Chapter 47 CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
ALORA
The morning air bites at my skin as we make our way through the forest toward the neutral meeting grounds. I pull Alex's jacket tighter around me, he insisted I wear it, something about his scent marking me as his even before we arrive.
Through our bond, I feel his tension. His wolf is barely contained, snarling at every shadow, every sound. Twenty warriors flank us, moving in perfect formation, but I know he'd prefer an army.
"Breathe," I send through the bond. "I can feel your stress from here."
"Good. Then you know how much I hate this."
I glance at him walking beside me. His jaw is tight, his eyes constantly scanning the trees. He's dressed for war, black tactical gear, weapons strapped to his thighs and back. Marcus matches him on his other side, equally armed.
Elder Margaret walks behind us, her expression disapproving of the entire situation. I don't blame her. We're walking into a meeting with wolves who want to take me away.
"Five minutes out," Marcus says quietly. "The scouts report the Northern Pack brought their full delegation. Maybe fifteen wolves."
"Outnumbered," one of our warriors mutters.
"Not in skill," Alex responds, his voice hard. "Stay sharp. At the first sign of trouble, we extract Alora and fall back."
"I'm not running," I say.
His eyes cut to me, flashing silver. "If I say run, you run. Non-negotiable."
Through the bond, I feel his absolute certainty on this. He'll throw himself between me and danger without hesitation. The knowledge makes my chest tight.
We emerge into a clearing, and my breath catches. The neutral meeting grounds are marked by ancient stones arranged in a circle, old pack territory markers from before the Great Division. In the center stands a raised platform where pack leaders can address each other on equal footing.
The Northern Pack is already there. Fifteen wolves, just like Marcus said, standing in formation. At their center is a massive male with silver-streaked black fur in wolf form. As we approach, he shifts to human, and I get my first clear look at the Northern Alpha.
He's older than Alex, maybe mid-thirties, with scars crisscrossing his chest and a cruel smile on his face. His eyes lock onto me immediately, and I feel Alex's power flare in response.
"Alpha Stone," the Northern Alpha says, his voice smooth as silk. "Thank you for accepting our request for parley."
"Alpha Blackthorne." Alex's voice is ice. "Make this quick. My patience is limited."
Blackthorne's smile widens. "Of course. I know you're eager to return to your... mate." His eyes rake over me, and I feel Alex's rage spike through the bond. "Though I must say, the rumors don't do her justice. A blood-wolf. How extraordinary."
"State your business," Elder Margaret says sharply. "This parley was granted under the old laws. You claimed to have information regarding threats to Silver Creek territory."
"Ah, yes, the information." Blackthorne gestures, and two of his wolves step forward, carrying a bound figure between them. They drop him at the edge of the clearing, and my stomach turns.
It's a Silver Creek wolf. Young, maybe twenty, with terror written all over his face.
"We found this one skulking around our camps three nights ago," Blackthorne says casually. "He was quite chatty once we... encouraged him to talk."
"Derek," Marcus breathes, recognizing the wolf. "He's one of our junior scouts."
Alex's hands clench into fists. "If you've harmed him—"
"Harm him? Of course not. We're civilized." Blackthorne's smile doesn't reach his eyes. "But he did provide some fascinating information about your pack's defenses. Patrol routes. Guard rotations. Particularly around the Alpha's suite where you've been keeping the blood-wolf hidden."
Ice floods through me. This is how they knew so much about me. They had an inside source.
"There's more," Blackthorne continues. "Our young friend here mentioned something interesting. A recent assembly where you presented your mate to the pack. Where you claimed the bond between you hasn't driven you to madness." He tilts his head. "Is that true, Stone? Are you really as sane as you claim?"
"I passed every evaluation the council required," Alex says through gritted teeth.
"Evaluations." Blackthorne laughs. "How quaint. Tell me, did those evaluations measure your ability to make rational decisions? Because from where I stand, keeping a blood-wolf in your territory is the definition of irrational."
