WHISPERED THORNS

The fire in the hearth had burned low, casting long shadows along the stone walls. She glanced at the mirror across the room and caught sight of herself dressed in brown robes; her hair was meticulously braided and adorned with gold pins that glinted in the dying light. She looked every inch a queen.

But inside, she felt like nothing, there was this emptiness inside of her.

She dropped into the velvet chair beside the window, her body stiff, her soul even stiffer. Her fingers slid across the wooden armrest, nails tapping mindlessly. She hated how quiet the room was. It was still and cold. And she hated that she was alone.

Her mother had always been her force, fierce, unrelenting and ambitious. But lately, Eudora’s love had turned into something razor-sharp. It is no longer protected, it feels pierced.

“If you dare to stand in my way, you’ll find out just how cruel I can be to one of my own”, her mother had told her the last time she questioned her about the stolen supplies. Her mother had tried every means to stop the investigation of the stolen supplies, yet she had forced her way through. When she queried her about it, her own mother used magic on her and threatened to do worse.

Mirabel had stared into those cruel eyes, searching for the woman who once read her bedtime stories and braided her hair with daisies. But that woman was gone; she had been eaten alive by her lust for power.

As for the pack, they still respected her, or rather, they feared her. But she saw it in their eyes that they no longer favoured her, the quick glances, the fake smiles, the whispered conversations that stopped the moment she entered a room. No one wanted her. Not even Selene, the thought of it made her chest ache.

Selene used to be her only real friend, her shadow and her constant companion. She was always by her side, supporting every one of her decisions. But lately, she had grown cold, distant, and even mechanical. She said all the right things and did everything expected of her, but her warmth was gone.

Mirabel suspects that she is taking sides with the enemy, so she has tested her once, slipping out a carefully crafted lie to see if her friend would take the bait. To her surprise, Selene didn’t blink, not even a twitch.

Even when Mirabel casually brought up secrets she knew would trigger her, Selene remained a wall. A beautiful, calm, unreadable wall. She had expected her to leak the information to her enemies, but it seemed like she did not.

“Maybe I’ve been overthinking it,” she whispered aloud.

She sat up slowly, brushing invisible lint from her robe and adjusting her earrings. She would call for Selene. She needed the company, someone to share her thoughts with.

She opened her mouth to summon the maid, but a soft knock interrupted her. She paused for a second, but quickly, a second knock followed, more delicate this time. Almost hesitant. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, but she composed herself. “You may enter.”

The door creaked open, and Selene walked in gracefully clad in a deep wine-coloured gown; her dark hair was pulled back into a sleek twist, not a strand out of place. Her face was expressionless as always, but Mirabel saw her soft expression.

Relief washed over Mirabel faster than she expected, her face lit up at the sight of Selene. “Selene,” she breathed. “I was just about to call for you.”

Selene stepped in, closing the door quietly behind her. “I felt I should come. You've been quiet all evening.” Mirabel stood and walked toward her, suddenly unsure of what to say. She didn’t want to seem desperate or vulnerable. But she was both.

So instead, she forced a smile. “You’re always just a thought away, aren’t you?”

Selene’s lips curved faintly. “Of course, it is my duty to make sure you my friend are feeling okay at all times”

Mirabel winced at the word duty. Selene moved to the hearth and stirred the dying fire. Her movements were precise and graceful, the flames flared slightly, casting light over her face.

“I was worried about you,” Selene said softly, still facing the fire. “You've been quiet for some time now; what's bothering you?.”

Mirabel’s expression stiffened. “My mother plans to force a marriage between me and Kaelen. I don't know how she plans to do that, but I'm worried that her agendas are not for my good.”

Wanting to keep appearances, Selene declared. “That's great news, it's been over a year since he declared you his chosen Luna; he had delayed the marriage since then; it’s long overdue.”

Mirabel crossed her arms, stepping closer. “You don't disapprove of it?”

Selene turned slowly, expression neutral. “No. Actually, I think It is a smart move.” That caught Mirabel off guard. “You do?”

Selene nodded. “Your mother intends to bind you to him anyway. You just need to be one step ahead of her.” Mirabel tilted her head, studying her friend. “So you think I should play along with the wedding plan?”

Selene shrugged one elegant shoulder. “You’ve always been strategic, this time shouldn’t be different.” Mirabel laughed under her breath, a bitter sound. “Strategic,” she repeated. “That’s what I am now?”

Selene blinked. “Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted to be?”

There was no cruelty in her tone, but the words cut deep anyway. Mirabel turned away and walked to the window. The moon hung low and full, casting silver light over the garden below. Her fingers curled slightly against the sill.

“I went to him,” she said quietly. “To Kaelen.” Selene didn’t speak.

“I told him I wasn’t a part of my mother’s evil plans anymore,” she continued. “That I don’t stand with her. I also asked for his forgiveness.”

Silence stretched between them. Selene’s reflection stood behind her in the glass.

Finally, Selene spoke in a calm voice. “Do you want to be on his side now?” Mirabel spun around, her face twisted with disgust. “No, of course not.”

Selene raised a brow.

“I told you,” Mirabel snapped. “I’m using him. He doesn’t know it, but I am. I’ve come to realise that I can’t fight my mother alone.” Her voice dropped, quiet and deadly. “She’ll crush me, she has tried to before.”

Selene moved closer, her footsteps soft on the carpeted floor. “So Kaelen becomes your shield?”

“Exactly.” Mirabel’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Let him believe I want peace, let him play the saviour. Let him gather his warriors and prepare for war.” She looked up, eyes gleaming.

“Because when the dust settles, and when we’ve destroyed Eudora together—”

Selene tilted her head. “Then what?” Mirabel stepped forward, her gaze sharpening.

“Then…” she whispered, “it’ll be time to erase Kaelen.” Selene’s eyes widened, and Mirabel’s smile widened.

“And I will become Queen of the Northern Pack.” Silence followed. It stretched, wrapped around them like velvet. Selene studied her for a long, quiet moment.

Mirabel held her gaze, unflinching now. Cold and Ruthless. It was the first time in a long while that she felt powerful again, but in Selene’s expression, something unreadable passed. “As it should be,” She murmured.