Midnight cloaked Ravenguard in a tense stillness. The kind of silence that didn't comfort but warned. A stillness that whispered of secrets and the weight of something brewing beneath the surface.
Lyra lay in bed beside Alaric, her body still humming from the passion they'd shared earlier. The intimacy between them had been more than physical; it had been a tether of trust, a confirmation of the promise she made as Luna. Yet even in his arms, sleep evaded her. Something gnawed at her instincts, urging her awake.
She rose quietly, careful not to stir him, and padded toward the balcony. The moon was high, casting silver light over the pack grounds. Everything looked peaceful.
But peace was a liar.
Suddenly, a howl pierced the night sharp, urgent, and wrong.
Lyra froze.
Another howl followed, then shouts from the courtyard. Alarm bells rang through the air.
Alaric was instantly on his feet. "Stay here," he said, grabbing his sword.
"No," Lyra snapped, already reaching for her cloak. "I'm Luna. If this pack is under threat, I face it too."
He gave her a short nod, and together, they raced down the hallway.
The packhouse was chaotic. Warriors scrambled in partial armor, Luna Court members were being escorted to safety, and Cassian barked orders with fury in his voice.
"What happened?" Alaric demanded.
Cassian's face was grim. "We've been betrayed. The south gate was opened from the inside. Three of our best sentries were found dead. And... Ronan's rogues were spotted near the training barracks."
Lyra's blood turned to ice. "Ronan's here?"
"Not in person," Cassian said, "but his mark is all over this."
Alaric growled. "How did they get so far into the territory without us noticing?"
"Because someone let them in."
That was when the realization struck. Someone in Ravenguard had turned against them.
By the time dawn crept over the horizon, the rogues had been pushed back, but not without loss. Four warriors were dead. Two more were missing.
And one spy was finally unmasked.
"He confessed," Cassian said as he brought the traitor forward. It was Dorian one of the scouts Lyra had trained with. He looked broken, bloodied, and ashamed, but defiant.
Alaric stood tall before him. "Why?"
Dorian spat blood. "Because you've grown weak. Letting an outsider become our Luna. Letting her change things. You forgot what it means to be a Ravenguard."
"You don't know what it means," Lyra said coldly. "Ravenguard is built on strength and unity not fear and cowardice."
"She's just a human," Dorian hissed. "A bloodbound accident. Ronan will cleanse this pack of weakness, and I'll be remembered as the one who helped start it."
"You'll be remembered," Alaric said, "as the fool who betrayed his pack for nothing."
With one swift motion, he signaled the guards. Dorian was dragged away, still cursing her name.
Lyra turned away, her stomach churning. Not from fear but from fury. She had worked so hard to prove herself. Yet still, there were those who saw her as the enemy.
That night, the council gathered again, the mood grim. The air smelled of blood and fire. Lyra stood beside Alaric, her voice unwavering as she addressed them.
"This betrayal didn't start at midnight," she said. "It started long ago when we allowed doubt and division to fester. Ronan isn't just attacking us with rogues. He's attacking us with fear. He wants to make us turn on each other."
"We can't afford more division," Cassian added. "If there's another traitor hiding in plain sight, we need to root them out now."
Murmurs filled the room. Suspicion lingered in every glance.
"We can't start hunting shadows," one Beta said nervously.
"No," Lyra replied. "But we can start with the truth. I propose a binding circle. An old tradition where each member of the council takes an oath, sealed by the pack magic. Anyone who lies, or withholds treachery, will be revealed."
There was resistance, of course there always was. But Alaric supported her. And the council agreed.
The ritual was set for the following night.
Later, in the quiet of their chambers, Lyra sat by the fire, staring into the flames.
"Do you think there are more traitors?" she asked softly.
Alaric sat beside her, his hand brushing over hers. "Yes. I think Dorian was just a pawn. Someone is orchestrating this from within."
Lyra nodded. "I'll find them. I swear it."
"You already vowed yourself to this pack," he said, his voice low. "You don't need to take on all of this alone."
She looked into his eyes, fierce and unrelenting. "I do. If I'm going to be more than just your bloodbonded Luna, I need to carry the weight. And I will."
He kissed her then, slowly like an anchor in a storm. And she let herself feel the warmth, just for a moment.
Because come morning, there would be no time for comfort.
There would only be the search for the next shadow.
And the vow she made under the moon would be tested like never before.