Selene
The war room of Shadowfang was a cold, cavernous space, its stone walls lined with maps and weapon racks and the air thick with the scent of ink and iron. I stood across from Draven and braced my hands on the table. The great hall was being cleared of debris, but the memory of Kaelen's taunting smile and the Bloodfang warrior's words about Dorian burned in my mind. My son was at the Red Cliffs outpost, and every second we wasted was a second he was in Kaelen's hands.
Draven was bent over a map, studying it with narrowed eyes. Blood still flecked his leather tunic from the fight, and his usual smirk was gone, replaced by a grim focus. "Kaelen's men hit harder than I expected," he said, "Eight dead, four wounded, one... taken."
"Your spy." I said.
His golden eyes met mine. "Torren was a brother to me."
The name landed heavy, his tone carrying a weight I hadn't heard before. "Who was he?"
He sucked in a breath and looked down at the man. "Like I said, he was..." he hesitated then corrected, "... is a brother to me. And now he's in the hands of that weathered cunt who calls himself an Alpha. We're getting him back."
I leaned on the table and lowered my voice so only he could hear. "Why do I get the feeling this is not all there is to it?"
He looked up, his eyes meeting mine, and for a moment, I saw a flash of raw pain bubble to the surface. But then his grin returned, flirtatious and deflecting. "You wound me, my queen. Here I thought we were building something special."
I crossed my arms. "You're deflecting."
"And you're prying." He snapped.
He paused, then sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "It's not about trust, Selene. It's about focus. Torren's capture means Kaelen's onto us. He's probably torturing information out of him as we speak. We need to move fast."
I stepped closer, my voice a hiss. "You're hiding things from me, Draven. Just like with Morwen. Or do you just enjoy keeping me in the dark?"
His grin faltered, and he held my gaze as he said. "Morwen betrayed me, same as Kaelen did you. She chose power over loyalty. That's all you need to know for now. Now, can we focus on getting your son back?"
I wanted to push and demand more, but the urgency in his eyes stopped me. Dorian was out there, and Kaelen was closing in. I nodded. "Fine. But no more secrets, Nightbane. I mean it."
He smirked, the tension easing slightly. "No promises, huntress. But I'll keep you alive. That's a start."
Before I could retort, a scout burst in, his face flushed. "Alpha, reports just came in. The outpost at Red Cliffs is fortified, it's basically a fortress. Kaelen's doubled the guards."
Draven nodded, gesturing to the door. "Then we train. Selene, you're with me. If you're serious about coming along on this, you'll need more than just arrows."
I arched a brow. "You're offering lessons now?"
His easy grin returned. "Well don't act so surprised my red haired sphinx, I'll have you know, I'm an excellent teacher."
"I guess that reamins to be seen. Lead the way."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I followed him through winding corridors to a hidden training ground, a clearing behind the fortress walled by jagged stone. The ground was packed dirt, scarred from years of combat, and the entire arena lit by torches.
"Shadowfang style is not about brute force." Draven said shrugging off his cloak. His muscles gleamed in the firelight, far too distracting for a man I refused to want. "It's about precise. Predicting your opponent's next move and using their own strength against them."
He tossed me a wooden blade, his grin returning. "Let's see if you can keep up, my queen."
I caught the blade, my blood singing for a fight. "Careful... I don't play nice."
"Exactly what I'm counting on."
We circled each other, the air crackling with tension. He lunged first, his movements fluid. I parried, and my blade met his with a sharp crack. He was fast, but I was faster, dodging his strike and aiming a blow at his ribs. He blocked it, grabbing my wrist and spinning me, and then pinning me against a stone pillar.
His face was so close now, his breath warm against my lips. "Dead." he murmured.
I shoved him off, my heart racing, and not just from the fight. "I was just warming up. Again."
He laughed, stepping back, but the air between us was charged now, as his gaze lingered, trying to predict my mext move.
We sparred again, our blades clashing, my muscles burning with the effort. He was relentless, but so was I, matching him strike for strike. When we finally stopped, panting and sweat-soaked, he clapped my shoulder, his touch lingering. "You're a natural, Selene. You fight like you're out for blood."
