Shadows Within

The moon hung low over the mansion, surrounding the properties around with a gentle silver light. The air that passed was gentle and the usual cries of nearby wolves were strangely absent, as if the nocturnal beings sensed an impending threat.

Kieran stood outside the mansion, covered in shadows. He carefully examined the area before slowly opening the iron gate wide enough for one person to go through. The person who entered was tall and thin, moving swiftly like a knife in the darkness. He wore the uniform of the palace guards, but the scent around him did not belong to any of the guards in the mansion. No, his scent was unfamiliar and carried the smell of an outcasts.

"You were slow," Kieran whispered, swiftly shutting the gate after the trespasser.

"I needed to confirm I wasn't being followed," the spy answered softly, his voice coarse and professional. Patrols were present close to the ridge. I needed to go around twice.

Kieran gave a terse nod and gestured for him to follow. "Next time, get here faster. The window is short."

"Relax. You’re not the one sneaking past trained wolves with nothing but shadows to hide behind."

They both moved quickly through the guards passage, avoiding the main corridors until they arrived at an old, unused chamber in the east wing. Dust settled in the atmosphere, and cobwebs adorned the shelves that held spare uniforms and antiquated weapons—a neglected part of the mansion.

Inside, Kieran passed the spy a folded parchment and a set of keys.

"This will get you into the restricted areas. The scroll has the names and schedules of the guards. You’ll blend in easily if you don’t act like a fool."

The spy took the scroll and keys, slipping them into the inner pocket of his coat. "I’ve done this before. Just point me in the right direction."

Kieran’s jaw tightened. "You’ll find the archives in the basement wing. That’s where you’ll get most of what Ronan wants—anything on the Alpha's plans, and especially anything about his Luna, Diva."

The spy raised a brow. "Diva, right? The Alpha’s little mystery?"

Kieran nodded. "Yes. Her. Ronan notices she's breaking out of the spell he casted on her to make her weak. You need to study her closely to get information about her."

The spy leaned against a shelf, arms crossed. "I sensed it the moment I crossed into the territory. Her aura is strange. Cloaked beneath magic. Thick layers of it. It's not natural."

Kieran frowned, lowering his voice. "Then be careful. Don’t get close. Don’t speak unless spoken to. She sees more than she lets on."

The spy smirked. "A pretty wolf with secrets. Sounds like my kind of challenge."

Kieran squinted his eyes. "This is not a game." "One misstep and Derek will have your head."

Just as the spy was about to say a word, they both heard a gentle crack that signified that someone was coming, and they both freezed.

Footfalls.

Kieran moved quickly, holding the spy by the arm and pushing him behind a high cabinet. Dust swallowed him as the spy crouched down, hidden.

The door slowly opened with a creak.

"Kieran?" a voice shouted. It was a guard among them.

Kieran rotated slowly, maintaining a neutral expression. "Just reviewing stock," he remarked with a nonchalant shrug. "New guards constantly lose their equipment." "But I have handle it."

The guard made a grunt. "Act swiftly." Alpha Derek left earlier this evening. "The entire area is tense."

"Got it," Kieran answered, and the guard walked off, boots echoing down the corridor.

Quietness resumed.

The spy stepped out from behind the cabinet, wiping dust off his sleeve. "That was very close Kieran."

"Too close," Kieran muttered. "From now on, stay invisible unless you're in uniform and on task. Got it?"

The spy nodded. "Yeah."

Kieran walked over to the door and opened it gently peering out to see if anyone was coming. "Also, don’t let anyone see you around Diva alone. She is not like any other Luna. She watches. She listens."

The spy’s eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Is she dangerous?"

Kieran paused for some minutes before responding. "Maybe or maybe not, but listen to what I'm telling you. Don't be caught around her alone, it's risky."

A grin curled the spy’s lips. "Don't worry, I'm capable of the task. Ronan trust me and that's why I'm here and I need you too to trust me."

Kieran turned sharply. " It's fine but stay off her like I said, she’s off limits. Ronan wants information, not a corpse."

Another sound echoed down the hall—a door closing.

"Time’s up," Kieran said. "Start tomorrow. Tonight, lay low. Study the schedules. Don’t screw this up."

The spy gave a slow nod. "Understood."

He walked out of the room slowly, vanishing into the shadows.

Kieran remained a moment longer, staring at the shelves, his fists clenched. Guilt gnawed at his insides. He told himself this betrayal was justified. That Ronan’s offer would secure a better future. But the silence of the empty room weighed heavy.

His whisper was almost inaudible. “Forgive me for this betrayal, Alpha…”

Somewhere in the mansion, Diva sat alone in the garden room, a book open in her lap. She glanced up at the moonlight streaming through the glass, unaware that a traitor had just let a serpent into the heart of their home.

The night stretched on, cloaked in silence and secrets.

The wolves rested.

But darkness had already crept in.