101- The Circle Tightens
POV Lunara Grimwald:
“Do you want a bath or to change clothes?”
I glanced down, remembering I was half-naked.
“I need to change,” I said, biting my lip, hesitant.
I didn’t want to be alone. Not now. Not in a room where a disemboweled male lay bleeding on the floor. Edric seemed to sense it.
“Do you want me to stay here?” I nodded.
“I don’t want to be alone.” My voice trembled, fragile, and Edric’s gaze softened with understanding.
“All right. I’ll stay with you.”
“Promise?” I whispered.
“I promise.”
I hated feeling like that. I hated Alessio for making me feel like that. Almost all of his males had made dark promises to me. They didn’t respect females—especially me, no longer protected as the alpha’s daughter, branded a traitor.
I shuddered, remembering the male’s touch on my skin.
“Are you okay?” Edric asked, his expression shifting, turning stern. His eyes fell on the broken syringe on the floor, and he growled.
I stepped over the lifeless body in the middle of my room and ran to the wardrobe, grabbing the first piece of clothing I saw. Edric leaned against the wall by the door, arms crossed, watching me closely, as if studying every movement.
I avoided the pool of blood, forcing myself not to look at the mangled stomach decorating the floor.
“Come here,” he said, uncrossing his arms and extending his hand. I took it, moving closer again. “Let’s go to my room. From now on, you’ll sleep with me.”
My throat went dry. I licked my lips.
“Are you sure?”
It didn’t seem like a good idea—especially for the sake of my sanity.
“Would you rather sleep here, after everything that happened? I can stay if you prefer.”
He thought I didn’t want to go to his room—but that wasn’t the problem. He was.
“I’ll go to yours,” I decided, realizing I had no choice. Besides, I couldn’t sleep peacefully alone, even if I tried.
I had fought so hard to be accepted by the Eldoria—for the safety they offered, the life I could have with them, free from Alessio and his pursuit. But after tonight, I realized he was always one step ahead of us.
There was no safety for me anymore.
I looked at Edric, lips trembling, tormented.
In truth, there was only one kind of safety left—one that would bring me peace, ensure that nothing could hurt, haunt, or threaten me ever again. That I would always be protected.
I fixed my gaze on those silver-blue eyes.
He, the leader of Eldoria.
By his side, no one—not even Alessio—could ever be a threat.
...
The scene reminded me of the first time I was, properly or not, introduced to them.
Anton, Andrei, and Lyris sat at the table, their faces tired and swollen from disturbed, interrupted sleep. I took the chair at the end, hugging myself and leaning against it, still tormented by everything that had happened. Edric stood beside me, as if he could shield me from any threat that might arise.
“This was supposed to be impossible,” said Anton, drumming his fingers on the tabletop.
“Someone is betraying us, and it’s no longer just a possibility—it’s a certainty,” declared Andrei, sighing.
Lyris rubbed her face.
“They’d have to be really fucking stupid to betray the pack.”
“And for what purpose? With what intent?” asked Anton, examining every possible angle.
“Money?” suggested Lyris. I shook my head.
“I don’t know… Eclipse and Dusk aren’t like the packs here. They don’t have profitable businesses. If Alessio really is buying off one of the Eldoria wolves, he’s getting him cheap.”
“No one would be crazy enough to sell themselves for so little, not when they know they’d face Edric’s wrath,” said Andrei.
“But for the right price, yes,” Lyris declared. “Alessio may not have much money, but enough to buy a wolf? I mean, buy his freedom to live in the human world.”
I thought about it.
“Not enough to live the rest of his life without working, but enough to run, yes,” I said firmly.
Anton lifted his gaze to Edric.
“Lunara is no longer safe. If they were capable of finding and breaking into your house to get their hands on her, they can—and will—do it anywhere, at the first opportunity. They’re desperate for her, and they’re getting closer each time.”
“I know that,” Edric exhaled, arms crossed, his expression thoughtful.
“We need to find a way to uncover the traitor. It could be anyone—a regular pack member, one of the guards,” said Andrei.
“I don’t think it’s that simple,” Anton countered. “The male crossed the border of our lands, where several men patrol. For him to have done that, the traitor must be someone influential. I even believe it could be one of the alphas in charge of security.”
“I believe that as much as you do, Anton,” said Edric. “To pass through the patrol, he knew exactly which paths would be clear so he wouldn’t be intercepted before reaching here. He was given critical information.”
“Now the question is: how do we find him?” Andrei drummed his fingers on the table.
“I can start snooping around. Celindra could be a good ally—she’s in contact with the pups’ parents. Someone’s bound to slip up eventually. If it’s not for money, then it was certainly for revenge,” murmured Lyris.
“Revenge?” I asked, swallowing hard. She shrugged.
“They know your life and Edric’s are linked. If they want to deliver you to Alessio, it’s because they want the alpha’s head.” She gave me a sincere look. “I don’t see anyone hating you enough for that. Not yet, at least.”
Andrei whistled softly.
“All I know is that bastard, Alessio, is closing in—tightening the noose. If he keeps this up, he’ll manage to get Lunara eventually.”
Edric slammed his fist on the table, making everyone jump.