Chapter 9: Chapter Nine
Chapter 9:
Lia’s POV
He hesitated, his hands clenching at his sides, and for a moment, I thought he’d shut me out again. But then he nodded, a flash of something soft breaking through his guarded exterior. “Alright,” he said. “But once you know, there’s no going back.”
I swallowed, the mark on my shoulder burning, the wild thing inside me stirring. “I’m already in too deep,” I said. “So start talking.”
Edgar stood across from me, his broad shoulders tense, his dark eyes searching mine like he was trying to see into my soul. The weight of his words hung between us: ‘someone in my clan is feeding Connor information.’ My fingers grazed the mark on my shoulder, its faint burn a reminder of how deep I was tangled in this mess. I wanted to trust Edgar, wanted to believe he’d give me the truth, but the way his jaw clenched told me he was still holding something back.
“Start talking,” I said again, my voice sharper than I meant. I crossed my arms, leaning against the table to steady myself. My skin still tingled from last night’s almost-shift, a restless energy creeping under my flesh, like a beast pacing its cage. “You said no more secrets. So tell me, who’s betraying you? And why does Connor want me so badly? Just tell me what's going on, I'm about to lose my mind. I didn't ask for all these.”
Edgar exhaled, running a hand through his dark hair, messing it further. “It’s not that simple, Lia. The Ironclad clan… we’re not as united as we seem. There’s always been tension, old grudges, power struggles. Someone’s leaking information to the Frostclad Knights, but I don’t know who. Could be anyone.” His voice dropped, heavy with something like shame. “And you… you’re moonbound. That makes you a prize. To Connor, you’re a way to hurt me, to weaken the clan.”
I frowned, my heart thudding too loud again, with an unnatural rhythm I couldn’t ignore. “A prize? I’m not some trophy, Edgar. And I’m definitely not weak.”
His eyes softened, just for a moment. “I know you’re not,” he said quietly. “But to Connor, you’re a leverage. The Frostclad want to break us, and a moonbound mate is… rare. Powerful. If they take you, they could use you to control me. Or worse.”
“Worse?” My voice came out smaller than I wanted, the weight of his words sinking in. “Like what?”
He hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. “They could try to turn you. Force you to shift, to join them. Or…” He stopped, his jaw tightening, like the words were too heavy to say.
“Or kill me,” I finished, my throat tight. The mark on my shoulder pulsed, a sharp sting that made me wince. “That’s what you’re not saying, isn’t it?”
Edgar’s eyes snapped back to mine, fierce and protective. “I won’t let that happen. I swear it, Lia. But you need to listen to me. Stay close. Stop running off into the woods, stop pushing when I tell you to stay safe. You need to do this if you want to stay alive for now.”
“I’m not a child, Edgar. And I’m not your prisoner. If I’m in danger, I need to know how to fight, not hide. Teach me what I am, how to control this… thing inside me.” I gestured to myself, my voice shaking with frustration. “Because last night, I almost lost it. I felt it, my bones, my skin, everything trying to change. I need to know how to stop it. Or use it.”
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “You’re not ready to shift, Lia. It could kill you. Your body’s still human, mostly. The moonbound bond is waking your wolf, but it takes time. Push too hard, too fast, and…” He trailed off, his hands clenching at his sides, like he was fighting his own instincts to reach for me.
“And what?” I pressed, stepping toward him, closing the gap. “I die? What, Edgar? Stop treating me like I’ll break and just tell me!”
His eyes darkened, a storm of emotions swirling in them, anger, and fear that made my breath catch. “You could lose yourself,” he said, his voice low and raw. “The wolf could take over, and you’d forget who you are. You could turn to a monster. I’ve seen it happen. I won’t let it happen to you. It doesn't always end well, Lia.”
My chest tightened, his words hitting harder than I expected. I wanted to argue, to snap back, but the sincerity in his voice stopped me. He wasn’t just protecting me, he was scared. For me. I swallowed, my sharp tongue softening for once.
“Then help me,” I said quietly. “Show me how to be strong enough to handle this.”