The silence in the witches' coven was palpable as Sabrina paced back and forth, her expression dark and filled with contempt. Elira stood nearby, her bruised and bloodied form a stark contrast to Sabrina's regal composure.
"You failed," Sabrina snapped, her voice like a whip. "You allowed her to escape. Again."
Elira flinched but didn't reply. She had barely survived the battle at the Blue Moon Pack, her magic draining from her in the aftermath of the failed attempt to capture Callista. The bond between Callista and Lucien had proved to be stronger than any of them anticipated.
Sabrina halted in front of her, eyes narrowed with an almost predatory gleam. "But that's not why I'm angry, Elira," she purred, her tone deadly calm. "You didn't fail. You fed her power."
The words hit Elira like a slap. "I didn't mean—"
"You gave her more strength. That battle made her realize something she never knew about herself. Her power amplified when we confronted her," Sabrina said, her voice growing colder. "And now, that power will be our greatest weapon. If we can't kill her, we can control her."
Elira's heart sank. "You're saying… you want her to turn her power against the wolves? And us?"
Sabrina smirked. "Oh, no. That would be too easy. I want her to become a tool, a pawn. One that will destroy Lucien from within. I'll let her believe she's safe in that pack—let her grow stronger with him—but when the time comes, I'll tear everything apart."
The coven's high priestess, Maris, stepped forward, her voice icy. "You won't be able to control her forever. She's stronger than you realize."
Sabrina turned, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "Oh, I won't need to control her for long. The more she bonds with Lucien, the more vulnerable she becomes. I'll take that weakness and use it. When the time is right, I'll make sure her bond with him is her undoing."
Maris frowned, her concern growing. "And what about the other packs? They're already beginning to align with her."
Sabrina's gaze turned sharp, her eyes gleaming with malice. "The other packs are irrelevant. Once she's been broken, once she's lost everything, we'll take her to the heart of the wolves' territory. She'll be the perfect distraction. And once we have control over her, the entire werewolf army will fall."
She turned her gaze back to Elira, who was still recovering from the battle. "You're going to help me with that, Elira. You may have failed me once, but you're not completely useless."
Elira swallowed, her eyes darkened with guilt and fear. "How do you expect me to help, Mistress?"
Sabrina's smile was dark and predatory. "Simple. You're going to get close to her. Very close. While she's still reeling from her bond, from her emotions, you're going to whisper poison into her ear. Make her doubt everything. Doubt Lucien. Doubt her strength."
Elira hesitated. "And if she doesn't listen?"
Sabrina's eyes turned cold. "Then you'll be the one to destroy her."