All Chapters of The Rejected Luna's Dark Gift: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Three days.I had only three days to prove Vesper was a traitor before she left Frostgale with every secret we had.The thought kept me awake all night. I lay in bed staring at the ceiling while my mind raced through possibilities. If she was working with Draven, if she was here to spy or worse, to take me, then we needed proof. By the time dawn broke, I'd made up my mind.I found Castor at the training grounds before anyone else arrived. He was running drills alone, his movements sharp and focused. When he saw me, he stopped."You look terrible," he said."Didn't sleep." I walked closer, lowering my voice. "I need your help. With Vesper."His whole body went tense. "What kind of help?""We watch her every move and find proof she's working with the rogues before she disappears back to Shadowcrest."Castor grabbed a towel, wiping sweat from his face. He didn't answer right away. Just studied me like he was trying to figure out if I was serious or crazy."You know if we get caught spyi

We spent the whole day planning. We didn't plan together though. That would seem too obvious. But we did in bits, scattered conversations that would look casual to anyone staring. Castor catching me after training to discuss "defense techniques." Nola stopping by to "check the guard rotation." Juno bringing lunch and "accidentally" mentioning the best hiding spots near the eastern border. By evening, I knew the plan forward and backward. Vesper would sneak out after midnight like she'd been doing. Nola would track her from a distance. The rest of us would already be in position at the border, hidden, waiting. When Vesper met whoever she was meeting, we'd be close enough to see, to hear, to witness everything. Oh it sounds so simple but to me mostly terrifying. I tried to eat dinner but the food taste like i was eating sand . Tried to rest but sleep was not coming. Just lay on my bed watching shadows move across the ceiling while my mind ran through everything that could go wrong.

The great hall was neatly ranged. I stood near the kitchen in the servants area. my hands curled around a tray I wasn't supposed to be holding. Thea assigned to serve tonight, said it was the best way to stay close without drawing much attention. The guards didn't like it but Kieran approved of it. Probably figured if Vesper tried anything in front of everyone, they'd have real witnesses. Wolves from the both packs filled the long tables. Frostgale sat on one side, Shadowcrest's diplomatic party on the other. The smell of roasted meat and fresh bread made my stomach growl, but I couldn't eat at such point in time. Couldn't do anything but watch Vesper sit at the head table next to Kieran, looking like she belonged. She wore a black dress that probably cost more than my family would make in a year. Her dark hair was pulled back, showing off her throat and those charm violet eyes. Every wolf who looked at her seemed to pause, captivated. Juno elbowed me. "Stop staring. You'll give

I woke up to some arguement. Wasn't loud. But tense. Voices I recognized trying to stay quiet and wasn't doing a great job at staying quiet.My eyes cracked open. The infirmary. Early morning light through the window. My head still aching but the sharp agony was gone. Just a dull throb now.Thea, Rowan, and Kieran stood near the door. Talking in harsh whisper tones."She needs to be questioned," Kieran was saying. "Before Shadowcrest demands her return.""She's not talking." Rowan lifted a shoulder and slammed his hands at his laps. "She's been awake for hours. Just sits there smiling. Won't utter a word.""Then make her talk." Kieran eyes widened so did his lips."We're not torturers, we have prestige, Kieran.""We're not stupid either. She admitted working with Draven in front of whole fifty witnesses. She tried to kill herself rather than face the capture. She knows things we need to know."I sat up slowly. Three heads turned toward me."You're awake." Thea moved fast, checking my

"I have to send a message to Kael." I stood in Kieran's office, still shaky from yesterday but still determined. He looked up from the papers on his desk. "The Shadowcrest Beta? Why?" "Because Alpha Gareth is dying and Kael doesn't know why." I moved closer. "Vesper had told us her father's involved. Elder Thorne has been poisoning Gareth. Same way they poisoned Luna Seraphine. If Gareth dies without knowing the truth, Vesper's allies remain unknown.."Kieran dropped down his paper. "Warning a pack about their own leaders is dangerous. Could ruin the plan." "More dangerous than letting traitors run things?" "Yes." He moved to the window. "If we accuse Elder Thorne without concrete proof, Shadowcrest will think we're trying to destroy them from inside. They'll despise us. The alliance will fail." "We have Vesper's confession atleast that's enough." i opposed. "She said her father was just 'trying to save the pack.' That's not admitting to murder." Kieran faced me again. "It's not