SHADOWS OVER THE PACK

Elaris’s POV

I clenched the stopper in my hand. The faint trace of bitterness told me my greatest fear was true; Virelle was messing with the potions of the palace.

I gripped the minuscule thing tightly.

I have concocted enough potions for Maevra to know the difference between something safe and something deadly.

It isn’t just a coincidence.

Someone has deliberately touched the potion.

And Virelle had been in my room not long ago with a black potion.

I felt nauseous.

What if the potion had mixed in with Maevra’s potions? The implications were horrifying.

I wrapped the stopper in a piece of fabric and hid it in the drawer near my bed.

I needed proof.

Hard proof.

Proof that Averic couldn’t brush off.

I wouldn’t be able to sleep; all night I paced around my room, knowing I can’t accuse Virelle of anything without having something she can’t deny.

I looked at every sound near my door; I examined every shadow below it, wondering if anyone was there.

Every thought circled the same question.

Why Maevra?

Virelle wants me out of the way.

That was very clear.

However, poisoning an old former Luna was a completely different story.

If only Maevra knew something.

I paused from my pacing.

An idea came to mind.

She had once confided in me that whenever people had secrets, they always turned out to be dangerous when their secrets were in danger.

Maybe she knew something about Virelle’s past.

Maybe it was not just about bearing Averic’s offspring that Virelle wanted to come back to the palace.

I felt a chill.

There could be a completely different motive for which she needed a place in the palace.

With the sun rising, I went straight to Maevra’s chambers to check on her medicine bottles before the morning dosage.

I went in silently.

The servants had yet to arrive.

There were several medicine bottles placed on her bedside.

I checked the label.

And then the seals.

Everything seemed untouched.

With one exception.

The cork was not fitted correctly.

My heart raced.

I took it gingerly.

The smell was weak, yet distinctive.

Aconite.

Doubt turned to certainty.

Someone had played with the medicine.

Immediately, I put the bottle down.

I could not let Maevra consume it.

“Don’t drink this,” I said quietly.

The sound of another voice came from behind me.

“What won’t I drink?”

Quickly, I turned around.

Maevra met me with a weak smile, yet she looked even more pallid than yesterday, her breathing more laboured as she sat by the window.

“Maevra.”

She had seen the bottle in my hand.

“What is it?”

“This medicine is not right.”

The smile vanished.

“Are you sure?”

“I know what it smells like.”

Maevra fixed her eyes on me.

“Who made it?”

“I don’t know.”

Carefully, Maevra held onto my arm.

“Elaris, look at me.”

I did.

“Are you afraid?”

“Yes.”

“Then explain to me why.”

I faltered.

“I think someone wants to harm you.”

Her expression changed.

It wasn’t fear.

Recognition.

“You assume it’s Virelle.”

I stopped breathing.

“Why do you know that?”

Maevra looked toward the window.

“Because not all threats declare their intentions before they happen.”

I took care to examine the blue-toned tonic next to her bed, seeing that the shade of the liquid was a little darker than the other one which Sela prepared two days ago.

I put the bottle next to the morning light.

The liquid was practically normal.

Practically.

“Who gave it to you?”

“It was delivered here by a servant last night.”

“Which one?”

Maevra frowned.

“I can’t recall.”

That scared me even more.

I took hold of the bottle once more.

But then, I saw that something was carved into the bottom part of the bottle’s glass.

It was a small crescent.

My heart stopped.

“What is this?”

Maevra’s face paled suddenly.

“You know what it means?”

“No.”

She looked at the mark for a few seconds.

Then she whispered,

“I do.”

I looked at her.

“Where?”

Before she could answer, the door opened.

Before I could test the liquid, the door opened and Averic entered, having looked exhausted after the whole night of working on pack security.

His shirt was rumpled and there were dark circles under his eyes.

He came to a halt when he saw us.

“Mother.”

Maevra gave a small smile.

“You look terrible.”

“I had a long night.”

His eyes settled on the bottle of medicine in my hands.

“What is it?”

I quickly lowered the bottle.

“There is something wrong with her tonic.”

Averic looked at me sharply.

“What do you mean?”

“I found something in the mixture.”

“Poison?”

This word hung between us.

“I don’t know that yet.”

Averic strode across the room.

“Give me the bottle.”

I froze.

He looked at me with narrowed eyes.

“Elaris.”

“I need Sela to test it first.”

“You think someone poisoned my mother?”

“Yes.”

His face turned lethal.

“Who?”

I was going to say something.

Virelle’s face came into my head.

But before I could say anything, Maevra spoke up.

“Let the girl investigate.”

Averic looked at his mother.

Then at me.

“Fine.”

His eyes softened at once when he noticed me standing beside his mother, a wave of sincere relief spreading across his face.

“You stayed with her?”

“Of course.”

Averic visibly relaxed.

“Thank you.”

It warmed me to hear gratitude from his voice.

He approached me.

“I was also worried about you.”

“I’m fine.”

He raised his brows.

“You said that yesterday.”

I turned away from him.

“And you didn’t believe me.”

“No.”

A little smile tugged at his lips.

