Chapter 21: The Intercepted Letter

"Did you really think a few scraps of dark parchment could bypass my silver wolf's hearing, Vivian?"

Milo stepped out from beneath the shadowed stone arches, blocking the narrow corridor. Silver energy flared around his body, illuminating the walls and casting a powerful ancestral pressure through the passage. Vivian stopped abruptly, clutching the black letter beneath her cloak.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded, trying to hide her surprise. "Move out of my way, boy. I have somewhere important to be."

Milo tilted his head. "Somewhere important? Like meeting Queen Selene's secret courier?"

Vivian's face changed. For a brief moment, fear flashed through her eyes before she forced a mocking smile. "You must have been eating too much from the kitchen. Perhaps all that food has finally affected your little brain."

"I heard everything."

She laughed, but the sound came out strained. "And who do you think will believe you? You're nothing but a kitchen orphan who used to drop trays and hide behind the servants. Nobody will take your word over mine."

Milo's silver wolf growled beneath his skin. "You should have paid more attention to the people you thought were beneath you."

Vivian stepped sideways, hoping to slip past him toward the eastern exit. The guards stationed there were supposed to be changing shifts, and the courier would be waiting beyond the outer gate. If she missed the meeting, Rowena's entire plan could fall apart.

"Move!" she snapped.

Milo didn't move.

Instead, his silver aura expanded, filling the corridor with an invisible force that pressed against Vivian's chest. Her knees weakened, and she stumbled backward. The pressure was unlike anything she had felt from an ordinary young wolf. It carried an ancient authority that made her instincts scream.

"What are you?" she whispered.

Milo's eyes glowed brighter. "Someone you should have left alone."

Vivian reached beneath her cloak, but Milo moved before she could draw anything. He caught her wrist, twisted it away from her body, and forced her hand open. The sealed black letter fell onto the stone floor.

She gasped and tried to snatch it back, but Milo stepped on the parchment and pushed her away. Vivian stumbled against the wall, clutching her wrist.

"Give that back!" she screamed. "You have no right to touch it!"

Milo picked up the letter and examined the black wax seal. The strange symbol matched the one he had seen on the talisman in Rowena's cell.

"I think Luna Elara will want to see this."

"You wouldn't dare!" Vivian lunged toward him again.

Milo raised one hand. Silver energy burst from his palm, sending her stumbling backward. She stared at him in disbelief, unable to understand how the boy she had dismissed as a helpless kitchen servant could overpower her so easily.

"Stay there," he warned. "I've already heard enough of your plans. Don't make things worse for yourself."

A sudden rush of footsteps echoed from the opposite end of the corridor. Milo turned as Silas appeared with several armed guards, his black shirt loosely fastened and his expression dark. Elara followed closely behind him

"What happened?" Elara asked, looking from Milo to Vivian.

Milo immediately straightened. "Luna, I caught her trying to leave the mansion with a letter for Queen Selene's courier. She was discussing a plan with Rowena to put a cursed talisman inside your chambers during the assembly."

Elara's expression hardened. "Are you certain?"

"I heard everything, Luna. I heard Rowena tell her how to use the talisman, and I heard Vivian agree to deliver it. This letter is part of their plan."

Silas stepped closer, his gaze moving to the parchment in Milo's hand. "Give it to the Luna."

Milo handed it over immediately.

Elara began reading aloud, her voice growing colder with every sentence.

"To the Queen's appointed courier. The arrangements are ready. The corrupted talisman will be delivered before the pack assembly and placed inside Luna Elara's private chambers. Once activated, its magic will weaken her mind and cloud her memories. The Alpha must not discover the source until the effects become impossible to conceal."

Elara paused, then continued.

"Rowena has confirmed the placement and will ensure the household servants remain occupied. Vivian Parker will deliver the object. We expect the Luna to be incapable of performing her duties before the assembly concludes. The queen will receive further instructions once the deed is completed."

Silence settled over the corridor.

Elara lowered the letter, her fingers tightening around the parchment. "So this was their plan. They wanted to enter my chambers, corrupt my mind, and make the pack believe I was unfit to lead."

Vivian shook her head quickly. "That's not what it means! You don't understand. Rowena forced me into this. She told me the queen could help me get Silas back."

Silas's eyes narrowed. "You expect me to believe that you were forced?"

Vivian turned toward him, desperate. "Silas, please listen to me. I only wanted to protect what I had. You know how long I've cared about you. That woman came here and took everything from me!"

A low growl rolled through Silas's chest. "You planned to destroy my mate because she has something you wanted?"

"I never intended to hurt you!" Vivian cried. "I only wanted Elara removed from her position. I thought if she couldn't lead, you would finally realize that I was the better choice."

Silas moved so quickly that Vivian barely saw him draw his sword. "You plotted against my Luna," he growled. "You conspired with a traitor, sought assistance from Queen Selene, and attempted to bring dark magic into my mate's private chambers. I should end your life here."

Vivian dropped to her knees. "Alpha, please! I didn't know the talisman was that dangerous. I was angry, but I never wanted anyone to die!"

"Your intentions no longer matter."

Silas raised his sword, but Elara lifted one hand. "Don't," she said quietly.

"Elara, she tried to destroy you."

"I know." Elara stepped closer, keeping her gaze fixed on Vivian. "And she would have succeeded if Milo hadn't caught her. But killing her now would be too easy."

Vivian looked up hopefully. "Luna, I knew you would understand. I can explain everything. I can tell you what Rowena said about the queen."

Elara gave her a cold smile. "You had plenty of opportunities to make better choices. Instead, you decided that hurting me was worth risking the safety of this entire pack."

She turned toward Milo. "You did well. You protected your Luna and your pack without putting yourself in unnecessary danger."

Milo lowered his head, but pride shone in his silver eyes. "I promised I would protect you, Luna. I meant it."

Elara placed a hand on his shoulder. "And I believe you."

Silas finally lowered his sword, though his expression remained murderous. He looked toward the guards and gestured for them to take Vivian away. Two warriors immediately seized her arms, pulling her to her feet as she began struggling.

"Wait!" Vivian screamed. "You can't do this! I'm not a criminal! Rowena is the one who gave me the talisman!"

Elara stepped aside as the guards dragged her, "You can explain everything to Rowena. I'm sure she'll be delighted to have company."

Vivian twisted around, glaring at her. "You'll regret humiliating me! Queen Selene won't allow you to get away with this!"

Silas took one threatening step forward, but Elara gently caught his arm. "Let her shout. She'll have plenty of time to think about her choices."

Milo watched as the guards disappeared down the staircase with Vivian. The silver glow around his hands slowly faded, but his wolf remained alert. He knew this was not the end of the danger. If Queen Selene had already sent dark magic toward Obsidian Fang, there was no telling what else she had planned.

Elara folded the letter and handed it to Silas. "We need to find out whether that courier has already entered our territory. I want every eastern guard questioned, and nobody is allowed near my chambers without permission."

Silas nodded. "I'll handle it."

She looked toward the staircase, "As for our prisoner, I have a more suitable punishment in mind."

"Lock her in the dampest cell right next to Rowena, and let them both scrub the dungeon floors together until the pack assembly.”