Chapter 15: Chapter Fifteen

Chapter 15:

Lia’s POV

I stood across from Quinn, her forced smile not quite reaching her eyes, and my stomach twisted with unease. The bond with Edgar thrummed in my chest, a constant reminder of last night’s attack at the cabin, claws, blood, and Connor’s chilling promise. I’d come here to get answers, to learn how to control the wolf waking inside me, but the way Quinn’s hands fidgeted behind the counter made my skin prickle. Something was off, and I was done ignoring my instincts.

“Quinn,” I said, keeping my voice steady, though my heart was pounding too loud again, that unnatural rhythm I couldn’t shake. “You said you’d help me understand what’s happening to me. So start talking. What’s the deal with the Ironclad curse? And why does Connor want me so badly?”

Her eyes flicked to the door, then back to me, her smile faltering. “It’s… complicated, Lia. The curse is old, tied to the Ironclad alphas. It’s about power, blood, and the moon. Moonbound mates, like you, are part of it, but I don’t know all the details. Edgar’s the one who should”

“Edgar’s not here,” I cut in, my voice sharp. I stepped closer, the mark on my shoulder burning faintly, like it knew we were digging into dangerous territory. “And I’m tired of half-answers. You knew about the festival, about the werewolves, and you didn’t warn me. Now the Frostclad are hunting me, and someone in the clan’s betraying us. If you know something, Quinn, tell me. I can’t keep stumbling around blind.”

Her face paled, and for a moment, I thought I saw guilt flash in her eyes. She opened her mouth, then closed it, her hands gripping the counter like it was the only thing keeping her steady. “I told you what I know,” she said, her voice too careful. “The Frostclad want to break the Ironclad, and you’re… you’re a way to do that. As for the traitor, I don’t know who it is. I swear.”

I didn’t believe her. Not fully. The bond was messing with my head, making it hard to trust anyone, but there was something in the way she avoided my gaze, the way her scent shifted, sharp, like fear or lies. “Quinn,” I said, softening my tone, trying to reach the friend I thought I’d made. “If you’re hiding something, tell me now. I don’t want to be enemies.”

Her eyes met mine, and for a second, I saw something raw, pain, maybe, or jealousy. “We’re not enemies,” she said quietly, but there was an edge to her voice, a crack that made my wolf stir, alert. “I’m trying to help you, Lia. But you need to trust me.”

“Trust goes both ways,” I said, my voice low. I wanted to push, to demand she tell me everything, but a sharp pain shot through my chest, making me gasp. The mark on my shoulder flared, hot and insistent, and my vision blurred, the room tilting. That wild thing inside me, the wolf, clawed at my ribs, stronger than ever, like it was trying to break free.

“Lia?” Quinn’s voice was sharp, concerned, but it sounded far away. She moved around the counter, reaching for me, but I stumbled back, my hands clutching at my chest. My heartbeat was deafening, drowning out everything else, and my skin burned, like fire was racing through my veins.

“I’m fine,” I gasped, but I wasn’t. The wolf was pushing harder now, my bones aching, my nails lengthening into claws before I could stop them. Panic surged, Edgar’s warning echoing in my head: If you shift too soon, it could kill you. I tried to breathe, to focus, but the world was slipping, the bookstore fading into a haze of instinct and hunger.

“Sit down,” Quinn said, her hands on my shoulders, guiding me to a chair. Her touch was steady, but her eyes were wide, worried. “Breathe, Lia. You’re fighting it too hard. Let it happen, but slow. You can control it.”

I shook my head, my voice a rasp. “I can’t… it’s too much.” My claws scratched at the wooden armrest, leaving gouges, and I felt it, the wolf, wild and fierce, ready to tear through me. I wanted to fight, to run, to be anything but this thing I didn’t understand.

Quinn knelt in front of me, her voice low, urgent. “Listen to me. You’re moonbound. The wolf’s part of you now. Don’t fight it, guide it. Picture it like a river, not a storm. Let it flow, not crash.”

Her words were an anchor, and I clung to them, forcing my breathing to slow, picturing a river like she said, cool and steady. The pain eased, just a fraction, and my claws retracted, my vision clearing. I slumped back in the chair, my body trembling, sweat beading on my forehead. “I… I did it,” I whispered, more to myself than her.

“You did,” Quinn said, but her voice was tight, her eyes darting to the door again. “You’re stronger than you think, Lia. But you need to be careful. If you lose control out there, with the Frostclad watching…”

She didn’t finish, but she didn’t have to. I knew what she meant. Connor was waiting for a weakness, a moment to strike. And someone in the Ironclad was helping him. My eyes locked onto hers, searching for the truth. “Quinn,” I said, my voice steady now, “if you’re the one working with Connor, I’ll find out. And I won’t forgive you.”

Her face went still, her eyes wide, but she didn’t deny it. She just stood, stepping back, her hands twisting together. “I’m not,” she said, but her voice wavered, just enough to make my wolf growl. “I’m on your side, Lia. I promise.”

I wanted to believe her, but the doubt was there, sharp and cold, like a blade in my gut. Before I could press her, a low growl rumbled outside, not close but close enough. My head snapped toward the window, my wolf senses flaring, catching the scent of frost and blood. Frostclad. Again.

“Stay here,” Quinn said, moving toward the door, her own claws lengthening. “I’ll check it out.”

“No,” I said, standing, my legs shaky but my resolve firm. “I’m done hiding. If they’re here, I’m facing them.”

Quinn’s eyes flashed, a mix of frustration and something else, fear, maybe, or guilt. “Lia, you’re not ready”

“I’m ready enough,” I snapped, the wolf in me rising, fierce and unyielding. I didn’t know if I could trust her, but I wasn’t going to sit here like prey. The bond with Edgar pulsed, urging me to find him, to fight beside him, but for now, I was on my own. And I was done being afraid.