Celia stood in the dimly lit room of the Blackwood estate, the heavy air pressing in on her. The familiar scent of old books and leather brought no comfort today. Her hand hovered over the family crest etched into the wall, the same one she'd sworn loyalty to since childhood. It had always been her guide—a reminder of duty, honor, and the unshakable belief that werewolves were monsters to be eradicated.
But that belief was crumbling.
Lucian's face flashed before her eyes. His touch, the way he looked at her like she was something more than just a hunter. She clenched her fist, pushing the thought away. Her family was gathering downstairs, readying for their next mission: the final hunt for Lucian and his pack. This time, the government was involved, and there would be no mercy.
"You're either with us or against us, Celia," her brother David had warned just hours before, his words echoing in her mind.
She had been avoiding him, and the weight of her betrayal gnawed at her. The plan was to turn Lucian in, let the government take care of him. David had made it sound so simple—capture, containment, and, if necessary, elimination. But the truth was far more complicated, tangled in her heart.
The door creaked open, and Evan slipped inside. "It's time," he whispered, his voice tense. "They're moving out."
Celia nodded but didn't move. Her mind raced, trying to find a way out. There was no way she could let her family take Lucian. Not now. Not after everything.
Evan hesitated, noticing her hesitation. "What's going on, Celia?"
She turned to face him, her stomach twisting. "I can't do this."
Evan's eyes darkened with confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"I can't lead them to him," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Realization hit Evan, and his expression shifted from confusion to disbelief. "You've gotten too close to him, haven't you? To that—" He stopped himself, shaking his head in disbelief. "This is dangerous, Celia. You're crossing a line."
Celia's chest tightened, but she stood firm. "He's not what we think he is. They're not. There's more at play here than we know. The government... they're after the artifact, not justice. If they get their hands on it, it's over for all of us."
Evan's jaw clenched. "You're risking everything for him? For a werewolf?"
"It's not just about him," Celia replied, her voice firm now. "It's about what's right. We can't let them use the Heart of the Moon."
Evan looked at her like she'd lost her mind. "Celia, this is madness. You're putting your family—our mission—at risk. You can't turn your back on everything we've worked for."
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "If I don't, there won't be anything left to fight for. They'll use that power to control us all—humans, werewolves, everything."
The door to the room burst open, and David stormed in. His eyes flicked between Celia and Evan, suspicion already brewing. "What's going on here?"
Celia's heart pounded, but she kept her voice steady. "I was just telling Evan we need to reconsider how we approach this."
David's gaze hardened. "There's nothing to reconsider. The government has given us an opportunity to finally end this war. We take it. Tonight."
Celia swallowed, fighting to keep her calm. "And if we're wrong?"
David stepped forward, his presence imposing. "Are you suggesting we let them go? That we betray everything our family has stood for?"
She met his gaze, defiance simmering beneath her surface. "I'm suggesting we think before we make a mistake we can't undo."
David's lips curled into a snarl. "You've grown weak, Celia. I knew it the moment you started questioning orders." His hand moved to the hilt of his silver blade. "If you're not with us, you're against us."
Celia's pulse quickened. David's threat wasn't just a metaphor. In the Blackwood family, betrayal meant death.
Evan stepped between them, his voice calm but firm. "Let's all take a breath. There's no need for this."
But David wasn't listening. His eyes locked on Celia. "You think you're protecting him, don't you? That werewolf. You've let him poison your mind."
Celia tensed, ready for the fight that seemed inevitable.
David's blade flashed, a silent challenge that spoke of centuries of tradition, loyalty, and duty. Celia had spent her life following those principles, but now, for the first time, she was ready to break free.
The sound of a gunshot rang out from downstairs. All three of them froze.
David's gaze shifted to the door. "The hunt's already begun," he said coldly.
Celia's stomach dropped. They were running out of time.