "Then let us begin," she said.Kali led me through the dark corridor with so much tension in the air. The walls seemed to pulse, alive with some unseen energy. Shadows danced around us, flickering like ghostly flames. I could feel the weight of the trial pressing down on me, the anticipation gnawing at the edges of my mind.We entered a great hall where every surface was lined with mirrors in variou
Kali's voice cut through the silence, her words oozing with menace. "The next trial is the Trial of Courage and Strength," she said. "You must face them and emerge victorious."I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead. I knew that I had to face my fears head-on if I was going to survive the Trial of Courage. But who was them? That's when I saw it.I started walking towards the vague figure; my heart was pounding in my chest. As I drew closer, the figure began to take shape, its features more defined with each step.Then I saw its face. It was my face, contorted into a snarl of rage and hate.A wave of fear washed over me.I took a deep breath and reached out, my hand closing around the figure's wrist. The figure didn't resist, didn't even flinch.Instead, it spoke. Its voice was my own voice, twisted into a sneer of contempt."You're weak," it said. I felt a wave of anger wash over me, but I refused to give in to it. I knew that I had to stay calm, to think clearly if
Dorian's POV When I woke up, I was lying on the ground, my head throbbing with pain. Kali and another lady were standing over me with smiles on their faces."Well done, Dorian," Kali said. "You have passed the Trial of Courage."I looked up at her, still confused about what had just happened. Had it been real?And then, even though my vision was still blurry I saw Amelia standing behind Kali, a look of concern upon her face."Dorian, are you okay?" she asked.I stared back, my mind filling with questions. Was this reality? Was Amelia really here?But before I could ask any questions, everything went black again.When I opened my eyes later, I had the nagging feeling that something was not quite right. The trial had been so realistic, so vivid. I could still feel the knife's weight in my hand, the resistance of the creature's flesh as I plunged it in.But it was only a trial, I consoled myself. It was not real.I opened my eyes to find Amelia kneeling beside me, her eyes filled with c
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
Of course we were going to sleep with an eye open, afterall a were wolf cannot be fully trusted.Ryder sighed "How long do you think it will take before you find her?""I don't know. I just know I need to find her." I replied."I understand. Let's get some sleep."I nodded and fell asleep only to wake up not too long after. There was a creature chasing Bolton. At first it was funny until, it started to kill the pack members in masses. It even killed Martha. I lunged towards it but then it looked at me and laughed.A sarcastic laugh."You call yourself Alpha? You and I know you aren't capable."I got confused for a moment, it could talk? What was this?I didn't have time to think carefully before it attacked me. If it killed me then I'd have died a useless Alpha.I attacked it with equal strength but it's hand morphed into a sword and was plunged directly into my heart.I gasped for breath. Only for me to realize it was just a dream. It was already dawn so I woke Ryder up "Let's move"
"Then you have to make sure no one figures it out," I said firmly. "Do it."Arachne shook her head. "You're playing with fire. If this goes wrong—""It won't," I interrupted. "Just do it. Now."She sighed again, obviously unhappy, but started gathering her things. She took me in a little house in the middle of a forest. I watched as she pulled out vials of strange liquids, powders, and crystals, mumbling incantations under her breath. The air around us grew heavy, charged with almost electric energy.Whatever he had in mind, she added, her voice tight with focus, he'd better be prepared to deal with its fallout afterward. When this gets moving, there's no pulling back until the course is run.She just had to make it convincing.When she was done, she told me that it remained one last thing."We need to find a way to get the information to him."" No one knows where he is" I reminded her."I could find a way to get the information to him. I only need something of his -clothes, nail, ha
"What do you want to know?" She asked stuffing the money in the pockets of her gown.I smirked and asked "Where's your Alpha?"She looked around before whispering "Everything I say is from hearsay. I heard he left with his friend to find a lady in his dreams."I wanted to laugh and send her off because Derek could get any lady he wants. Why would one whom he couldn't get approach appear in his dreams?"Okay, did any weird thing happen before that?" I asked. I needed to gather as much information as possible."I heard that some witch visited him but no one really talks about who or why. Then he came back some days later and was asking weird questions to the guards. Like if they saw someone come into his room. Then he held a meeting telling us he's trying to solve a problem that could probably bring danger to us all."I looked at her "Bring danger?""Yes. He even handed over power to the Beta and went on his search.""Nothing else happened?"She thought for a while before shaking her he
