~Warning: This chapter contains a brief, disturbing mutilation scene and may be unpleasant to some viewers. I will warn you when the disturbing part is about to happen, so if you want to skip it, you can.~
The sheer weight of the last few days finally caught up with us. Unlike yesterday, there was no early morning strategy session or quiet moment of reflection; we woke with only minutes to spare. A frantic scramble to get dressed followed, and now we were rushing through the halls toward the meeting room, our footsteps echoing with a rhythm that felt far too hurried for comfort. As we walked, my mind drifted back to the night before. I had stayed awake tossing around a few ideas to win over the other Alphas, but the uncertainty gnawed at me. I'd intended to vet them with Kayden, but by the time he'd finally collapsed into bed after midnight, he was a hollowed-out version of himself.
The news he brought was grim: everyone in the pack and all our visiting guests were accounted for. We were left with a haunting void. Until the DNA analysis returns, we have no idea who those fingers belong to or where that box originated. It had simply materialized in the mail, a ghost in the system that no one remembers seeing. We are officially hunting a shadow, and time is running out. I glanced at Kayden as we reached the heavy doors of the meeting room. He looked steady, but I could feel the thrum of his frustration through our bond.
The memory of the defeat in Kayden's eyes last night made my heart ache, but as the heavy doors of the meeting room came into view, that ache transformed into a cold, hard surge of determination. I needed this victory—not just for the pack, but to give Kayden one less burden to carry. We found Maria standing guard by the entrance. She greeted us with a warm, tentative smile. "Good morning," she murmured. "I hope you were both able to get some rest." I offered her a genuine smile. "Good morning, Maria. That's very kind of you to ask."
Her gaze dropped, her feet shifting nervously. "I... I hope you don't think poorly of Nova," she whispered, her voice thick with loyalty and worry. "She truly is a kind Alpha. I know she wants to help, but—" She trailed off, the turmoil clear on her face. She was caught between her love for her friend and her fear of our judgment. "There's no need to worry, Maria," I said softly, stepping closer. "We know she's only doing what she thinks is best for her people. A leader who doesn't prioritize their own pack isn't a leader at all. We respect her for that." The tension drained out of Maria's shoulders instantly. She looked up, her expression filled with such profound gratitude it was as if I'd handed her a lifeline. She smiled, truly smiled this time, her faith in both Nova and us clearly bolstered.
A group of Alphas appeared at the far end of the hall, their slow, deliberate pace a sharp contrast to the sudden alarm bells ringing in my head. I looked back at Maria. "Maria, why are you out here? Where's Nova?" She pointed a finger toward the heavy oak doors behind her. "She's inside." A cold knot tied itself in my stomach. My brows knit together. "Then why aren't you with her right now?" Maria gave a casual shrug. "I was. But someone just delivered a package for her. I was just seeing the messenger out when I spotted the two of you. I figured I'd take the chance to say hello before things got started."
My blood turned to ice. Beside me, I felt Kayden's entire body go rigid, his aura flaring with sudden, sharp aggression. We didn't need to exchange a word. Kayden bolted for the door, and I was right on his heels. "What's wrong? What's going on?" Maria's voice rose in a confused panic behind us, but we didn't stop to explain. We burst into the meeting room, the doors slamming against the walls. My eyes flew to the center of the table. There it was—a large, nondescript box. Nova was leaning over it, her fingers already prying back the lip of the box to peer into it. "Nova, stop!"
The world slowed to a crawl. I watched, paralyzed, as Kayden lunged across the room, his voice a raw command for her to stop. But by the time he reached the table, Nova was staring into the box. I watched the color drain from her face, replaced by a look of sheer horror and visceral disgust. Her jaw clamped shut so hard I thought I heard her teeth crack. She recoiled, stumbling back as Kayden leaned over the opening. I saw the flash of heat in his eyes before they turned to ice, his entire expression hardening into a mask of lethal fury.
I forced my feet to move, drawing closer to the table. The box was nearly identical to the one from yesterday, only larger—a grim upgrade. But it was the label that made my blood run cold: To Alpha Nova and the Alphas Residing in The Shadow Moon Pack. It wasn't just a message anymore. It was a declaration of war against the entire council. Maria rushed past me, her voice a frantic murmur as she checked on Nova, but the sound was distant, muffled by a rhythmic rushing in my ears. The air in the room felt thin, charged with the scent of copper and old malice.
~Skip this part of the scene if you don't think you can handle it. It is a little descriptive, so it might be something everyone can handle~
I drew closer to the table, my eyes tracking a dark, viscous liquid pooling beneath the box. It dripped slowly, a steady thump-thump against the carpet that sounded like a dying heartbeat. I forced myself to look inside. My shoulders locked, and a white-hot surge of rage replaced the breath in my lungs. Staring back at me, face-up amidst the blood-soaked packing paper, were the two buffoons who had attacked me in my cell when I first arrived. Their features were frozen in a final, silent scream.
