Chapter 192

LUXURIA.

"I told you the time will come faster than you even imagine..." Rorden traced a lazy path along my cheek, "The time when you'd stand by my side as mine... The time is already upon us, dear Luxuria."

My restrained hands twitched, aching to curl into fists, to drive my knuckles into his jaw and watch his smug mouth spill blood.

Instead, I did the only thing I could. I spat in his face.

"You will never succeed in this evil you plan," I hissed, watching as the glob of spit trailed down his cheek. "The goddess will never accept the abomination you just committed in the name of rituals."

Rorden didn't flinch. He simply exhaled through his nose, dragging a thumb across his cheek, wiping the spit away with an infuriating calmness.

I scoffed, shaking my head. "How could you even harness such thoughts against your own brother?"

My eyes scanned the large field, taking in the fearful-looking men who were being fortified with Rorden's blood mixed with some kind of powerful herbs and substances.

I couldn't even begin to imagine their numbers. They were like the sands.

"He isn't my brother, Luxuria," He stated firmly, but his touch was still soft, "He never has been."

He held my jaw tightly and planted a brief, hard, punishing kiss on my lips before pulling away, "One day, you'll thank me for this. By the time you stand by my side as my Luna, you'll be grateful you stuck with me." He said, and before I'd remind him that I'd never be his, a certain tall, broad-shouldered man whom I knew too well walked toward us.

"Alpha Rorden," Tervan greeted, and I instantly felt like puking at the sight of it. "We are all set."

"Good. Tell the men to get ready to move." Rorden said, and Tervan nodded. He was about to leave without even acknowledging my insignificant presence, but I stopped him.

I forced down the lump in my throat. "Why?" I breathed. "Why would you join this beast in his quest to destroy your friend? A man who has been like a brother to you for so many years?"

A lone tear slid down my cheek, but I barely felt it.

Tervan finally turned, and when his gaze met mine, I saw no regret. Only a cold smirk as he spoke from over his shoulder, "Parthe is a friend to nobody. He only cares about himself. The earlier you realize that the better for you."

A chill crawled up my spine.

"Mount your horse, mate. We have a long night ahead of us," he murmured into my ears, with satisfaction dripping from every word before walking away and signaling to some warriors to help get me on the horse.

***

ALPHA PARTHE.

I saw it again. The same dream. Seven battle horses surrounded the seven gates of my pack.

Chaos spread like wildfire.

Screams. Steel clashing. Blood soaking into the very soil I had sworn to protect.

And there, standing at the heart of it all—someone I knew. Someone I trusted.

But I still couldn't make out a face, no matter how hard I tried.

I was sweating profusely. I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep on the study table in my chamber.

I was breathing hard, as though I had fought a thousand army single-handedly.

A thick layer of sweat clung to my skin, soaking through my shirt. My study table was a mess—maps, and scrolls dampened with sweat, ink smudged where my arm had rested.

I straightened, trying to still the storm within me as I stared down at the scrolls - the maps of my pack.

I leaned back in my chair, eyes narrowing at the candlelight flickering against the far wall.

Urik's words echoed in my mind: "The enemy won't always come from beyond the gates, Parthe. Sometimes, they're already inside."

I rubbed my hand over my jaw.

His words held a lot of wisdom after he spoke to me earlier. Even though a part of me still pricks me for doubting Tervan, Urik made a lot of valid points about the attack from the supposed enemy in general.

So, whether the threat came from outside or within, one truth remained—I needed to strengthen my pack's defenses. Immediately.

Preparations would begin at dawn. I would not allow my people to be caught unguarded.

I was too blinded by my worry about Luxuria. She consumed too much of my mind lately. Made me reckless and irrational.

I exhaled sharply, raking a hand through my damp hair.

Tervan hadn't been in the pack all day. He had insisted on scouting the battlefield, wanting to see firsthand how the war with the Valor Shield pack was faring.

I had told him it wasn't necessary.

Yet he went anyway.

And something about that did not sit right with me.

I sat there, staring at the sweat-smudged maps, my fingers curled into fists. Something about tonight felt... wrong.

The air was too still. Too heavy. Too saddening. Like the moments before a storm.

But that stillness didn't last any longer because it was shattered by a loud scream.

It was faint at first. Almost lost to the night.

Then another. This one was raw, high-pitched, and laced with terror.

I sat up straighter. My fingers flexed against the table.

A third scream.

I stood up to my feet immediately, my whole senses at alert, when I heard Horik's voice from the mind-link.

"Alpha! We are under attack!"

I froze.