I stared at Mateo like he had gone crazy. My next move?... as if this were some kind of game I was supposed to be winning. I wanted to argue, to demand that Mateo take me to Chris immediately, but deep down, I knew he was right: Gina was dangerous, and if she suspected I knew more than I was letting on, things would get worse-fast.I looked away, my eyes straying to the garden as I struggled to steady my mind. The flowers seemed lined up in a neat parody of the storm raging inside my skull. "Fine," I said finally. "But I want your word that Chris won't be harmed.""Do you think I'm a monster?" He asked me.I glared at him."You have my word, ma'am" he replied curtly.We stood for a moment in silence, everything weighing down on us as if it were a physical force. Finally, I turned back to him. "What's the next step, then? What do we do about Gina?"Mateo's eyes darkened. "We watch. We wait. And when the time comes, we strike."His words sent a shiver down my spine, but I nodded. The fu
A knot of dread began to twist in my chest. I could no longer turn a blind eye to this; there was something darker at work here. I thought of Cida, who was probably poring over documents long buried, trying to find out where he went wrong. And I thought of Elder Kato, if he was so wise, why wasn't he able to identify that she was not right for the pack?The pieces were not falling into place.Lucinda's voice cut through my reflections. "Be careful, Amelia. Digging too deep has consequences.""I know," I whispered. "But we need the truth."And truth, I knew, would change everything. Was this what the seer was talking about?Lucinda's voice brought me back to earth "Earth to Aurora!""Yeahh??""Don't you want to know what happened to Chris?"I opened my eyes wildly "you know what happened to him?"She shook her head "ofcourse not! I just thought you could find a way to find out. After all, he doesn't deserve to suffer, he's just a pawn."I sighed agreeing with her, but even though he's
I frowned. "And what do you think I should do?"Investigate in silence. Gina is to be kept bound, but alive. Her use is not at an end just yet. And Lucinda." He paused in search of exactly the right words. "She is to be watched carefully. It is often behind the mask of loyalty that the sharpest daggers are hidden."His words sent a run of ice through my veins, but I nodded. A man didn't reject the experience of the Elder Kato.Lucinda's POVI watched him go, Elder Kato taking his leave from Cida's chambers, a flutter of unease dancing across my chest. The old man was perceptively astute, far too much so for my taste, and the minute he started digging deeper, he might find threads leading back to me.I couldn't allow that to happen but if things comes to the worst, I'd tell them the truth. I had made up my mind.Chris' POVThe dusty floor of the cabin was my seat, in an excruciating pain in my wrists-the ropes were too tightly laced-but at least my kidnapper had given me a little water
I started pacing, taking slow, measured steps, rubbing my temples. How did this blow up so badly? The cut from Gina runs deep -at least, I gave her a chance and I allowed my title to ride on her, only to see her standing here entangled in deceptions and schemes that sink every piece of what I'm trying to build.Lucinda's POVIt was almost too sweet to mask this satisfaction as she was being dragged away. She had played and lost. I didn't know how exactly this all worked out. I wasn't the one who arranged for her study to be open. I knew she was a terrible person but I never had evidence.But something inside me knew this was a short-lived victory only. Gina was a rabid dog, dangerous even when cornered, and unless I finished what I had started, she might still claw her way out of it and expose me.I said nothing, but my mind raced with every step of my plan: Chris, already out of the picture-the loyal guard she had tried to use as a scapegoat-his absence had served its purpose well, a
As Gina mouthed those words to me, I didn't react but I think Cida noticed cause he squinted his eyes before starting to walk away.As the surprised guards dragged Gina, she suddenly screamed and said out loud "I'm innocent. Ask Chris. It's definitely him. He's the person put in charge of that study."Everyone stared at her but the Gamma spoke first "Chris? The guard?"Her eyes widened "Yes, it's him. I hardly use the study. He's the only one who opens it and locks it when the maids need to clean it."I couldn't believe this witch, she was playing the blame game!Boris looked at Cida who looked at her skeptically before ordering someone to find Chris.As a guard went to find Chris, Gina shook the hands of the guards off her body but they didn't let go until Cida gave them permission to.The atmosphere was somewhat tense. I looked at Lucinda from the corner of my eye, she seemed to be seething with anger. This wasn't good.We all waited for Chris to come, I bet he'd have peed his pants
Who could be knocking at this hour? I held a little knife in my hand and walked slowly towards the door. I mean, many people don't like me, what if someone decided to attack me? "Who's there?" I asked."It's Lucinda, open up please." Her voice sounded croaked. I quickly dropped the knife and opened the door."What happened to you? You don't look well" I said looking at her face.It was not until she raised her head that I saw the hand prints and marks on her neck. It was a very terrible looking bruise. "Who did this to you?!"Shee looked at me with anger in her eyes "Who else?"That witch! "What in the actual hell?! What exactly happened?"***After the banquet, in Gina's room."Get me Lucinda! Now!"The maid scurried away to call Lucinda who was packing away some plates."The Luna requests your presence."Lucinda smirked and walked to Gina's chambers "Luna, you wanted to see me"Gina was so furious she rose her hand to slap Lucinda but to her surprise Lucinda slipped down with ease.