The Ring of Lies

The ring on Rowan's finger shattered everything they thought they knew.

Riven grabbed Rowan's wrist in the dim torchlight of the hidden keep's main hall. 

"Explain this ring. I saw it in the shared vision with Lucien. Wolf shaped with the twisted rune. Start talking now."

Rowan tried to pull away eyes wide

. "Alpha it is nothing. Just a gift from an old contact."

Thorne stepped closer sword half drawn. 

"Rowan you have been at my side for years. Tell me this is not what it looks like. You cannot be the leak."

"I was paid to deliver messages that is all,"

 Rowan said voice cracking. "A few notes nothing more. I never meant to betray the pack. You have to believe me."

Lucien watched from the side chains loose but ready.

 "He reeks of fear. There is more he is not saying. The bond picks up his panic like static."

Riven tightened his grip on the ring.

 "Who paid you? Sable? Speak truth or I end this myself."

Rowan shook his head sweat beading on his forehead. "Not Sable. Someone higher. I swear I only passed information to keep us safe. The packs were splitting I thought it would calm things."

Thorne lowered his sword but his face stayed hard. "Calm things? You fed details about our moves. About Lucien. How long Rowan?"

"Only a few weeks," Rowan insisted. "Please Thorne. We fought together. I would never hurt you."

Lucien cut in sharp. "He hides something bigger. Look at his eyes. The fear runs deeper than simple coins."

Before Rowan could answer the doors burst open. Masked attackers flooded the hall blades gleaming. They ignored Riven and Lucien at first charging straight for Rowan.

"Take the messenger alive or dead," one assassin snarled. "He talks too much."

Riven roared and drew his sword. "Protect Rowan. They want him silenced."

Lucien moved fast beside him. "They know his role. Fight with me Alpha."

The bond surged as steel clashed. Their minds brushed again merging for a few fierce seconds. Riven felt Lucien's instincts guide his strikes. Lucien anticipated Riven's blocks. They fought like one creature cutting through two attackers in perfect sync.

Thorne yelled over the chaos. "Rowan behind me. I have you."

An assassin slipped past and lunged at Thorne's back. Rowan threw himself forward taking the blade in his side. "No. Not him."

"Rowan," Thorne shouted catching him as he fell.

Riven and Lucien finished the last masked man. The hall fell quiet except for heavy breathing and Rowan's groans.

Riven dropped to his knees beside Rowan. "Hold on. Tell me who sent you. Now."

Rowan coughed blood on his lips. "Not Sable....A hooded figure. Wore the symbol of the Elders. Never saw the face. Only one name whispered among the messengers. The Veiled Mother."

Thorne gripped his hand tight. 

"The Veiled Mother? What does that mean? Stay with us Rowan."

"She paid well," Rowan whispered voice fading. "Said it would save the packs. I believed her. Forgive me Thorne."

Lucien knelt close examining the wound. "He is slipping. I see shadows in his blood."

Rowan gasped one last time. "The ring. It came from her."

He died in Riven's arms body going limp. 

Black veins suddenly spread across his neck like cracks in ice. 

Dark smoke rose from his mouth twisting in the air before vanishing into the storm outside.

Lucien stood back eyes narrow. "The Hollow Moon infected him. It used him then took him when he broke."

Riven rose slowly blood on his hands. "This goes deeper than we thought."

Thorne stared at Rowan's body voice rough. "I kept something secret Alpha. Years ago Elder Mara disappeared for six months. When she returned she forbade talk about it. Threatened anyone who asked."

Riven froze. "Mara. I remember seeing this same wolf ring in the elder chambers when I was young. She showed it to me once then hid it away."

Lucien nodded. "The Veiled Mother. It fits. She guides prophecies but serves her own ends."

Thorne wiped his face. "If Mara is involved we cannot trust anyone inside these walls."

Riven paced the hall mind racing. "The ring connects it all. Rowan was just a tool."

The stress hit the mate bond then. It grew unstable fast. Riven suddenly felt Lucien's nightmares flood his head. Dark chambers. Straps on skin. Endless pain from the experiments.

Lucien staggered clutching his temple. "Your memories come to me now. The lonely boy who fought for every scrap of power. The empty nights after you took control."

Riven stopped pacing their eyes meeting. "I see your fear too. The way you buried everything to survive."

Riven staggers away to a chamber

"I'll go see if they are more assassin's coming our way and probably find somewhere to bury Rowan" Thorne suggestted and left

Riven closed his eyes this is too much 

All of these were happening too fast

Lucien walked in and sat few inches away 

Riven inhaled sharply, his wolf was restless again 

Uncomfortable closeness washed over them both. Emotions shared raw and open. Riven felt Lucien's quiet strength and buried longing. Lucien sensed Riven's deep isolation and the weight of rule.

"This bond pushes too hard," Riven muttered voice low. "I cannot hide from you now."

Lucien moved closer despite the chains. "Neither can I. Your pain feels like mine. What do we do with this?"

Riven looked away heat filling his stomach 

Name him! Claim him!

His wolf urge.he should have gotten up and walked away but he didn't instead he stared shamelessly at Lucien 

Lucien returned his gaze, eyes full of heat 

They didn't know who move first but they found themselves together 

The heat, the pull, it was too much it was driving them crazy 

Riven pinned Lucien down his face buried in his neck 

The smell of him was almost dizzying 

He inhaled deeply 

"Lucien... What is this?"

Lucien said nothing 

Riven pressed his lips to Lucien neck, trailed down to his jawline and the side of his lips 

"Alpha... Claim me" Lucien whispered 

Riven torn at Lucien clothes heat pulsating through him, he stared ,stared at Lucien bare chest, scars laced every corner

Riven put his lips on every scar one after another 

Gently, assuringly

Lucien throat tightened, this show of affection was different was harsh 

The Bond

It was the bond

Lucien told himself this feeling of vulnerability was due to the bond nothing else 

Riven proceeded with the assault 

Lucien let out sounds of pleasure 

Yes it was the bond 

Nothing else 

It's his wolf that wants this, that craves this 

It wasn't him

Lucien told himself 

Riven didn't seem to be bothered as he tugged down on his trousers and brush his lips against his thigh