Chapter 40 The Enemy in Plain Sight
I couldn’t go back to sleep.
The distorted voice played on repeat in my head. Other plans. Plans you can’t prepare for.
Lycian held me tight. His heartbeat was steady against my ear. Trying to calm me through the bond. But his own anxiety bled through. Sharp and worried.
“We’ll tell my father,” he said. Voice rough from sleep. “Add more security. Change the trial location if we have to.”
“They’ll just adapt. Find another way.” I pulled back. Looked at him in the dim morning light. “I can’t live like this. Constantly afraid. Constantly looking over my shoulder.”
“Then what do you want to do?”
“I want to face them. Figure out who’s behind this and make it stop.” My voice was steadier than I felt. “I’m tired of being the victim.”
Something shifted in his expression. Pride mixed with concern. “You’re not thinking of doing something stupid, are you?”
“Define stupid.”
“Elowen.”
“I’m not going to do anything reckless. I just want to be ready for whatever they throw at me.” I sat up. “The trial is tomorrow. One day. Then it’s over and I’m one step closer to being done with all of this.”
“Two trials left after this one. Social and the final combined challenge.” He touched my face. Gentle. “You’re halfway there. Don’t let them psyche you out now.”
I leaned into his touch. Let the bond wrap around us. Warm and constant. My anchor when everything else felt unstable.
We got up. Made coffee. Pretended everything was normal.
Aunt Clara joined us for breakfast. She’d been quieter lately. Worried but trying to hide it. The cast was off her wrist now. She moved more easily. Smiled more. But her eyes always found me. Checking. Making sure I was okay.
“Big day tomorrow,” she said. Buttering toast. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I can be.” I pushed eggs around my plate. Appetite gone. “It’s just a test. I’ve taken plenty of tests.”
“This one matters more.” She reached across the table. Squeezed my hand. “But you’ll do fine. You always do.”
Her faith in me felt heavy. Like pressure I couldn’t quite carry. But I smiled anyway. Nodded. Pretended confidence I didn’t feel.
After breakfast, Elena came over. Bought more study materials. But also snacks and mindless magazines.
“You need a break,” she said. Spreading everything across the coffee table. “Your brain is going to explode if you cram anymore.”
“I can’t afford to take a break. Not with everything happening.”
“You can’t afford to. Exhaustion makes you sloppy. Makes mistakes.” She handed me a fashion magazine. “Read about celebrity drama instead. Give your mind something easy.”
I tried. Really tried. But the words blurred together. My thoughts kept circling back to the trial. The threats. The unknown danger is waiting.
“Talk to me,” Elena said. Setting down her own magazine. “What’s really bothering you?”
“Besides the obvious?”
“Yeah. Besides that.” Her expression was patient. Understanding. “What’s the worst part? The fear? The pressure? The not knowing?”
I thought about it. Really thought. “The helplessness. Everyone’s protecting me. Planning for me. Making decisions about my safety. But I’m just supposed to sit here and study and trust that they’ll handle everything.”
“You want control.”
“I want to fight back.” The words came out fierce. Raw. “I want whoever’s threatening me to know I’m not easy prey. That I’m not going to break just because they’re scary.”
Elena smiled. Sharp and approving. “There’s the Luna I knew was hiding in there.”
“I’m not Luna yet.”
“You will be. Because you have what it takes. That fire.” She leaned forward. “You want to fight back? Then win tomorrow. Ace that test. Show them you can’t be broken by sabotage or threats or anything else they throw at you.”
She was right. The best revenge is success. Proving them all wrong.
We spent the afternoon doing normal things. Watching bad reality TV. Eating junk food. Painting our nails. Girl stuff that felt foreign but comforting.
“Thank you,” I said. While she painted my toenails bright red. “For being my friend. For not treating me like I’m fragile.”
“You’re not fragile. You’re human. There’s a difference.” She finished the last toe. Admired her work. “And honestly? You’re tougher than half the wolves I know. They just don’t see it yet.”
Lycian came home around six. Found us on the couch surrounded by magazines and nail polish.
“Having fun?” He looked amused. Relaxed for the first time in days.
“Lots.” I wiggled my red toes. “Like them?”
“Very intimidating. I’m sure the traitor will surrender immediately when they see those.”
I threw a pillow at him. He caught it. Laughed. The sound made my chest feel lighter.
