Jamie's POV
The air was thick with tension as the patrol guard growled, "On your mark, Alpha," anticipating orders. I was standing shoulder to shoulder with Andrew and his dad, Alpha Jackson, now welcoming me as his son, welcoming me into his line as the new Luna of Furstone. Three of his patrol guards, now in wolf form, were observant and growling at the eight rogue wolves that had encircled us.
I sensed that their wolf attack was a disguise to conceal their identities, but it did not matter. I somehow knew they were members of the Rufus pack. Alpha Jackson stepped forward, sneering deeply, with Andrew ready to attack at any moment.
I witnessed their reaction when my wolf emerged—halfway, but enough that it could be felt and seen. I knew I wasn't able to shift yet, but my wolf wasn't sleeping either. It was primed, oh so ready, to battle and protect my mate and father. The power flowing through me at this point was new, but I was ready to wield it. Images of training taught to me by Andrew flashed like a reminder, an assurance that I got this—and I knew I did.
Without warning, the black wolf lunged first, followed by its goons. Andrew engaged two wolves simultaneously, shifting between his human and wolf forms with fluid grace, his movements a deadly dance honed by years of training. Alpha Jackson, exuding power and authority, fought with elegance, his strikes precise and devastating. The patrol guards held their ground, but the battle was fierce.
Two wolves took a particular interest in me, perhaps sensing I would be an easy kill. They were mistaken. Drawing upon my training, I fought with determination, each move calculated. Suddenly, from my hands, icy shards and lightning bolts erupted, striking down the rogues with unanticipated force. The power was overwhelming, but I embraced it, channelling it to protect those I loved.
Despite our efforts, two of Alpha Jackson's patrol guards had already fallen. The remaining rogues—the black wolf and another—seemed to hesitate, fear evident in their eyes. Yet, it was as if they had been given an order they couldn't refuse: complete the mission or die trying.
The black wolf launched another attack, this time with renewed ferocity. Alpha Jackson met him head-on, but the battle took a dire turn. The black wolf inflicted a deep wound, causing Alpha Jackson to fall to his side. Before Andrew and I could react, the black wolf sank its fangs into Alpha Jackson's neck. With a surge of desperation, I unleashed a lightning flash, sending the black wolf skidding away. The last rogue, seeing the tide turn, attempted to flee but was intercepted and finished off by the remaining patrol guard.
The fight was won, but at a tremendous cost. Andrew and I knelt beside Alpha Jackson's body, watching as life ebbed from him. Andrew's anguish was palpable, his tears falling freely. With his last breath, Alpha Jackson grasped our hands, placing them together.
"Lead them right," he whispered. "I'm proud of you both. In the light..." His voice faded, and he was gone.
******
Behind the Watchful Eyes
Oona and Maelin met in a secluded chamber, tension thick between them.
"Any news?" Oona asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Nothing yet," Maelin replied, his eyes narrowing. "You're sure about what your mole told you?"
Oona nodded. "She wouldn't lie to me. She said they would be meeting at the Garden of Lunara. The Alpha's son told her on his way there with his mate."
Maelin's lips curled into a dark smile. "Then it's in place."
"What?" Oona's unease grew. She wasn't sure what Maelin was planning, and it didn't sit right with her.
"Kill the Jackson bloodline once and for all," Maelin declared.
Oona was taken aback. "What?"
Maelin raised an eyebrow. "Have a problem with that?"
Of course, she did, but she couldn't tell him that. She couldn't let him know he was only a pawn in her game. That she didn't want the Jackson bloodline gone. She wanted her daughter to be bonded to one. But she only stared.
"And if it happens, what next?" Oona pressed.
"We strike again, harder, until we get what we want—and that's Cassian being Alpha."
Oona stared, scheming, strategising. She knew the tides wouldn't be in her favour if Maelin's plan pulled through.
Just then, the Horn of Sorrow—the horn that indicates a death—rang through Furstone. She knew Maelin's plan might have succeeded. Looking at the man in front of her, so well pleased with the sounds of the horn he was hearing, she knew she had to act fast.