Semua Bab Torn Between Two Moons: Bab 21 - Bab 30

Akira’s POVAs I stood in the war hall, I could feel the weight of their stares, sharp like claws against my skin. Nobles, betas, and Blood Guard captains were all gathered around this ancient stone map that lay beneath their feet, frozen in time like a battlefield.Kaïdën had chosen to forgo the usual ceremonial robes. Instead, he was dressed in his hunting leathers, and a stark white bandage wrapped around his ribs marked a wound that would’ve felled anyone less resilient. Yet there he stood, back straight, shoulders squared. Every breath seemed to cause him pain, but he wore it like armor.In contrast, I felt like a smudge on polished marble. My simple dress still carried the faint scent of herbs from the healer’s chamber, and I held onto the hem tightly to hide my shaking hands.“Three raids in two nights,” Beta Darius growled, pointing aggressively at the southern edge of the map. “Shadow Clan scouts are here, here, and here. They’re targeting the outer villages—taking cattle, wo

Akira’s POVThe cage's iron bars screeched as they opened, the sound like an animal screaming in agony. I flinched, my breath catching in my throat.Two guards were the first to move, both of them armed to the teeth, with claws forming at their fingertips. They kept their distance, poking the chained traitor with their pikes and forcing him to lurch forward. Heavy shackles dragged behind him, scraping against the stone floor and creating sparks.Kaïdën was right behind me, close enough for me to feel his warmth, almost like a chain around my throat. He didn’t need to touch me; the weight of his silence felt heavier than any iron.The traitor raised his head. His hair was filthy, but his eyes glimmered faintly gold—Lycan eyes, with a hint of madness flickering within, like oil on a flame. His grin was a jagged wound. “So this is your plan, King? Feed me to your pretty doe and hope I spill your secrets?”Kaïdën didn't reply, just nodded at the guards.Rough hands shoved the traitor forw

The envelope felt heavier than it should, almost as if what was inside wasn’t just paper but something alive, something waiting. Akira’s fingers hovered over the seal, tracing the jagged crimson mark. She didn’t even realize she was holding her breath until Kaidën broke the silence.“Open it.”His tone was sharp and impatient, but there was an underlying concern he probably didn’t want her to notice.She shook her head. “Not here.”His brows furrowed. “You think moving it somewhere else makes it safer?”“No,” she replied, tucking the envelope into her jacket. “But I’d rather not read it while we’re standing in the dark with doors wide open.”Kaidën glanced toward the empty hallway where the intruder had vanished. His jaw tightened as he turned away. “Fine. My office.”They hurried along, their footsteps echoing softly against the polished floor. Outside, the rain had started, tapping against the tall windows in a scattered rhythm. The storm was late to arrive but seemed perfectly time

The shadow darted away before either of them could utter a word.Akira felt a surge of instinct urging her to chase after it, but Kaidën’s hand shot out, gripping her wrist with unexpected strength.“Not yet,” he whispered. His gaze wasn’t fixed on the corridor—it was scanning the walls, the ceiling, the floor.Akira frowned. “You think it’s a trap?”“I’m certain it is,” he replied bluntly. “The tram tunnels are riddled with choke points. Whoever’s down here wants us to stroll right into one.”Her grip tightened around the flashlight. “Then we don’t just stroll—we hunt.”For a moment, his expression softened, almost as if he wanted to argue. But instead, he released her wrist. “Alright. But we stick close.”They moved in sync, their beams slicing through the darkness. The deeper they ventured, the more the sounds of the city faded into a low, unsettling hum. It didn’t feel like electricity—more like the vibration of something living deep within the stone.Old maintenance signs were sc

The darkness felt like it was closing in. For what seemed like ages, all Akira could hear was her own labored breathing and the distant sound of Kaidën’s boots scraping against the stone floor.Then, unexpectedly, his hand found hers. Warm. Steady. Confirming he was really there.“Stick close to me,” he whispered.Her heart raced, still echoing the shadowless man’s unsettling words about her sister. Always her sister. Every thread she tugged at lead back to that fateful night, to the questions buried in grief and anger that felt like they’d never be answered.With a quick motion, Kaidën struck a match, and for a fleeting moment, the chamber lit up. But the candles were gone. Not just blown out—vanished. The circle was nothing more than empty floor.“This place…” he muttered, eyes darting around the walls. “It feels wrong. Like it’s shifting.”Akira's hand instinctively reached for her pocket. The envelope. Heavy. Unopened. She’d wanted to wait until they were safe. Yet the shadowless