I pulled away, my voice dry. "That's because I am. Now, teach me something useful." I said as I lunged, trying to catch him unaware.
His grin widened. "Oh, I fully intend to, my queen." He said as he dodged easily, catching my wrist and twisting until my back hit the ground. He straddled me, bringing his face close again to murmur, "Dead."
The air between us cackled and for one wild second, the pull of something dangerous and undeniable tugged at me. He glanced down at my lips for a split second, and when his eyes met mine again, they were filled with something I couldn't quite read. Slowly, his mouth began to lower, closing the distance even more.
I could've pushed him off me. Hell, I could've head butted him if I wanted to. But the wild drumming of my treacherous heart told me I wanted this to happen just as much as he did.
Suddenly, we were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. We both turned our heads quickly towards the sound to find Veyra approaching, her scarred face set in a frown. Draven got off and helped me up as she approached, eyeing me warily.
She leaned against a weapon rack and said, voice gruff. "You're not half bad, Luna. But it doesn't mean I trust you."
I raised a brow, wiping sweat from my forehead. "Feeling's mutual. What's your problem with me, Veyra? Or do you just hate anyone who's not Shadowfang?"
She hesitated, her eyes distant. "Bloodfang killed my brother. Raided our borders five winters ago... took everything and left him bleeding out in the snow. I was sixteen. You wear their colors, even if you claim you don't."
Her words hit hard, and I saw myself in her pain. I softened my voice, meeting her gaze. "I've lost people too. Once, there was a terrible famine in Bloodfang. I got caught stealing food from Kaelen's father's keep to feed my sick sister and dying mother. I was to have my hands cut off the next full moon as a punishment, but that's when Kaelen saw me and the mate bond snapped into place. I was spared because of that, but..."
I faltered for a breath, cleared by thraot, then, "By the time I got home, my mother was dead, our house had been reclaimed, and my sister had been married off to some wrinkly old noble just to have a roof over her head."
Veyra blinked, surprised and I could see Draven staring at me from the corner of my eye.
"So you see," I said quietly. "I understand loss more than you know. I'm not your enemy, Veyra. I'm just here for my son."
She studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Then I'll fight with you. When you go for your boy, I'll help you. But if you betray us, I'll gut you myself."
I smirked, extending a hand. "Deal. But I'm holding you to the same standard."
She shook it, her grip firm, and for the first time, I felt a spark of trust. Shadowfang wasn't my pack, but Veyra might be an ally worth having.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Back in the war room, the air grew heavy as a messenger arrived, his hands trembling as he handed Draven a small parcel.
My heart stopped as Draven opened it, revealing a lock of dark hair I recognized all too well.
I snatched the note to reveal Kaelen's handwriting: Come alone, or he suffers.
I stared at it for a moment, refusing to believe Kaelen would be so cruel as to use his veey own son as leverage.
After what felt like hours, I crushed the note in my fist. "I'm going."
Draven grabbed my arm. "Wait, Selene. We need to–"
I yanked free, my eyes blazing. "He's my son, Draven. I'm not asking for your permission."
His expression hardened, as he met my gaze head on. "And neither am I. We're doing this together, wether you like it or not. I'm not letting you walk into his trap."
I wanted to argue, to scream that every second mattered, but his eyes held mine, steady and fierce. For a moment, I saw something real—not the smirking Alpha, but a man who cared, even if I didn't trust it yet.
I nodded, my throat tight. "Together, then. But we move tonight."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
That night, when the fortress quieted, I packed light, strapped my dager to my thigh, slung my bow to my back and headed for the gates. The Red Cliffs were barely a day's journey away, and I'd be damned if I waited for Draven's plans to unfold. Dorian needed me now.
I reached the fortress gates, the moonlight casting long shadows, when a figure stepped into my path. Draven stood there with his arms crossed, his expression torn between anger and concern. "You're going to get yourself killed," he growled.
"Then help me, or get out of my way." I said, fists clenched, my eyes locked on his.
He held my gaze, and for a moment, I thought he'd drag me back. But then he sighed, "You, woman, are going to be the death of me."
Then heading for the gates, he looked back at me. "Come on now, what're you waiting for? Let's go get your boy."