The box was a mess of crimson-stained shreds, though the blood level was lower than it should have been for a double decapitation. They had been drained—siphoned like cattle—before being placed here. I leaned in, my jaw tight. The wounds on their necks weren't clean. The flesh was frayed, the bone jagged, bearing the unmistakable marks of a serrated blade or a dull saw. The overlapping layers of scarring and the raw trauma of the tissue told a story of agony. This wasn't a quick execution. They had been butchered slowly, inch by agonizing inch, while they were still breathing. The Elders hadn't just sent us heads; they had sent us the physical embodiment of a slow, torturous death.
~End of disturbing scene~
Inside the box, I saw the faces of the severed heads of the two buffoons I met during my second day in the pack. Their faces were masks of pure, frozen agony, eyes glossed over with the dull film of the dead. They were filthy—smeared with dust, grime, and layers of dried blood. The one with the longer black hair was a matted, greasy mess, but it was the other one—the aggressive one with the buzz cut—who caught my attention. His hair had grown out significantly since I'd last seen him in the cell. They hadn't been killed immediately. They had been kept and tortured for days before being butchered.
Movement caught my eye—something tucked into the corner of the box. Without thinking, I reached into the carnage. I heard Kayden's sharp intake of breath, felt his concerned gaze on me, but my hand was already closing around a plastic Ziploc baggie. It was slick with blood, but a few clear patches revealed a card tucked inside. Kayden reached out, his hand coming toward mine to take the blood-stained bag, but the heavy doors of the meeting room suddenly slammed open. The sound echoed like a gunshot. The rest of the Alphas flooded in, their voices loud and demanding, until the metallic scent of fresh blood hit them.
The Alphas flooded the room like a wave of arrogance, their voices already raised in a chorus of complaints. "What is that ungodly stench?" one barked, waving a hand in front of his nose. "Kayden, what is the meaning of this? Why is there a crate on the council table?" another demanded. Kayden's focus shifted instantly. He stepped forward, his massive frame a wall between the newcomers and the gore. He tried to herd them off, to keep the peace, but I knew his effort was wasted. These were men and women who felt entitled to every secret, who still believed they held the reins even while standing in another man's territory.
Seizing the distraction, I slipped back, ducking out of Kayden's reach. He was too busy trying to stop the inevitable to notice me retreating toward the shadows of the corner. I watched with a cold, detached amusement as they pushed past him. They moved around Kayden like water around a stone, their faces twisted in indignant curiosity. They wanted to see. They wanted to know. They wanted to prove that nothing in this pack could be hidden from their "superior" eyes. While they clamored for control, I looked down at the blood-slicked Ziploc baggie in my hand.
I peeled the blood-slicked plastic open and pulled out the card. The card was white with elegant gold trimming. My breath hitched as I saw the image on the front: Roz, the slug-like administrator from the movie "Monsters Inc." (picture of quote and the monster from the film in the photo above). Above the picture, the quote was printed in bold: "I'm watching you, Wazowski." Below it: "Always watching." A cold chill raced up my spine, freezing the marrow in my bones. I remembered watching that film with the children back in the village—sweet, quiet afternoons that felt like they belonged to another lifetime. Zander knew that. He hadn't just sent a threat; he was trying to stain the only pure memories I had left. I flipped the card open. The inside was a vast, mocking emptiness, except for a single line of centered, perfect cursive. See you soon. He even signed it in that same elegant script.
The rushing sound returned, louder than before, drowning out the indignant shouts of the Alphas and Kayden's attempts to maintain order. I stared at Zander's handwriting until the world blurred. In that silence, the anger didn't explode—it crystallized. Everything clicked. My complex psychological strategies and "Alpha Ego" traps suddenly felt like child's play. I knew exactly what I had to do. Kayden would hate it. He would fight me on it with every breath in his body. But as I looked at the heads on the table and the card in my hand, I knew it was the only move left on the board. The other Alphas wouldn't just agree to help us; after I said what I had to say, they wouldn't have a choice.
I spun around. Kayden was right there, his hand frozen mid-air as he reached for me. The concern in his eyes twisted into confusion as I wordlessly held the card out to him. He took it instinctively, his eyes dropping to the golden trim and the mocking monster on the front. I didn't wait for his reaction. I stepped past him, cutting a path through the tension.
I looked out at the council. These were the same faces from yesterday, but the arrogance had been stripped away, leaving behind something raw and jagged. Most were pale, staring at the severed heads with a grim, hollow worry. A few were silent, their minds clearly racing to calculate the distance between those heads and their own borders.
Behind me, I heard the sound of cardstock being pulverized. I knew without looking that Kayden's jaw was locked, his fist crushing Zander's "See you soon" into a shapeless ball of paper. I felt Nova's gaze like a physical weight—a buzz of electricity against my skin as she watched my every move. I ignored her. I ignored the rising tide of frantic whispers and the scent of mounting panic filling the air.
"Shut it!" The command ripped through the room like a gunshot. The silence that followed was absolute. Every Alpha, every guard, even Amelia and Luca in the back, froze. Their shocked expressions were all the same. I didn't care about their traditions or their egos anymore. I had their attention, and I wasn't going to waste it.
