The Price of Trust

For the first time since the execution, Riven slept beside the man he was supposed to hate.

Morning light crept into the chamber and Riven woke to the steady warmth of Lucien pressed against his shoulder.

Their bodies had somehow tangled in the night neither one remembered falling asleep that way. Lucien stirred a second later and pulled back sharply his green eyes flying open.

"Do not get used to this," Lucien said voice still thick with sleep as he sat up.

Riven rubbed his face and smirked. "Trust me traitor I was not enjoying your snoring."

Lucien snatched a pillow and hurled it at Riven's head. Riven caught it easily and laughed out loud the deep sound surprising them both.

The laughter hung in the air cutting through the usual tension like a sudden break in clouds.

"You actually laughed," Lucien said staring at him. "I did not think the great Supreme Alpha knew how."

Riven tossed the pillow back lighter this time. "Do not let it go to your head. Get dressed. Mara waits in the war room and we need answers."

Everyone gathered around the long oak table soon after. Torches flickered against the stone walls. Mara sat at the head looking worn but determined.

She did not waste words. "The Hollow Moon is not just a legend. It appears every few centuries. Entire bloodlines vanish whenever it rises."

Riven leaned forward hands flat on the table. "Then why hide this from us all these years? Tell me straight."

Mara met his stare evenly. "Because I hoped I was wrong. The dead heir's murder was not the beginning. It was only a sign. Something has already awakened and it moves faster now."

Thorne could not hold back. He stood up fast chair scraping loud. "You have known all this for years?"

"Longer than you have been alive boy," Mara shot back her voice sharp with age and authority.

Thorne stepped closer eyes flashing. "Then people died because you kept quiet. How many more will pay for your silence? Give us the full truth or stop wasting our time."

Riven raised a hand between them. "Enough Thorne. Sit down. We fight the real enemy not each other."

Lucien watched Mara closely from his seat. For the first time she looked truly emotional almost guilty as she turned her face away from Thorne's anger her hands trembling slightly on the table.

A young healer named Elara arrived carrying fresh supplies. She moved straight to Lucien's shoulder but her eyes kept drifting to Riven with open interest. "The Supreme Alpha is even more handsome up close. It is an honor to serve you."

Lucien rolled his eyes clearly annoyed. "Just fix the wound healer. We do not have all day."

Elara smiled wider at Riven while she cleaned the injury. "If you need anything else Alpha anything at all I am always available. Day or night."

Later after Elara left the chamber Lucien snapped. "Your healer talks too much. Does she always throw herself at you like that?"

Riven smirked leaning against the wall. "Jealous?"

"Please. I have standards," Lucien replied but the edge in his voice gave him away.

Riven kept smirking the entire day clearly enjoying every second of Lucien's irritation.

During training in the muddy yard Riven sparred hard with Thorne. A solid blow caught his side opening a deep cut. Pain flared sharp and sudden. Across the yard Lucien nearly collapsed gripping his own ribs with a gasp.

The warriors stopped their drills and stared. Whispers spread fast through the group. Some looked disgusted muttering to each other. Others appeared frightened. A few began watching Lucien with new wary respect.

Riven noticed the looks and stepped forward voice carrying across the yard. "He stands under my protection. Anyone has a problem with that they answer to me directly."

The declaration shocked everyone. Whispers died instantly. Lucien straightened slowly eyes wide. "You did not have to say that in front of them."

Riven shrugged wiping blood from his side. "I meant every word."

A rider galloped in as the sun climbed higher. Thorne took the message and read it aloud. "More packs abandon neutrality. Some join Sable. Some stay with you. Others demand Lucien's execution. Civil war gets closer every hour."

Riven cursed under his breath. "We cannot sit here waiting for it to reach our gates."

Later that afternoon Mara found Lucien alone in the small library. Dust floated in the thin light from the window. She studied him strangely almost sadly her eyes lingering on his face. "Do you remember your mother at all?"

Lucien shook his head. "No. Why do you ask?"

Mara seemed relieved her shoulders relaxing just a fraction. "No reason. Forget I asked." She changed the subject quickly talking about old prophecies and moon cycles instead.

Lucien felt alarm rise in his chest but she slipped away before he could press her for more.

Late that night the bond screamed Riven awake. Not pain. Pure fear. He sat up fast heart pounding. Lucien was gone. The window stood wide open letting cold air rush in. Fresh blood stained the floor in dark drops. Outside in the fresh snow strange footprints led away into the forest. Not wolf. Not human. Hanging from a nearby tree branch was one of Lucien's silver cuffs broken clean in half.

Riven rushed to the door shouting down the hall. "Thorne! Lucien is gone. Someone took him. He did not leave willingly. Gather the men now."

The Price of Trust had just been raised higher than they could afford and the night swallowed any hope of easy answers