Premonition

KAIRA

“Good morning, Luna Kaira!” Maryl sang, sashaying across my chamber.

I slowly rose from my bed, releasing a long sigh. “I'm not the Luna, Maryl.” She gave me a knowing look, and a sheepish smile crept onto my lips. “At least not yet.”

“But you will be.” The maid pulled back the heavy velvet curtains, letting in the early morning sun. “We all know Alpha Jarith will soon announce it officially.” She winked at me and added, “If the Moon Goddess hadn't taken away our bonds, I'm sure you and he would have turned out to be fated mates.”

“I would have loved to feel we're destined to be together,” I admitted.

“You are destined,” she assured. Then she smoothed her blond curls and walked over to my bed. “Alpha Jarith should have officially claimed you months ago, right after the Great Battle. You basically won this war for him. Not to mention that you were the one who killed Alpha Callum—not him.”

I winced at her words. Only a few members of our pack knew the truth, but I was fine with Jarith taking all the so-called glory. Guess it looked better this way. The great leader, Alpha Jarith, the commander of the united packs of Sarendonia, killed the terrifying Alpha Callum, bringing peace after thirty years of war. It wouldn't sound as triumphant if the other alphas knew it was his future Luna who had killed the most fearful enemy…

“I heard what happened at the gathering,” Maryl went on, placing her hands on her hips. “The other alphas want to make Alpha Jarith the King of Sarendonia. That would make the Silver Mountain Pack the most important pack in our kingdom. The more he should declare you his Luna. The rumors begin to spread, you know?”

I leaped to my feet. “What rumors?”

She shrugged. “People say he used you and your skills, and now you're no longer needed.”

“That's absurd.” I huffed, shaking my head. “We love each other.”

Maryl smiled wryly. “I told them the same, but they didn't want to listen.”

My hands fisted. “Jarith loves me,” I said, nervously clenching the tear-shaped talisman pendant on my neck. “He's… just busy recently. Rebuilding cities and securing new borders takes time. It's not like he's avoiding me or excluding me… right?”

Maryl scratched her head. “Yeah… about that… Alpha told you about the delegation from the Eudoris kingdom coming today… right?”

This felt like a punch in the gut. “Um… what delegation?”

Maryl grimaced. “A few officials from the Fiery Mist Pack arrived an hour ago. I think their meeting with Alpha Jarith is about to start in a few minutes.”

My chest tightened. Jarith had always told me about every meeting he had. I was his trusted advisor. With my instincts and premonitions, I could predict the outcome of every conversation. So far, I had been the one to greet every official who had come to this castle. Had he forgotten to tell me?

Sucking in a sharp breath, I marched to my wardrobe. “Maryl, please help me get dressed. I can't be late for the meeting.”

***

The click-clack sound of my heels echoed through the corridor as I strode to the audience room. My heart thundered, and my palms began to sweat. I could hear my wolf spirit huffing in my head. She was restless. She could sense that something was off, and I could feel it, too. Yet, I shoved down my uneasiness and stretched my lips into a bright smile as I turned the knob and pushed the doors open.

The members of the delegation were about to take their seats at the long table. The ranked members of our pack stood on the opposite side while Jarith stopped behind the top seat, reserved for the Alpha. I closed the doors behind me, and his bright blue eyes met mine.

“I apologize for coming late, Alpha.” I curtsied and gave everyone a beaming smile.

Jarith ran his fingers through his golden, slightly ruffled hair. Then, he responded with a curt bow. “You're just in time, Kaira,” he said before gesturing to his left. “Take a seat. We're about to begin.”

I didn't miss the way his Beta looked at him, raising his brows in a silent question. Jarith gave him a meaningful look, and Beta Loan lowered his head. I knew they were talking through a mind link, and for the first time, I wasn't part of their conversation. Had they truly wanted to exclude me from this meeting? Grinding my teeth, I lifted my chin and walked to my seat.

“Kaira, these are the elders from the Fiery Mist Pack.” Jarith gestured at the three gray-haired men dressed in expensive jacquard coats.

