Chapter 20: The Secret Rival

Ashton’s POV

I came back into the packhouse through the main gates with my boots covered in mud, torn clothes and my drying blood on my skin.

Paul met me at the main gate, like he has been waiting for me. He was limping.

“Three losses confirmed, two stables wounded, but the border is protected for now.”

My chest tightened at the sound of “for now,” but I nodded so that he knew I heard everything he said. That was my most hated phrase because it simply meant that the next attack depended on a when, instead of an if.

Through the outer doors, we went into the main hall. Upon my entrance, warriors straightened themselves up and saluted me, their eyes observing every inch of my body from my ruffled hair, fight stricken face, torn clothes, dried blood on my skin and mudded pair of boots. In all of this, no one offered any questions to me.

I acknowledged their greetings with a brisk nod.

There was Annabelle waiting for me at the bottom of the staircase, still wearing her silver ceremonial gown. But it looked different from the last time I saw it.

She looked different.

The hem of the gown was slightly wet and dirty from her dragging it across the floor last night. Her braids were loosened and a few strands clung to her cheek. Her face was soiled in her make up, and truth be told, that looked a little scary.

She looked like the last spark of a fire that still lingered.

She studied me briefly, then said: “You’re bleeding.”

Her eyes was anything but calm. But her voice was as calm as ever.

“Nah, I’ve had it worse,” I replied, brushing past her like the cuts weren’t burning. She followed me.

“You’re limping too.”

“I said I’ve had it worse.”

I thought I successfully had my way till I felt her hand catch my wrist. Quite firm, but also gentle. But that wasn’t why I stopped. I stopped because of the warmth radiated through her fingers.

“Sit down while I attend to it,” she said with a voice even firmer than her grip on my wrist. She didn’t sound like a guest. She sounded like my Luna.

I obeyed and sat on the closest bench to me. She got a bowl and piece of clean cloth from one of the nearby attendants.

The wounds stung slightly as she pressed the cold and wet cloth against my skin but I didn’t show any sign of pain. I watched her as she carefully attended to my wound. Her healer hands were so precise in its duties.

“Someone else should do this,” I said.

“Someone else is me,” she replied.

I chuckled.

“Paul came back a while before you did.” she said after a lot of silence.

“I had to patrol the Southern perimeter myself. You can never trust an easy retreat.”

“What did you find?”

“Tracks vanished near the ravine. I think that Silverwind is using the old tunnels to move without detection. We’ll have to block them by nightfall.

She finished dressing my wound by tying down a bandage on my shoulder. She mumbled some words I couldn’t hear clearly but it felt like she was repeating the words I had just said to her.

The pain on my shoulder was now relieved a bit, thanks to the bandage. But I felt another king of pain. A pain I had no name for yet.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she replied with a tone softer than before.

I wanted to stay back and talk more but Paul’s voice carried in from the hallway. “Alpha! The Council has assembled. They are waiting for you now.”

I followed him into the council chamber.

It smelled of damp stone and burning pine from the brazier in the corner. Garrick and the elders were already seated around the heavy table. They stood up briefly upon my entry.

“Alpha, we can’t delay. The ceremony has to come to a pause until the borders are stable. Silverwind soldiers are getting more courageous.” Garrick started immediately he sat.

There was an uproar of agreement from the rest of the council elders.

“You’re right,” I agreed. “But not for long. The pack will not see us falter.”

“And the Luna?” An elder on my left asked. “ We still question if last night’s attack was planned or if it was just a mere coincidence.”

I let my gaze sweep the entire table slowly until it landed on him.

“She didn’t do it. And I don’t want anyone asking me questions like that again because she is Blue Moon’s Luna. You go against my orders and you will have yourself to blame for whatever consequences that will follow.”

None of the elders spoke after that.

After the meeting, I walked to and fro the inner courtyard alone.

Maybe the ceremony had been interrupted, but I could still hear the vows we had spoken to each other prior to the interruption loud and clear in my ears. Unfinished words that carried a large sum of weight. Probably heavier than the war waiting at our borders.

I saw Annabelle walk towards me as the sun slowly set. She was out of her ceremonial gown into a free dark gown and her hair tied loosely to the back. She was still extremely beautiful.

“You’re keeping the border locked down?” she asked as she approached me.

“Yes.”

“Do you think Silverwind will attack again? Maybe even tonight?”

“Well, they lost men. It would be a surprise if they don’t attack tonight. But Blue Moon will be ready.”

“What about the ceremony?”

“Soon, when the borders quiet down a bit.”

Instead of a protest, she nodded calmly.

After a brief moment, she said: “I heard that three cubs from the healer’s lodge fell ill this morning?”

“Yes. Paul handled that already.”

“They were cases of poisoned water, and I went to help.” She paused, then continued, “They are better now though.”

I smiled.

“You’re earning their trust gradually. That’s good.”

She smiled back, but shyly.

“It’s just like the saying goes, right? Trust is built, not given.”

At night, Patrol horns in the distance. I climbed the watchtower before midnight to take a look at the southern treeline myself.

In the midst of the mist and somewhere in the darkness, I could see our enemies regrouping.

Just behind me laid the bond that tied me to Annabelle. I allowed it to steady me while I searched the horizon. We would complete the ceremony, but only after surviving the night ahead.

I was confident. We will survive the night.