The air was heavy with smoke, thick and acrid with the scent of blood. Ella hunched over, peering out of the barred window of her enclosure at the chaos outdoors. What had once been a well-oiled apparatus of order and discipline, the Blackwood Pack compound had spiraled into a battleground? Wolves in their natural forms wrestled from the ground, growling battles with growling rogues. The din of snarls and yips hung in the air in a cacophony blended with human voices.
Her heart thundered against her ribs as her hand clamped onto the hilt of her dagger. Kael had promised this would be a surgical strike, but as she took in the scene before her, that doubt began to settle in. This was not anarchic zeal; this was a bloodbath.
She pressed herself against the locked door and listened hard. Heavy footsteps went down the hall, followed by voices. "She's inside," a brusque voice said—an announcement: "Damon wants her secured. No one is to enter or leave."
Her mind was racing, 'now or never,' or she'd never make it out with it, with Kael's plan ruined. Having taken a deep breath to steady herself, she drew the dagger from its sheath and moved to stand beside the door.
The lock clicked, and the door creaked open.
Two watchers entered, their eyes scanning intently around the room. It wasn't until it was well past too late that they spotted Ella. In one swift, agile movement, she struck the first guard with the hilt of her dagger, sending him crashing to the ground with a pained groan. The second threw himself at her, but Ella dodged his swing with grace and planted a knee in his stomach before swiftly slashing her dagger across his arm.
He'd stumbled backward, clutching tightly at the wound. Ella, however, didn't wait for him to regain his composure. She pushed past him, her bare feet silent on the wood floor as she ran down the hall.
The instant she was outside, the ferocity of the battle folded over her like an oncoming wave: wolves howling, growling, snapping at each other throughout the compound. Her nostrils were heavy with the sharp, acrid scent of smoke as tongues of fire licked across the edges of one of the smaller buildings.
Her mind screamed to run—to get as far away from the insanity encroaching upon her life—but something even harder was said to stand and fight. She couldn't go—not now. Kael's plan depended on her finding the truth about Lila, and she wasn't about to quit now.
Her eyes scanned the compound and settled on the main hall. Secrets, if any, were likely to be buried within its walls. Drawing a deep breath, Ella carefully tackled her way into the shadow, snake-like, avoiding potential adversaries.
The great hall was silent, contrasting with the mayhem that was going on outside. Lying overturned in the center of the room was the great, long, wooden table, while chairs littered the floor. It was heavy with tension, like the building itself was holding its breath.
She crept closer and moved stealthily towards the private study of Damon with her dagger clutched tightly in her hand. Her ears listened to every sound. The door of the study was ajar; hushed tones filtered out.
She leaned forward, her body against the wall.
"You think she knows?" snapped Lila. Her voice came out sharp, laced with annoyance.
She suspects something, "another voice answered. Ella knew that one, too: Damon." But she doesn't have proof of anything.
Ella's heart was racing, and she leaned in closer, ready to hear more.
"She's too close, Damon," Lila said. "If she figures out the truth, everything we've worked for will be ruined."
Damon was cold then. "I'll handle it; you do yours."
Ella's blood ran cold. What were they talking about? And why did Damon sound as if he was in on it? She pressed her hand to her mouth, stifling the gasp that threatened to escape.
Abruptly, the voices ceased. Heavy footsteps thudded toward the door, and the sound sent Ella's heart shooting to her throat. Whirling, she ran to the closest room and slid behind a curtain just as the door opened.
Lila entered the hallway, her blue eyes scanning it. Suddenly, she stopped and sniffed the air.
"I know you're here," she called, her voice lilting and playful. "Come out, little rogue."
The sound of her heartbeat was loud in her ears. Ella held her breath. Lila's steps drew closer; the silhouette of a figure was outlined under the curtain. Ella's fingers tightened around the dagger, muscles coiling in preparation for the lunge.
But before Lila was able to pull back the curtain, a mighty crash resounded outside. The sudden noise sent Lila's head whipping backward, and she cursed under her breath as she stalked off.
A shaking breath escaped her lips, her legs trembling as she emerged from her hiding.
Without more ado, she hid outside the study and out the back exit, her head reeling with questions. Whatever Lila and Damon were up to, it was so much bigger than Ella had fathomed. She had to get back to Kael and reassess.
But rounding a corner, she ran right into a solid wall of muscle. Powerful hands grasped her arms, steadying her just before she could tumble.
"Ella?" Damon's voice was sharp, his amber eyes ablaze as they latched onto hers. "What brings you here?"
Alarm swirled inside Ella's chest in great surges, but she willed herself to sit straight-backed. "I might say the same of you," she retorted. "Are you in league with your beloved Luna?
Damon's jaw tightened, and his grip on her arms didn't loosen. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't I?" Ella returned with a louder tone. "I heard everything, Damon. You and Lila are hiding something—something bound to destroy this pack."
Damon's eyes narrowed, and for one brief second, she thought he'd deny it. In an instant his face relaxed, and across it flew a flicker of what was surely regret.
You should not have returned, "he whispered." You have put yourself in danger.
She gave him a fiery look with her shining silver eyes. "I can take care of myself."
"Ella—"
A loud snarl cut him off, and they turned as one as a rogue wolf leaped at them from the shadows. Damon flung Ella behind him and immediately transformed into his wolf form. His fur rose, bristling as he charged at the rogue, his teeth bared.
She watched in appalled silence as the two wolves wrestled, their snarls echoing within the hall. Damon fought with ruthless precision, his strong jaws clamping hard on the rogue's neck. A final, agonized yelp, and the rogue collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Damon changed back into his human form, panting heavily, and turned towards Ella.
"We are not done," he said in a low tone. "Stay here."
But Ella shook her head, her determination hardening. "No. I'm not staying behind anymore."
They walked together toward the middle gathering hall of the pack, where Lila was addressing a group of soldiers. Ella and Damon hung back in the dark, listening intently.
"We can't let them win," Lila was saying, her voice commanding. "The rogues think they can take what's ours, but they're wrong. We'll crush them."
The cheers of the warriors arose, their fists to their chests. But in Lila's tone, something sounded to make Ella's skin crawl.
As the others dispersed, Lila remained behind, speaking in hushed tones with one of the warriors. Ella strained to hear their conversation, catching only fragments.
". Without letting the Alpha suspect."
". My position is secure."
And then it hit her—her eyes went wide, as Elle wasn't just plotting with the pack but planning the entire attack.
Before she could move, Damon took a step forward, his features coal-black.
"Lila," he growled, and let the sound boom in this chamber. Lila spun around, her face a mask of shock morphing into smoldering anger. "Damon, what are you doing here?", "I might ask you the same thing," he replied coldly. "I think I can guess." The corners of Lila's mouth turned in a sneer; her limpid blue eyes were shining with malice: "Trop croyant as always, Damon." Before Damon could get a word out, Lila was in her wolf form, golden fur resplendent in the dim light. She sprang at him, teeth flashing, snapping wildly. Suddenly, Ella flung herself into action, the glint of her knife flashing as it streaked toward Lila's side. They clashed, moving together, merged in a vortex of rage and confusion. The future of the pack was not set in stone.