Chapter 36: The Queen of Shadows
Tension permeated the air, pressing down on me like an unseen burden. I could sense the change even from Redwater's boundaries—the indisputable reverberation of Lila's impact sweeping through Midnight Moon like wildfire. She was using them against me, rewriting history and distorting the truth until it was no longer recognisable.
What's the worst?
It was functioning.
Redwater heard of her declarations sooner than I thought. She portrayed herself as the rescuer, the legitimate Luna deceived by an unappreciative misfit like me. She said that I had conspired against Midnight Moon, that I had tempted Derek into tipping the scales, and that I was the cause of Jared's inescapable engagement in combat.
One lie after another, skilfully woven into a tale that was convincing enough to make even people who had previously referred to me as sister question me.
As I paced the war room, I whispered, "They believe her." Derek, she's poisoning their minds. She captivates more of them every day.
With his fingers intertwined and his golden eyes staring at me with unreadable intensity, Derek sat at the head of the table. Claire, she's not merely spreading false information. She is gaining control. Jared is now completely under her control, if he wasn't already.
I balled my fists up. "Jared was never truly in charge. All he had was the title. Lila is now in actual control of Midnight Moon.
Derek took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. Additionally, we will be up against more than just warriors if she has the full support of the pack. We'll be up against wolves who think they're defending justice.
I felt a chill go through me. He was correct. This was a matter of faith as much as power. They wouldn't think twice about spilling my blood to make amends if Lila had led them to believe that I was the bad guy in their tale.
At last, Sienna, who had been listening quietly from the corner, said something. "We must figure out how to get them to go back."
I sneered. "How can we accomplish that? I used to call Midnight Moon home, but Lila has destroyed all of my memories of them. They no longer consider me to be their sister. They consider me to be a traitor.
Derek's eyes became gloomy. "Then we reveal the truth to them."
My pacing stopped. "What do you mean?"
He got up and pushed away from the table. "Lila is strong, but her greatest asset is her ability to keep things secret. She has always been cautious, manipulating from a distance and operating in the shadows. However, her hold on Midnight Moon will wane if we expose her and dispel her lies.
I scowled. "That's not as simple as it seems. Lila leaves no trace behind. She is too intelligent for that.
Derek's wolf flashed in his eyes as he grinned. Claire, no one is perfect. We are all flawed. even her.
---
We listened and watched for the next few days. Redwater and Midnight Moon were at a breaking point in their tension. There was a doubling of patrols, testing of alliances, and in the dead of night, rumours of war spread like wildfire.
Then the message arrived.
A barely-living rogue staggered to our boundaries. The deep claw wounds, burns, and bruises on his body were evidence of Midnight Moon's ruthlessness and told a tale of ruthless punishment. His first words were enough to chill me to the bone, but he passed out before he could say anything.
"She's murdering anyone who questions her."
Lila was purging power rather than merely consolidating it.
The outlaw, a wolf by the name of Elias, had been a member of a tiny group within Midnight Moon that opposed Lila's authority. They had doubted, but they hadn't rebelled outright. And doubt was as deadly to Lila as a knife to the throat.
With his voice hoarse from days of dehydration, Elias rasped, "She's executing them publicly." "Anyone who criticises her just goes away. If they are located, they are in fragments.
I was ill. "And Jared lets this happen?"
Elias smiled at me without humour. "Jared no longer permits anything. He is merely a symbolic figure. Now, Lila is the real Alpha.
With my heart racing, I turned to face Derek. "We must take action. She will eventually have total control over Midnight Moon if she is eradicating opposition. We won't have a chance if that occurs.
Derek gave a sombre nod. "So we must attack before she does."
---
As we developed our plan, night descended on Redwater. We could destroy the basis of their beliefs, but we couldn't wage war against an enemy who thought they were righteous.
The idea that Lila was untouchable and the real leader of Midnight Moon was the foundation of her power. We could reverse the trend if we dispelled that belief.
But we needed evidence to do that.
"I must return," I said abruptly.
Derek's face darkened as he snapped his head in my direction. "Definitely not."
I moved forward while maintaining eye contact. "Derek, we need proof. Evidence that Lila is lying and taking advantage of everyone. Nobody else is able to come close enough. I understand the inner workings of Midnight Moon. I understand her thought process.
He clenched his jaw. "It's too risky."
"It's essential," I retorted. Everyone has a weakness, as you yourself stated. We can expose her before it's too late if I can locate hers.
Derek felt a muscle in his jaw tickle. He remained silent for a long time. Finally, he let out a sharp exhale. "You don't go alone if you do this."
"On my own, I can move more quickly."
"And you can die more quickly by yourself." His gaze pierced my own. "Claire, I'm not losing you."
His words caused an odd warmth to rise in my chest, but I ignored it. This had nothing to do with feelings. It was a matter of survival.
“All right,” I gave in. However, we cannot bring a whole team. Just enough of a group to go unnoticed.
Derek nodded, though his face was still unreadable. Elias and Sienna will accompany you. Not any more.
I gave a nod of agreement.
This was our opportunity.
Our only opportunity.
---
Under the darkness, my heart hammered against my ribs as we entered enemy territory. With the once-comfortable smells now tinged with blood and fear, Midnight Moon's lands felt both familiar and alien.
With her acute senses alert, Sienna took a step forward. Still weak but resolute, Elias guided us to the centre of the pack's domain, where Lila's reign of terror had started.
And as we got closer, I came to a terrifying realisation.
Redwater's rescue was no longer the only goal.
The goal was to rescue Midnight Moon from the creature it had inadvertently crowned.
However, a chilly, piercing voice resounded through the trees as we got closer to the perimeter of the Midnight Moon compound.
"Claire, I wanted to know when you would return home."
My breath caught in my throat as I froze.
Standing in front of us, with Jared and a dozen warriors on either side, Lila had a triumphant smile on her face.
She purred, "You ought to have remained in exile." "Because you will never escape alive now."