Elena left after dinner. Hugged me tight. “You’ve got this. I’ll be there tomorrow. Front row. Cheering loud enough to embarrass you.”
“I’m counting on it.”
After she left, the apartment felt too quiet again. The weight of tomorrow is settling back in.
Lycian found me on the balcony. Staring at the city lights. Lost in thought.
“What are you thinking about?” He wrapped his arms around me from behind. Rested his chin on my shoulder.
“Everything. Nothing.” I leaned back against him. “What if I fail? Not because of sabotage. Just because I’m not smart enough or prepared enough?”
“Then you try again. Simple as that.” His breath was warm against my neck. “But you won’t fail. You know this material backwards and forwards.”
“Knowledge isn’t the same as performance. I could freeze. Forget everything.”
“You won’t. You’re too stubborn.” He turned me around. Tilted my face up. “I believe in you. Completely. Totally. Without question.”
Through the bond, I felt the truth of his words. Felt his absolute certainty. It steadied me. Made the fear smaller.
“I love you,” I whispered. “Even when I’m terrified and irrational.”
“Especially then.” He kissed me. Soft and sweet. “Come to bed. You need rest.”
We went inside. Got ready for bed in comfortable silence. The routine is familiar now. Safe.
In bed, Lycian pulled me close. My back to his chest. His arm is around my waist. The bond hummed between us. Steady as breathing.
“Tell me something good,” I said. “Something to think about besides tomorrow.”
“After you pass the second trial, we’re going away. Just us. Somewhere quiet where nobody knows about packs or trials or politics.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere you want. Beach. Mountains. Desert. Pick a place and we’ll go.”
I thought about it. “Beach. I want to hear waves and feel sand and forget about everything for a while.”
“Beach it is. I’ll book it tomorrow night. After you ace this test.”
“You’re very confident.”
“In you? Always.” He kissed my shoulder. “Now sleep. Dream about the beach. About us. About anything except the trial.”
I tried. Closed my eyes. Focused on the sound of his breathing. I feel his heartbeat against my back.
Sleep came eventually. Restless and full of strange dreams. Running through hallways. Searching for something I couldn’t find. Voices calling my name but I couldn’t see who.
I woke at dawn. Lycian was already up. Making breakfast. The smell of coffee and eggs filled the apartment.
“Trial day,” he said. When I shuffled into the kitchen. “How are you feeling?”
“Terrified. Ready. Both.” I accepted the coffee he handed me. Let the warmth seep into my hands. “What time do we need to leave?”
“Two hours. The trial starts at nine.” He set a plate in front of me. “Eat. You need energy.”
I forced down food. My stomach protested but I kept going. He was right. I needed strength.
At eight thirty, I got dressed. Simple black pants. White blouse. Professional. Confident. Elena had picked it out yesterday. Said it made me look powerful.
I stared at myself in the mirror. Tried to see what she saw. What Lycian saw. What everyone claimed was there.
I looked tired. Scared. Young. Not like someone ready to be Luna.
But I squared my shoulders anyway. Lifted my chin. Pretended confidence until maybe it would feel real.
Lycian appeared behind me. Wrapped his arms around my waist. Rested his chin on my shoulder. We looked at our reflection together.
“Ready?” he asked.
“No. But I’m going anyway.”
“That’s all that matters.” He kissed my forehead. “Let’s go show them what you’re made of.”
We drove to the pack house in silence. His hand on my thigh. Grounding. The bond pulsed between us. Strong. Unbreakable.
The parking lot was full. More cars than I expected. Apparently, the second trial was public. Anyone could watch.
Great. More pressure.
We walked in together. Elena was waiting in the hallway. She hugged me tight. “You’ve got this.”
Garrett and Maggie were there too. And Damien. All wearing supportive smiles.
Cade approached. “The exam room is ready. Council members are waiting.”
My heart hammered. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
Lycian squeezed my hand once. “I’ll be right outside. The whole time.”
I nodded. Followed Cade down the hallway. Each step felt heavier than the last.
The exam room was small. One desk. One chair. Five council members are seated at a table facing me.
And standing in the corner, arms crossed, expression cold.
Marcus’s closest ally on the council. The one who’d voted against accepting me from the start.
My blood ran cold.
I knew who the traitor was.