Ashley’s POV
Freya’s phone rang, the sharp sound slicing through the tension in the room. She glanced at the screen and answered quickly.
“Was that Liam?” Freja asked, her voice tight with concern as Freya ended the call. Freya nodded, her face unreadable, her usual calm demeanor replaced by something darker.
“Steven’s furious with Liam,” Freya said quietly, her voice tinged with unease. “He let us leave without permission. Now Liam’s probably out there somewhere, trying to find us, bring us back to the Mansion.”
Freja’s frustration was palpable. She huffed and shook her head. “We’re not children, Freya. We can go wherever we want. Why’s Liam so scared of Steven?”
Freya sighed deeply, leaning back in her chair, her eyes distant as if seeing something far beyond the room. “Everyone’s scared of Steven. You don’t see it because he’s more relaxed around us, but trust me, Freja, it’s different when you’re not in his inner circle. Liam… Liam’s the only one who can stand up to him. The only one who seems immune to Steven’s temper.”
I watched Freya closely, my curiosity piqued. “But why? Why does Liam put up with it? I mean, they’re cousins, but that doesn’t explain everything. Steven’s fire… it’s hard to imagine anyone surviving it.”
Freya’s lips curved into a faint smile, a soft, almost wistful look in her eyes. “Liam’s more like Steven’s brother than anything else. They have a bond-something deeper than blood. Years ago, Steven saved Liam’s life. And ever since then, Liam feels like he owes Steven… everything.”
I blinked, processing her words. “Saved him from death? What happened?”
Freya glanced over at Freja, who had been silent up until now. Freja looked down, a deep sadness settling in her features. “It’s a long story,” she murmured. “Not one for now. But trust me, Steven’s temper isn’t just for show. If you want to survive around him, you need to understand the weight of those connections.”
I couldn’t help but laugh lightly, trying to break the heavy atmosphere. “I guess you’re right. You’d better go save Liam from your terrifying brother.”
Freya stood up, her playful smile returning. “Exactly. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Take care, Ashley,” Freya called as she waved goodbye, her eyes still lingering with worry before they both left the room.
As the door clicked shut behind them, the air in the room felt lighter, but a strange feeling lingered in my chest-an uneasy stir, as though something deep inside me was shifting. Maybe there was hope in this forced marriage after all.
*****
Steven’s POV
Roy and I were running side by side through the dense forest, the cold wind whipping past us. Our feet barely touched the ground, our bodies moving in perfect harmony. We were wolves-fast, powerful, unstoppable.
“I swear, I can never beat you in a race,” Roy grumbled, his breath misting in the chilly air. We neared the shrine of the Moon Goddess, already shifting back into our human forms as we approached the clearing.
I didn’t even look at him, my expression set in its usual controlled calm. “I’m the Alpha for a reason.”
Roy rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath, but he knew better than to argue.
The priestess of the Moon Goddess was waiting for us, her steps graceful but deliberate. Her eyes were sharp, filled with the weight of ancient wisdom, yet there was something else in them-something unreadable, like a storm waiting to break.
Roy bowed his head in respect, his posture deferential, but I remained still. My gaze was unwavering, steady-like the mountain I was, unyielding in the face of any challenge.
“Alpha Steven,” the priestess greeted, her voice calm but heavy with power.
“Priestess,” I acknowledged with a nod, my tone cool and controlled.
She studied me for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. “What brings you here today?” she asked, her voice a mixture of curiosity and caution.
I raised an eyebrow, my lips curling into a slight smirk. “I thought your goddess was all-knowing, all-powerful. Shouldn’t you already know?”
Her lips curled into a small, knowing smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “You seek answers, Alpha. Don’t pretend otherwise.”
I scoffed, a dark laugh escaping my lips. “I seek nothing from your goddess. We made a deal. She wants me to take a human mate, and in return, she’ll help me find the one who killed my betas.”
The priestess tilted her head slightly, the faintest trace of a challenge in her gaze. “And how sure are we that you’ll keep your end of the bargain?”
I stepped closer, the weight of my Alpha status pressing down on her. My voice was low and commanding, unwavering. “I’ll marry Ashley tomorrow night. You have my word. You know as well as I do that an Alpha is bound by his word.”
For a moment, the priestess studied me in silence, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, she nodded. “Very well,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “The goddess did show me something about the killer you seek.”
My impatience flared. “Don’t tease me, priestess. Just tell me.”
Roy stepped forward, his voice pleading but respectful. “Please, we need to know.”
The priestess closed her eyes, her lips moving in a chant as the air around us grew thick with energy, charged with an ancient power. My instincts kicked in, warning me to be ready for whatever was about to come.
“A shadow,” the priestess intoned, her voice reverberating in the stillness. “Dark and powerful. A heart filled with rage. An arched sword in hand… The Demon Wolf. He is the one you seek.”
Roy frowned, his brow furrowed in confusion. “The Demon Wolf?”
“Yes,” she whispered, her voice almost a hiss now. “He will be present at your mating ceremony. It is your task to discover who he is.”
I clenched my fists, the frustration surging through me like wildfire. “So, no real answers, just riddles. Typical.”
The priestess remained unmoved, her presence like an immovable force of nature. “The Demon Wolf is your destiny, Alpha. Your undoing. Your doom.”
Her words hit me like a thunderclap, each one resonating deep within me. “Destiny? You think my fate is to be destroyed by some shadowed figure? I’ve already lost everything because of fate. Don’t speak to me about destiny.”
Her eyes hardened, a coldness in them that cut through the tension. “Yet here you are, seeking help from the goddess who betrayed you.”
I stood there, my mind a storm of rage and regret. But even through the anger, one thought pierced through everything else: This “Demon Wolf” was not just another enemy. He was connected to everything. And I wasn’t done with him yet.
The priestess’s final words echoed in my mind, a warning and a challenge. “Your fate is in your hands, Alpha. But beware, sometimes the truth is more dangerous than the lies we live by.”