Kamrynn’s POV
I lay sprawled on my bed, staring at the ceiling as my thoughts churned like a raging storm. The encounter with Kyven and Thalia had left me raw, both physically and emotionally. My cheek ached, my split lip throbbed, and my pride-well, that was shattered beyond repair. My body begged for rest, but my mind wouldn’t relent.
The soft click of the door opening pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. I turned my head just as Rmonica stepped inside, her ever-watchful eyes scanning the room.
“There you are,” she said, her voice light but tinged with concern. “I’ve been looking for you. How are you feeling? You looked like you needed some air earlier.”
I forced a weak smile, pushing myself up to sit. “I’m fine. Just tired, that’s all.”
Her brow furrowed slightly, and she stepped closer, her gaze locking onto my face. She froze mid-step, her eyes widening as she took in the bruise on my cheek and the dried blood on my split lip.
“Kamrynn,” she said sharply, closing the distance between us in an instant. “What happened to your face?”
I flinched at the sudden shift in her tone. “It’s nothing,” I said quickly, waving her off. “I…uh…I tripped.”
Rmonica’s lips pressed into a thin line as she stared at me, clearly unimpressed. “You tripped?” she repeated, her tone dripping with disbelief. “On what? A fist?”
I looked away, my cheeks flushing with heat. “It’s not a big deal, really. I’m fine.”
She sat on the edge of the bed, her arms crossed over her chest. “Kamrynn, don’t do this. Don’t lie to me. You think I can’t tell when something’s wrong?”
“I’m not lying,” I mumbled, though my voice lacked conviction.
“Yes, you are,” she shot back, her tone firm but not unkind. “You’re a terrible liar, Kamrynn. Now, tell me what really happened.”
I hesitated, my fingers twisting the edge of the blanket. “It’s…complicated.”
“Complicated?” she echoed, her expression softening just enough to reveal the hurt beneath her frustration. “Kamrynn, I’m your best friend. I tell you everything. Why can’t you trust me enough to do the same?”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I swallowed hard, guilt clawing at my insides. “It’s not that I don’t trust you,” I said quietly. “I just didn’t want to drag you into my mess.”
“Your mess is my mess,” she said firmly, placing a hand on my shoulder. “That’s what friends do. So stop shutting me out and tell me the truth. Please.”
Rmonica took a deep breath, her fingers twitching as though to steady herself. “Alright, Kamrynn,” she said, her voice calm but with an edge of steel. “Start from the beginning. Tell me everything.”
I hesitated, the weight of the truth pressing down on me. “Promise me you won’t freak out.”
Her lips thinned into a determined line, and she nodded. “I promise. Just talk to me.”
I took a moment to gather my thoughts, then began. “It all started during the Harvest Moon Festival. Alpha Draven…there was something off about him from the very beginning. At first, I thought it was just me being paranoid, but…” I trailed off, unsure how to proceed.
“But what?” Rmonica pressed gently.
I let out a shaky breath. “I saw him acting suspiciously. He kept slipping away from the festivities, avoiding everyone. And then there was the phone call.”
Rmonica’s brows knit together. “What phone call?”
“I overheard him,” I admitted, my voice dropping to a whisper. “He said something about the mating ceremony being the start of something new for him and your family. He said, ‘They’ll never see it coming.'”
Her expression darkened, a flicker of unease flashing in her eyes.
“But that’s not the worst of it,” I continued, swallowing hard. “He…he poisoned me.”
Rmonica’s eyes widened in shock. “What? Poisoned you? Kamrynn, are you sure?”
I nodded. “I’m certain. He injected me with something. That’s why I blacked out for two days. If I wasn’t…different, I wouldn’t have survived.”
Her face paled, and for a moment, she was silent. My heart sank, fearing she wouldn’t believe me. But then she exhaled sharply, her expression hardening with resolve.
“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?” she demanded, her voice rising slightly. “Kamrynn, this is serious! You should have come to me the moment you suspected something was wrong.”
“I didn’t think you’d believe me,” I confessed, shame creeping into my voice. “Even Kyven didn’t.”
She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “Kamrynn, after everything you’ve done for me-for my family-you think I wouldn’t believe you? Do you have any idea how much I trust you? What you did during Eloane’s betrayal? You saved me.”
Her words caught me off guard, and I blinked back tears. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I just didn’t want to cause trouble without proof.”
Rmonica placed a hand on my shoulder, her gaze steady and unwavering. “Listen to me. If you think something is wrong, I believe you. You don’t need proof to convince me. You’ve never given me a reason to doubt you.”
