The pack was shrouded in a tense stillness, the air thick with unease. Shadows flickered between the trees as Alex commanded his guards, his voice low but heavy with authority.
"Search the entire forest. Find her," he ordered, his tone clipped, frustration simmering beneath the surface. His wolf was growing increasingly agitated, its restlessness clawing at him. Why her? It made no sense.
Alex had only met her hours ago, yet his wolf's unease gnawed at him, refusing to let go. Why is she haunting me in a way no one ever has?
Victoria sat at the farthest corner of the pack house, her expression blank as the pack doctor tended to the self-inflicted wounds on her arms. The deep gashes still bled slightly, a result of Lucifer's interference. She had staged the scene meticulously—telling the pack they had been attacked by rogues. The dead bodies she dragged back with her served as grim proof, the stench of death hanging thick in the air around her.
This wasn't supposed to happen. Being Alex's mate had never been part of her plan, yet here she was, trapped by the very lies she had woven. If only she could undo her mistakes, maybe the elders would reinstate her as the Moon Goddess. But with Davina back, a cold dread twisted in her gut, each moment pulling the noose tighter around her neck. She glanced at Alexander, her heart racing. What if he remembers? What then?
The only way to avoid this... was to eliminate Davina.
"How come you can't even track a mere girl?" Charlie's voice cut through the tension, a sharp reprimand. His frustration was palpable.
"She has no scent," one of his subordinates replied quietly, not daring to meet his eyes. "It's... impossible to trace her."
Hours had passed, and still, there was no sign of Davina. Austin, cradling a sleeping Ethan in his arms, paced restlessly. He had scoured the woods himself but found nothing. What am I going to tell him when he wakes up? The thought gnawed at him, the helplessness tightening in his chest. As he turned, his eyes locked on Victoria, who had silently approached, her hand resting softly on his shoulder.
"She'll be okay," she whispered. Her voice was soft, almost too soft, but something about her presence unsettled him. There's something off about her. It wasn't the first time he had felt it.
Rogues? Davina would have shredded them to pieces without breaking a sweat. How could she have been chased by them?
As Austin's unease deepened, a silhouette appeared in the distance. He froze, narrowing his eyes. Was it her? Relief surged through him, but before he could move, Victoria stepped in front of him, rushing toward the figure.
"Oh, thank the Moon Goddess, you're back!" Victoria exclaimed, her voice thick with feigned relief. Tears shimmered in her eyes as she threw herself at Davina, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry! After we got separated, I followed you but couldn't find you. I thought you must've come back, so I returned to the pack."
Davina's fists clenched tightly at her sides, her knuckles white as the rage boiled inside her. This... this act. Victoria's charade disgusted her, but she knew she had to play along. No one remembers. No one knows who Victoria really is. If I act rashly, no one will believe me.Leaning in, her voice dangerously soft, Davina whispered, "You can keep pretending."
Victoria's eyes gleamed with dark amusement, her lips curling into a subtle smirk. Davina took Victoria's hands in her own, her grip firm but deceptively gentle.
"I'm okay. I'm just glad you're safe," Davina said, her voice laced with sincerity that was as hollow as it was sharp. "It doesn't matter. You're the Luna... protecting you is my duty."
You should try acting too, Daeliah sneered within her, her voice dripping with sarcasm. It was the first time her wolf had spoken since Lucifer's words had echoed through their minds. Neither Davina nor Daeliah knew how to comfort each other, the weight of everything pulling them deeper into their own turmoil.
The scent of pine and earth filled Davina's senses, drawing her back. She looked up to see Alex standing before her, his eyes dark and haunted, the weariness etched into his face.
"Are you okay?" His voice was quiet, laced with concern.
Davina nodded, not breaking eye contact. His grey eyes, once cold and calculating, now flickered with something else—something vulnerable. The exhaustion in his gaze spoke volumes, the dark circles beneath his eyes deepening. When he found no visible injuries on her, a heavy sigh of relief escaped his lips, but the reprieve was short-lived. His gaze flickered back to Victoria.
"Get some rest," Alex said to Victoria, his voice tight with exhaustion. "We'll talk later."
He then turned back to Davina, his voice softer. "You too. Please, be my guest."
Without waiting for a response, he walked away, Victoria at his side. One by one, the rest of the pack members began to disperse, leaving Austin and Davina standing in the stillness.
Austin approached her cautiously, concern etched on his face as Ethan slept soundly in his arms.
"What happened?" Austin asked, his voice low, his eyes searching hers for answers.
Davina looked down at the boy, her heart aching. "Let's go back. We'll talk later," she said softly. "You must be tired from carrying him."
The silence between them lingered, heavy and unspoken, until Austin finally nodded and led the way toward the pack's guest house.
"D..." A sleepy voice murmured from Austin's arms. Ethan stirred awake, his small arms reaching for Davina. Without hesitation, she took him from Austin, her heart swelling as the boy snuggled into her arms, just like he had the day she saved him.
"I missed you," Ethan mumbled, his voice barely audible as he drifted back to sleep.
For the first time since her return, Davina felt her tense shoulders relax, if only a little. Ethan... he's my reason to keep going. Even when the world felt like it was crumbling, Ethan gave her the strength to keep fighting.
Austin watched quietly, the worry still etched in his expression, but seeing Davina ease slightly brought him a small measure of relief.
Four hours had passed, and Alex was still running along the pack's borders.
His wolf remained restless, clawing at his mind with relentless fury. He felt like he was coming undone, the word "Davina" echoing in his thoughts over and over, louder with each passing minute.
When he saw her earlier, safe and unharmed, all he wanted was to run to her, to wrap her small frame in his arms. But then... there was Victoria. Victoria.
The thought of her stopped him.
Why does it stop me? The question loomed in his mind, as dark as the shadows that surrounded him.
And yet, despite it all, Davina was the name that haunted him. The one name his wolf couldn't let go of.