5

VENUS

“How will you help us?” Simon asks her. She sits on the couch next to our seats, right by Bronze. I feel his muscles tense over her presence. 

“I’m the royal princess of Eroz, so I can provide extra security for the camp by bringing my men here. The King won’t question the security provided by a powerful royal kingdom.” She says and looks at Bronze. “But we need a thorough plan for it and go to his castle to talk to him directly. He won’t believe it until he meets me.” 

My chest tightens as waves of dread engulf me. Mallory is using her power to get closer to Bronze. 

Bronze sighs in thought. “Fine. We’ll make a plan and then head to his castle,” He responds without looking at her. 

Simon smiles. “Then we are a team.” 

“I’d help in any way I can,” I say, and everyone looks at me.My heart clenches at the look on their faces. They have no intention of including me in this.

“I don’t think you can be of much help here, Venus,” Mallory says in a gentle tone, as if not trying to offend me with her words. “It’s better if you stay away from this matter as the Alpha King is involved here.” 

I feel knots in my stomach. “Okay, but I don’t want to sit idle. I want to go with you all.” 

“Why are you interfering with a plan that does not include you?” Simon snaps at me, taking me off guard. 

“Simon,” Bronze growls at him. “Watch your mouth.” 

But it does not affect Simon. “Come on. Everyone knows that Venus is the one holding you back from your potential. If Mallory becomes our Luna, we get the royal kingdom beside us and the Alpha King won’t be able to assert his dominance over us because we’ll be equals then.” 

Simon’s words hurt a lot. I can’t believe that he used to be my good friend before Mallory came. 

“You have lost your senses but I haven’t,” Simon adds and points at Bronze. “We should consider ourselves lucky to have Mallory help us, despite getting rejected by you.” 

“I’m happy to help, and I’d do it anyway,” Mallory says softly, then looks at me. “It’s fine if Venus wants to join us.”

My jaw tightens. I hate that look of pity in her eyes. She’s acting as if she’s doing me a favor. 

“Bronze, Venus joining us will cause unnecessary friction in the plan. This is the matter of the Alpha King and we can’t have anyone hold you back from what needs to be done.” Simon says. 

I look at Bronze, hoping that he will take my side. But he’s silent and staring at the table between us as if he’s thinking hard about the matter. 

“Bronze?” I hold his wrist and he looks at me.

“I think it’s best if you stay out of this, Venus,” he mutters, his voice low but firm. I can tell he means every word.

I blink in disbelief, “Why?” 

“You’re an unshifted celestial wolf and the Alpha King only wants shifted wolves to join this camp. If you go with us, he might find another reason to ban the camp.” 

His words hit me like a punch to the chest. I never thought the day would come when he’d shut me out of his plans—let alone by reminding me of my weakness.

 We have always worked as a team, pushing each other to achieve our goals. Yet today, he pushed me away for someone else. 

I stay silent after that and just hear them speak. Bronze stares at me from time to time, knowing that I’m hurt by this. He speaks to me after we head back to our room. 

“Venus?” 

“Maybe we should consider ending this,” I tell him while I stare at the moon in the night sky. It’s better to end this before it’s too late. 

“Venus, I know this hurt you, but I did this for your good.” 

“How? And why would the King ban the camp because of unshifted celestial wolves? The elders accepted that unshifted celestial wolves will join this camp, so there shouldn’t be any problem.” 

Bronze sighs deeply. “It’s not that simple. We haven’t given the Alpha King all the details of the camp. He doesn’t pay attention to these camps, so we assumed he wouldn’t care this time either. But he is thoroughly invested in what we are doing, so if we make a wrong move, the training camp is over. If he sees you, he’ll ban the camp.” 

I scoff. “So now I’m the problem.” I say and feel dreadful. It looks like I am a burden now. 

“No.” Bronze walks over to me and places his hand on my waist. “I want you to take part in this camp, that’s why I am making sure nothing ruins it. Once I put Alpha King Rowan in his place, I’ll marry you and make you my Luna.” 

I have a feeling that this won’t come true.