Chapter Eight

Daron’s POV

“Leo, watch out!” I roared.

Leo spun just in time. The Silver Moon soldier’s sword was already coming down, aimed for his neck. Leo’s claws shot out and ripped the man’s throat open, but not before the blade sliced across Leo’s arm. Blood sprayed across the dirt.

The man dropped, gurgling. Leo stumbled.

“Are you okay?” I was at his side in two strides, my hand on his shoulder. The alley behind the inn was narrow, slick with rain and blood. Bodies were everywhere. My men. Theirs. The air stank of iron and wet steel.

“Yes, my Lord,” Leo said through his teeth. He was pressing his other hand to the gash. “It’s my duty to protect you, not yours.”

“Rubbish,” I shot back. “It’s our duty to protect each other as Wolf brothers. I will never let you all die like this.” I grabbed his uninjured arm and hauled him up with one hand. He was heavy, but he was mine.

The night air reeked of blood and sweat. The soldiers in disguised armor swarmed the courtyard and surrounding streets. My men fought fiercely, but we were outnumbered. Steel clashed against steel. Growls and shouts filled the darkness as some of my warriors partially shifted, claws and fangs tearing through flesh.

I moved like a storm. My sword became an extension of my rage. I slashed low, severing the legs of two attackers, then drove my blade upward through the chest of a third. Blood splattered across my face and chest. My wolf howled inside me, hungry for more. I was not just fighting….I was dominating.

A soldier lunged at me from the side. I caught his wrist, twisted hard until bone snapped, then rammed my forehead into his face. He dropped. I finished him with a single thrust.

Leo fought beside me despite his wound, his movements slower but still deadly. Another wave of enemies charged. I shifted partially, letting my claws extend as I tore through them. Bodies fell around me. My wolf reveled in the violence, but my mind stayed sharp. This was no random ambush. It was too coordinated.

I slashed the last two men in front of me in one go. My claws opened the first from shoulder to hip. I used his falling body to block the second’s dagger, then tore his throat out with my teeth. Blood hit my face, hot. It ran into my mouth. I spat it out.

I dropped to one knee in the pool of their bodies. My chest was heaving. Not from exhaustion. From rage.

After a while, boots squelched through blood behind me. Leo.

“My Lord,” he said, voice rough. “I have counted our soldiers. We lost a few. There are few casualties.”

I closed my eyes. My hand curled into a fist so tight the claws bit my palm.

This time around, Zhang had crossed all limits, I thought. And I will forget that he’s the Luna’s father. I most certainly hate losing my men. My brothers. My comrades. And I did this night, all because of Zhang.

“Leo,” I said, standing. Blood dripped from my hands. “Gather the casualties and the men we lost. By tomorrow, we ride to join Tan.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

“Leo,” I called again before he could go.

He turned.

“Did you find any clue that could link these soldiers to Zhang?”

“No, my Lord,” he said, shaking his head. “They really outdid themselves this time. It was planned carefully. We couldn’t find anything on them. No crest, no orders, no rings.”

“Fine,” I said. “Make sure you treat your wound now and leave the other duties for the rest of the men.”

“Yes, my Lord.” Leo bowed and walked away, holding his arm.

I stared at his retreating figure, at the bodies of my men in the mud. Zhang knew I and my soldiers were going to defeat the men, I thought. He merely wanted to delay me so as not to get to the pack in time for the Wolf Lord selection.

The rain had started again. It washed the blood into the hole.

This time around, I will make sure I rip his heart out regardless of anything, I promised myself. Regardless of my Luna. Regardless of the council.

***

The next morning, we reached Willow Alley. Tan was waiting outside the old safe house, relief flashing across his face when he saw us.

“Daron, are you alright?” he asked immediately.

The sun was barely up. Mist hung low over the old stone houses. The air smelled like damp earth and horse. My armor was gone, replaced by a dark cloak. But the blood was still under my nails.

“I am fine,” I said. I looked around. The palanquin was there, carried by four of my men. “Where’s Lily?”

“She’s in the palanquin,” Tan said. “I made sure to tie her hands, just in case she tries anything funny again.”

