ANMELDENADIRA'S POVI dressed up and left the house. “Meet me at our rendezvous point,” I mindlinked my group as I made my way out.I knew I had to take immediate action because that dream was an unusual one. And it felt too real to just be considered a dream. Something was going to happen, and I would be lucky if I could block it before it did.I moved quickly, and by the time I got there, they were all already waiting.“Luna, is everything okay?” Rose asked.“I wasn't expecting to get such an urgent mindlink from you this morning. It's been quite peaceful in the pack. Did something happen that we are yet to be aware of?” Lyra asked.Roland asked no questions. He just watched keenly and waited.“Something feels off. I can't pinpoint what it is, but it feels like something is about to happen soon.” I swallowed heavily. “I had a weird dream this morning and…” my teeth clenched and I closed my eyes momentarily. “The dream, which I am not ready to talk about, felt too real and it wasn't a good o
ADIRA'S POVIt was yet another peaceful day. I stood in the garden, eyes closed, listening to the birds singing and the sound of the crickets. The pack was quiet, and that helped my peaceful state of mind.My wolf stirred. "Someone is here." She said.I froze, and my ears pricked as I concentrated to find out what was going on. I heard the crunching sound of leaves under a foot, and as the sound came again, my eyes quickly flew open. My heart sank into my stomach, and I stumbled backwards and fell as I saw the evil before me.It was the masquerade face, the users of the moonbane raisin. My heart pounded in my chest as I crawled backwards quickly, trying to put distance between us. But they advanced quickly.I sprang up and took off running, and they pursued relentlessly.“It's the masquerade face! They are coming!” I yelled into the distance, hoping that pack members would hear my voice and do something, but my voice only bounced off the walls and echoed into the silence.“What's goin
RYDER'S POVI watched with bated breath as they eased her onto the ground. She continued to thrash and cough up blood.“What's going on!” I yelled at the doctor.“She is choking on her own blood. We need to clear her airway and lay her on her side,” the doctor said quickly.Beta Atlas quickly moved her onto her side, but at this point her struggles had weakened. The violent jerks of her body faded into shallow, frantic movements. Her chest fluttered unevenly.I paced for a bit before standing to look again. She looked too pale and weak. “Dammit!” I cursed angrily.“I don't think she will make it,” my wolf said quietly, but I could hear the anger beneath his calm voice.“No, no, no!” the doctor yelled frantically as he shouted out orders.A hoarse sound escaped Gabriella’s throat. Her head lolled to the side, her chin slick with red. One deep cough followed, and then nothing more was heard. She went silent, her mouth still slightly open.I watched in horror as her eyes slowly closed an
ADIRA'S POVI watched her keenly as she raised her head and looked at me. I waited for her to speak, my eyes following her lips. But as she looked at me and opened her mouth to speak, she hesitated, and her head fell forward again, shoulders sagging as though her strength was being slowly stripped away.She shook her head. “I can't…” she muttered.I heaved an angry sigh. “Continue!” I yelled at Beta Atlas as I slammed my palm down.Beta Atlas wasted no time. He dropped the hammer and picked up the pliers. He pinned them onto her nails, and Gabriella thrashed on the chair, trying to get away despite knowing that the chains would not allow it.“Say it! Who sent you?” Beta Atlas gritted out through clenched teeth.She shook her head again, refusing to speak. Beta Atlas did not ask again. He moved and pulled the nail off. Before the scream could leave Gabriella's throat, he pinned down another nail and pulled it off.Blood trickled down, and her screams filled the air. My fists clenched a
ADIRA'S POVThe wait was finally over, and we made our way down to the field. Every step I took felt heavy, but even heavier were Ryder's steps.I paused for a second and looked at him. “We are doing the right thing, right?” I asked. “I am worried that I might have crossed the line and somehow allowed Grandpa Alan to influence me. Or maybe I am finally showing my true nature.” I said quietly, as though saying it out loud would make it worse.“My heart is heavy too. Such a punishment has not happened in a very long time. The more civilised we became as a people, the more we stopped such cruel punishment and interrogations. So indeed my heart is heavy, for it will be remembered that it was during our reign that it happened again.”His words did nothing to help my current situation. My heart became even heavier at his words.“But we are at the point of no return, and if we do not do something dire, then change will not come. It is not normal for three attempts to have been made on Lumina
ADIRA'S POVMy anger rose at her reply. “What do you mean you cannot say?” I snapped.“I cannot say,” she repeated in a monotone voice.“You cannot or will not?” Ryder queried.“I cannot,” she replied. “It is not information that I can divulge.”“You will be tortured until you speak the truth!” Grandpa Alan growled. “You must tell us who asked you to harm Lumina, where they are, and how you got that poison!”Of everything Grandpa Alan had said and done today, this was the first one I had completely agreed with.“Yes, you must!” I agreed. “If you do not speak now, your limbs will be cut off, fingers pulled off, and skin burnt until you tell us what we want to hear. You will not make an attempt on my daughter's life and not say who ordered it. You have one last chance to speak now.”“I… I… cannot.” She shook her head hopelessly.“Then so be it!” I stood up. But even though I was determined, something in my chest tightened, resisting the words even as they formed.“Your torture will be d







