Everybody knew Luna Sierra was a stubborn woman. Even as the pack Luna, she wouldn’t easily let things go, especially once she sensed something was amiss. When she heard that her son, Alpha Prince Felix, had been slipping in and out of his house at midnight, she couldn’t help but worry.
“Tell me the truth, did that rogue do something to you?” she confronted Felix one evening, her voice a mix of concern and suspicion. The moonlight streamed through the window, casting a silvery glow on her furrowed brow. Being arranged to a rogue was certainly not part of her plans for her son. She had only let it go because she feared it would hinder his recovery.
“Meeting Gaia isn’t a curse, Mother,” Felix replied. “My midnight stroll is a routine I established before I came here.”
Luna Sierra let out a huff, the sound echoing softly in the quiet room. “Then you should be careful. The elders are watching you closely.”
Felix hummed in agreement, though his mind was elsewhere.
In reality, he had been preoccupied with what had transpired earlier. After sending the driver’s daughter to accompany her father, Felix had been plagued by worries about what truly happened behind the scenes. They said that man had taken the Light of Memory. That plant didn’t exist in their territory, so how could anyone from their pack use it?
Zeke. Felix was certain he had seen him in his vision. But did he really do it? Was he behind that driver’s paralysis? If so, why?
The more Felix thought about it, the more his head felt like it was going to split in two. The pressure behind his eyes built, making him rub his temples in frustration.
Later, when he was about to take another stroll, he heard that his mother had gone to the main prison dungeon.
“What is she doing there?” he asked Max, his loyal lieutenant.
“I’m not sure, Prince,” Max answered. “But from what I heard, they captured new rogues yesterday. They are locked in the main dungeon at present.”
Felix gave him a sharp look.
Max sighed, “It’s possible Luna Sierra went to interrogate them.”
A sigh escaped Felix’s lips. That was to be expected, he thought. Luna Sierra was a hard-headed woman, always feeling the need to outshine everyone in the pack except Alpha Jake. It was a complex born from holding a position as high as the sky.
“Send our best fighters to assist her,” Felix ordered.
Max bowed deeply. “Understood, Alpha Prince.”
Felix stood and looked ahead, the cold breeze of the night sending chills against his skin. He watched the leaves sway under the moonlight, the rustling sound soothing yet ominous. He shut his eyes and felt the wind whip around him, carrying the scent of rain and earth.
It seemed a storm was coming.
He slowly opened his eyes, feeling the stronger wind coming onto him like a tidal wave. The sky darkened as clouds gathered, shrouding the moon in a veil of gray.
Eyes gleaming under the moon that was slowly hiding behind the clouds, his thoughts began to drift. Sana Azalea had told their pack a drought would come soon.
“Did she make a mistake, or was fate being challenged by someone else?” he softly asked the wind.
. . .
Alpha Prince Zeke’s private chambers were dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls from the flickering candles. Zeke had only been resting for a few minutes when Colton arrived, his footsteps echoing off the stone floor as he approached with urgent news.
“She’s gone down to interrogate them?” Zeke asked, cold fury flashing through his eyes like lightning in a stormy sky. He sat up, the muscles in his jaw tightening.
“She’s probably just being nosy, Alpha Prince,” Colton said, attempting to soothe the tension in the room.
Zeke nodded slowly, though his mind was racing. He had never truly considered Luna Sierra an opponent. To him, she was nothing more than a figurehead, a proposed woman to fulfill the mate position of Alpha Jake. She would need to be much smarter if she wanted to play games with Zeke himself. Otherwise, she didn’t hold any real value and couldn’t become a hindrance to his plans.
“What about the carriage driver?” Zeke asked after a pause.
Colton, who had been standing with a straight face, showed a flicker of discomfort. Lowering his head, he replied, “We are still searching for him, Alpha Prince.”
Zeke clenched his fists, the sound of his knuckles cracking filling the tense silence. He dropped one hand onto the table with a resounding thud. It took immense control not to let his disappointment or anger show fully.
He took a deep breath, the air heavy with the scent of burning wax and old parchment. “I will visit the dungeon again. As for the driver’s matter, I want you to find him quickly,” he commanded.
He paused, his gaze piercing into Colton’s eyes. “Be sure to find him tonight, Colton.”
“Yes, Alpha Prince,” Colton responded, bowing slightly.
Zeke nodded, his expression unyielding as they both prepared to leave the chambers. “Anyone who blocks your way, don’t hesitate to eliminate them.”
The weight of his words hung in the air, thick and foreboding, as they exited the room, the heavy door creaking shut behind them.