"Watch your next words carefully," Alex warns.
"Or what? You'll attack during a formal parley?" Blackthorne spreads his hands. "That would certainly prove you're unstable, wouldn't it?"
Through the bond, I feel Alex's wolf clawing at his control. He wants to shift, wants to tear Blackthorne's throat out. I reach out and touch his hand, sending calm through our connection.
"You said you had information about threats," Elder Margaret says, clearly trying to redirect. "This spy doesn't qualify as new information."
"Doesn't it?" Blackthorne's expression turns serious. "Because here's what our friend Derek revealed. The blood-wolf's parents. The Mitchells. They didn't just give her up out of fear of the Seekers." He pauses for effect. "They were paid. Handsomely. By someone who wanted the blood-wolf delivered directly to Silver Creek territory."
My world tilts. "What?"
"Oh yes." Blackthorne's eyes gleam. "Someone orchestrated your arrival here, little wolf. Someone wanted you in Alpha Stone's hands specifically. The question is—why?"
"You're lying," Alex snarls.
"Am I?" Blackthorne gestures again, and another wolf steps forward with documents. "We have the payment records. Bank transfers from an anonymous account to James Mitchell. Timing perfectly with when your mate was given to Silver Creek." He looks at Elder Margaret. "You can verify these yourself."
Elder Margaret takes the documents, her expression growing darker as she reads. "These appear authentic."
"Because they are." Blackthorne focuses back on Alex. "Someone wanted the blood-wolf here. Someone wanted to see what would happen when an Alpha bonded with her. And I think we all know why, to test if the old curse still holds. To see if you'd go mad like all the others."
"I'm not mad," Alex says, but I hear the edge in his voice. The doubt creeping in.
"Not yet," Blackthorne agrees. "But it's early days, isn't it? How long has the bond been complete? Three days? Four?" He smiles. "The texts say the madness takes weeks to fully manifest. Months sometimes. You might feel fine now, but what happens in a week? A month? When the paranoia sets in, when you start seeing threats everywhere, when you can't let her out of your sight without losing control?"
"That won't happen," I say, finding my voice. "I can heal—"
"Can you?" Blackthorne's eyes fix on me, and I feel pinned by his gaze. "Or are you just delaying the inevitable? Tell me, little blood-wolf, do you really think you're special? That you've discovered something centuries of your kind missed?"
"She has." Alex's voice is absolute. "The bond is stable. I'm in control."
"For now." Blackthorne moves closer to the platform. "But here's the real information, Stone. The real threat. Word has spread beyond the three packs at your borders. Six more territories have heard about the blood-wolf. They're all watching to see what happens to you. Waiting to see if the bond breaks you."
"Let them watch," Alex growls.
"Oh, they're doing more than watching." Blackthorne's expression turns deadly serious. "They're placing bets. Literally. There's a pool running through five territories about how long until you snap. Some say weeks. Some say months. A few optimists think you'll make it a year before the madness takes you completely."
The words hit like physical blows. Other packs are betting on when Alex will go insane. On when I'll destroy him.
"And here's the real threat," Blackthorne continues. "When you do snap—when the bond drives you to violence and paranoia like it has every other Alpha before you—those six packs will move in. They'll claim it's for the safety of the region. That an unstable Alpha can't be allowed to rule. They'll take your territory, disband your pack, and claim the blood-wolf for themselves."
"Over my dead body," Alex snarls.
"That's exactly what they're counting on." Blackthorne's voice drops. "But it doesn't have to end that way. I'm here to offer you an alternative."
"We're not interested in your offers," Marcus says.
"You should be." Blackthorne looks directly at me. "Give her to me. Willingly. I'll ensure she's treated well, studied properly, and her abilities documented for the good of all werewolves. And in exchange, I'll use my influence to convince the other packs to leave Silver Creek alone. No invasion. No war. Your pack stays intact, your territory remains yours."
"Never," Alex's word is barely human.
