Chapter 20

Aila Coraline

I failed my first mission. My father wasn't proud when I couldn’t solve Anastasia’s betrayal. He thought it would be simple for me to trace her steps, but the truth is, I don’t know much about her life. We were friends—or so I believed—but she never shared as openly as I did in the past.

Months have passed since she left, and there has been no sign of rogue or witch attacks. Maybe Anastasia left with a sense of loyalty, despite the pain and disgrace she endured. Perhaps she wasn’t seeking revenge against our pack.

“Seleira’s birthday is next week. Samuel wants you to help his daughter,” Father announced during one of our dinners.

His words pulled me from my thoughts. A certain memory crossed my mind, and for some reason, it felt like déjà vu.

A few months ago, I had a dream where I attended Seleira’s birthday celebration. In that dream, she was poisoned, and I was the one accused of committing the crime. The vision ended with my death. It felt surreal, more than just a dream—it was as if I were glimpsing my own future. The strangeness of it made my skin prickle.

“Seleira and I aren’t friends, Father. Wouldn’t it be odd for her to see me there, helping?” I wondered aloud.

We had always been cordial, but never close enough to call each other friends. The last time we spoke was during training, and since that day, I hadn’t seen her.

"It's what the Alpha wanted, Coraline."

That was it. It didn’t matter whether Seleira and I were friends or not. What the Alpha wanted was the only thing that mattered. That was the reality. But in the past, I was never given tasks like this. Or maybe, back then, the Alpha simply didn’t trust me enough.

“When will it be?”

The next day, I visited the pack house to ask the Alpha when I would be expected to help Seleira with the preparations. As I walked through the grand entrance, the familiar scent of aged wood and the hum of conversation filled the space. Just as I reached the hallway leading to the Alpha’s office, I turned a corner and nearly collided with Zayn.

He caught me by surprise, eyes narrowing as a playful smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.

My eyes widened slightly. What was he doing here? I knew he was still assigned to the homestead, where progress was ongoing, so seeing him here was unexpected, though not impossible.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I have a question for the Alpha,” I replied. “Please, excuse me.”

I tried to step around him, but he shifted slightly, blocking my path with that familiar, confident stance. His eyes searched mine, as if trying to read beyond my words.

I glared at him when he refused to step aside, his posture almost daring me to react. What the heck is wrong with him? I was in a hurry, and he was here playing games.

“Get lost, Zayn. I’m in a hurry,” I said, pushing him to the left just enough to slip past. I heard him call my name behind me, but I didn’t stop or turn back. The Alpha’s office was just ahead, and that was my priority now.

“The preparation will start next week. I hope you’ll help Seleira.”

I nodded, the Alpha’s words ringing in my ears. During Seleira’s previous coming-of-age ceremony, there had never been any request for my help. In fact, Alpha Samuel had never let me take part in anything like this before. I wasn’t sure if it had been a privilege or a punishment back then—being kept on the sidelines. But now, I wished I could fade into the background, unseen and ignored like in the past.

I spent the entire week consumed by overthinking, haunted by my dream and the possibility that it could come true. What if it did? I couldn’t remember ever helping Seleira with any preparations before, but that didn’t stop the gnawing doubt in my mind.

While patrolling the northern edge of the farm, where I was assigned, a sharp, acrid scent reached me, pulling me back to reality—the smell of burning. Burning garbage was strictly prohibited, so I wondered who could be responsible. Suddenly, shouts erupted, and I saw people frantically rushing for water.

“Coraline, a fire has erupted at the back of the North Farm! The forest is burning, and if we don’t stop it, the farm will be consumed,” Marsing shouted at me.

Without hesitation, I sprinted back to the pack house, my heart pounding as I approached. Just as I reached the entrance, my father stepped out, surprise flickering in his eyes.

“There’s a fire in the North Farm, spreading fast!” I gasped out.

At once, he signaled, and within moments, the fire truck was dispatched to the location. Before I could catch my breath, a loud crash echoed from the direction of the farm. I turned to see the fences falling—our first line of defense crumbled right before my eyes.

I muttered a curse under my breath. Rogues had managed to breach the fence two months ago, but it had been reinforced and solidified since then. How could it be crumbling now? I struggled to process my thoughts, and then realization hit me—this wasn’t an ordinary incident.

I dashed back to the North Farm, using my wolf speed. When I reached the back part of the farm, the scene was chaotic: trees engulfed in flames, burning to ashes despite all efforts to douse them with water. It was useless. Suddenly, through the thick smoke and flames, silhouettes began to emerge.

No, these weren’t ordinary people—they were witches. And standing in the center, clear as day as the smoke thinned, was a familiar figure. My heart sank. It was Anastasia.

I never expected her to return so fiercely. She had just shattered our defenses, and without them, the rogues could easily breach our land. Why was she doing this?

“Anastasia,” I whispered. She looked so different. Only her face was familiar, but everything else—her aura, her presence—was foreign and terrifying. I watched as Nick, her mate, stepped forward, trying to reach her amidst the chaos.

“Get out of my way and let me meet the Alpha,” she commanded.

She spoke to Nick as if he meant nothing to her, as if their bond had never existed. Mates were supposed to be each other's closest allies, thinking, acting, and living as one. But now, that bond seemed shattered beyond repair.

“Why are you doing this?” Nick’s voice broke.

The past months she’d been gone suddenly made sense—she must have been learning witchcraft and honing her skills. And now, we were facing the consequences of it.

Out of the chaos, Alpha Samuel appeared. He took one look at the scene, his expression hardening as he assessed the threat Anastasia posed.

“Nick, eliminate her now!” Alpha Samuel’s voice thundered.

Nick’s eyes widened with shock. Killing Anastasia would probably be his last resort. He was the strongest warrior, second only to Zayn, and I knew he could handle his mate. But why would Alpha Samuel give such an order? Maybe there was still a chance to resolve this peacefully.

“You think you can kill me so easily, Samuel? Why not do it yourself?” Anastasia challenged.

Alpha Samuel laughed, a sharp, dismissive sound that only fueled the tension. He was insensitive, even cruel. Deep down, I knew this chaos was his doing. He had pushed Anastasia to the edge, leaving her no choice but to fight back.

“What are you waiting for, Nick? Kill her now. Or are you just like her, betraying the pack?”

Before Nick could react, Anastasia raised her hands, dark energy swirling around her fingertips. With a flick of her wrist, the magic shot toward Samuel, striking him square in the chest. He dropped to his knees, gasping in pain. Chaos erupted as warriors lunged forward, swords clashing and arrows slicing through the air.

Anastasia’s attention was locked on Samuel, eyes blazing with anger as she prepared to finish him off. In that moment of distraction, Nick moved. His face was etched with sorrow as he drove his blade into her chest. Our weapons were made to kill witches and vampires, and the strike to Anastasia’s heart meant only one thing—it would end her.

She gasped, eyes meeting Nick’s with a mix of shock and betrayal before they softened, as if realizing too late what had come to pass. The rest of the warriors fought to subdue the remaining witches, who were few but fierce. One by one, they fell.

Nick dropped to his knees with tears streaming down his face. “Forgive me,” his voice broke. And before anyone could stop him, he turned the blade on himself, ending his life beside Anastasia.