The Traitor Within 

Serena clung to Lucian in an embrace so tight she could hardly draw breath for the fear threatening to burst from her. His forehead was oily with sweat; his heart beat faintly. It was as if his body was still fighting the naked strength it had encountered in the woods. She’d done everything she could think of—begged the moon goddess to have him wake up. But the pack doctors reassured he was fine other than the “severe bruising and cuts.”

"He'll wake up soon." The pack doctor responded before walking away. But really, that haven’t done much to help her pain.

Serena sat at Lucian’s bedside, anxiety weighing down her heart. The room was still except for the gentle rustling of leaves outside his room. Her mind most certainly was not at ease, she had freed the Onyx Wolf—her heart of darkness—and it had damned near destroyed the landscape of the world.

She had never felt power like this before. The trees had literally bowed before her strength, and the ground had shivered. Even now, that power remained a coiled spring inside her, poised to spring at the hint of provocation.

But the ruined forest didn’t frighten her even close to the way that Lucian did. There he lay, perfectly still, unbroken by the passage of time. Why he hadn’t woken up just then, especially given that he was physically fine, was lost on anyone. It was as if his soul were trapped somewhere, lost between worlds. He had managed to shield her from the possibility of losing it, but now she couldn’t rid herself of the anxiety that he might never return.

Dorian studied her for a beat as he slipped inside, the door creaking as he opened it, his expression unreadable, those vibrant eyes of his. But Serena didn’t look up. She just was not up to his judgment.

Serena His voice broke. “We have to hurry, they will be coming back soon.”

Serena’s face softened, more tears spilling from her eyes. “Dorian” she said softly “ I don’t know what to do, I’m the one who probably put Lucian in this state. I don't know what to do."

No, he said to her remark, shaking his head. You were protecting all of us, protecting the pack and Lucian. He'd be fine Lucian was a fighter.”

Serena sighed. “ I am afraid that he may never come back, Dorian." She exhaled and fought to get herself together.

He glanced up at her, catching a little of her fright. We would get him back, but he would be really happy if you continued your training,” he says.

" Yes he would." She flicked the corner of her lips in a small smile, still not taking her eyes off Lucian. Her face grew serious.

The weight in Dorian’s chest only grew as he looked down to Lucian’s face. “ He is your true mate, Serena."

Serena looked at him, puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

“ He alone can tame you. The one who can commune with the Onyx wolf and not be eaten by it's magic, is it's mate."

“ No, Elias is my mate. Even when he rejects me, I can still feel the connection.

” Well, we have bigger problems at the moment.” Dorian let out a frustrated sigh.

" Which problem?"

" Silver ridge pack."

As Serena processed Dorian’s words, the room around her grew suddenly small. Her stomach still twisted with worry over Lucian, but the mention of mates lingered between the two of them like a thick fog. True mate? The idea was completely blowing her mind. Was it even possible? Could it be that Lucian is the key to taming the Onyx Wolf when no one else would? And what do you do with Elias, Alpha of the Silver Ridge Pack? She believed they were always meant to be bound together.

No, she told herself, shaking her head, trying to push those thoughts away. There were much bigger problems at hand — things scarier than the confusion in her heart.

“Silver Ridge Pack,” Serena mumbled under her breath. She knew they were a threat, but hearing the urgency of Dorian’s voice really drove it home. They weren’t just some  rival anymore — Silver Ridge was once her home, her family.

Dorian stepped to the side, his face all seriousness as he took his voice low enough that only she could make it out. “There is something Elias has been planning for a long time. His eyes have been watching over us, monitoring you and your training to control the Onyx Wolf. They know more about you than you think, a lot more than we thought.”

Serena ground her fists, feeling the leather against her soft palms, the sweat beading up against the layer of skin. She knew Elias posed a threat, but she hadn’t fully understood how far he would take it. He’d not stop until she—and the Onyx Wolf—were under his thumb. 

Dorian leaned in close, just above a whisper. “He’s already rounding up his pack. He’s got more allies than we ever faced before.” The Silver Ridge Pack has been striking deals with other packs and amassing power at all costs. “They want the Onyx Wolf, and they’re not going to stop until they get it.”

Everything began to click for Serena with a horrible knot in her stomach. This wasn’t just about Elias wanting to keep her under his thumb; this was their still being connected. That raw energy she’d tapped into in the forest? It was like a beacon, beckoning enemies from all directions. And now she was the target, the ultimate weapon that everyone seemed to want to own.

But there was something Dorian had said that kept chewing at her. "Spies?" Serena thought, her tone sharp. "Who’s backstabbing us?"

For a moment Dorian's face twitched, but he recovered himself almost at once. “It is worse than you can imagine,” he said in a low voice.

"Mira."

An icy feeling ran through Serena’s veins. Mira? A trusted member of the Nightfang Pack? Her closest ally in recent months, the one who had helped her manage her health. Serena had seen Mira as a sister, a true friend. This news impacted her more than she could have thought.

“She’s been telling Elias of your training progress.” Dorian said. “She’s been filling him in on your progress, your relationship with Lucian, the magic you have. We don’t know how long this has been going on, but clearly she has been on the side of Silver Ridge since the beginning.'

Serena’s breath hitched. She never thought she’d have to deal with something like betrayal — from someone she’d trusted so much. But then again Mira had always been this mysterious person, so quiet and calculating. Now Serena found herself recognizing the small things she had ignored — the way Mira would zone out at little moments, and how her responses sometimes felt a little too varnished.

"Why?" Serena murmured, more to herself. “Why is she doing this to us?”

“Power,” said Dorian, his face stern. “Luna of Silver Ridge pack was offered to her by Elias. And your father… he’s been biding his time waiting for a chance at the Onyx Wolf.” He doesn’t care who gets hurt in the process, just as long as he gets what he wants.”

The war had begun.