“Fine. Then let’s leave immediately,” I said, moving toward the palanquin.

I stepped inside.

She was sprawled on the floor on her stomach, her eyes closed. The cloak I’d put on her yesterday was tangled around her legs. Her back was to me. Even in sleep, her shoulders were tense.

I walked past her and sat down on the cushioned palanquin seat. The wood creaked. I closed my eyes to relax a little bit. My body ached.

A few moments later, I felt it. A shift in the air. A presence.

My eyes snapped open.

Lily was up on her knees lunging toward me with a sharp shard of broken glass aimed at my neck.

I moved before I thought. I grabbed her wrist and twisted it back, pulling her toward me in one motion. Her body hit my chest. She gasped.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t act so rashly,” I said, voice dangerously low.“I am in a very bad mood, and any slightest mistake could get anyone killed.”

I shoved her back onto the floor. She landed hard, winced, and touched her back. Then she turned and glared at me with pure defiance.

She was in pain, badly injured, yet she never stopped fighting. I thought. Stupid, stubborn girl.

The rest of the journey passed in tense silence. We rode through the morning and into the afternoon, the palanquin swaying gently with the movement of the carriers.

The palanquin suddenly stopped. I heard Tan’s voice from outside.

“My Lord, a scout ahead says they’re celebrating the Moonlight ceremony in the palace and no one is allowed to enter the palace now.”

I frowned. “By the calculation, isn’t it supposed to be tomorrow for the Moonlight ceremony?” I asked, shocked.

“Yes,” Tan said. “I also don’t understand why they’re celebrating today. Should we go back to your residence or still continue to the palace?”

“Continue to the palace,” I said firmly.

“Okay.” Tan responded.

We continued to the palace and stopped when we reached the palace gates. The gates were black iron, tall as several soldiers were stationed outside. Torches burned even in daylight.

I glanced at Lily. She was still lying on the floor, awake now, watching me. I walked past her and out of the palanquin.

“My Lord, I am sorry, but the Alpha King requests that no one is to enter the palace now while the celebration is still holding,” a voice said.

I looked up.

Wills. The youngest son of Elder Zhang. One of Moonlit Whisper’s army commanders. He was standing on the steps, smirking. He was in ceremonial armor, useless for real war.

I ignored the “Alpha King” nonsense. My brother will never say that. Zhang is really using his position as the Alpha king’s father- in-law to pass out orders now.

“Long time no see, Wills,” I said. “Come forward and speak to me instead of staying that far.”

He hesitated. Then he walked down the steps toward me. He stopped ten paces away.

“Whose order are you carrying out?” I asked him. My voice was calm.

He bowed. “My Lord, I act on the order of Elder Zhang. He passed the Alpha King’s order to me,” he said.

I squeezed my face, like I didn’t hear him. I bent down on the palanquin step. “Come more closer and say it.”

He came closer. He glanced into the open palanquin, saw Lily, and looked away fast. “My Lord, I just told you. I act under Elder Zhang’s orders.”

I smirked. “Wills, choosing today and my current mood, that’s just bad luck for you.”

“What do you mean?” he asked. His hand went to his sword.

In one swift moment, I had him.

My hand shot out and grabbed his neck. I stood up, lifting him off the ground with one arm. His feet kicked. His eyes bulged.

“Blood of my soldiers also deserves blood of his son,” I said. My voice was quiet. “Then be the blood sacrifice on behalf of your father.”

With a sharp twist, I broke his neck.

I felt the bones snap. His body went limp.

I threw his body back on the ground. It landed with a thud.

“Cut his head and place it in a box,” I barked the order at the nearest soldiers, My voice echoed off the palace walls. “I can’t enter the palace without giving Elder Zhang a gift.”

All the soldiers bowed. Including the palace soldiers. 

“Tan,” I called. “We ride into the palace.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

Tan gave the order. As I turned back toward the palanquin, Lily was sitting up now, staring at me. For the first time since I had captured her, her expression held something new…a mix of shock, fear, and cold realization.

She finally understood exactly what kind of beast I was.