At Silver Moon PackOnce the doctor attended to Lino's wound, Lilet's eyes shone with worry as she asked, "Why did you shield me from the hit?"Lino's eyes grew softer. "Because I don't want to see you get hurt again," he said, his tone firm even as the ache poured from his wound.Lilet's breath caught. "Lino, the knife was wolfsbane-poisoned!""I'm alright," Lino reassured her, struggling to coax a weak smile to allay her concern. But what he really was, the poison had already begun to seep into his blood, tensing his muscles with pain. He hid it very well, not wishing Lilet to know the depth of his torture.Determined, Lino rolled onto his feet and walked out of the room, his jaw hard. Soldiers were hauling the attacker, a disheveled individual whose eyes flashed with defiance, along the floor. One of the soldiers growled out, "Why did you do it?" Lino's pack members stood clustered, muttering spread among them like fire.Lino halted one hand and spoke in a commanding tone."We are here to
Lilet's POVThe morning sun shone through the drapes as I stepped outside onto the veranda, the leaves rustling softly with secrets. My gaze tightened at the scene unrolling in the garden - Lino, dark hair mussed, tall commanding figure, was stooping down with Selena, laughter ringing out joyfully. Her nanny hovered on the periphery, unsure, looking back and forth between me and Lino.I didn't hesitate, walking forward with intent. "Why are you still here? Leave us alone," I told Lino, my voice sharper than I meant.Lino stood up to his full height, a small, unconcerned smile playing around his lips. "I just wanted to play with Selena," he replied smoothly, defusing the tension I emanated."You didn't go home last night," I snapped, crossing my arms."I'd like to remain for longer than a few days," he answered, his eyes unflinching.I was about to protest when Selena grasped my arm, her eyes large and expectant. "Mom, can Alpha Lino remain with us for three days? Please?" Her lower li
As I moved away from the introductions, I saw my father, intensely engaged with Alpha Edgar and my uncle, the previous Alpha Benedict. Their faces were stern, their voices hushed. Whatever they were talking about seemed weighty with significance.Bella came close to me, her voice a whisper that only I heard."We have to get Mother," she said, her eyes black with purpose. "We have to go back to that old pack house. Ava is the one who stashed her and has already killed her wolf to impair her. If we don't do something about it, Mother will starve and dehydrate."Her words gave me the shivers, a blend of anger and determination burning inside me. I nodded at Bella's eyes and set my jaw."We'll rescue her," I vowed, my tone firm. "No matter what."I was uneasy through the long hours of the night, a sense that our fights were just about to start lingering in my stomach.Then I looked at her and inquired."Why did you invite Alpha Lino?" I demanded of Bella, attempting to maintain a steady voice,
Alpha James's eyes burned with rage, his voice a raw snarl."NO!" he bellowed, muscles against the guards' constraint. His rebellion was tangible, a power and desperation aura surrounding him, but it only served to accelerate his fall. The guards' grip was firmer, iron strong, and unshakeable.I walked out after the meeting with Rick and Lilet, Gamma Teddy and Beta Mark pulling James and Ava behind us. The prisoners were both too enfeebled to struggle—the wolfsbane we had infused them with in small amounts saw to that. Too large a dose would have killed them in their wolves dead, but this dosage rendered them helpless, eyes dull with agony and bodies weighed down like lead..We came to Night Walker Pack lands late at night. The pack guard looked startled as we entered their grounds. Before we could do anything, James yelled an order, commanding his warriors to take us prisoner.But we were prepared.But I stepped in front of him, interrupting him with a chill stare. "Enough, James,"
She's taking over the pack? Has she gone crazy? "Bella's tone was a gentle growl, tinged with incredulity. 'She wants to give the Crimson Petal Pack to the Night Walker Pack.'""But there's a little problem," the Alpha's voice intervened hesitantly. "They're proud people. They won't just surrender to us.""We'll make them genuflect," Ava's voice was chilly, almost mocking. "Tomorrow, Benedict will instruct them to kneel to me. And as for those who won't…" She smiled wickedly. "Well, hang them in the public square." She laughed, a macabre sound that had my blood raging.I bunched my fists together, the soft clank of my iron armor revealing my agitation. Rick's hold on my wrist grew firmer, a discreet gesture for me to remain still. His eyes, hard and black, flashed towards me for an instant, but not yet."Excellent," the alpha said, his tone silky and contented. "And where is Edgar? I wish to view him before we call the witch." Ava's eyes shone with malign glee."He's in there," someone ans
Bella's POVBella's POVWe trailed after Ava into the forest, making our footsteps light and breaths shallow. She walked quickly, her dark form melding into the darkness until she disappeared into a cave, not too far from the edge. It's an empty place, not often frequented by anyone.Lilet and I stopped behind a dense group of trees, seeing Ava disappear into the cave.Guards stood at the entrance to the cave, their eyes narrowed and postures tense. I squinted out into the distance, watching until I saw something amiss. Patrols passed close by, but they were not Crimson Petals pack soldiers."Most of them aren't Crimson Petals pack soldiers," I whispered, trying to keep my voice down.Lilet frowned, her eyes narrowing. "Who are they then?""We don't know. Perhaps from other packs or Rogues," I said."I didn't know them," Lilet continued, her tone laced with doubt. "Rogues are so numerous."I had counted fast, ten guards only at the gate. It would not be out of the question to take them out, b