MIRABEL’S ALLIANCE

Lutheran is alive; he has awakened from his unconscious state for real this time; Isolde was not dreaming. As the healer rushed in to confirm for himself, Isolde collapsed into her knees beside him again, sobbing now; the joy in her heart was so sharp it felt like pain.

“I’m here,” she whispered, pressing kisses to his knuckles. “I’m here, I’m not going anywhere, do you hear me? I’m not leaving you again, not ever.”

Lutheran tried to lift his hand, weakly brushing a strand of hair from her face. “…Isolde,” he rasped. The sound of his voice was hoarse and low, it hit her like thunder.

She gasped, a sob escaped her throat and she buried her face against his shoulder. “Yes, it’s me. Oh God, it’s me, I thought I lost you. I thought—” Her voice broke, and she clutched his hand tighter, as though she was afraid he would vanish again.

The healer was startled at the sight of Lutheran’s recovery, but he quickly moved to check his vitals.

“Unbelievable,” he murmured. “He shouldn’t be awake for another two days at least.”

“Don’t you ever doubt him again,” Isolde snapped, her voice trembling with pride. “He’s stronger than your herbs could ever predict.”

Lutheran chuckled weakly. “Still as bossy as I remember,” he whispered, and his lips curled faintly into a half-smile. She choked a laugh through her tears. The news of Lutheran’s recovery spread like wildfire. The Alpha had awakened, and they rumoured to each other.

The warriors and wolves who had held their breath for days now gasped in unison, they loved their Alpha very much. Though he was known for being fierce, he treated everyone in his pack with kindness and compassion.

Soren stood with a few of the senior warriors beneath the birch trees near the training grounds. “Thank goodness, he's alive, he survived,” one of them muttered. Soren exhaled through his nose, glancing in the direction of the hut.

“She never left his side,” he said.

“That doesn’t make up for what she did,” growled Cedric, one of the most loyal warriors. “She saw him kneel in front of his warriors and still walked away.”

“Then he nearly died trying to protect her,” another warrior added.

“She fought harder than any of us,” Soren said quietly.

They turned to him, surprised. “She didn’t have to,” he added. “But she did. Still, if the Alpha hadn’t made it—”

“We would have sent her away,” Cedric growled. “I stand by that.”

Soren clenched his fists. He was torn, he had watched Isolde suffer. The past few days, she had refused to eat or drink anything. She only cried and prayed. But he had also watched his Alpha kneel for her and be repaid with abandonment. The wounds were deeper than any blade could make.

“I don’t trust her,” Cedric muttered. “And I won’t forgive her easily.”

“Neither will I,” Soren replied. “But it’s not our forgiveness she needs. It’s his.” Back in Kaelen’s territory, Kaelen sat alone in the war chamber, he has been on the search for answers to why Eudora would steal supplies and feed them to the enemy pack.

The Eastern Pack had been growing stronger and bolder; before now, they would not dare to attach his own pack to talk more of Lutherans, an Alpha they all regard as king. But now, they have joined forces with other fierce packs and have declared war against his packs and Lutherans. Kaelen now understands the reason why. Eudora was behind all of it. This was her plot to destroy both packs and get them under her control.

“She is trying to collapse my pack,” Kaelen muttered to himself, dragging his fingers down the centre of the map. “Then claim the leadership for her daughter.”

The door creaked open, and then he turned swiftly to see Mirabel standing there, dressed in a regal brown robe; her hair was styled into a braid. But there was no arrogance in her face today, only fear.

“Kaelen,” she said, stepping forward. He narrowed his eyes. “If you’re here to tell more lies, please—”

“I’m not,” she cut in. “I am here to warn you Kaelen, my mother is up to no good. She wants to destroy you, she wants to destroy us. I can't be a part of her game anymore, I've realised my mistake, and I apologise for being a part of her scheme once. Please forgive me..”

Kaelen raised a brow but said nothing, he just studied her face to search for any sign of insincerity.

“I have tried to talk her out of this, but she is threatening to strip me of my title if I interfere with her plans.”

Kaelen folded his arms. “So what, you’ve come to beg for my protection?”

She flinched. “I’ve come to help you.” He remained silent.

Mirabel exhaled. “Let me help,.if we fight her together, we might survive this. Alone, we will both die.” Kaelen’s lips twitched. “And why should I trust you?.”

She smiled faintly. “Because we don't have a choice but to help each other, I can't let anything happen to you again. I'm happy you're now back on your feet again.”

He didn't know whether to trust her after eavesdropping on her conversation at the cave the day before. But he did know one thing, if he would fight against Eudora, Mirabel might be the only one who could strike her from inside.

“I will think about it, you may go now”. That was all he said. Mirabel turned and walked out, the door clicked shut behind her.

Mirabel leaned against it, letting out a long, shuddering breath. Her heart still raced from the confrontation with Kaelen, the tension and uncertainty in his eyes. He didn’t fully trust her yet, but she knew he had no other choice but to join her. He was only useful for now, a mere tool and nothing more.

As she stepped deeper into her cabin, the silence that greeted her was almost unbearable.