CHAPTER EIGHT

 

ASHER

I had already known Grace wouldn't be accommodating toward Isabel, even though I hadn't expected her to confront her so soon. 

I hadn't acknowledged Isabel as my mate, and I was only doing this because of the peace treaty, but that didn't mean I would stand by and watch my sister humiliate her.

Beta Kael had informed me about what Grace was doing, so I had rushed to the hall before things could get worse. I told myself I was there because Isabel was now my responsibility, not because I cared about her.

Still, seeing Grace standing before Isabel had stirred something inside me that I couldn't explain.

After dealing with Grace, I had gone closer to Isabel. I brought my nose near the sleeve of her blue gown, trying to catch her scent properly, but there was nothing there.

No wolf scent.

No trace of an awakened wolf.

Yet the moment I got close to her, something stirred inside me. A sudden rush of energy moved through my body, starting somewhere deep within me and spreading through my veins before disappearing just as quickly.

My father had agreed to this marriage because he believed Rivercrest's bloodline would be useful to Fireclaw. He believed bringing a powerful Rivercrest wolf into our bloodline would strengthen the pack and help secure the peace between us.

But Alpha Darius had deceived my father.

Instead of sending us a daughter with a powerful wolf, he had sent his wolfless daughter.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.

What exactly had Alpha Darius been thinking?

I turned toward the corridor.

"Kael."

My Beta immediately approached me.

"Yes, Young Alpha?"

"See to it that what Grace said about Isabel being wolfless remains a secret."

Kael looked at me for a moment before nodding.

"Yes, Young Alpha."

"I don't want those words reaching my father's ears, and I certainly don't want the pack knowing about it."

Kael lowered his head.

"I understand."

He turned to leave.

"Wait."

He stopped and looked back at me.

"Bring Grace to me."

He nodded.

"Yes, Young Alpha."

Kael walked away to find my sister, leaving me alone in the corridor.

I remained there for a moment, my thoughts returning to Isabel.

Why did I feel that strange stirring when I got close to her?

Why had my body reacted when there was no wolf inside her?

I couldn't understand it.

Then a strange scent reached me.

My entire body tensed.

It wasn't a Fireclaw scent. It was unfamiliar. A female wolf.

I turned toward the eastern wing, following the scent with my eyes.

It was coming from the direction of the room I had ordered my attendant to prepare for Isabel.

My first thought was Isabel.

Had I been wrong about her?

I moved quickly down the corridor, my instincts urging me forward.

Then I saw her.

A white wolf stood at the end of the corridor.

I froze.

My heart began pounding.

For a moment, I couldn't take my eyes off her.

Was that Isabel?

The timing was too perfect.

I had just questioned whether she was truly wolfless, and now a wolf had appeared near her room.

"Isabel?"

The white wolf lifted her head.

She didn't answer.

She only stared at me.

I took another step forward.

"Is that you?"

The wolf lowered her body.

My eyes narrowed.

Something was wrong.

Before I could say anything else, she suddenly lunged toward me.

I shifted instantly.

My bones cracked as black fur covered my body, and I landed heavily on the stone floor.

The white wolf came straight for me.

I raised my paw and blocked her attack, but she twisted away with incredible speed.

She snapped her jaws toward my shoulder.

I dodged and struck her with my paw, sending her several feet across the floor.

She landed perfectly on her feet.

She was fast.

Too fast for an ordinary rogue.

I charged at her again, but this time she didn't retreat.

She came straight toward me.

Our bodies collided.

Her claws dragged across my shoulder, and I growled as I pushed her away.

Then the air around us changed.

Water burst from the ground.

I jumped back just before the rushing water crashed against the stone where I had been standing.

My wolf froze.

Water.

I stared at the white wolf in disbelief.

Fireclaw wolves controlled fire.

Only Rivercrest wolves possessed the ability to summon and manipulate water.

My mind immediately returned to Isabel.

Could this really be her?

I shifted back, breathing heavily as I stared at the wolf.

"Rivercrest?"

She didn't answer.

Water gathered around her paws again.

My eyes widened.

 if it wasn't Isabel, who was this woman?

I took another step toward her.

"Who are you?"

The wolf only stared at me.

Then I heard footsteps behind me.

I turned.

Isabel was walking toward the eastern wing.

My eyes widened.

I turned back toward the white wolf.

She was gone.

“Where have you been?” I asked.  I was still in my wolf form when my body suddenly shuddered. My bones shifted, my fur receded, and within moments, the wolf gave way to my human form.

Isabel stopped a few steps away from me. She looked confused, her eyes moving between me and the empty corridor.

“The Luna sent for me,” she replied.

Before I could say anything else, hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.

Kael appeared around the corner, his expression tense.

“I heard the rush of water,” he said, looking past me toward Isabel. “Was it Isabel?”

I barely had time to answer before another presence approached.

My father.

He had clearly heard the commotion from the main hall and followed the sound to the eastern wing. His eyes settled on me, then Isabel.

“What happened?” he demanded.

I glanced at Isabel.

She was still staring at me, completely unaware of what had just happened.

I couldn't let my father know the truth.

Not yet.

“Yes, Father,” I said calmly. “It was the sound of water.”

His brows lifted.

“Water?”

I nodded.

“It was Isabel.”

Isabel's eyes widened.

I continued before she could speak.

“She is indeed of Rivercrest blood. Her powers have finally awakened.”

My father looked at her with surprise.

“She can summon water?”

“Yes.”

I forced a smile.

“Her power is remarkable. She was able to summon enough water to flood part of the eastern corridor.”

Isabel stared at me as if I had lost my mind.

She had no idea what I was talking about.

And that was exactly how I wanted it.

I was covering for her.

If my father discovered that she was wolfless, the treaty would be in danger. He had agreed to this marriage because he believed Rivercrest was giving us a powerful wolf who would strengthen our bloodline.

I couldn't let him discover that Alpha Darius had deceived him.

At least, not yet.

My father stepped closer to Isabel, his expression slowly changing from suspicion to admiration.

“This is good,” he said. “Very good.”

Isabel swallowed.

“Thank you, Alpha.”

My father continued praising her abilities, already speaking about what her power could mean for Fireclaw.

I listened for a moment before turning away.

I needed answers.

That white wolf had been too powerful to ignore.

She had possessed Rivercrest abilities, but she wasn't Isabel.

And if she wasn't Isabel, then who the hell was she?

I walked farther down the corridor until their voices faded behind me.

Then I stopped.

Grace was standing near the entrance.

Her arms were crossed over her chest, and the look on her face told me she had heard everything.

“You lied to Father,” she said.

I stared at her.

“I clearly saw everything too. That wasn't Isabel.”

I said nothing.

Grace stepped closer.

“Why exactly are you covering for her?”

My jaw tightened.

“Be careful, Grace.”

“You didn't even acknowledge her as your mate. You said this marriage was only for the peace treaty. So why are you suddenly protecting her?”

I looked at my sister for a long moment.

“Because I love her.”