Chapter 224 Chapter 224
Chapter 224 Chapter 224
The night was dark and cold. The forest was quiet, only the sound of owls and the rustling leaves in the wind. Lucien stood near a fallen tree, his cloak brushing the ground as he tapped his fingers impatiently against the bark. His eyes glowed faintly in the shadows, sharp and dangerous. He hated being kept waiting.
Finally, Clara appeared. She moved quickly, her hood covering her face, but her steps carried pride, not fear. Lucien’s eyes narrowed when he saw her.
“You dare call me out here?” he growled. “You must have a death wish.”
Clara pulled down her hood and gave him a sly smile. “No, Lucien. I came with good news.”
Lucien scoffed. “Good news from you? You’ve been nothing but a bitter woman crying over Elara. Do not waste my time.”
But Clara’s eyes glittered with something sharp, something deadly. She stepped closer. “The spy you are worried about… the one locked in the dungeon…” She paused, her smile widening. “He won’t be speaking anymore.”
Lucien’s eyes flashed. “What do you mean?”
Clara tilted her head, almost mocking him. “I killed him.”
Lucien froze. For the first time in a long time, he was caught off guard. His lips parted, then curled into a low laugh. “You…?” He stepped closer, towering over her. “You killed the spy?”
Clara’s smile did not fade. “Yes. You thought you had me figured out. You thought I was weak, that all I do is sulk and hate Elara. But I am not weak. I did what even you could not do. I silenced him before he could spill more secrets.”
Lucien’s laughter echoed through the trees. It was not friendly—it was dark and dangerous. “You are full of surprises, Clara.” He leaned down, his face close to hers. “But why? Why would you risk so much? That man was mine to deal with.”
Clara’s smile dropped for a moment, her true feelings spilling out. “Because I don’t care about your little fight for the throne, Lucien. I only care about one thing—Elara. I will never let her be at peace. And now, the child she carries… I will make sure it never sees the light of day.”
Lucien’s eyes glowed brighter, studying her face. Then slowly, a grin spread across his lips. “So that’s it. You want Damien for yourself. You want the Luna gone, and the child with her.”
Clara’s fists clenched, her voice sharp. “Yes. I will not rest until she is destroyed. Damien will realize she was never meant for him. I am the one who deserves that place by his side.”
Lucien chuckled again, this time with real amusement. “You are mad. Truly mad. But madness can be useful.” He straightened, his cloak shifting in the wind. “You killed the spy, and now Damien will think it was me. You have turned suspicion away from yourself, and onto me.”
Clara’s lips curved again. “Exactly. Let him chase shadows while I stay close. He will never suspect me.”
For a long moment, Lucien was silent, simply staring at her. Then he smirked and shook his head. “Perhaps I misjudged you, Clara. You are darker than I thought. I like it.”
Clara lifted her chin proudly. “Do not mistake me for your puppet, Lucien. We may walk the same path for now, but my goal is not the same as yours. You want the throne. I want Elara gone. That is where our interests meet.”
Lucien’s grin widened. “Then let the games begin.”
The two of them stood in the forest, two shadows bound by hatred and greed, their whispers carried away by the cold night wind.
And while the pack celebrated the joy of a new life inside the Luna, a darker alliance was forming right under their noses—one that would soon strike when no one expected it.