Chapter 31 CHAPTER 031
Ari POV:
I had rushed over to his office afterwards, holding Perri's instructions in my head. After telling Alpha Stone about his possible healing, I had imagined myself in trouble. Perri said his reaction will determine if they can go through with the experiment or not.
When I saw the way he clenched the edge of the table and the horror on his face. I knew then that he had seen what I imagined.
Moments later, someone had barged in to announce the arrival of some people who might be there for me.
"Me?" Did Riel finally come to his senses? Did Shadowfang really come for me after so many months?
The thought twisted and churned in my gut like a vine as I trailed behind Stone, my boots scuffing against the polished marble floor. Harry’s breathless urgency had sent a ripple of dread through the palace as guards scrambled into formation, and whispers of invasion were already threading through the halls. But when we stepped into the courtyard, bathed in the cold glow of torches, the figures at the gate weren’t armored warriors. Just three cloaked strangers, their hoods shadowing gaunt faces, and their postures too relaxed to be a threat.
I exhaled sharply, my shoulders loosening. "They are not from my pack," I muttered under my breath.
Stone didn’t react, his gaze locked onto the strangers still, like a predator sizing his prey.
"That's very bold of you strangers to walk into my territory." He began to say.
"Alpha Stone," the tallest one rasped, peeling back his hood to reveal eyes that were milky with cataracts. "We are not just strangers. We are travelers. And every territory is passable to us."
"We will see about that when your heads are rolling on the ground."
He began to turn around, but their voices stopped him. "We see things."
Another man spoke up. "The threads of fate has brought the girl to you. But we cannot speak the things of fate unless we are alone." His gnarled finger pointed at me. "You especially need to hear this."
Stone’s lip curled. "You don’t command me, traveler."
The old man smiled, his toothless gums flashing in the night. "Your wolf howls for her. And yet you let fear leash you."
A shiver skittered down my spine. Stone’s jaw tensed, but I stepped forward before he could snarl a refusal. "We’ll hear you out."
His glare could’ve flayed my skin. "You don’t know what they are."
"And you do?" I shot back, low enough that only he could hear. "Or are you just afraid they’ll say something you don’t want to face?"
Silence. Then, with a sharp jerk of his chin, Stone led us to a side chamber, the seers shuffling after like carrion birds scenting blood. After settling inside, I turned around the table to sit on a small chair.
The middle seer, a woman with her hair braided like rope and matted in dirt and grime, reached into her cloak and withdrew a stone wrapped with a thick thread. She pressed it into my palm.
"Let the moon goddess lead you," she whispered. "Or your decisions will strangle you both."
Stone spoke faster. "Explain."
The third seer chuckled. "Ask your wolf why it brought her back from the dead, Alpha. Ask it… before the storm comes."
Outside, thunder cracked. The first drop of rain hit the window and out of instinct, I jumped and squealed.
"Look at her." Stone pointed at me like I was some exhibit. "She doesn't have a wolf and can't even withstand the sound of thunder. What makes you think she is worthy of being bound to me?"
His words hurt. But I didn't show it. So when he sent the travelers away, not without food and water, I knew what I had to do. Do the splitting without his knowledge.
I was back in the hospital just when Perri was preparing to leave.
"Please tell me you came back to tell me you changed your mind," she retorted, adjusting her wristwatch and walking briskly. I fell in line beside her.
"Actually, I came with an update. He felt it."
Perri paused, her heels almost digging into the tiled floor. "He did what?"
"He...felt...it," I drew out the words. "Is that a bad thing?"
"Just forget about splitting and start thinking about being with him for the rest of your life."
What?
"What do you mean?" I asked out loud.
Perri turned slowly, her fingers tightening around her handbag until the leather creaked. "I told you to imagine that scenario because I needed to see how deeply the bond runs between you two." Her voice was clinical and detached, but her knuckles were white. "It seems it's stronger than I thought. Strong enough that he could feel your projection even across the palace." She exhaled sharply through her nose. "And I hate that."
I blinked, my stomach twisting. "Why?"
She yanked her bag off and raised her arms as though I was supposed to read her mind.
"Because my daughter and I have spent years positioning ourselves to be chosen by him!" she hissed. "Years of research, of experiments, and sacrifices you couldn’t even begin to fathom, just for some wolfless stray to waltz in and steal it all!"
My breath caught. What was it with everyone in the pack hating me because they think I care for their Alpha’s affection? They could have him. I just wanted to be free.
"Why do you want to be chosen by him?"
"Listen to me very carefully, Ari. I don't care what kind of bond you share with the Alpha. Sierra is the one who will sit on that Luna throne." She stepped closer and lowered her voice. "Do you understand?"
I stood fixated on a spot, my brows pulled together in confusion. Perri straightened then.
"Wait," I whispered, the realization slamming into me. "Sierra is your daughter?"
Perri's lips curled into something too sour to be called a smile. "Do with that information what you will."