chapter 20

Rose's terrified scream echoed through the palace.

"My Luna! The prisoner is inside the palace!"

Rowan reacted instantly.

In one swift movement, he stepped in front of Elsie, placing himself between her and the door. His entire demeanor changed in the blink of an eye. The gentle husband who had kissed her only moments ago disappeared, replaced by the feared Alpha of Nightcrest.

"Stay behind me," he ordered.

Elsie nodded without argument.

Heavy footsteps thundered through the corridor outside.

Then.....

A loud crash.

The chamber doors burst open.

A palace guard stumbled inside before collapsing onto the floor, blood soaking the front of his uniform.

"My... Alpha..." he gasped.

"He... he's heading..."

Before he could finish, his eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness.

A dark figure stepped over the fallen guard.

He was dressed from head to toe in black, his face hidden beneath a hood. Twin daggers glinted in the candlelight as he slowly entered the room.

"So," the man said with a mocking laugh.

"The great Alpha Rowan."

Rowan didn't move.

"You've come a long way just to die."

The assassin chuckled.

"I wasn't sent to kill you."

His gaze shifted.

Straight to Elsie.

"I was sent to kill your Luna."

Elsie's heart lurched.

Me?

Without warning, the assassin lunged.

His dagger sliced through the air toward Elsie.

Rowan met him halfway.

Steel clashed against steel, sparks flying as Rowan drew the ceremonial blade hanging from the wall.

The force of the impact shook the room.

"Frank!" Rowan roared.

Within seconds, the hallway erupted into chaos.

Nightcrest warriors poured into the corridor.

Frank rushed through the broken doorway, sword already drawn.

"My Alpha!"

"Protect the Luna!"

Frank immediately positioned himself beside Elsie while Rowan continued exchanging blows with the assassin.

The masked man was fast.

Much faster than an ordinary rogue.

Every strike was precise.

Calculated.

Deadly.

Even Rowan was forced onto the defensive for a brief moment.

The assassin laughed.

"They weren't lying."

"You've grown slower."

Rowan's silver eyes narrowed.

"I've grown patient."

With unbelievable speed, Rowan twisted the assassin's wrist, sending one dagger flying across the room.

The second dagger came dangerously close to Rowan's side—

But Frank intercepted it with his own blade.

The assassin cursed.

Realizing he was outnumbered, he kicked over a nearby table.

The candles crashed onto the floor.

Smoke filled the chamber.

Visibility disappeared.

"Protect Elsie!" Rowan shouted.

Frank immediately reached for her arm.

"My Luna, this way!"

But before they could move—

A hand shot through the smoke.

Strong fingers wrapped around Elsie's wrist.

She gasped.

It wasn't Frank.

The assassin pulled her violently toward him.

A blade pressed against her throat.

"Nobody move!"

The smoke slowly cleared.

Rowan froze.

His silver eyes locked onto Elsie.

A thin line of blood appeared on her neck where the dagger rested.

The assassin smiled beneath his hood.

"Now..."

"This is interesting."

Frank clenched his sword.

"Release her."

"I don't take orders."

The assassin slowly backed toward the shattered balcony doors.

"You know," he said while looking directly at Rowan, "I was only paid to kill her."

He tilted his head slightly.

"But after seeing your face..."

A cruel smile spread beneath the hood.

"I think keeping her alive hurts you even more."

Rowan's voice became dangerously quiet.

"You have exactly three seconds."

The assassin laughed.

"Or what?"

Silence.

Then Rowan answered.

"You'll find out."

For the first time since entering the room...

The assassin hesitated.

There was something terrifying about Rowan's calmness.

Something that made even Frank take an unconscious step backward.

The temperature inside the room seemed to drop.

Rowan's eyes...

They weren't silver anymore.

They had become molten gold.

A powerful aura exploded through the chamber.

The windows shattered.

Candles extinguished themselves.

Even the palace guards instinctively lowered their heads.

The assassin's confidence finally cracked.

"What..."

"What are you?"

Before anyone could react—

A deep, feral growl echoed through the room.

It wasn't human.

It wasn't entirely wolf either.

It was something ancient.

Something powerful.

The assassin's grip on Elsie loosened for just a fraction of a second.

It was enough.

Rowan moved.

Elsie barely saw him.

One moment he stood across the room.

The next—

He was in front of her.

A sickening crack echoed through the chamber.

The assassin's dagger fell to the floor.

His arm hung at an unnatural angle.

Before he could scream, Rowan seized him by the throat and lifted him effortlessly off the ground.

His voice was cold enough to freeze blood.

"Who sent you?"

The assassin coughed violently but laughed despite the pain.

"You'll..."

"...never..."

"know."

Blood suddenly trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Frank's eyes widened.

"My Alpha!"

"Poison!"

The assassin had bitten down on a hidden poison capsule.

Within seconds, his body went limp.

Dead.

Rowan released him without another glance.

His attention immediately shifted to Elsie.

He crossed the distance between them in two quick strides.

"Are you hurt?"

Elsie could only stare at him.

At his eyes.

They had returned to silver.

As though nothing had happened.

"There..." she whispered.

She slowly reached toward his face.

"Your eyes..."

Rowan caught her hand gently before it touched his cheek.

For the first time since she'd met him...

She saw uncertainty cross his face.

"You saw that."

It wasn't a question.

Elsie nodded slowly.

"I've never..."

She swallowed.

"...seen eyes like that."

Neither of them noticed Frank exchanging a worried glance with the palace guards.

Because everyone in that room knew exactly what those golden eyes meant.

And everyone knew...

The Alpha's greatest secret had just been witnessed by his Luna.