After a long run, turning into a whole wolf at some point and turning back into human a times... Ace arrives in Kieran's territory. He crouches at the edge of the woods that he first mate Kieran, the moonlight spilling over the clearing ahead like a silver veil.
His sharp senses drink in every sound, every scent. It's overwhelming but necessary. He's been away too long, and the tension in the air tells him that the world he left behind has changed.
The rustling leaves above whisper a foreboding tune, as if the forest itself is warning him. His fingers dig into the dirt, grounding him as he takes another deep breath, focusing on the voices drifting through the air.
Two wolves stand a short distance away, their shadows stretched long by the faint glow of their glowing eyes. Their conversation is low but agitated, laced with frustration and despair. Ace tunes in, his body tensing as he picks apart their words.
"We can't hold them off any longer," one of them growls, pacing back and forth. His fur is matted, his movements jittery. "They know every weak spot, every blind angle. It's like they're always one step ahead of us!"
The other wolf, slightly older and calmer, sighs heavily. "We've fortified the eastern border twice this week, and still they broke through. It doesn't make sense. No one outside the inner circle knows those routes. There must be someone in the inner circle betraying us!"
Ace narrows his eyes. An insider, he thinks, his stomach twisting at the implication.
The younger wolf stops pacing and turns on his companion, his voice rising. "I don't understand how alpha is unable to deal with what is happening now, it's more of like he is a whole different person now. All my life I've ever been assured of this pack's wellbeing, and it's because of him. But now am doubting everything."
The older wolf shakes his head, his expression grim. "Well what do you see him doing?! Sleeping? Eating and drinking luxuriously?! Laughing and singing at what is happening?! No! He is trying to, in fact he is worried , and not because of his wellbeing, but for ours! He's trying to protect us."
"Protect us?!" The younger wolf's laugh is bitter. "If this keeps up, there won't be anything left to protect. Maybe the alphas are right—maybe we need a new leader."
Ace's claws sink deeper into the earth as the words hit him like a blow. The pack is turning on Kieran?! Just what the hell is happening!?
"What do mean by the alpha's?! I don't see them protect their own pack well, so what right do they have to tell which kind of leader we need! Alpha Kieran has been nothing but a great leader to us , the one every pack admired! But now just because of one challenge , everyone is pointing fingers at him! Ungrateful beast!!"
"Open your eyes Solon! Kieran is hiding something! Suddenly the Luna disappeared?! He doesn't know where she is ?! And she's not to be trusted?! He says all that but he is not telling us the whole truth! For some reasons I don't think that Lila is his mate , because there's no way the moon goddess would mate an alpha with someone untrustworthy! And if she's really his mate, then there must be something that happened between them , leading to all these!"
"I don't care , but I'll never degrade Alpha Kieran no matter what happens!" The older yells storming away.
Lost in his thoughts, Ace knows where exactly the problem is arising from , but what he doesn't know is where to start trying to stop the chaos.
He roams the woods his mind spinning , he needs to act... everything in him screams.
Another voice snaps him out of his thoughts. This one is quieter, more cautious, and tinged with urgency.
He creeps closer, keeping low to the ground, until he spots a lone figure near the riverbank.
It's Dren, the beta , one of Kieran's most trusted lieutenants.
Ace doesn't know that though.
Something about Dren's movements is off—furtive, secretive.
Dren glances around before pulling a small package from beneath his cloak. A second figure emerges from the shadows—a stranger cloaked in darkness.
"This is the last batch," Dren mutters, handing over the package.
The stranger's voice is low and cold. "It had better not disappoint. She doesn't tolerate failure."
Ace's breath catches. She. There's no doubt who they're talking about: Lila.
As the exchange concludes and the stranger disappears into the night, Ace feels a surge of anger and disbelief.
He had really underestimated that Lila woman!
He presses deeper into the shadows, drawn by the faint hum of voices coming from the packhouse.
The building looms ahead, its windows glowing faintly. From his vantage point, he sees the gathering of Kieran's pack.
Kieran stands at the center, his presence commanding despite the weariness in his posture. His voice carries through the air, steady but edged with frustration.
"We need to hold the line," He says, his tone resolute. "The attacks are coordinated, yes, but that doesn't mean we fall apart. We are the only pack that is still good in number, all we need is hold ourselves together as we have always. We stand together."
Dren steps forward with determination, his eyes narrowing. "Why don't you tell us why all these is happening because we all know you are hiding something!" Of course Dren knows the secret about Lila not being Kieran's mate because he's been close to her lately.
And he is the one who has been spreading the news of Kieran hiding a secrete , Lila wants them to turn against Kieran , in fact she wants every werewolf to turn against each other.
So far she has just managed to turn packs against packs.
Kieran's jaw tightens, but he doesn't respond.
"In the history it has never happened that a Luna has turned against Alpha , there must be a reason for this!"
The room erupts into a cacophony of voices, accusations flying. Kieran raises his hand, silencing them with a glare.
"I know more than I've shared, yes," he admits, his voice low but firm. "But there's a reason for that. If I tell you everything now, it will only make things worse. Trust me when I say that I am doing everything I can to protect this pack and every wolf under my care! And I am not going to stand back and let anyone talk however they like! I have given instructions, and those instructions are to be followed! Understood?!" He roars.
The pack exchange uneasy glances. It's clear that Kieran's words aren't enough to quell their doubts.
But they silence them.
°°
That night, when Kieran goes back to his room, frustrated and not knowing what to do anymore, he paces around.
The weight of his responsibilities presses heavily on his shoulders, and the constant uncertainty gnaws at him like a persistent ache.
He made decisions without thinking, and now they are eating him up.
He stops by the table, his gaze falling on the black glass of what he thinks is water, Without hesitation, he grabs it and downs it in one gulp.
What he doesn't know is that the drink has been poisoned by Dren, who followed Lila's instructions to the letter. Silver dust dissolves into his bloodstream like venom, burning from within.
It takes effect immediately.
Kieran stumbles, gripping the edge of the table as a sharp pain shoots through his chest.
His breaths come in ragged gasps, his powerful body trembling as though it's been set aflame.
He falls to his knees, clawing at the floor as a guttural growl escapes his lips. His wolf fights to resist, but the poison is relentless, sapping his strength with every passing second.
At that moment, Ace sneaks into the room, his movements careful and silent.
He freezes in his tracks when he sees Kieran sprawled on the ground, sweat glistening on his skin and his usually strong presence reduced to a fragile, gasping shadow.
"Kieran!" he rushes to his side, panic flaring in his chest. He drops to his knees, grabbing Kieran's shoulders, his touch urgent but trembling. "What's happened to you? Talk to me!"
Kieran's eyes flutter open briefly, their golden glow dim and flickering like a dying flame. His voice is hoarse, barely a whisper.
"Ac.. Ace...?
"What happened?" Ace asks again , worry eating him up.
"I don't know... Poison… It burns…"
Ace's mind races, his heart pounding as he tries to piece together what's happening. The smell of something faintly metallic lingers in the air, and his eyes dart to the empty glass on the table.
He looks in the glass on the floor and sees shiny things in it. Realization hits him like a bolt of lightning.
He remembers what Marsel told him about Silver, what it does to werewolves, it kills! And he can't imagine Kieran dead right now.
Kieran's body convulses, and Ace grips him tighter, his panic giving way to determination. "Stay with me, Kieran. I'll figure this out. I won't let you die!"