Chapter 160 The Guardian's Son

Chapter 160 Wolfsbane Test
Lyra POV

The woman led us through the main hall of the White Moon bar, her hooded figure gliding gracefully between sparse tables. The interior was decorated in cool blue and white tones, creating an atmosphere that felt both modern and ancient at once. Ancient wolf symbols adorned the walls—some I recognized from old pack histories, others completely foreign to me.

Only a handful of patrons occupied the dimly lit space, most sitting alone, nursing drinks with distant gazes. None looked up as we passed. The air carried a strange mixture of herbs and alcohol that made my nose twitch uncomfortably.

"Something's off about this place," my wolf growled internally. I couldn't disagree.

"Stay close to me," Gabriel murmured, his hand resting protectively at the small of my back as we followed our mysterious guide toward the rear of the establishment.

"I'm not planning to wander off," I whispered back, scanning our surroundings. "But we should hear what she has to say first."

He nodded slightly, his eyes never stopping their vigilant assessment of potential threats. I could feel the tension radiating from him—the Alpha preparing for any possibility.

The woman led us through a narrow hallway and stopped before an unmarked wooden door. With practiced ease, she produced a key from beneath her cloak and unlocked it, gesturing for us to enter.

The back room stood in stark contrast to the sleek bar we'd just left. Ancient books lined rough wooden shelves, strange herbs hung in bundles from the ceiling, and various bottles and containers cluttered every surface. The modern bar facade gave way to what appeared to be a witch's study from centuries past.

Gabriel positioned himself strategically between me and the door, his body language making it clear he was ready to move at a moment's notice.

Our guide closed the door behind us and finally lowered her hood. I barely contained my gasp. Her face was weathered beyond her years, crisscrossed with scars that told stories of violence and survival. Though she couldn't have been more than sixty, her eyes held the weariness of someone who had lived several lifetimes.

Without speaking, she moved to an ornate cabinet and withdrew a dusty bottle containing amber liquid. She poured it carefully into three glasses, then reached for a small vial of vibrant green fluid. Into one glass she poured a generous amount, while the other two received just a single drop each.

She lifted the glass with the most green liquid and drank it quickly. Her body immediately convulsed, her face contorting in obvious pain as she gripped the edge of a nearby table for support.

"Are you alright?" I asked, stepping forward instinctively.

Gabriel's arm shot out to block my path, but the woman had already recovered enough to wave dismissively.

"I'm fine," she rasped, her voice strained. "It's just the wolfsbane. Necessary precaution."

"Wolfsbane?" I repeated, recognizing the name of the toxic herb that could be deadly to our kind.

She nodded, straightening her posture with visible effort. "I must ensure I cannot be sensed by any wolf or pack. Not yours, not anyone's."

Gabriel's eyes narrowed. "You're from White Moon, aren't you? One of the original guard?"

A thin smile crossed her scarred face, but she didn't confirm or deny his assumption. Instead, she pushed the two remaining glasses toward us. "If you want answers, you must prove yourselves worthy of them."

"We're friends of Orion," Gabriel stated firmly. "That should be enough."

The woman scoffed. "That's hardly sufficient. Many claim friendship with the Timber Ridge Alpha." She gestured to the glasses. "Drink this, and I'll know you truly seek the truth."

Gabriel stepped forward, his expression hardening. "We will not drink this."

"It's diluted," she explained, her tone impatient. "Enough to test your commitment, not enough to cause permanent harm."

When Gabriel remained unmoved, she sighed heavily. "You can leave now, if you wish. But the answers you seek leave with you."

I felt a surge of frustration. We had come so far, and this might be our only chance to learn about my white wolf heritage. Gabriel was already taking my hand and leaving, his decision made.

"Wait," I said, my voice steady despite the pounding of my heart. "I'll drink it."

Gabriel whirled to face me, his expression a mixture of anger and concern. "Lyra, no. We'll find another way."

"If you won't drink," I continued, addressing the woman while ignoring Gabriel's protest, "he can wait outside."

Gabriel's jaw clenched. "I'm not leaving you alone with her."

He turned to the woman, his voice dropping to a dangerous timbre. "I'll drink both portions. She stays, unharmed."

The woman's eyebrows rose in surprise. "You're her mate?"

Gabriel hesitated only briefly before nodding. "I am."

The scarred woman studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Very well. I accept your terms. You drink both, and you both stay."

I grabbed Gabriel's arm. "Two doses could seriously hurt you—"

"The effects will be stronger," the woman interrupted, "but far from fatal. He will recover quickly." She looked at me with knowing eyes. "It merely severs the pack link temporarily and prevents one form shifting. When it returns, our conversation ends. One person taking two doses simply means we can talk longer."

I still wasn't convinced. "Gabriel, please, let me drink my own dose. I won't let you take all the risk."

He leaned close, his voice so low only I could hear. "You're still recovering from healing Eliza. You can't risk it." His eyes met mine with fierce intensity. "If something happens to me, you run."

Before I could argue further, he straightened and reached for both glasses. The woman watched with newfound respect as he downed the first, then the second without hesitation.