A strange presence manifested itself, and when I turned around, I found myself face to face with a woman in a black dress, with dark hair, and eyes in an intense shade of violet. Instantly, I knew it was Ignis, the Peeira who had wreaked havoc in our lives.
Ignis stared at me with a smile on her lips and, in a teasing tone, began to speak. “In the bottom cabinet, you'll find rue, in the form of oil. It is an excellent herb to make the alpha do everything we desire. Also, we have Myrrh, great for keeping the wolves calm and obediently submissive.”
I was stunned by the revelation. How did Ignis know this information? Tension grew as I faced that enigmatic figure before me.
“How do you know this?” I asked, my voice sounding firmer than I felt at that moment.
Ignis stared at me, her violet eyes penetrating, as if she could read my soul. “I know because I am the culprit, Fierce. All the chaos, intrigue, challenges. I orchestrated every moment.”
A mix of anger and bewilderment settled in my chest. Why would she do this? Why our pack?
“Why didn't you leave us alone?” I shouted, feeling frustration rise. “Why? Why can't you leave me and my children in peace?”
Ignis smiled sadistically. “I needed to restore the natural order, Fierce. Wolves have their designated places, and I was merely fulfilling my role. The triplets were the key to resetting the balance.”
My expression hardened as I tried to comprehend the insanity behind her words. Ignis was willing to sacrifice the lives of the triplets to restore some “natural order.” Anger boiled in my veins, but I knew I needed to stay calm to face her.
My hands clenched into fists. “You poisoned my children, and put our pack in danger. This is not restoring order; it's chaos.”
“As I was saying, it is necessary to restore the natural order,” Ignis proclaimed, her voice echoing through the room.
I glared at her, nervous and outraged. “At what cost? Why do my children have to pay this price?”
Ignis gave a weak smile as she held her own belly. “I lived with the boys, Fierce. You did well. They are, indeed, special.”
“You're hurt,” I observed, noticing Ignis's bloody hand.
Ignis laughed as if pain were mere insignificance in the face of her grand objectives. “That's the price I pay to restore order. Too bad Zora doesn't share the same vision.”
My hands trembled with anger, but I took a deep breath, focusing on my determination to protect my children. “You won't touch a hair on their heads again. I will fight with all my strength to protect them.”
Ignis sat on the dining room bench, seeming disinterested. She then casually asked, “Have you connected with your she-wolf, Fierce?”
“What does that have to do with anything?” I asked, suspicious of her intentions.
Ignis smiled, but her eyes remained serious. “You're a strong she-wolf, Fierce. The connection with your she-wolf may be the key to facing the challenges ahead.”
Perplexed, I questioned her true intentions. “Why would you care about that?”
Ignis tilted her head, as if considering her words. “Because, Fierce, even in the midst of darkness, there is beauty in truth. Truth always finds its way, but it's not always what we desire. And the truth is, the strength of your she-wolf may be the only hope left for all of us.”
I eyed Ignis with suspicion, but her statement echoed in my mind. I knew I needed to find the she-wolf within me, the one I had ignored for so long. Ignis had a plan, and I needed to stay one step ahead of her.
“I won't fall into your game. I won't let you manipulate me,” I declared, my voice firm despite the tension in the air.
Ignis stood up, her violet eyes sparking with an almost supernatural intensity. “You will understand, Fierce Silver. The wild nature cries for justice, and sooner or later, you will have to choose which side you're on.”
Ignis seemed to have her own twisted justifications for her actions. I stared at her, my expression a mix of challenge and disdain, while Ignis maintained her malicious smile.
“You better resolve this soon with your inner she-wolf, Fierce. As a human, you won't endure for long. And if you can't endure, you'll succumb along with your children,” she declared, her voice echoing through the room.
“Do you really think you're on the right side, going against the Moon Goddess herself?” I questioned Ignis, unable to comprehend how she could justify her actions.
Ignis gave a faint smile, as if she found my question ironic. “You're mistaken, Fierce. I was sent here by the Moon Goddess, and everything I'm doing is for her.”
Her answer shook my convictions. The Moon Goddess, the entity representing the essence of our pack, was supposedly our guide and protector. Yet, Ignis claimed to act in her name, carrying out actions that went against the principles our pack had always followed.
“How can you believe you're acting in the Moon Goddess's interests when your actions threaten the lives of my children and destabilize the entire pack?” I asked, my voice carrying the indignation bubbling within me.
Ignis raised an eyebrow, as if assessing my limited understanding. “The Moon Goddess demands sacrifices to restore the natural order. Sometimes, it's necessary to lose some pieces on the board to achieve a greater balance.”
Her explanation sounded like a cruel rationalization for her actions, and I refused to accept it. “You're distorting the principles we've always followed. Sacrificing the lives of innocents is not natural order; it's a violation of the values we uphold.”
Ignis approached me and let out a cold laugh. “Values that, in the end, are just human constructs. The Moon Goddess transcends that; I am her tool to redefine order. The law must be followed, and you, as a she-wolf, should understand that.”
My patience was running out, and I was about to counter her words when a new voice interrupted our conversation.
“Fierce, I need to talk to you about something...”
It was Cierce, entering the dining room, expressing concern in her gaze.
“Finally,” Cierce muttered, facing Ignis with a determined expression. Before I could fully grasp the situation, Cierce underwent a rapid and furious transformation, assuming her wolf form and charging at Ignis.
I shouted for Cierce to stop, my heart racing with worry. However, the attack happened too quickly, the walls of the dining room shattering as Cierce and Ignis collided, and both disappeared in the explosion of debris.
Desperate, I ran toward the destruction, fearing Ignis might retaliate against Cierce. The smell of blood and wreckage filled the air as I approached what remained of the dining room.
Finally, I reached the riverbank near the Cabin, where I found Cierce and Ignis by the water's edge. Ignis was lying injured, seemingly dead, and Cierce maintained a protective stance. Then Cierce tossed Ignis's body into the river. My heart raced, and fear gripped me.
“What have you done?” I asked Cierce, my voice filled with despair.
Cierce turned to me, her wolf eyes still gleaming with a wild intensity. “I protected you, Fierce. Ignis had the power of manipulation, and you were in danger. Not anymore.”
I shook my head, still perplexed by the abrupt turn of events. “I didn't feel threatened by Ignis. We were talking; I was trying to understand what motivated her to do all this.”
Cierce approached, her wolf fur fading to reveal her human form again. “Ignis is cunning, Fierce. Sometimes, the only way to deal with a threat is to eliminate it.”
My hands trembled as I processed what had just happened. I didn't want violence, but Cierce had acted in an instant of protection. I looked at the river, where the waters seemed to have swallowed Ignis.
“What did you want, Cierce?” I asked, trying to understand the motivation behind her action.
Cierce smiled, a smile mixed with triumph and relief. “The boys woke up.”