"Think about it rationally," Blackthorne urges. "You keep her, you face six packs eventually. Maybe more. You give her up, you save your pack. It's simple mathematics."
"She's my mate," Alex says, his voice deadly quiet. "Not a bargaining chip."
"She's a blood-wolf." Blackthorne's patience seems to be wearing thin. "A rare, valuable resource that should be studied and understood. Not kept as a pet by an Alpha who's too obsessed to see reason."
Alex's power explodes outward, making several wolves stumble. "Call her a pet again, and parley laws won't save you."
"There it is," Blackthorne says softly, but loud enough for everyone to hear. "The aggression. The irrational protectiveness. The inability to make strategic decisions." He looks at Elder Margaret. "Tell me that's normal Alpha behavior. Tell me the bond isn't already affecting him."
Elder Margaret's expression is troubled, and through the bond, I feel Alex's horror. She's doubting him. They all are.
"This parley is over," Alex says, reaching for me. "We're leaving."
"Not quite." Blackthorne holds up a hand. "I have one more piece of information. The real reason I called this meeting." His eyes lock onto mine. "I know who paid your parents to send you here. I know who orchestrated this entire situation."
I go still. "Who?"
"Give me one hour alone with you," Blackthorne says. "Just you and me. I'll tell you everything. Who paid for you? Why they want you here? What is their endgame?" He smiles. "Unless you're afraid of what you might learn?"
"Absolutely not," Alex snarls, pulling me behind him. "You're not getting near her."
"I'm offering information that could save your mate's life," Blackthorne says. "Information about a threat you don't even know exists yet. But fine. Keep her ignorant. Keep her in danger." He starts to turn away. "Just remember this moment when everything falls apart."
"Wait," I say, stepping out from behind Alex.
"Alora, no—"
"We need to know." I look up at him, seeing the terror in his eyes. "If someone set this up, if there's a bigger plan at work, we need to understand it."
"It's a trap," Marcus says. "Obviously."
"Maybe." I look at Blackthorne. "But if it's not, we can't afford to miss this chance."
Through the bond, I feel Alex's anguish. He knows I'm right, but every instinct is screaming at him to grab me and run.
"Fine," he says finally, his voice rough. "But not alone. I'll be there. Marcus too. And if you try anything—"
"No." Blackthorne shakes his head. "Just her. Those are my terms. One hour, neutral ground, just the two of us. Or no information."
"That's insane," Elder Margaret says. "Alpha Stone would never agree to that."
But I'm looking at Blackthorne's face, trying to read his intentions. Through our bond, I feel Alex's desperate plea for me to refuse.
"Okay," I say quietly.
The clearing erupts in protests, but I keep my eyes on Blackthorne.
"I'll meet with you. Alone. But you give me your oath under the old laws. No harm. No attempts to take me. Just conversation."
Blackthorne studies me for a long moment, then nods slowly. "I swear under the old laws. One hour of conversation. Nothing more."
"Alora, no—" Alex grabs my arm, spinning me to face him. His eyes are wild, terrified. "You can't trust him."
"I know." I touch his face, feeling his fear through our bond. "But we need to know what he knows. And this might be our only chance."
"I'll kill him," Alex says, and through the bond, I feel he means it. "If he hurts you, if he tries anything, I'll tear him apart regardless of oaths or laws."
"I know that too." I rise on my toes to kiss him. "Trust me. Please."
Through our bond, I send all the love I feel. All the certainty that this is the right choice, even if it terrifies us both.
Finally, reluctantly, he nods.
"One hour," he says to Blackthorne, his voice deadly. "One minute more and I'll come for her. Oath or no oath."
"Fair enough." Blackthorne gestures to a smaller clearing nearby, visible from where we stand but out of earshot. "Shall we, Luna Alora?"
I take a deep breath and follow him, feeling Alex's anguish through our bond with every step.
Whatever Blackthorne has to tell me, it better be worth this.
Because I just agreed to walk into the wolf's den.
And I have no idea if I'll walk back out.