Novel-novel oleh Ms. Carnation

Aubrey was curled in a tight ball on the stone floor, her knees tucked toward her chest and her hands protectively cradling her belly. She had managed to drift into a shallow, fitful sleep, her breath visible in the freezing air of the underground wing.The sound of heavy, rhythmic footsteps echoed down the corridor, startling the rats into the shadows.Travis stood outside the iron bars, his face shadowed by the dim torchlight. Seeing his wife huddled on the floor like a common criminal broke his heart into a thousand pieces. This was the woman he had sworn to protect, the woman carrying his heir, and she was shivering in the dark because of a game he hadn't yet won."Open the cell," Travis commanded, his voice vibrating with a dangerous low frequency.The guard at the door hesitated, his keys jingling nervously in his hand. "A-Alpha... Elder Ramesh specifically ordered that no one can visit the Luna until the final day. He said—"Travis didn't even let him finish. He stepped into th

Storm stood in the flickering torchlight of the prison corridor, watching the heavy iron door close on Aubrey. He felt like a coward. He was the Beta of one of the strongest packs in the region, yet he had just put shackles on an innocent, pregnant woman.He pulled his satellite phone from his pocket and walked quickly toward the exit, needing to breathe air that didn't smell like damp stone and misery. He dialed Danica’s number. He knew he had to tell her, but he dreaded the explosion he knew was coming."Storm?" Danica’s voice was bright, though tired. "How are you? You haven't called me since last week."Storm leaned his head against the cold exterior wall of the prison wing. "Danica... listen to me. I need you to stay calm.""Why do you say that when something is wrong?" Her voice sharpened instantly. "What happened?""Aubrey is in prison," Storm said, the words feeling like lead in his mouth."What? Aubrey is in prison?!" Danica’s voice was a shocked shout that practically vibrat

The silence that followed Aubrey’s confession was heavy, like the air before a massive storm. The only sound was the crackling of the fire pits and the ragged, painful breathing of Sky, who was still slumped against the wooden post.Elder Ramesh let go of the knife. It hit the dirt with a soft thud, but he didn't seem to notice. He began to walk toward Aubrey, his eyes fixed on her face. He moved slowly, his cane forgotten on the ground. When he reached her, he stood so close."You killed my daughter?" he whispered, his voice vibrating with a dangerous, gritted-teeth rage.Aubrey didn't flinch, though her heart was trying to hammer its way out of her chest. She looked him straight in the eyes. "No, Elder Ramesh. I am saying that I was the one meant to be found. Someone hit me from behind and placed that knife in my hand while I was unconscious. I am saying someone framed me for killing your daughter to stir up chaos in Silverstone. My conscience is clear. I did not kill Sora."Elder R

Aubrey sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers digging into the silk sheets. The room was too quiet, but outside, the sounds of the pack were changing. Usually, at this hour, Silverstone was settling down. But now, she heard the heavy thud of boots running past her door and the distant, muffled shouts of men.Her heart hammered against her ribs. Travis had told her to stay put, to lock the door and wait for him or Storm. But the commotion was growing louder. Something had gone wrong.She couldn't just sit there. She stood up, her legs still feeling a bit weak, and walked to the door. She turned the lock and pulled it open just a crack.The hallway was a blur of movement. Guards were rushing toward the main stairs, their faces grim. Servants were huddled in corners, whispering and pointing toward the windows that overlooked the training grounds.Aubrey stepped out, her hand resting on her belly. She stopped a young guard who was about to sprint past her."What's going on?" she asked, h

"Elder Ramesh," Travis said, his voice flat. He stepped away from the door of Room 402, positioning his body to block the old man’s view of the handle. "I didn't expect to see you outside of the council chambers tonight."Ramesh stepped forward, his cane clicking sharply against the floor. "And I didn't expect to find the Alpha lurking in the guest wing with his personal guards."Travis didn't blink. He had lived his whole life under the gaze of men like Ramesh. He knew how to lie to them."Aubrey is upset," Travis said, his voice sounding annoyed but convincing. "A necklace... a family heirloom went missing earlier today. She thinks the clasp broke while she was walking this wing earlier. She’s been in tears about it, so I decided to look myself. I wanted to see if someone had kicked it into one of these empty rooms or if a servant had picked it up."Ramesh’s eyes narrowed, scanning Travis’s face. He looked at Storm and Caspian, who stood like statues behind their Alpha. "A necklace?

Travis walked down the back hallway, his footsteps heavy and purposeful. He didn't know that behind the heavy velvet curtains of the alcove near his bedroom, Cassandra was standing perfectly still. She had retreated there when she heard the commotion, and she had heard every single word.Her eyes were wide, and a slow, dark smile spread across her face. Sora was dead. The daughter of the most powerful council member had been slaughtered, and the Luna was holding the knife. This was better than any poison. This was a death sentence that even Travis couldn't easily stop.She waited until Travis’s footsteps faded before she slipped out from behind the curtain and vanished into the darkness of the servant’s stairs.Travis entered the secret war room located in the basement of the west wing. Storm, Caspian, Sky, and Nyx, the members of Argentum, his elite inner circle were already there. They stood as he entered, but Travis waved them down."Sit," Travis barked.He walked over to the large