Vione prepared herself and so did the warriors. They seemed to know that Vione would not give up easily. They exchanged glances, encouraging each other, each harboring a hint of doubt.
After all, Vione had once been their Luna. Undoubtedly, a reluctance to use violence against her lingered in their hearts. Unfortunately, there was an order to be carried out. Mireya had the authority they had to obey, whether they liked it or not.
“Vione, it would be better if you surrender peacefully,” the warrior leader, Storm, suggested.
Vione turned to Storm. “I’m sorry, Storm, but I can’t.”
Storm Meadow stood still for a moment. An inner struggle was visible in his eyes. The day he had captured Vione and her parents was still fresh in his mind. Now he had to do it again?
Storm’s common sense and his conscience fought. Following Mireya’s orders should have been easy, but it wasn’t.
“Storm!” Mireya snapped. She glared at Storm with a piercing look. “I told you to capture Vione. Capture her now!”
Storm clenched his fists. He looked at Vione with a helpless expression. “I’m sorry.”
Storm motioned to his subordinates to capture Vione. She took a step back, determined. If she couldn’t escape easily, she would have to resort to various means, including violence.
Vione prepared to defend herself. The warriors began to advance. They studied the situation, considering various possibilities. Suddenly, cries of pain echoed from the rear of the warrior formation.
Every eye immediately turned to the source of the sound. It wasn’t just one scream; it was repeated several times, coming from the warriors falling to the ground.
Mireya’s eyes widened. “What’s happening?”
Storm wanted to investigate, but his steps faltered as the cause of the warriors’ distress revealed itself. Just after he had effortlessly taken the warriors down with his bare hands.
A man stood before Storm. He wore casual clothes, a combination of jeans, a t-shirt, and a hooded jacket. Almost half of his face was covered by a mask.
Vione stopped in disbelief. It couldn’t be.
Storm, on the other hand, furrowed his brow with unexplained unease. Suddenly he was overcome by a feeling of restlessness. He eyed the man carefully, his heart pounding uncomfortably. “Who are you?”
The man remained silent, focusing instead on Mireya. He looked at her intensely and without blinking. His eyes seemed sharp, as if he wanted to cut Mireya alive.
Mireya was taken aback. The man’s gaze took her breath away. Her body tingled, freezing as she caught a glimpse of a golden flash in his eyes. No, I must be mistaken.
“You really are an evil woman, Mireya.”
Mireya jerked, trying to recognize the voice, but the uncertainty remained. She was convinced that the man was disguising his true voice.
“Who are you?” Mireya asked, signaling to Storm. “What are you doing here?” Then a fleeting memory crossed her mind. She raised her hand and accused the man. “It’s you. It’s you! It’s you! You’re Vione’s former lover who used to come to The Palace!”
Chaos ensued. The warriors’ eyes alternated between Vione and the man. While Storm ignored the commotion, his focus remained on the man, trying to identify him.
Storm was aware of the rumors circulating that Vione was having an affair with a man who often wore a hooded jacket and a mask. Until now, he had only heard about it and witnessed it firsthand. It caused another upheaval in his mind. Was it true that Vione was having an affair? If not, then who was the man standing between them?
“Vione never cheated on anyone. You’ve damaged Vione’s reputation, Mireya.”
Mireya was astonished. The man’s growl generated a heat that scorched the air. She trembled. Yes, he was an Alpha, but of which pack?
“Let me tell you all,” the man said, surveying the area. “Vione has never betrayed Usher. She is a loyal Luna to her Alpha.”
Storm reacted. “Do you have proof?”
Mireya clenched her fists. “Storm!” she shouted angrily. “I order you to capture Vione, not to trust the words of an unknown person.”
“Anything can happen. I, as leader of the warriors, accept all possibilities for the good and benefit of the pack.”
Mireya closed her lips tightly. She tried to control herself, but her mind had cursed Storm. Damn you, Storm! To hell with everything! They really do not appreciate me, even though Usher has given me full authority.
“What proof do you have that Vione is loyal to the Alpha and the pack?” Storm asked again. Hope shone in his eyes. While he prayed in his heart. “Show the proof to me and I’ll go to the Alpha directly.”
Storm waited like the others. But the man only looked at Vione with a regretful expression.
Vione knew. Everyone knew. The man had no proof that Storm wanted.
“So, you have no proof at all?”
The man remained silent, only clenching his hands tightly. His fingers turned white and the blood flow seemed to stop.
Mireya laughed. “You see? He only wants to deceive you! Actually, he just wants to save Vione.”
Storm looked at Mireya for a moment. His eyes reflected an escalating inner turmoil. His instincts told him not to trust Mireya’s words, but his logic reminded him that he couldn’t oppose Mireya’s statements.
“Now, Storm, I order you to capture Vione and this man!”
Now Storm was powerless. The authority given to him by Usher requires him to obey any order she gives. So, he signaled orders to his subordinates while the man secured Vione behind him.
The man surveyed the situation and said to Vione, “Don’t worry. I will protect you.”
Vione remained silent. She ignored the approaching warriors and Mireya’s impatience to see her captured again. Her focus was solely on the man. In such close proximity, an unfamiliar sensation began to run through her body.
The wind blew, hot air permeated the surroundings, and the rustling of leaves added to the unease. Meanwhile, the full moon shone brightly above them.
A growl echoed. Instinctively, Vione stepped back. Her eyes widened, reflecting the astonishment of the others, as the man turned into a large, golden-furred wolf.
He howled and everything froze.
*