THE NECKLACE LIES

CHAPTER 6

Nova Sterling Point Of View 

“Damn it!” The necklace burns against my collarbone like a branding iron. I press my palm to it—bad idea. Heat sears through my glove.

Jace appears like smoke from a dying candle; his leather jacket smells of gunpowder and the cinnamon whiskey he stole from the Alpha's hidden collection of the last full moon.

He smiles and hooks his fingers around mine. “Rules are boring, sweetheart.” His eyes track my reactions as he caresses my hand. “Why not leave Kieran and be my fated mate?”

I yank his hand away in anger. My ribs ache from the spot where Calen’s claws pierced my bones while saving me and Kieran last night at the ravines. “Not in the mood,” I replied.

“You Never are.” Jace's teeth flash, displaying his wolf-white, sharp and shining fang. I notice the chip in his left tooth—the one he got defending me from Sloane’s guards. 

He flips his pack's silver coin, and the magical symbol flashes like lightning trapped in a loop. “Yet you're still petting that cursed thing like a scared child.” He points at my necklace.

Across the open field, Gideon's shoulders stood tense. Moonlight flashes on the war scars on his neck bone. His golden brown eyes screamed what his mouth wouldn't: Look at me. See me. I am here.

The pendant chain convulsed and showed me a vision of the past. The remembrance covered my senses.

In A Flash Back—

Suddenly, I'm nine years old. My knees sank into Grandma's herb garden. My Mama's hands shook as she pressed the necklace to my palm. Her nail polish caught red light shining from the necklace pendant. “Keep this hidden, or they'll steal it.”

In The Present Moment—

Jace's coin bounces on my forehead, and the vision disappears. “You there…. Ice Queen?” he kicks my boot. “You're doing that creepy vision eye thing again.”

Gideon moves like a shadow. One second, he's by the fire pit; the next, his 6’3 frame blocks Jace. The firelight makes his scars look freshly opened. 

Jace's smile ceases for a few seconds, long enough for me to notice. “Protective tonight, aren't we?” His fingers stretch toward his boot knife. 

Gideon doesn't blink. Just stare with those golden brown eyes. His heartbeat pounded in his throat.

They knew I was wrapped in a vision but couldn't see it. 

Suddenly, my boot sticks to a plant root; I gasp, staggering backwards. 

Gideon's arms shoot out to catch me. His grip is hot and firm, his scars rough against my wrist. Holding me for about three seconds. 

Jace's laugh echoes into the air. “Well, this is tragic.” He throws a coin at Gideon's chest. It bounces off with a dull knock. “Your figure appears sexier when she's falling.”

Then he came closer, “Nova Sterling. That thing's eating you alive.” His knuckle grazes the necklace. “Let me hold it.”

Gideon's lips open, revealing razor-sharp fangs. A deep growl vibrates from his chest - the sound that makes even seasoned wolves fear “back off.” He raised a finger at him.

Jace stood still, and his smile turned dangerous. “Well, I can see that someone is protective.” He frowns at the way Gideon overreacted.

“Ohhh. You want her to suffer.” His fingers move toward the knife hidden in his boot; the silent movement is barely noticeable.

Gideon stood ready to fight as he tightened his fist. Tension rippled up his spine, and his muscles vibrated as he tried not to react. His scars gleamed with silver rays. 

I step between them. “Enough.” 

And Jace's smile vanishes. His eyes widened on seeing my expression. “Shit,” he breathed out, reaching toward me but stopping short. “You’re shaking like a leaf in a storm.”

I look down at my trembling hands, realising he was right. My body vibrates with unseen tension, and the necklace chain hooks my throat like an executioner's rope. 

Gideon moves before I can react. His rough palm settles against my neck, skin scraping my shoulder in a silent command to breathe. The warmth of his touch stabilised me even as my heartbeat increased.

Jace lifts his eyebrow, watching us with an unfamiliar intensity. His usual sarcasm is absent. For the first time since I'd known him, he has not made a quick remark or biting joke. He stands silent, observing while his fingers flex at his sides.

“Mercer’s Hunters are here.” The word slips from my lips like a curse. No one else uses wolfsbane except those hunting us.

Jace stood still beside me as moonlight grazed his face, outlining the hard angles of his jaws and cheekbones. “You’re sure?” he asked, already shifting his stance, ready to fight.

I nodded, “They’re close.” My entire body tightened as every nerve screamed to move, act, and protect myself.

A tree branch fell somewhere beside me in the distance. Carrying more than just the bitter scent of wolfsbane. Voices echo from behind it— Cold, Human, and Unforgiving.

“The Mercers Hunters are here. And they are not just passing by; they want to capture us,” Gideon explains, breaking his three-day silence. His body is tense like a coiled spring.

Jace spins unnaturally; a silver knife appears in his hands as if conjured from the air. “How close?” he demanded, all traces of humour gone.

Gideon inhales deeply, and his nostrils flare up. "Close enough to taste blood. Let’s prepare to—”

Before he could finish his words, a torchlight erupted between trees, casting and flashing upon monstrous shadows that danced across the snow.

Pain from my necklace tears through my head so loud I couldn’t feel anything else.

Jace clamped his hands around my waist, his grip bruising even through my layers. “Decision time, Ice Queen,” his breath hot against my ear. “Do we run or fight?”

Gideon frowns at the approaching lights of the enemies, with tension on his face. His facial scars glowed like a live wire sparking with electricity. 

My necklace pendant whispers in my mind—poisonous and sweet— “Your Five Alphas will  break your heart.” 

But I didn't yield to its voice. I grabbed my dagger fast, ready to use it. My torchlight reflected upon the silver blade as I stepped forward. "We burn them first,” I said, prepared for battle, pointing at the attacker approaching us.

Jace breath hitches. He knows what comes next: “Light the match, Sterling.”

The enemy's eyes widen as he stands before me. He’s prepared; I am ready. Let’s see who attacks first. This time, I won’t let Mr Mercer capture me again.