A Trap in the Dark

Ronan left the room quietly, closing the door behind him. He hadn’t heard her whisper — not fully.

“Tell me what I have to do…”

The words left her lips like a breath, but he was already gone.

The room felt quiet, still, but not lonely. Just as she curled beneath the blankets, the door creaked again. A soft knock came first, followed by the scent of something warm and earthy.

A maid entered, dressed in simple robes of deep gray and forest green. She carried a small carved tray made of black wood, balanced with a single clay cup and a thin, steaming pot.

“My lady,” the maid bowed. “I’ve brought your Mi’en Brew. It helps with easing tension in the body. Good for sleep.”

Selene blinked, slowly sitting up. Before she could ask where the drink came from, the maid turned quickly on her heel and walked out, her soft slippers making no sound on the stone floor.

Selene stared after her. “Wait—” she called, but the maid was already gone.

She turned to the tray, curiosity pricking at her. The steam rose in gentle swirls from the brew. It smelled… calming. A soft mix of crushed herbs, something sweet, something spiced. Almost like a forest after rainfall.

She lifted the cup. The warmth seeped into her fingers.

One small sip.

It went down smooth, like honeyed silk.

Another sip. Her eyelids grew heavy. Her breath slowed.

By the third sip…

She felt weak and she fell to the bed, completely asleep.

The door opened again.

But Selene didn’t stir.

Ivy slipped inside like a shadow, her face half-covered by her dark cloak. Behind her stood a tall, lean figure. His skin was pale greenish-gray, eyes narrow and slitted like a serpent’s. Long dark hair hung over one shoulder, tied with bone beads. His tongue flicked out between sharp teeth.

His name was Liam.

A disgraced noble from the Snake Clan.

Liam stepped into the room and stared at the woman sleeping on the bed. His eyes widened, lips parting slightly.

She was even more beautiful than Ivy had described. Delicate features, full lips, soft breathing. Innocent and untouched.

“Lovely…” he hissed, licking his lips like a hungry beast.

Ivy turned to him sharply. “Control yourself,” she snapped in a low whisper. “You’ll have her. Just remember what I told you.”

Liam tilted his head, his grin widening with interest. “The Chosen Womb, yes?”

Ivy nodded. “She’s meant only for the Alpha. That’s what the prophecy says. If you lay with her first… the bond will break.”

Liam’s grin twisted into something darker. “And you want this bond ruined. Why?”

She didn’t answer him. She didn’t have to.

In her mind, Ivy already knew her plan well. If anything went wrong, she would blame the Snake Clan. Everyone knew they were enemies of the wolves. She would claim Liam snuck in on his own, lured by the Chosen’s scent. It was the perfect lie. Clean, believable. Untouchable.

She stepped closer and held something out to him — a dark purple fruit, shaped like a curled claw and glistening with golden veins.

“This is Velotha Fruit,” she whispered. “It’ll keep you hard. You’ll be able to use her again and again until the bond is completely ruined.”

Liam took it greedily and bit into it with a loud crunch. The juices ran down his chin as his eyes glazed over. His body shuddered as the effect hit him fast — a feverish heat flooding his blood, his breath sharpening.

Without another word, Ivy turned and slipped out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.

Outside, she leaned her back against the wood and let out a satisfied sigh. A slow, wicked smile spread across her lips.

Soon, no one will want her. Not even Ronan.

Inside the room, Liam let his robe fall to the ground.

His lean, muscular body stretched cat-like as he moved toward the bed, his serpent tail flicking once behind him. The power of the Velotha had already taken hold, making his arousal swell and ache.

He slithered onto the bed beside Selene, curling against her small, defenseless frame. She didn’t stir.

He pressed his nose against her cheek and inhaled deeply. “So soft…” he hissed. His long tongue flicked out, slowly dragging along the side of her face.

His voice dropped to a whisper near her ear.

“You smell like paradise, little mate…”

His hands moved toward her legs, fingers grazing the edge of her clothing. He began to shift her robe—

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the room as the door was kicked open with force.

Lana stood in the doorway, eyes wide with horror and fury.

“Get away from her!” she screamed.

Liam hissed, baring his teeth as he whirled around. In a blur of motion, he lunged at Lana and slammed her into the wall. One of his hands wrapped tightly around her throat.

She gasped, her eyes bulging as her feet lifted slightly from the ground. Her fingers clawed at his wrist, but he was far too strong.

“You shouldn’t have come,” he sneered. “Now I’ll just use both of you.”

He leaned forward, his fangs glinting as he prepared to bite her neck—

But then, a shadow loomed behind him.

A large hand shot out and grabbed Liam by the back of the neck.

Without a word, Ronan’s fist crashed into the side of the snake beast’s head with brutal force.

There was a sickening crack as bone met bone. Liam’s body flew across the room and slammed into the far wall with a dull, heavy thud.

He collapsed to the floor, unconscious and completely naked.

Ronan didn’t hesitate. He rushed to Lana and caught her before she fell to the floor. Her eyes fluttered, her breath rasping as she clung weakly to his arms while gasping for air.

Without hesitation, he lifted her into his arms.

She weighed almost nothing, her slender frame trembling slightly against his chest. Her skin was cold, her pulse fluttering faintly like a moth against his fingers.

He moved quickly, cradling her as if she might shatter, and stepped back toward the bed. With care, he lowered her down beside Selene, gently adjusting her so that her head rested on the same pillow, their bodies parallel, separated only by a few inches of untouched space.

He took a moment to examine them both, his hands moving with measured calm. His fingers checked for bruises, scratches, signs of trauma. His eyes scanned every inch of their bodies, jaw clenched tight.

Both were alive.

But just barely.

His head turned sharply toward the door. “Guards!” he roared. “Get this bastard out of here!”

Two armored wolves stormed into the room. Without question, they dragged Liam’s limp body out by the arms. The snake beast’s form was still flushed, still glowing faintly from the effects of the Velotha fruit.

Ronan’s eyes narrowed with pure rage.

He stepped over to where the Velotha fruit lay half-eaten on the floor. He bent down and picked it up, its golden veins still pulsing faintly with energy.

Then he saw the tea cup knocked over nearby, its contents spilled across the floor. A strong, sweet scent still clung to the air.

Ronan’s nose twitched.

“…Drugged and a mix of poison,” he muttered, his jaw tightening.

Someone had planned this. Carefully. Intentionally.

He turned quickly toward the hallway. “Send for Doctor Elias. Now!”

One of the maids ran off at once, feet echoing as she disappeared into the corridor.

Ronan sat at the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed on Selene’s sleeping face. The soft rise and fall of her chest, the flush of her skin… the innocence she still carried.

His hand reached out, brushing her hair back from her cheek.