"By now, I'm sure most of you have realized the threat is no longer a rumor," I said, my voice echoing in the hollow silence. I gestured toward the box on the table. "This was addressed to Alpha Nova and the other Alphas. We received a similar gift yesterday. This is proof that the Tigers don't just know we are here—they know who you are. They know your names, your packs, and your borders. If you think running back to your territories will save you, you're mistaken. You'll just be giving them the chance to pick you off one by one when you aren't expecting it."
I saw the flicker of recognition in their eyes—the cold realization that the walls of their homes were no longer thick enough. "You wonder if your help will make a difference?" I challenged, leaning over the table. "I ask you this: will you fare any better alone? Do you really want to gamble the lives of your mates and children on the hope that Zander hasn't marked your pack for annihilation next?" Nervous whispers broke out. They looked at each other, searching for a strength that wasn't there. I didn't give them a chance to find it.
"You all boast about your hatred for Tigers," I continued, my voice dripping with ice. "You brag about your border skirmishes and your strength. And yet, the moment a real army marches toward you, you tuck your tails and run. I don't know when the definition of an 'Alpha' changed, but the leaders I grew up with would never stoop so low. They stood tall. Even in a losing battle, they fought on the front lines, trading their lives for the honor of their pack. They died knowing they took as many of the enemy with them as possible." I let the silence hang, heavy and insulting.
"I didn't realize the Alphas of today were such cowards," I added, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Your ancestors would be ashamed." The reaction was instantaneous. The air in the room shifted from fear to a volatile, white-hot fury. Men puffed out their chests, their postures stiffening as they tried to reclaim their wounded pride. I watched, detached and focused, as my words hit exactly where I'd aimed. Even Nova looked at me with a new expression—impressed, surprised, and perhaps a little wary.
"How dare a Tiger like you call us cowards!" one Alpha roared, slamming a fist onto the table. "You know nothing of our strength!"
"Exactly!" another chimed in, his face flushed. "We could tear those Tigers apart if we chose to!" A chorus of muttered agreements and posturing growls rose from the council. In the middle of the noise, my gaze drifted across the room and locked onto Nicolas. He wasn't shouting. He was wearing a small, pleased smirk—the kind of look a proud father might give a daughter who had just exceeded his expectations. The shock of it hit me like a physical blow, rendering my mind blank for a heartbeat. Why was he looking at me like that?
I gave my head a sharp shake to clear the confusion. I couldn't afford to lose my momentum. "If you truly believe you stand a chance," I challenged, pitching my voice over the din, "then prove it. Stand with us. Join the fight." The room faltered. The nervous glances returned, the "Old Fools" suddenly realizing the price of their own boasting. "Of course," I added, my voice dripping with feigned sympathy, "I understand if you're too afraid that you aren't as capable as you claim to be. If you're too scared of losing, then by all means, run. We'll understand."
My words hit like a spark in a powder keg. The room erupted as Alpha after Alpha puffed out his chest, shouting their defiance and their sudden, fragile determination to fight. For a moment, it felt like victory. Then, a single voice cut through the noise. "But what about the New Moon?" It was as if someone had sucked all the oxygen out of the room. The silence that followed was heavy, suffocating. Every eye snapped back to me, the fire in their expressions replaced by a cold, looming dread. They were waiting for me to fail.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Nova move. She crossed her arms over her chest and arched an eyebrow in a challenging manner, as if daring me to produce the solution I'd promised on the first day. I didn't blink. I didn't hesitate. "You're right," I announced, my voice steady and clear. "The disappearance of the moon is the greatest obstacle we face. The Tigers are counting on your light being extinguished. They think you are blind in the dark." I paused, letting the weight of the threat sink in before I pivoted. "But as Alpha Nova hinted at yesterday, the lack of a moon does not affect the members of the Shadow Moon pack. Kayden and his pack."
"That's nice for them," a voice shouted from the back, "but how does that help the rest of us?" I snapped my gaze toward the speaker, my eyes narrowing. "If you would stop interrupting me, I was just getting to that." A few Alphas shifted uncomfortably, avoiding my stare. I turned my focus back to Nova, exhaling a slow, steadying breath. "Since the New Moon fuels this pack while it drains yours, we use that as our primary weapon. The core strategy remains the same: the Alpha Ego trap. You will be the lure. The Tigers expect you to be weakened, sluggish, and vulnerable—so that is exactly what you will show them. You will draw them into the killing fields we've prepared, making them overconfident. Then, Kayden's warriors—who will be at the peak of their strength in the darkness—will spring the trap. If any of you have wolves whose lineages aren't as tethered to the moon, they will join the vanguard. The rest of you provide the distraction."
A ripple of contemplative nodding went through the room. The men liked it; it sounded like a classic pincer maneuver. But Nova wasn't nodding. "It's a clever thought process," she said, her voice cool and analytical. "But you're missing a piece of the puzzle." I tilted my head, meeting her gaze. "And what would that be?" "A fine theory," she said, her voice cutting through the murmurs. "And it might work for an hour or two. But as the night drags on, the moon's absence will sap our strength until we are nothing but burdens on the battlefield. Furthermore," she leaned in, her eyes narrowing, "how do we even leave to bring reinforcements? If they are 'always watching,' as you say, we'll be picked off before we even reach our borders."