My lips curved into a nervous half-smile as I bowed. “It's an honor to meet you.”

The men barely spared me a glance before turning to Jarith. “We've come to deliver great news, Alpha,” one of them said. “Princess Enora accepted your proposal. She will gladly become your Luna Queen.”

Their words knocked the air out of my lungs. This must have been some misunderstanding. I looked at the man I loved, but he avoided my gaze. No. Jarith would never have betrayed me like that. He couldn't have—

“Excellent. I was hoping to hear that.” My Alpha straightened in his seat and smiled at the Fiery Mist Pack's officials.

I pressed my hand to my chest, soothing the sudden ache. The pain only increased as I looked around the room and realized I must have been the only one who hadn't known. “I… apologize,” I mumbled as my eyes coated with tears. “I need to… go.” I slowly rose from my seat, wondering if my trembling legs were still strong enough to carry me out of that room.

‘Kaira, stay.’ Jarith's voice sounded through the mind link. He didn't even look at me as he tossed dryly, ‘I'll explain everything after the meeting.’

I felt another crack in my heart. I couldn't breathe. The layer of tears became heavy, threatening to stream down my cheeks. I gave everyone a curt nod before turning around and running out of the room.

“Kaira, wait!” Jarith's growl echoed through the corridor. “Stop!”

I didn't. I couldn't. I was on the verge of falling apart, and breaking into tears in the middle of the corridor was the last thing I wanted. Sucking in a shaky breath, I ran upstairs, heading to my room. Jarith followed me and locked the door behind us.

The first tear slid down as I turned around to face him. “You… want to marry… someone else?” I rasped. “You said… you love me. You told me… I would be your Luna.”

He dragged his hand over his face. “We need Eudoris, Kaira. This marriage will make me the ruler of two kingdoms.”

“So this is… about power?” I placed my trembling hand on my aching heart. “Is Sarendonia not enough? Am I… not enough?”

He huffed out a laugh. “You can't possibly compare yourself to the power of the entire kingdom.”

More tears streamed down my cheeks. “Love means more… than all kingdoms combined.”

“My sweet, naïve Kaira…” He prowled toward me, a dark smirk pulling at his lips. “I wish you could understand. Things could have been different then.”

He lurched forward. I barely noticed his extended claws before they sank into my flesh. A violent wave of pain tore through me. The sweet, coppery taste filled my mouth, and my body began to rattle. My eyes drifted to my bloodied chest. “Ja…rith,” I croaked.

“I have a final request for you, my love.” A cruel smile stretched across his lips as he dragged his claws down, ripping me open. “Die for me.”

A cry built in my throat, erupting with violence as the agony devoured me inch by inch. His vicious smile widened as he pulled out his claws and tore the talisman off my neck. I collapsed to the floor, knowing the end was near. I looked into his eyes, unable to recognize the man I had given my heart to. Now that heart was useless—it stopped beating…

A violent shudder coursed through me, forcing my eyes wide open. I could barely focus on what was in front of me. My chest heaved and fell at an erratic pace, and the pain, the blood—

I blinked, chasing away the blurriness. My trembling hand went to my chest; my gaze followed. No wounds. I was alive, and I was… sitting in the audience room. The meeting… I hadn't left. This had to be a vision—an incredibly vivid and terrifying one.

“Kaira, these are the elders from the Fiery Mist Pack.” Jarith's voice drew my attention to him. My insides twisted as he smiled at me and pointed at the three men from the Eudoris kingdom.

Cold sweat flooded my skin. I slowly turned to the finely dressed men, and a thick knot rose in my throat. I swallowed hard before mumbling, “It's an honor to meet you.”

The men ignored me, just like I knew they would. This couldn't be happening. I closed my eyes, bracing myself as one of the elders said, “We've come to deliver great news, Alpha. Princess Enora accepted your proposal. She will gladly become your Luna Queen.”

Nausea rose within me. The sickening feeling blended with the pain of betrayal. I looked at the man I loved, and my hands fisted. He had used me. He used my love for him.

Now he expected me to die…