Chapter 47
Chapter 47
The castle corridors smelled different that morning. Servants had placed fresh flowers in every corner, and the mixture of fragrances carried a sense of hope. Rumors spread from mouth to mouth: the Moon, their queen, had finally left her chambers. Abigaíl, the Alpha’s mate and mother of the pups everyone had been waiting for, walked slowly down the central corridor, supported by a maid.
Her gait was serene, though she still feigned fragility. The reverent gaze of the guards and the whispers of the courtiers confirmed what she already knew: her people adored her. That love strengthened her, but it also made her the perfect target for resentment.
In a secluded room, shrouded in shadows, Victor heard the rumors, and his twisted smile deepened like a scar.
—So the Moon shines again… —he murmured, dripping with venom—. Let’s see how long her light lasts.
The old wolf had not overcome the loss of his daughter. Hatred consumed him, and the only thing that gave him strength was the idea of taking from Kilian what he loved most. To that end, he had woven a network of traitors, including a healer within the castle. Today, the perfect opportunity presented itself.
Abigaíl sensed it before it happened. Her instincts had saved her many times, and now they did not fail. Too many lingering glances, too many missteps. She closed her eyes and sought the mental link.
“Kilian…”
“My love, where are you?” His voice reached her, heavy with anxiety, his pulse racing, as if he already sensed danger.
“Something is wrong… suspicious movements. Promise me, no matter what happens, you will stay calm.”
There was a brief silence, then Laykan’s roar tore through the link.
“Don’t ask me to stay calm if they touch you, Abigaíl. Tell me where you are!”
She was about to respond, but a damp cloth covered her mouth. The acrid scent of a sedative filled her lungs. She struggled for a few seconds, trying to resist, but the substance was faster.
“Kilian… I—”
The link was cut. Everything went black.
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The Alpha felt the void like a dagger. The connection had gone out. Laykan’s roar echoed inside him, demanding blood.
—Ian! Gabriel! —he bellowed, his voice thundering through the council hall.
They came immediately. Ian, his beta, with furrowed brows and instincts on high alert. Gabriel, his gamma, already hand on the hilt of his sword.
—They took her —Kilian said, his voice hoarse—. Victor is behind this.
Without hesitation, they organized the search. The younger alphas of the packs joined, sniffing every corner, checking hidden doors, questioning guards. The entire castle became a hive of wolves determined to find their Moon.
Two hours passed without a trace, and desperation burned like fire in Kilian’s chest. Then, the spark returned.
“Kilian…”
Abigaíl’s voice appeared in his mind again, weak but clear.
“My love! Thank the Moon. Where are you? Speak to me, I need to hear you.”
“Breathe. I’m fine. I can’t recognize the place… but I think I’m still in the castle.”
The Alpha gritted his teeth, pacing like a caged beast. Ian and Gabriel followed, alert to every movement.
“Give me a sign, love.”
Abigaíl closed her eyes. She felt the damp walls, the echo of water running somewhere in the distance.
“Tunnels… beneath the castle. I know. The air is cold and smells of mold.”
Kilian howled so powerfully it shook the stones underfoot. The guards above trembled. In the cell, the traitorous healer paled with terror, unable to meet the gaze of the chained queen.
“Your howl scared him —Abigaíl said, with a bitter smile—. Come quickly, I’ll guide you.”
“Keep talking to me. Every word brings me closer to you.”
Victor entered shortly after, his silhouette outlined against the gloom. Abigaíl looked at him without breaking her gaze, as if his mere presence did not intimidate her.
—I see you woke up —he growled, feigning calm—. I want you to know this isn’t personal.
She raised an eyebrow, sharp.
—And I want you to know that what happens now… will be very personal.
The chains weighed on her wrists, but her claws had already worked the lock. No one had noticed.
Victor leaned toward her, that rotten smile making him look more monster than man.
—When your Alpha arrives, he will only find your cold body. Then he will understand what it means to lose everything.
Abigaíl let him speak. She pretended to lower her gaze, swallowing her rage, until the metallic click sounded almost imperceptibly. With a swift motion, the locks yielded.
In one leap, she wrapped the chains around the old wolf’s neck and squeezed tightly.
Victor struggled, surprised, his growls echoing off the damp walls. The healer stepped back, trembling, unable to move.
—Did you want to take revenge on Kilian through me? —she spat, her eyes glowing like ignited moons—. Now you’ll learn that his Moon is no victim.
The metal screeched against flesh, and Victor fell to his knees.
The tunnel doors reverberated when Kilian burst through. Ian and Gabriel followed, ready to strike. The Alpha smelled fury, an unleashed wolf.
The sight before him froze him for a second: Abigaíl standing, chains in her hands, and Victor choking at her feet.
His wolf roared within him—not in rage this time, but in pride.
Abigaíl lifted her gaze, panting.
—I told you I was fine.
Kilian ran to her, hugging her with a force that nearly took her breath away, as if he needed to convince himself she was alive.
—Never scare me like that again —he murmured against her hair.
She smiled weakly, exhausted but resolute.
—It wasn’t my intention… but at least you saw that I can defend myself.
The Alpha kissed her fiercely, disregarding the presence of his men. Ian looked away with a half-smile, and Gabriel sighed in relief.
Victor panted on the floor, defeated, his betrayal finally exposed.
Kilian held Abigaíl in his arms, knowing that neither chains nor dark tunnels could ever extinguish her.