The manor was alive with shadows that night, the corridors whispering secrets and threats alike. Julia moved with careful steps, every muscle protesting, every breath shallow. The chores, the training, the sparring, the endless patrols — they had taken their toll.
Her head spun as she carried a tray of food for the warriors, each step heavier than the last. Her stomach churned, her legs wobbled, and her vision blurred around the edges.
Elara growled in alarm. Julia… you are weak. You cannot continue like this.
I have no choice, Julia whispered, teeth gritted. We survive. We endure. One more step…
But her wolf's instincts screamed at her: You cannot endure much longer.
The Collapse
By the time she reached the main hall, Julia's legs could barely hold her. She stumbled, bumping into a table, sending a platter of food crashing to the stone floor.
"Careful!" one of the warriors shouted, but Julia barely heard him. Her vision narrowed into tunnel-like darkness, the torchlight blurring into streaks.
She pressed a hand to her forehead, trying to steady herself. Her lips trembled. No… not now… I can't…
Then the world tilted violently. She felt herself falling, the tray slipping from her hands, clattering against the floor with a deafening noise.
Her knees buckled, and her wolf whimpered helplessly in her mind as she crumpled to the ground.
Darkness claimed her.
Alan's Fury
Alan, who had been observing the sparring practice of the warriors from the shadows, immediately sensed something was wrong. His eyes flared, amber glowing fiercely. Every nerve in his body screamed at him, a predator alerted to weakness in the pack — in her.
He stormed into the hall, the Alpha aura rolling off him in waves that made the room vibrate. Warriors instinctively fell back, clearing a path.
Julia lay on the ground, pale and unconscious, her chest rising and falling in shallow, ragged breaths. Her golden wolf eyes were closed even in her human form, and her limbs trembled.
"Bring her here," Alan snapped to Lucien, his tone ice-cold yet laced with barely contained panic. "Now."
Lucien nodded, his jaw tight, careful to meet the Alpha's gaze only long enough to obey.
Olivia's Venomous Delight
Olivia appeared at the doorway just as Julia was lifted in Lucien's strong arms. Her lips curved into a cruel smile, eyes gleaming with perverse satisfaction.
"Ah," she purred. "Seems the little Luna isn't as strong as she pretends to be."
Alan's amber gaze snapped toward her, fury erupting like wildfire. "Stay out of this," he growled, each word a whip of venom. "Do not test my patience, Olivia."
But Olivia only shrugged elegantly, her voice soft and mocking. "I only observe, Alpha. Perhaps she needs…guidance?"
Alan's jaw clenched, his hands trembling despite himself. "She is mine. Every part of her. Do not speak unless spoken to."
Olivia's eyes flickered with a mixture of amusement and something darker. She could feel the tension, the raw power in Alan's fury, the way his bond with Julia gnawed at him despite his attempts to suppress it. Perfect, she thought. The venom works even better than I imagined.
Julia Awakens
Lucien carried Julia to the infirmary, laying her carefully on a cot. The healer, an older wolf of the pack named Rowen, rushed forward, checking her pulse and examining her pale face.
"She's fainted from low blood pressure," Rowen muttered, voice tense. "Exhaustion. Malnutrition. She's lucky she didn't fall harder."
Julia stirred slightly, groaning, her golden eyes fluttering open. Pain shot through her limbs, and she pressed a hand weakly against her chest.
Alan stood at the doorway, towering, his presence oppressive even in silence. He had not touched her, but every inch of him radiated dominance, fury, and something deeper — a pull she could not deny.
Julia's lips trembled. "Alpha…" she whispered, weak, voice barely audible.
Alan strode forward, face hard, jaw tight. "You nearly killed yourself." His amber eyes softened for a fraction of a second, then hardened again. "How many times must I tell you… obey. Endure. Survive."
"I…tried…" she murmured, barely lifting her head.
"Trying is not enough," he snapped. "Weakness is not tolerated. Not in me. Not in my pack. Not in my Luna."
Elara snarled silently. He does not see you, Julia…
He sees me enough, Julia thought bitterly. And it terrifies him that I still stand, still breathe, still resist.
Olivia's Interference
From the doorway, Olivia's lips curved. "You see? Even the Alpha's Luna cannot handle the demands of the pack. Perhaps she is not worthy of your attention."
Alan's glare could have burned stone. "Leave," he commanded, voice low and lethal. "Before I decide you are the one unworthy of life."
Olivia bowed slightly, mock politeness masking her inner fury. "As you wish, Alpha." She left without another word, but the smirk lingered in Julia's mind like a thorn.
Elara growled. We must be careful. Olivia's venom is spreading.
Julia's body trembled on the cot. Weak, pale, but alive. We endure, she whispered. We survive.
The Alpha's Shadow
Alan remained by her side long after Olivia had left. He did not touch her, did not speak, but his presence pressed down on her like a weight, making it impossible to relax. His gaze, though filled with fury, betrayed a flicker of something else — worry, obsession, longing.
He is afraid of losing me, Julia realized, even as she clenched her hands against the cot. Afraid. And that fear…will be our thread of power.
He shifted slightly, amber eyes scanning her face. "Do not do this again," he said, voice low, almost inaudible. "Do not endanger yourself. You are mine. And I will not lose you to weakness."
Julia's heart skipped. His words were cruel, but beneath them, she sensed the pull of the fated bond, the faint ember of connection he tried desperately to suppress.
We will use it, she whispered to Elara. We will survive. And one day…he will pay for everything.
A Quiet Resolve
The moon rose high, silver light spilling into the infirmary. Julia lay on the cot, exhausted, trembling, but alive. Her wolf curled in her mind, restless, protective, and eager.
We have survived the storm tonight, Elara purred. And tomorrow…we strike silently, cleverly, with patience.
Julia's fingers brushed against the cold sheets. We endure. We observe. And when the time comes…
Her golden eyes flicked toward the doorway, where Alan had stood like a shadow. Amber eyes burning with fury, obsession, and a pull she could feel even now.
We will rise, she whispered. And when we do…everything will change.
The night was long, the manor quiet, but inside Julia Rowan, the fire of defiance had only grown brighter.