Every point Nova made felt like a physical weight pressing onto my shoulders, but I didn't let them buckle. I glanced back at Kayden. He was watching me with eyes that were both curious and terrified, and in that moment, my heart broke for him. A sad, fleeting smile pulled at the corners of my lips. He saw it. He saw the "goodbye" in my expression before I even spoke it. His lips tightened into a firm, panicked line, and he took a step toward me to intercept whatever I was about to say. I turned back to the room before he could reach me.
"You're right, Nova," I said, my voice cutting through the rising murmurs. "The New Moon is a ticking clock. Which is why we need to stall. We need to buy enough time for reinforcements to arrive and for your wolves to prepare." I could see Nova's mouth opening to ask the impossible question: how? "The only way to stall them is to bait them with the one thing they want more than anything else," I stated, my voice devoid of fear. "Me."
"NO!" Kayden's roar shook the walls, startling the council. Before I could breathe, he had grabbed my arm, spinning me around to face the storm in his eyes. His grip was firm—not to hurt me, but as if he were trying to anchor me to the earth so I couldn't float away. "We are not doing that," he hissed, his voice trembling with a mixture of fury and raw agony. "I just got you back. I refuse to let you leave again. I will not watch you walk back into their claws!"
My heart ached at the raw panic in his eyes. I reached up, my fingers covering his hand where it gripped my shoulder. "You don't have to worry, my love," I whispered, my voice thick with a sad, steadying smile. "I'm not giving myself up to them. But I have to lure Zander away. The farther I can lead them from these borders, the safer this pack—and every pack represented here—will be. It's the only way to clear a path for the reinforcements."
"No," Kayden rasped, his head shaking in a frantic, minute motion. "I can't lose you. I refuse to risk you." The blooming sadness in my chest felt like lead, even as a small part of me glowed at the depth of his devotion. But leadership wasn't about what we wanted; it was about what was required. Tears stung the corners of my eyes as I cupped his cheek, forcing him to look at me—truly look at me. "I know this is hard," I said softly. "But you know my words are true. You can deny it, Kayden, but the truth doesn't change just because we hate it."
He opened his mouth, a protest dying in his throat, his lips eventually settling into a line of pure, helpless frustration. I leaned forward, pressing a lingering kiss to his cheek. As I pulled away, his grip on my arm finally failed, sliding down until he caught my hand, squeezing it as if he could pull my soul back into his body. "Please," he begged, his voice a broken shadow of its usual strength. "Don't do this." I closed my eyes, inhaling his scent—sandalwood and forest rain. When I opened them, the sadness remained, but the resolve was iron. "This is the only way." I gently disentangled my fingers from his. I didn't give him a chance to plead again. I turned back to the room, facing the Alphas who sat in a silence so profound it felt like the world had stopped breathing.
I met Nova's gaze, my expression hard. "Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked, her voice uncharacteristically quiet. "How certain are you that it will even work?" I let out a sharp, cynical scoff. "What other choice do we have? If I don't go, Zander will have his eyes on every one of you. He'll pick you off before you even reach your treelines. At least this way, I draw the predator away from the herd. I give you the window you need to get home, gather your strength, and return before the night New Moon befalls upon us."
A slow, genuine smile curved Nova's lips—the first one I'd seen that didn't feel like a weapon. Without a word, she stepped back and sank to one knee, bowing her head in the ancient, highest sign of wolf-shifter respect. "Then I have no more complaints," she murmured. "My pack and I will stand by your side." The air in the room seemed to vibrate. I felt the crushing pressure in my chest lighten, replaced by a fragile, soaring sliver of hope. One by one, the other Alphas followed suit. The "Old Fools" who had spent days mocking Kayden and doubting me were now kneeling, their heads bowed in a silent promise of war. When I looked toward the back, I saw Nicolas and Delilah. They didn't look shocked. They looked... satisfied. They offered the same deep bow, their proud smiles.
The room was a sea of bowed heads, except for two clusters of people standing off to the side. The first Alpha stepped forward, his sigh heavy with the weight of a man who had already counted his losses. "I would like to help," he said, and I could hear the genuine ache in his voice. "Truly. But my pack is small. We barely function as it is. If I lose even a handful of warriors in a war you started, we would cease to exist. I cannot gamble their lives on a hope. If the Tigers come for us later... I will just have to face that end so my people can live a few days longer."
I felt a wave of sympathy for him. This wasn't cowardice; it was the quiet desperation of a dying lineage. "I understand," I said softly. "I'm sorry I couldn't offer you a better choice. I will ensure you leave tomorrow morning safely." He bowed his head in a gesture of profound gratitude. "Thank you. I appreciate your sacrifice, and I hope your endeavors go exactly as you intend." I watched him lead his people out, his departure leaving a hole in our formation but a sense of mutual respect in the air. Then, my gaze shifted to the final Alpha.
