Chapter 16: A Flicker Of Hope

Chapter 16: A Flicker Of Hope
LEONA
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The market buzzed with life around us, but my mind wandered as Haelyn moved from one vendor to another. She hummed a cheery tune, her joy infectious to everyone except me. I was too wrapped up in my thoughts, plotting, planning, and wondering what lay ahead.
"Leona, look at this!" Haelyn exclaimed, holding up a delicate necklace adorned with tiny silver beads. "It'd look great on you."
I forced a smile. "It's pretty."
She tilted her head, studying me. "You're so hard to read sometimes. But that's okay. You'll warm up eventually."
I doubted that. My heart was weighed down by too much—my mission, my sisters, and the constant ache that Alpha Zane's actions had left behind.
We continued down the aisle of the market, past merchants calling out their wares. My eyes darted around, taking in every detail, every face. The lively atmosphere should have been comforting, but instead, it only heightened my unease. Somewhere in this bustling kingdom was the man I had to face—the man who had ruined me.
"Haelyn," I began hesitantly as she stopped to inspect a stall selling fruits.
"Hmm?" she replied, tossing an orange in her hand.
"What's Alpha Zane like?"
Her hand froze midair, and she glanced at me, her expression guarded. "Why do you ask?"
I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Just curious. Everyone talks about him like he's some kind of legend. I've always wondered if he's as… intimidating as they say."
Haelyn chuckled nervously, placing the orange back on the pile. "Well, he's not someone you'd want to cross, that's for sure. But he's fair, I think. He doesn't tolerate nonsense, but he looks out for the pack in his own way."
Fair? I bit back a bitter laugh. If only she knew.
"Have you ever met him?" I pressed, keeping my tone light.
"No, not directly. I've only seen him from afar during pack gatherings. He's... intense, I guess you could say." She paused, glancing at me. "Why all the interest, though?"
"Like I said, just curious," I replied quickly.
She didn't look convinced, but she let it go, turning her attention back to the fruits.



When we returned from the market, I was grateful to retreat into the quiet of her home. Haelyn busied herself unpacking the groceries, but my thoughts were elsewhere. As the afternoon stretched on, the burden of my mission grew heavier.
Later that evening, I rolled my wheelchair out to the garden where I had first seen him. The moon hung low in the sky, casting its soft glow over the blossoms. The place was beautiful, peaceful even, but I couldn't enjoy it.
I waited, my eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of him. My pulse quickened at the thought of seeing him again—his piercing gaze, his commanding presence. But as the minutes ticked by, it became clear that tonight wouldn't be the night.
A sigh escaped my lips as I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes for a moment. "Where are you, Zane?" I whispered into the night.
But I couldn't afford to dwell on his absence. Clearing him from my thoughts, I turned back toward the direction of Haelyn's home.
The streets of the kingdom were lively as children laughed and played, and the rich aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the air. People moved with purpose, their faces lit with joy or determination.
But in the midst of it all, I felt like a ghost.
I wheeled myself aimlessly, my mind a storm of thoughts. Every second that passed without a plan felt like a countdown to Fiona's doom. She was trapped, and suffering, and I couldn't waste any more time. I needed to act, but how?
I clenched the armrests of my wheelchair, my frustration mounting. The world around me was too loud, too bright, too alive while my heart screamed in silent chaos.
"Think, Leona," I muttered under my breath.
And then, as if the Moon Goddess herself had heard my plea, a gust of wind carried a piece of paper straight into my face.
Startled, I grabbed the flyer, peeling it off. I squinted at the bold letters printed across the top:
"MAID NEEDED AT THE PALACE."
Before I could fully process the words, a boy's voice interrupted me.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry, miss!"
I looked up to see a young boy, probably no older than ten, rushing toward me. His arms were laden with a stack of identical flyers, some slipping from his grasp.
"It's my fault," he said breathlessly, his cheeks flushed. "I didn't mean for it to hit you."
"It's fine," I replied, waving off his apology as my gaze flicked back to the flyer.
He noticed my interest and hesitated before explaining. "The Alpha's palace is looking for a maid. My dad works for the pack council, and he asked me to hand these out around the kingdom."
I nodded slowly, my heart beginning to race. "So... they're hiring urgently?"
"Yes, ma'am! They need someone right away. I think one of the maids left or something."
I kept my expression neutral, but inside, something clicked. The boy had no idea what he'd just given me.
"Well, thank you," I said with a small smile, handing the flyer back to him.
"No, you keep it!" He grinned before running off, his bundle of flyers flapping wildly in the breeze.
I stared down at the paper in my hands, its edges slightly crumpled from the wind.
A plan began to take shape in my mind, one that seemed almost too perfect. If the palace needed someone immediately, it meant they'd be desperate. And desperate employers asked fewer questions.
This was my chance. My way in.
I glanced back toward the boy disappearing into the crowd and allowed myself a small smirk. Tomorrow, I would apply for the position.
I was going to get into that palace, get closer to Alpha Zane, and find the answers I needed.
Fiona's life depended on it.