Loyalty Pawn #2 Novels & Stories

“Time’s up.” I rose smoothly from the chair, brushing down my dress as if I’d just finished a casual brunch date. I adjusted my scarf, hiding my face once more behind the oversized glasses. Before I walked out, I leaned close to Rave one last time. “Remember, darling. Loyalty is the only currency that buys survival in this game. Spend it wisely.” Then I turned on my heel and left him there, seething, cuffed, and powerless. As I stepped back into the sunlight outside the station, I exhaled slowly.

His eyes darted from me to the money, gleaming with greed. “Will that be enough?” I asked calmly. “Yes, but…” he trailed off, licking his lips as though testing how far he could push me. I brought out two more wads and slid them across to him without breaking eye contact. Silence stretched between us, broken only by the heavy rhythm shaking the floor beneath our feet. “I suppose we have a deal, Mr…” I let my gaze drop to the metal badge pinned crookedly to his lapel. “…Henderson.”

He picked up the branding iron and placed it in the burning fire “Bound by loyalty, bound by blood and bound by oath. I renounce my title and bestow the power I inherited from our predecessors on a new legacy.” He flipped open the book of oaths.” I renounce my oath to Lead and serve Zenturio as head and swear my loyalty as Lord.” He picked up the branding iron and walked over to me ,the book still in his hands. I took a deep breath , preparing myself for the burning pain. “ With our symbol carved into the hearts ,We serve in Loyalty and in ashes.” The crowd echoed.” We serve in Loyalty and in Ashes.” And he pressed the hot iron in my skin ,right into my heart,craving the symbol of a rose on

His visible black eye fixed on mine. ​"You agreed to be a pawn, Luna," he corrected. "A pawn must know how to move, or it is useless. I need a silent, obedient figurehead who will weep over my 'disfigurement' and make the King's envoy happy. You will play your part perfectly." ​He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, heavy velvet box. He pressed a button, and the box sprung open. Inside lay an antique, silver-linked locket. It was beautiful, old, and strong.

A second life. He called it “debtless mercy.” Now she understood the invoice had just arrived. “You don’t believe in loyalty,” she said, evenly. “I believe in leverage. Loyalty is leverage that hasn’t matured yet.” Penelope’s laugh was soft, bitter. “You think I’d hand Dorian over to you. After everything.” “I think you’ve spent years trying to figure out who you’d be without him.” Silence pulsed between them. He leaned in. “Here’s my counter-offer. You give me Blackthorn’s private key. Just one. The one that opens the Archive backup. That’s all.”

The first thing I think to myself as his words sink in me is ‘what the fuck is he talking about’. What pawn? What revenge game? I feel the dots are staring me right in the face and I can't just seem to connect them. The confusion must be evident on my face because right now, it's Adrian that's laughing and not me anymore.

Now I really could not breathe. “I, Randon Stoneclaw, Moon as my witness, from this hour forward until my last, do pledge my loyalty to the Mountaintop Pack and its Luna, Harmony White. I vow to protect and defend my Luna, my true mate Lily, and these lands from this breath until my last.”

He looked at me surprised, “I just told you that I am not forcing you to pledge your loyalty to me.” “And that is why I am pledging my loyalty. I am not a fan of someone trying to force my hand. Now that it is an option and not a demand, I am willing,” I smirk, “I, Willow Michelsen do hereby pledge my life and my loyalty to Alpha Ronan Wilkes and to the Blood River Pack.”

I nod with a small smile. “Repeat after me. I vow my life and loyalty to the Dark Pine Pack. To bring love and prosperity to its people. To defend its lands and cherish the life within. From this day forward, I am now Delaney, Future Luna of the Dark Pine Pack.” Levi finishes and I repeated everything he said. “I know declare you a part of Dark Pine Pack.” And as the words left his lips, I felt a wind gust hit my body knocking my breath loose. A swirl of smoke spiraled in front of my eyes. And the words that Carina said to me replayed.