He didn't have the same quiet dignity. He was shifting from foot to foot, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an exit or a hidden trap. When I caught his eye and raised an eyebrow, he let out a sharp, forced cough and straightened his tunic, trying—and failing—to reclaim his Alpha presence. "I also... I cannot agree to this," he stammered. I crossed my arms over my chest, my eyebrow arching even higher. The air around me felt cold. "Oh?" I asked, my voice dropping an octave. "And why is that?"
"You might have everyone else fooled," Edward Kain said, his voice dripping with a condescending sigh, "but I'm not one of them. You're a Tiger shifter. Nothing you say or do changes that blood. How can anyone here truly trust a predator playing at being a martyr?" Behind me, I felt Kayden's aura flare—a low, dangerous growl vibrating in his chest. I didn't need to look back to know he was seconds away from turning Edward's face into a memory. I reached back, a silent warning for him to hold his ground. We didn't have time for a blood feud, even if Edward's smug expression made my own knuckles itch.
"If you truly feel that way," I said, my voice dangerously calm, "then why are you still standing in this room?" He rolled his eyes, a theatrical gesture that made my skin crawl. "I was hoping to help the others see your true colors. To remind them what you are. But I clearly underestimated your... influence. You're a better manipulator than I gave you credit for." I was stunned into a rare moment of silence. The sheer, unadulterated stupidity of his argument was something to marvel at. He was standing in a room full of people who had just seen severed heads, and his biggest concern was my lineage. "I hope you don't all come to regret this," Edward added, looking around the room with a self-righteous sneer.
"That's quite enough." Nova's head snapped up. Her glare was lethal enough to draw blood. "Shut up and get out, Alpha Edward Kain. If you don't have the balls or the capacity to fight, then leave. But don't sit there acting self-righteous when we all know the truth: you're just too weak to be of any real use. Everyone in this room knows you aren't a true Alpha, and no amount of posturing will change that. Now, get out."
Edward's face turned a violent shade of crimson, his unspoken rage radiating off him in waves. He jabbed a grubby finger toward Nova, his voice cracking with indignation. "You ignorant child! How dare you disrespect me? You know nothing of this world!" Nova didn't even flinch; she simply rolled her eyes, her boredom more insulting than any shout could have been. Edward turned his glare to the rest of the room, pointing at each Alpha in turn. "Don't come whining to me when this Tiger ultimately betrays you all!"
He spun on his heel, marching toward the door with his silent entourage trailing behind. Just as he reached the threshold, Nova called out one last time. "Don't worry, Edward. No one here is stupid enough to go to you for anything. Not unless they're looking to be stabbed in the back." The heavy door slammed shut, but through the glass panel, I saw him pause. He cast one final, hateful look at Nova before huffing and disappearing into the hallway. "Good riddance," Nova muttered, the sentiment echoed by a chorus of grim nods from the remaining Alphas.
I knew there was more to that story—a history of betrayal or failure that made Edward a pariah, but we didn't have the luxury of time. I made a mental note to ask Kayden about him later, assuming we all survived to see a 'later.' Nova straightened her jacket and looked at me, her expression professional and sharp. "Since that's over with, we should iron out the details of this plan before anyone leaves tomorrow. We need to be perfect." I offered her a thankful smile. She had taken the words right out of my mouth. "I couldn't agree more. Let's get to work."
The meeting had just begun to break up when the doors burst open. The pack doctor hurried in, clutching a folder as if it held the secrets to the universe. "Alpha! I have the lab results," he panted, oblivious to the heavy, metallic scent hanging in the air. "I know who the fingers belong to." Kayden didn't even look up. He pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long, weary groan. "Thanks, Doc. But we've already solved that particular puzzle."
The doctor blinked, his brow furrowed in genuine confusion. "How? How could you possibly know without the DNA sequencing?" A few of the departing Alphas cast sympathetic, dark looks at Kayden before slipping out. They didn't want to be in the room for what came next. Only a few remained—Nicolas and Delilah in the shadows, Nova and Maria standing like sentinels by my side. Kayden pointed a steady finger toward the center of the table. "Take a look in the box, Doc. Tell me if your 'results' match the evidence."
The doctor walked over, still wearing his professional mask. He leaned over the crate, peering into the crimson-stained mess. The transition was instant. His face went from inquisitive to a ghostly, sickly white. He recoiled, his eyes wide with a primal shock, chest heaving as he fought the literal urge to lose his lunch. Kayden sighed—a sound of pure, unadulterated disappointment. He looked at the man he usually relied on for logic and saw only someone who wasn't ready for the carnage that was coming.
The doctor finally managed to steady his breathing, though he kept his back firmly turned toward the box. "Do your results match?" Kayden asked, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. The doctor offered a tight, pained smile. "It would appear," he said, his voice straining for professional dignity, "that my results arrived a tad bit late this time around."
"You think?" Kayden snapped, pinching the bridge of his nose. But as the sarcasm faded, a cold realization hit me. I turned to Kayden, my brow furrowing. "Wait. You said your men checked the roster. You said no one was missing. But those heads... they belonged to men from this pack. I saw them in the cells myself. How could your scouts have missed two missing members?"
