Masuk"She is lying!" Victoria screamed, losing her sweet, fake voice completely, her tone turning high, sharp, and ugly. "She is using sneaky words to trick you, just like she tricked Kael! Look at her! She does not care about Shadow Fang! She only cares about her own safety!""I care about this pack more than you ever will, Victoria!" I countered instantly, stepping right up to the edge of the platform, looking down at her with absolute disgust. "I am carrying the true royal heir of Alpha Kael! I am carrying the future of Shadow Fang inside my body! While Alpha Kael is away fighting our enemies at the river, you are standing in this hall trying to divide his council and weaken his fortress from the inside!"I turned my back on Victoria, facing the eight old elders directly, my posture regal and strong."If you want to lock me in a dungeon, Elder Thomas, then do it!" I proclaimed loudly, holding out my small hands. "Lock me away! But when Alpha Kael returns from the river with his victorio
Behind me, Captain Freya and four heavy iron guards marched with loud, rhythmic steps. Their heavy boots sounded like thundering drumbeats against the polished stone floor.I walked right up the center aisle, my dark purple wool skirt sweeping smoothly over the floorboards. I did not rush. I did not shake. I held my back straight, my shoulders squared, and my head held high, just like a royal queen walking into her own throne room.I stopped five paces away from the raised platform, looking directly into the old eyes of Elder Thomas.I gave the council a slow, polite, and formal bow of my head—not out of fear, but out of proper royal manners."Good morning, elders of Shadow Fang," I said, my voice smooth, loud, and completely clear, echoing off the high stone pillars. "Captain Freya informed me that you requested my presence."Elder Thomas leaned forward over his heavy wooden table, his long grey beard brushing against his dark robes. He did not give me a nice greeting back. His face
The heavy wooden door was open just an inch to let the warm fire air circulate.The two maids were standing near the stone wall, holding straw brooms and a wooden bucket of water. They were speaking in fast, low whispers, thinking that I was fast asleep by the hearth."Did you see Lady Victoria this morning?" the first maid whispered, her voice full of disgust. "She was walking down the hallway like she owns the whole palace!""I know!" the second maid replied in an angry whisper. "She wears that green velvet dress and acts like a holy princess. But my sister works in the guest wing kitchen. She saw Victoria slap poor Clara across the mouth again last night!""She is an evil, wicked snake!" the first maid hissed softly. "Clara was crying so hard her eyes were swollen shut. Victoria told her that if she didn't help trick the old elders today, Victoria would have her father burn Clara's family home in the south!"My ears perked up instantly. I held my breath, sitting totally still in my
The cold fog on the riverbank was thick, wet, and smelled of rusty iron and old blood.When the black arrows rained down out of the dark pine trees, my heart would have stopped if I had been there to see it. Guard Roland was shouting like a crazy man, pointing his long steel spear at Alpha Kael. He thought that giving away our secret military formations made him a grand commander. He thought he could make Kael cry for mercy.Roland was dead wrong.Alpha Kael was a born killer. He was three times bigger than Xavier, and his raw power was not something a simple trick could wipe away. Even with fifty secret archers shooting from the bushes, Kael did not panic. His giant black war horse reared up, its front hooves smashing down into the icy mud with a loud THUD."You think a few stolen arrows can stop my army, you traitorous dog?!" Kael’s booming roar filled the dark valley. His voice was so strong that two young Crescent Moon soldiers on the other side of the water actually stepped backw
The heavy iron gates of Shadow Fang swung open with a loud, creaking noise. Five hundred elite armored soldiers marched out of the castle, their dark horses stomping through the white snow as they followed their proud Alpha down the winding mountain trail toward the southern river.Standing on a high stone balcony near the guest wing, Lady Victoria watched the giant army leave the fortress.She was wrapped in a thick white fur cloak, her long golden hair blowing in the cold mountain wind. Her sharp green eyes were filled with pure, evil delight as she watched Kael’s black cape disappear down the mountain road.Beside her, Clara stood quietly, holding a silver tray with warm cider.Inside Victoria's mind, a dark, wicked plan was finally coming together!He is gone! Victoria screamed with joy inside her own thoughts, a broad, nasty smirk coming onto her painted face. Kael took five hundred of his best elite guards with him! The castle is half empty! The remaining guards are busy watchin
"Lyra acted like a sweet, quiet girl in our village," Emily whispered, poisoning his thoughts with endless lies. "But she was secretly talking to dark spirits! She was secretly plotting to steal our pack's gold and ruin your reputation! She ran away to Shadow Fang on purpose so she could turn Alpha Kael against you! She is a fake, evil female who uses men to get power!"Xavier’s face turned red as he listened to Emily’s words. Because his own pride was deeply wounded, he wanted so badly to believe that Lyra was the bad person, not him."She is a bad female..." Xavier muttered, his voice full of rising anger."Yes!" Emily urged him on, her eyes gleaming with dark delight. "You must tell the whole world the truth about her, Xavier! Send secret letters to all the neighboring packs! Send messengers to the northern towns and the southern villages! Tell everyone that Lyra is a deceitful, dangerous female who brings curses and bad luck wherever she goes! Tell them she cheated on you, stole g







