Chapter 8

I returned home exhausted. I took a quick bath, ate something small, and then curled into the coziness of my little bed. With eager hands, I quickly pulled out my mother's old journal and began to read.

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~Sapphire’s Journal - Flashback~

It all started in my senior year at Lupine Academy, a school where rival packs were constantly at each other’s throats. Fights broke out so often, it was almost a routine, especially between the Silvermoon pack and the Blood moon pack, the two apex packs amongst the wolves. Their fights were legendary, All year, I had managed to avoid trouble. so I kept my head down. Unlike most of the other students in school, I was an orphan, adopted by a beta widow - My mother Elise, and I couldn’t afford the luxury of suspension or expulsion over petty pack rivalries.

Despite everything, I had worked hard and risen to the top. I was my class valedictorian, my mum is so proud. And I wasn’t just a scholar; I was strong too. My mother, Elise, always said I had the heart of a warrior. No one dared cross me after my first combat drill in freshman year, when I fought every challenger, and was the last one standing, even the alpha kids couldn’t beat me. Thereafter, I became the head of the Moon Guards; the school warrior and also school security who kept order on campus.

My only true friend was Alice - she was an outcast, bullied relentlessly because her family were omegas from Bloodmoon pack. She clung to me for safety, and we became good friends over the years. I didn't care that the other students thought our friendship was weird, I didn't deal with people based on their packs or ranks, that was how my parents brought me up.

That morning, I arrived at school to find Alice being cornered by a group of Bloodmoon students, her own pack mates, led by none other than Cedric, the school bully. His cruelty was notorious, and though I usually kept away from trouble, I couldn’t watch Alice suffer.

So I stepped in. The moment I faced Cedric, he challenged me to a duel like he had been waiting all these years for the opportunity to fight me, and I didn’t hold back. Even though he was related to the Bloodmoon royals, the powerful Redhart family, I put him on the ground in minutes.

The other kids roared with excitement.

Then, silence fell.

Someone was clapping.

The sound was slow, deliberate, and carried with it a presence so commanding it made the air feel heavier. A young man approached, his aura unlike anything I had ever felt. His sharp gaze locked onto me, and my breath caught, he was breathtaking. Royalty, no doubt about it. The Bloodmoon students quickly bowed in respect, and everyone dispersed.

“That was amazing,” he said, his tone warm, impressed. He reached down and helped Cedric up, though his eyes never left mine. “Truly amazing.”

“Callan Redhart,” he introduced himself with a graceful bow.

I couldn’t speak. I was... too stunned.

“I’m sure my cousin started this fight,” he added, his voice was sincere. “Forgive him, and… thank you for teaching him some manners, my lady.”

Cedric sneered at me. “Forgive me? I am not sorry for anything." He said while still clutching the side where I had struck him. "And she’s no lady, she’s just a Silvermoon thug.”

Cedric laughed lightly, dismissing his cousin’s bitterness.

Cedric looked annoyed and stormed off, humiliated.

“I didn’t catch your name,” Callan said, his focus returning to me.

“Sapphire Ashwood,” I managed to answer.

“You’re very strong,” he said softly, “and… very beautiful too.”

My cheeks turned red.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “I know our packs are rivals, and as the Alpha heir I’m expected to stay away from your people. But I can’t ignore this… connection. You feel it too, don’t you?”

I nodded, shy but unable to lie.

“Meet me tonight, in Mystic Woods,” he whispered. “I'd like to.... know you better.”

“Okay,” I said quietly.

He smiled, radiant, before turning away. “I have to go now, I need to check on Cedric. Until later, my lady.”

My heart pounded long after he was gone. Callan was the most striking man I had ever laid eyes on, he seemed very kind, noble, and a little dangerous.

And that was how our secret began.

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~Back to the present~

My hands trembled as I flipped the pages. My heart raced, a thousand questions storming through me. Where was this leading?

Before I could read further, my phone rang. Viktor again. I groaned, I wanted to ignore it and keep reading my Mum's Journal, but I couldn’t keep skipping work. If I angered him more, things would get worse.

I shoved the journal into my drawer, dressed quickly, and the phone rang again, why is Viktor such a persistent pain in the ass.

“I’m on my way, stop calling me!” I snapped.

“What?” a voice said, it was deep, and steady. Certainly not Viktor’s.

I froze, staring at the screen, it was an unknown number, and the voice... I know that voice.

“This is Elliot,” he said and confirmed my fear.

My stomach flipped, how did he get my number? And why was he calling me?

“Why… why are you calling me?”

Silence stretched for a while, then he spoke. “I just wanted to say… we need to talk Liora. Tomorrow, at the bonfire ritual. You must be there. It’s an order.”

The line went dead.

I stared at my phone, speechless. An order? Is he serious? What did he mean? And what exactly was he planning to tell me?