Kayden let out a long, heavy breath that sounded like a tire losing air. "Those men were part of this pack... at one time." The weight he put on that phrase made my skin crawl. "What exactly does that mean?" Kayden opened his mouth to explain, but Amelia cut him off before the first syllable could escape. "There was no way for us to know they were missing," she said sharply, her eyes flashing with a mix of defiance and regret. "Because they are no longer a part of this pack."
My eyes widened. Even though the answer was forming in my mind, the weight of it was staggering. "What do you mean they aren't part of the pack?" I didn't look at Kayden. I kept my eyes on Amelia, knowing she was the one holding the cold, hard truth. "After the incident in the cells," Amelia explained, her voice as dry as parchment, "and before Zander's first move, Kayden issued his verdict. For the crime of attacking their future Luna, regardless of whether they knew you were Kayden's mate or not. They were stripped of their rank and exiled. We don't track the movements of those who no longer belong to us."
The shock hit me like a physical wave. I turned to Kayden, my voice barely a whisper. "But why? They didn't really hurt me. I'd already put them in their place—they wouldn't have dared touch me again. Why cast them out?" Kayden stepped closer, his hands coming up to rest on my shoulders. His gaze was intense, burning with a fierce, possessive loyalty. "I know you handled them," he said, his voice low and vibrating with conviction. "I know you can fight your own battles. But I will never—ever—allow anyone in this pack to disrespect or harm my mate. If they turn on you, they turn on the pack. There is no middle ground."
My heart softened at the raw devotion in his eyes, but a cold knot of dread remained in my stomach. I let out a long, shaky sigh, realizing there was no point in arguing a past that had already been written in blood. I looked back at the box on the table. Zander hadn't just killed two rogues; he had taken Kayden's "justice" and turned it into a nightmare for us both to share.
"You realize what this means," I said, the weight of the thought making my voice drop. "Zander didn't just find them by accident. He's been watching us. He's been lingering at our borders long enough to see you exile these two and snatch them up the moment they stepped off our land." Kayden's jaw looked like it was carved from granite. His eyes hardened as he stared at the box. "That would appear to be the case." The room felt suddenly claustrophobic, the air thick with the realization that we were being observed even now. Every shadow in the corner felt like a pair of watching eyes.
The doctor broke the silence, shifting nervously. "Seeing as I'm... no longer needed, do you have any issue if I leave now?" An expression of pure annoyance crossed Kayden's face. "Fine. You can leave." Relief washed over the doctor, and he turned to bolt for the door, but Kayden's voice stopped him cold. "Take that with you." Kayden pointed to the blood-stained crate. The doctor spun around, his face twisting in disgust. "You can't be serious!"
Kayden raised an eyebrow, his patience clearly at its end. "I am perfectly serious. You're the pack doctor. It's your job to handle the deceased. Burn the remains and ensure the families receive the ashes to do with as they see fit. It's more than they deserve, but it's what they'll get." The doctor's face scrunched up as he looked at the caked, dried blood beneath the box. "Can't I just... send someone from the lab to collect it?" he asked, his voice bordering on a whine.
Kayden's eyes flashed with a cold, unrelenting authority. "No," he said, his voice dropping into a dangerous register. "You don't get to wait for someone else to do the work you're assigned just because it's unpleasant. None of us enjoyed being in this room with those remains, but we do what must be done. Including you. Take the box." The doctor looked like he wanted to argue, but one look at Kayden's hardened expression silenced him. With a grimace, he pulled a pair of latex gloves from his pocket. He kept his chin tucked and his eyes averted as he reached out, hurriedly folding the cardboard flaps over the carnage. He hoisted the crate with a grunt of effort and scurried out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the hall in a frantic rhythm.
Kayden let out a long, weary sigh and rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. I opened my mouth to offer some small comfort, but Delilah's voice beat me to it. "Well," she said, smoothing her dress, "I think Nicolas and I are going to find some lunch." She looked at me with a soft, inviting smile. "You're welcome to join us." I appreciated the offer, but the weight of the coming morning was already pulling at me. "I think we'll have better luck seeing each other at dinner. There's too much to prepare before the sun goes down."
Delilah nodded understandingly. "Of course. The offer stands if you change your mind." She stepped forward, pulling me into a sudden, fierce hug. As she held me, she leaned in, her voice a warm whisper against my ear. "Nicco and I stayed behind to tell you that we believe in you. If you ever need us, for anything... we are on your side." A surge of warmth spread through my chest, chasing away some of the lingering chill from the meeting. I hugged her back, tighter than I intended. When we pulled apart, I looked past her to Nicolas. He stood stoically, his arms crossed, but as our eyes met, he gave a single, slow nod—a silent vow that his mate spoke the truth. Without another word, the two of them turned and disappeared through the doors.
Once the others had filtered out, Nova spoke up. "Well, as interesting as today has been, I think I'll find some lunch before joining your warriors for training. I'd like to see your dynamics in action." She took a step toward the exit, but Kayden's voice stopped her cold. Nova was halfway to the door when Kayden's voice halted her. "Wait a moment."
