Chapter 8: Chapter Eight

Chapter 8

Lia’s POV

The cabin’s wooden floor creaked under my pacing feet, the dim glow of a single lantern casting jittery shadows on the walls. My shoulder still throbbed where the mark pulsed, a constant reminder of the night before Connor’s taunting words, Edgar’s fierce protection, and the wild, clawing thing inside me that had nearly broken free. I hadn’t slept, not really. My dreams were a mess of wolves circling me, their eyes glowing like the ones I’d seen in the forest, and a life I didn’t recognize a stone castle, a woman’s laughter, a man’s voice whispering my name. Each time I woke, my heart pounded so loud I thought it might shatter my ribs.

I stopped pacing, gripping the edge of the table, my knuckles whitening. Edgar had left me here at dawn with a ‘court’ order to stay put, his dark eyes stormy with something he wouldn’t say. “I’ll be back,” he’d promised, but his voice was tight, like he was holding back a truth I wasn’t ready for. I hated being caged, hated the way he thought he could shield me from whatever Duskwood was hiding. But more than that, I hated the way my body ached for him to stay, that stupid bond pulling at me even when I wanted to shove it away.

A knock at the door jolted me upright. My pulse spiked, the mark on my shoulder flaring. I grabbed the iron poker from the fireplace, its weight cold and grounding in my hand. “Who’s there?” I called, my voice sharper than I meant it to be.

“It’s me,” came Quinn’s familiar lilt, cautious but warm. “Can I come in?”

I hesitated, Edgar’s warning echoing in my head: Don’t trust anyone. But Quinn was the only person in this cursed town who’d shown me kindness, even if her secrecy about the festival stung. I lowered the poker and opened the door, letting her slip inside. Her dark hair was pulled back, her eyes scanning me like she was looking for cracks. Maybe she saw them.

“You look like hell,” she said, setting a cloth bag on the table. The smell of fresh bread blew gently in the air, but my stomach was too knotted to care. “What happened last night? You didn’t show up at the bookstore this morning.”

I crossed my arms, leaning against the wall to keep some distance between us. “I could ask you the same thing, Quinn. Why didn’t you tell me the festival was for werewolves? You let me walk into that blind.”

Her face fell, I could see the guilt iin her eyes. “I thought… I thought you weren’t human. You’ve got this aura, Lia, like you belong here more than you know. I didn’t think it’d hurt you to be there.”

“Well, it did,” I snapped, my voice cutting sharper than I intended. “And now I’m moonbound, tied to Edgar, and apparently a target for every wolf in this town. Thanks for the heads-up, I'm grateful.”

Quinn flinched, her hands twisting together. “I didn’t know about the moonbound part, I swear. I knew you were different, but not… that.” She stepped closer, her voice softening. “I came to tell you more, to help you understand. You’re not just some outsider, Lia. The Ironclad clan, they’re powerful, but they’re cursed. And the Frostclad Knights? They’ve been at war with us for generations. Connor Dexter’s their leader, and he’s dangerous. If he’s got his eyes on you.”

“He does,” I cut in, my throat tightening as I remembered Connor’s cold smirk, his promise to take me. “He found me last night. In the woods. Edgar stopped him, but…” I trailed off, the memory of that sensation in my chest making my skin prickle again. “Quinn, what’s happening to me? This mark, these dreams, this… feeling like I’m not me anymore. I need the truth.”

She sighed, pulling out a chair and sitting like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. “The Ironclad clan’s curse is old, Lia. It’s tied to the moon, to their blood. Moonbound mates are rare, chosen by the moon itself. You being tied to Edgar means you’re part of that curse now. It’s why you’re changing, why you’re feeling things you can’t explain. The mark on your shoulder? It’s a sign of the bond, but it’s also a beacon. Other wolves can sense it, especially the Frostclad.”

My hand drifted to my shoulder, fingers brushing the mark through my shirt. “So I’m a walking target,” I muttered, bitterness creeping into my voice. “Great.”

“It’s more than that,” Quinn said, her eyes intense. “You’re strong, Lia. Stronger than you know. The dreams, the changes, they’re your wolf waking up. But it’s dangerous if you don’t control it. And Connor… he’ll use that against you. He wants to break Edgar, and you’re the key.”

I sank into the chair across from her, my head spinning. “Why me? I didn’t ask for this. I came here to start over, not to get dragged into some werewolf war.”

Quinn reached out, her hand hovering over mine before she pulled back, like she wasn’t sure I’d welcome it. “I don’t know why the moon chose you. But it did. And Edgar… he’s trying to protect you, but he’s fighting his own instincts too. Being alpha means he’s got enemies everywhere, even in his own clan.”

I thought of Edgar’s guarded eyes, the way he’d held me steady in the forest, his voice anchoring me when I thought I’d break apart. “He said I could die if I shift too soon,” I said quietly. “Is that true?”

Quinn’s face darkened. “It’s rare, but… yeah. If your body’s not ready, the transformation can tear you apart. That’s why Edgar’s being so cagey. He’s scared for you.”

I snorted, though it lacked conviction. “He’s got a funny way of showing it. Ordering me around, keeping secrets.” But even as I said it, I felt that pull again, that ache in my chest that wanted him here, despite everything.

Quinn leaned forward, her voice dropping. “Listen, Lia. You need to be careful, even with Edgar. The Ironclad clan’s loyalty is to him, not you. If they find out you’re moonbound before you’re fully one of them, some might see you as a threat. And Connor’s not the only one watching. There are whispers in the clan, people who don’t like an outsider so close to their alpha.”

My stomach twisted. “Whispers like who?”

She hesitated, her eyes moved to the door like she expected someone to burst in. “Just… be careful who you trust. That’s all I’m saying.”

The air felt heavier now, the weight of her words settling over me like a storm cloud. I wanted to press her, but a sharp knock at the door made us both jump. My heart leapt into my throat, the poker still within reach. “Who is it?” I called, my voice steady despite the fear.

“Lia, it’s me.” Edgar’s voice, low and urgent, sent a jolt through me. I glanced at Quinn, who gave a small nod.

I opened the door, and there he was, filling the frame, his dark hair rumbled, his jaw tight. His eyes moved to Quinn, narrowing slightly, before settling on me. “We need to talk,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Alone.”

Quinn stood, grabbing her bag. “I’ll see you at the bookstore,” she said, but her glance lingered on me, a silent warning. She slipped past Edgar, and the door clicked shut behind her.

Edgar stepped closer. “You’re not safe here anymore,” he said, his voice rough. “Connor’s not working alone. I don’t know who, but someone in my clan is feeding him information. About you.”

My blood ran cold, Quinn’s words echoing in my head. ‘Be careful who you trust.’ I met Edgar’s gaze, searching for answers, but all I saw was a storm of worry and determination. “Then tell me everything,” I said, my voice steady despite the fear. “No more secrets, Edgar. If I’m your mate, I deserve to know what I’m up against