Chapter 161
Freya's POV
I stood at the high window of Silver Moon Manor, watching the sun gradually sink toward the western horizon. My fingers unconsciously counted the minutes on the windowsill as I calculated time with painful precision: Riley had been gone for 48 hours and 37 minutes. Apart from her initial message—"Safely reached Bloodclaw territory"—there had been nothing. No updates, no reports, despite our agreement that she would check in every six hours.
"She's strong. She can take care of herself," I whispered, trying to calm Ember's restless whining in my mind. But the words rang hollow even to my own ears.
From my vantage point, I could see the training grounds below, transformed into a bustling military camp. Ethan and Lydia moved among the warriors of Pine Shadow Pack, our newest allies. Even from this distance, I could see the difference between them and our Moonshade fighters. The Pine Shadow wolves lacked the disciplined movements and coordinated formations that characterized our warriors.
"Come on, Riley," I murmured, pressing my palm against the cool glass. "Just one message. Anything."
As Luna, I should be down there helping coordinate efforts, not standing alone worrying about Riley. She had volunteered for this mission, insisting she could negotiate with Bloodclaw. Now her silence screamed danger.
I took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of pine and earth that permeated the manor, and turned away from the window. My role as Luna was still new, still uncomfortable at times, but duty called.
As I descended the grand staircase, several pack members stopped to bow their heads slightly, murmuring "Luna" as I passed. The title still sent a small shock through me each time I heard it.
Outside, the late afternoon air carried the scent of sweat, determination, and underlying fear. I approached the training grounds where Ethan stood with Lydia, demonstrating a defensive maneuver to a group of Pine Shadow warriors.
The moment I came within twenty feet, Ethan's head turned toward me, our soul bond alerting him to my presence before his other senses could. A wave of warmth flowed through our connection—his silent greeting—but underneath I felt his own worry mirroring mine.
"How are the Pine Shadow warriors progressing?" I asked, trying to focus on the immediate task.
Lydia shook her head, wiping sweat from her brow. "Slowly, but they're trying. Their Alpha excels at negotiation, not warfare. That's reflected in his warriors."
Ethan nodded in agreement. "We need more time to bring them up to fighting standard. Time I'm not sure Bloodclaw will give us."
At the mention of Bloodclaw, my thoughts returned to Riley. I closed my eyes briefly, reaching out through our pack bond, trying once more to sense her. Nothing but empty space where her presence should be.
"Still no response?" Ethan asked quietly, feeling my attempt through our connection.
I shook my head. "Nothing. I don't understand why she would go silent for so long."
"Perhaps something in Bloodclaw territory is interfering with the mental link," Lydia suggested, though her tone lacked conviction.
We continued training as the sun sank lower. I helped guide some of the Pine Shadow wolves through basic defensive stances, trying to keep my mind occupied. Yet every hour, I would pause and reach out to Riley again, only to encounter the same void.
Just as the sun touched the tree line, a horn blast cut through the rhythm of training. "James is back!" someone shouted from the watchtower.
Ethan and I exchanged a glance, silently communicating our hope and fear. We immediately abandoned our tasks and strode toward the command room, our pace just short of running.
By the time we arrived, the room was already filling with senior pack members, the air thick with tension. James stood in the center, looking exhausted. His clothes were torn, his eyes bloodshot, and he carried the acrid scent of prolonged stress.
"James," Ethan moved forward, authority and concern mixing in his voice. "What happened? Where is Riley?"
James's gaze shifted between Ethan and me, finally settling on my face with an expression that made my stomach drop.
"Tell us," I said firmly, even as my heart began to sink with premonition.
James took a deep breath, his voice hoarse when he finally spoke, "Riley is now Luna of Bloodclaw."
The room fell into absolute silence. I felt dizzy, as if the floor had begun to tilt beneath my feet. Through our bond, I could feel Ethan's shock rapidly transforming into anger and betrayal, a scorching heat that nearly burned through our connection.
"That's impossible," Lydia broke the silence, disbelief coloring her voice. "She's our Zeta, she wouldn't—"
"She and Bloodclaw's Alpha are true mates," James interrupted, rubbing his tired eyes. "I saw her wearing Bloodclaw's Luna mark with my own eyes."
Chaos erupted in the room, voices rising in angry confusion, but I could barely hear them. I closed my eyes, concentrating with all my might, focusing on the mental link I shared with Riley as part of our pack connection.
Suddenly, the link flared open. I felt an unfamiliar sense of joy and satisfaction flowing from the other end, emotions that seemed completely foreign to Riley's usual emotional signature.
"Riley?" I called through the mental link.
After a brief pause, she responded: "You can't blame me, Freya. I went to seek peace through my mate bond, but the pull between mates was too powerful. I had to submit to him."
I was shocked by the contentment in her response. "Riley, what does this mean? Have you betrayed our pack?" I asked urgently.
But there was no answer. The connection abruptly closed, leaving nothing but emptiness. I tried to reestablish it, only to find Riley had blocked me completely.
"She's blocked me," I said softly, looking up to find every eye in the room fixed on me.
Ethan moved to my side, his anger palpable through our bond, but also his concern for me. "What did she say?" he asked, his voice tight with controlled fury.
I repeated Riley's words to the room, each syllable cutting like a knife. The room erupted once more in angry voices and concerned murmurs.
"This is treachery!" one of the elders roared.
"We've lost our Zeta," another worried, "at the worst possible time."
I stood in the center of the storm, feeling a profound sense of betrayal wash over me. Just days ago, Riley and I had begun to build some kind of understanding and respect. Now I wondered if it had all been a lie.
"What do we do now?" Lydia asked, her voice cutting through the chaos with practical concern. "Riley knows all our defense plans. Every weakness. Every strategy."
"Prepare for war," Ethan told everyone in the room. "Bloodclaw will be coming, and this time, they'll have one who was once our sister among them."