She and Maria paused, turning back with twin expressions of curiosity. Kayden signaled to Luca, who had been standing like a silent sentinel by the door. Once Luca joined us, Kayden turned his focus to Nova. "If it's not too much trouble," Kayden said, his tone more urgent now, "I need you two to describe the man who delivered that package. If we're lucky, his identity might be the key to figuring out how these 'gifts' are slipping through our lines undetected." Nova glanced at Maria, who gave a noncommittal shrug. "If you think it will help," Nova said, her voice softening slightly, "I don't have a problem sharing what I saw."
Kayden let out a visible sigh of relief, the tension in his shoulders dropping an inch. He looked at his second-in-command. "Luca, walk them down to the dining hall. See that they're fed, and while you're at it, get every detail they have on that messenger. Don't miss a thing." Luca nodded solemnly before turning to the two women with a respectful bow. "If you'll follow me, I'll lead the way." I saw an amused twinkle in Maria's eyes as she watched Luca's formal, gentlemanly behavior. "Very well," Nova replied, a small smirk playing on her lips. "We shall be in your care for the moment." Luca held the door open for them with practiced grace, and as they disappeared into the hall, the heavy silence of the room finally returned.
Before they disappeared into the hall, Nova turned back. "Please, don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything—even after the dust settles. Maria and I have both come to respect you. Your blood might be Tiger, but your heart belongs to a leader. If you ever need us, we will stand with you."
"Yeah!" Maria added, leaning around Nova with a bright grin. "Even if it's just to hang out. Our territories are only a couple of hours apart. We could easily make it a day trip. Drinks, training, whatever you want." Nova chuckled at Maria's enthusiasm, but her eyes remained serious as she met mine. "I agree. Besides, I could use more strong female friends." A surge of warmth filled my chest. Thinking of all the good people I'd met since arriving here, my smile widened. "I'll definitely keep that in mind." "Please do," Nova said with her usual bluntness. "We'll be awaiting your response."
The moment the door clicked shut, Amelia turned to me, eyes wide. "Damn. Who would've thought you'd win over the Alpha of the Ever-Blooming pack that easily? You have to teach me your tricks." I rolled my eyes, the smile still lingering on my lips. "Honestly, I have no idea what I did." Amelia sighed, leaning back. "Well, it's a good thing regardless. You're just a likable person—I get why she's impressed. And besides, one can never have too many allies."
The moment Amelia and I stopped talking, the room felt as though it had been plunged into a cold, suffocating silence. Even Amelia looked uncomfortable, though I didn't need to look back to know the source of the tension. Kayden stood there, his expression dark and nearly unreadable. I took a deep breath, preparing to ask what he was thinking, but he cut me off. "Don't tell me you're honestly going through with this sham of a plan."
I winced at the harshness in his voice. My first instinct was to snap back with the same heat, but I forced myself to remain calm. I knew this wasn't anger—it was fear for me. "You and I both know this is the only way to buy everyone time," I said quietly. "It's the only way to keep the tigers from picking off the other Alphas the moment they leave our borders." He dragged his fingers through his hair, his frustration boiling over. "Yeah, but it doesn't have to be you."
A small, sad smile touched my lips. "If not me, Kayden, then who? Who else could draw Zander's attention as easily as I can?" He opened his mouth to argue, but the words died before he could speak. He tried again, then simply shook his head. "I don't know who. But anyone would be better than you." "I wish that were true," I sighed. "I wish I could stay here with you, but we both know that isn't an option."
"No," Kayden insisted, shaking his head. "There has to be another way." I stepped closer and cupped his cheek, forcing him to meet my eyes. "I wish there were, too. But even if we had all the time in the world to find one, there is no guarantee it would work half as well as this."
Kayden shook his head aggressively. "No. I refuse to let you sacrifice yourself. To hell with those people—they can find their own way to protect themselves. There is no way in hell I'm allowing you to walk straight into a slaughter." I had expected him to fight me on this. Actually, I was surprised he'd held back this long. "Kayden, those people agreed to lend us their strength for the war," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "The least we can do is ensure they survive until the battle truly starts. We gave our word; we have to uphold that trust."
"I don't care about trust!" he snapped. "I will not let my mate—the love of my life—go headfirst into danger without backup." A wave of warmth flooded my chest at his words, but it was immediately followed by a sharp ache of sadness. "If anyone comes with me, they'll only slow me down. You have to stay here, Kayden. You have to protect the pack and lead the defense." He began to pace frantically, his head shaking as he muttered, "No. I don't care what anyone says. You aren't going."
I glanced over at Amelia. She looked just as exhausted and saddened by the circular argument as I felt. When our eyes met, she offered a helpless shrug, signaling that she was out of ideas on how to reach him. I groaned inwardly and turned back to Kayden. He was still pacing, lost in his own panic. Looking at him, I knew there was only one way to end this—one way to make him let me go. I hadn't planned on using it so soon, but I was out of options.
I sighed. "That's enough, Kayden. We both know I'm going, whether you like it or not." He froze, his pacing coming to an abrupt halt. He turned to me, his face a mask of shock. "How could you say that to me?" He took a heavy step forward, shaking his head. "No. I won't allow it. You are my mate, and I refuse to let you go anywhere where I can't guarantee your safety. Even if I have to be the villain—even if I have to lock you away to keep you from harm—I'll do it."