“I’m starting to think that you say that whenever you don’t want me to ask you any questions.”

My heart stumbled in my chest.

He was too observant.

Too much so, especially right now.

Especially while I was keeping the biggest secret of my life from him.

Averic touched my hand.

His fingers brushed my skin but didn’t quite reach me.

There was a brief moment of silence between us.

He then whispered,

“Are you afraid of anything?”

I made myself look him in the eye.

“Yes.”

“Thank you for taking such good care of her, Elaris,” Averic said quietly, the warmth in his voice making me physically ache.

“You don’t have to thank me.”

“I do.”

His eyes moved to Maevra.

“She trusts you.”

Maevra smiled.

“More than I trust my son.”

Averic sighed.

“Mother.”

I couldn’t help smiling.

For a moment, the tension in the room eased.

But then Averic’s expression sobered again.

“You have done more for this family than you know.”

Family.

It resonated in some place within me.

I wanted to tell him.

Our child.

Virelle.

The vial.

Everything.

Instead, I only said,

“Your mother is important to me.”

Maevra’s eyes softened.

Averic stared at me for several seconds.

“I know.”

I swallowed hard, wishing I could tell him what happened with the vial, but fearing how fiercely protective he would be of the potential heir of the pack.

Accusing Virelle would require him to prove his claim.

And speaking of the dark liquid would make her deny everything.

Also, she may try to take action before I managed to expose her.

Besides, there was a chance that the reason why Caedmon arrived here was related to all of this.

Too many elements were involved.

Virelle was in the palace.

The medicines that Maevra provided were poisoned.

My pregnancy was still a secret.

And now Caedmon was about to challenge Averic before the elders.

It just had to be coincidence.

I met the gaze of Averic.

"There is something I have to say."

Instantly he paid attention to me.

"What?"

I lost my nerve.

But before I could say anything, Maevra started coughing hard.

Averic turned his head towards her.

The chance was gone.

Maevra touched our hands and placed his hand right above mine with a weak but significant squeeze.

"You guys waste too much time thinking about others."

I looked down.

His hand rested above mine.

Warm.

Strong.

Protective.

Maevra looked from me to him.

"Whatever happens outside these walls, never let strangers define your relationship to each other."

My throat dried up.

Averic turned to look at me.

"What do you mean?"

Maevra managed a small smile.

"You will see when the time comes."

Her words put me on edge.

As if she knew something that she didn't say.

But then she squeezed our hands again.

"Promise me one thing."

Averic frowned.

“What?”

“Protect the people who can’t protect themselves.”

He grew even more serious-looking.

“I promise.”

Maevra fixed me with a direct stare.

“And don’t let fear govern your decisions.”

This was an impossible request, and my heart fell right through my ribs.

It couldn’t be more fitting for me, though, that she made it now.

The heat that built up between Averic and I in those few seconds was like a shock of electricity traveling from his hand into mine.

Averic lowered his gaze to our clasped hands.

Then his eyes met mine again.

An unspoken communication passed between us.

In that one, brief moment, I was oblivious to everyone else in the room.

All I saw was the man standing next to me.

Averic lifted my hand and ran his thumb along my palm.

“Whatever you do today,” he whispered softly, “make sure you stay by my side.”

My heartbeat quickened.

“Why?”

“Because I have a feeling we will soon find out just who our enemies are.”

A loud knock sounded against the door.

We both turned to look.

Before either of us could answer, the door burst open.

As if on cue, a breathless guard burst into the room, informing Averic that Caedmon was at the outer gates with three pack elders who wanted to present their complaint against the Alpha.

“Alpha Averic!”

The guard kneeled down.

“They demand an audience immediately.”

Averic’s demeanor darkened.

“Who is with him?”

“Three elders.”

“Names.”

The guard swallowed.

“It’s Elder Rovan, Elder Theron, and Elder Malric.”

At Maevra’s sudden change of attitude, I couldn’t help but notice.

“You know them.”

But Maevra said nothing.

Averic turned his head towards his mother.

“Mother?”

Maevra clung to my hand.

“Do not allow Caedmon to address the council alone.”

Curious, Averic frowned.

“Why?”

She directed her gaze at the door.

“Because he’s not seeking Elaris back only.”

Dead silence enveloped the room.

“What do you mean?” Averic asked.

The gaze of Maevra met my eyes.

“He knows about the baby.”

My blood froze instantly.

Averic stared at her.

“What baby?”

I stopped breathing too.

Maevra’s expression changed.

It dawned on her – she had inadvertently spilled a secret which I had been trying so desperately to keep from everyone else.

Slowly turning to me, Averic’s eyes dropped to my belly.

“Elaris…”

As soon as I was about to reply, another guard came through the door.

“Alpha, there is one more thing.”

Averic’s tone was threateningly low.

“What?”

The guard seemed afraid.

“The elders aren’t requesting the return of Elaris to Caedmon.”

He gulped.

“They want her brought to the elders’ council to face charges for the supposed assault on Virelle.”

I felt sick to my stomach.

Someone had made Virelle’s lie an official charge against me.

And now the elders were after me.