Her unwavering support brought a lump to my throat. “Thank you,” I said softly.
She nodded, her expression softening. “Now, tell me the rest. How did you survive the poison?”
I hesitated, knowing this would be the hardest part to explain. “Because…I’m not like everyone else. I’m a descendant of Selene, the moon goddess.”
Rmonica blinked, her lips parting slightly in surprise. “A descendant of Selene?”
I nodded. “That’s why I survived. My body is immune to poison. It’s…part of who I am. I also have the power of foresight. I get visions of the future, they’re not direct but they always let me know what to expect, and point me in the right direction.”
She was silent for a moment, then a smile slowly spread across her face. “I knew it,” she said, her voice filled with awe.
“You’re not upset?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“Upset?” she repeated, shaking her head. “Kamrynn, I’m proud. This explains so much. I’ve always known there was something special about you. Your intuition has proven to be reliable. It’s why I couldn’t let you go back to prison. You’re meant for greater things.”
Her words filled me with a warmth I hadn’t felt in days. “Thank you. Thank you so much for believing in me.” I appreciated, my voice barely above a whisper.
Rmonica remained seated at the edge of my bed, her expression unreadable. She was silent for a moment, as if piecing her thoughts together. Then she let out a heavy sigh.
“I need to tell you something, Kamrynn,” she said. “You’re not the only one who’s felt uneasy about Alpha Draven.”
I blinked in surprise. “You’ve noticed something too?”
Rmonica nodded, her brows knitting in concern. “From the moment Orion decided to invite him to the Harvest Moon Festival, something didn’t sit right with me. Prior to this, we knew so little about him or the Amethyst Pack. It’s not unusual for Packs to keep some matters private, but Draven takes it to another level. He’s deliberately mysterious. Almost everything about him feels…calculated.”
She paused, folding her hands tightly in her lap. “His Pack is nearly impossible to penetrate. The land they occupy is surrounded by steep, jagged hills, making it a natural fortress. And those hills are guarded by some of the fiercest warriors I’ve ever heard of. Even if someone were foolish enough to launch an invasion, they’d face brutal defeat before they even reached the heart of Amethyst territory.”
I shivered at her words, a vivid image forming in my mind. Warriors hidden in the shadows of towering cliffs, arrows raining down on invaders, the narrow paths acting as a death trap. It was a stronghold, nearly impenetrable. It spoke volumes about the power and cunning of Alpha Draven.
“Why would the Alpha invite him, then?” I asked, my voice quiet.
“To build relations,” Rmonica explained. “Orion believes in strengthening ties between Packs, especially ones as elusive as Amethyst. And when Kyven and Thalia turned out to be fated mates, it seemed like a blessing, a chance to solidify those bonds further.”
“But you don’t trust him,” I said, meeting her gaze.
“No, I don’t,” she admitted without hesitation. “Something about him doesn’t feel right. And the speed at which he insisted on the mating ceremony…” She shook her head, her voice growing colder. “That never sat well with me.”
I nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude for her intuition. “I’m glad you feel this way,” I said. “But you need to be careful, Rmonica. Draven is dangerous. He won’t hesitate to eliminate anyone who stands in his way.”
Rmonica’s eyes narrowed, determination flashing in her gaze. “I understand the risks, Kamrynn. But I won’t let anyone threaten my family or my Pack. I’ll handle this the right way-maturely and strategically. Orion and I will come up with a plan to expose the truth about Draven.”
Hearing her say that brought a wave of relief so strong it nearly brought me to tears. The weight of the secret I’d been carrying felt lighter now, knowing I wasn’t alone in this fight.
“Thank you, Rmonica,” I said softly. “I couldn’t do this without you.”
She reached over, squeezing my hand. “You don’t have to. We’re in this together.”
Her words were a balm to my frayed nerves, but she wasn’t done. Her expression softened, and she leaned closer. “But you, Kamrynn, need to rest. Stop trying to shoulder everything on your own. It’s not just you anymore-you have those babies to think about.”
I sighed, guilt creeping in. “You’re right. I’ve been reckless.”
“Promise me,” she said firmly. “No more reckless decisions.”
“I promise,” I said, meaning it.
Her shoulders relaxed slightly, and she offered me a small smile. “Good. Now, get some real rest. I’ll talk to Orion tonight, and we’ll figure out our next steps.”
As she left the room, I lay back on the bed, finally allowing myself to exhale. For the first time in days, I didn’t feel entirely alone in this fight. Rmonica was with me, and together, we would face whatever darkness Alpha Draven had planned.