Behind us, Amelia gasped. "Kayden..." she started, her voice thick with disappointment. Whatever she was going to say was drowned out by my laughter. It started as a giggle and bubbled up into a full, genuine laugh. Both Kayden and Amelia stared at me, their expressions shifting from anger to pure confusion. I couldn't help it. The idea that Kayden actually thought he had the power to keep me caged was, quite frankly, adorable. He could try every trick in the book, but there wasn't a prison in this world that could hold me if I decided to leave.
When I finally caught my breath, I wiped a stray tear from my cheek. Kayden looked concerned now, his mouth opening as if to ask if I'd finally snapped under the pressure. I cut him off before he could speak. "Sorry. I just... I couldn't stop myself. It's cute that you think you have the power to keep me locked up, or that you could even catch me in the first place." His expression darkened instantly, a flash of bruised Alpha pride igniting in his eyes. He was clearly about to launch into a defense of his strength and his rank, but I didn't give him the chance. "Not that it matters what you think you can accomplish," I continued, my voice turning cool and steady. "It will never even get to that point."
My words stopped him mid-stride. He took a step back, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "And why, exactly, do you think that?" A smirk played on my lips as I tilted my head, leaning into his space. "Did you forget? When we first met, we struck a certain deal." The color drained from Kayden's face instantly. "You... you can't seriously be thinking of using one of those favors now, are you?" I tapped a finger against my chin, making a show of weighing my options. "Well, considering I have two of them—and if I use one, you're bound by your Alpha code to agree to whatever I ask—I'd say I'm considering it very seriously. Especially when you're acting like this."
"That might be true, but..." He stammered, his confidence crumbling. "But don't you think it's a bit... silly? To waste something so valuable on this?" I crossed my arms, my gaze unwavering. "Technically, I'd prefer not to use it at all. You never know when a favor like that will come in handy. But if you keep trying to keep me under lock and key, you won't leave me much choice." Kayden's eyes widened at my matter-of-fact tone. Then, his expression darkened, a low, dangerous edge returning to his voice. "Is that really what you want to do? Use our history as a weapon against me?"
A wave of panic suddenly clawed at my chest. I knew instinctively that I was pushing him toward a breaking point, and the air in the room felt thick with the threat of a true Alpha's temper. But I knew if I backed down now, I'd lose my only chance to save everyone. So I knew I couldn't back down here, no matter how much I might want to.
"Do you honestly think you're giving me a choice?" His jaw clenched, a muscle jumping in his cheek. "So be it, then."
"Please, Kayden," I whispered, the panic in my chest turning into an ache. "It doesn't have to be like this. Don't make me do this." His expression went cold and detached. "I didn't make it this way," he said flatly. "You did." The words stung so sharply my head actually recoiled, as if he had physically slapped me. I reached out, my hand trembling as I tried to bridge the distance and ease the suffocating tension. But just before my fingers could graze his arm, he flinched away.
Before I could say a word, the door burst open. Luca marched triumphantly into the room, waving a small notepad like it held the secrets of the universe. I knew I shouldn't be angry—he had no idea what he'd just walked into—but I couldn't stop myself from glaring at him. Luca froze after only a few steps, his grin dying. He looked to Amelia for help, but she only pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. "Did I come at a bad time?" Luca asked, his voice laced with confusion. "What's wrong?"
Kayden didn't look at me. He moved right past me as if I were a ghost. "Did you get the information?" My heart ached at the dismissal. It was as if I'd been erased. Luca looked between us, bewildered, but he held the notebook out to Kayden. "Of course. And based on what I've found, I'm pretty sure I know exactly who delivered that box."
Kayden skimmed the notes, a grim, satisfied smile touching his lips. "Good work. Let's go pay them a visit." Luca blinked, his gaze darting between us. "Are you sure? Now? It can wait a few minutes if you need to... or Amelia and I can handle it while you—" Kayden's hand shot up, cutting him off. "I've finished everything here," he said, his voice like flint. "Why would it wait? I want to question this person myself."
The words hit me like a physical blow. Seeing the pity in Luca's eyes, I knew my face was an open book of my heartbreak. "Kayden!" Amelia snapped, but he ignored her. He looked at Luca, his jaw set. "Are you coming or not?" Without waiting for an answer, he spun on his heel and strode out of the room. Amelia watched him go, her mouth agape in shock, while Luca offered me a final, apologetic glance before scurrying after his Alpha.
My mind reeled. I didn't even notice Amelia move until I felt her hand, heavy and comforting, on my shoulder. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "He's so stubborn. He'll come around, I'm sure of it." A lump formed in my throat, making it painful to swallow as the panic began to claw at my chest again. "Do you honestly think he'll get over it before I leave tomorrow?" Amelia flinched. She hadn't expected the question, and the certainty she'd had a moment ago vanished. She looked away, unable to meet my eyes, her silence speaking louder than any hollow reassurance could have. Her expression told me everything I needed to know.