"You will attend," the messenger said firmly, standing tall in the center of the pack hall. His eyes darted nervously between Archer's tense frame and Haelyn's unreadable expression. "Alpha Arthur demands Haelyn's presence at her mother's 18th death anniversary."
Archer scoffed, leaning back in his chair, his golden eyes blazing. "Demands? Arthur thinks he can demand anything from me?"
The messenger swallowed hard. "It is a family matter, Alpha Archer. He insists…"
"I don't care what he insists," Archer growled, cutting him off. "Tell Arthur that Haelyn won't be going. And if he has a problem with that, he can come face me himself."
The messenger bowed quickly and left the room, his retreat hurried.
Haelyn waited until the door closed before speaking softly. "Archer, it's my mother's anniversary. I have to go."
Archer's golden eyes flicked toward her, his gaze hard and unyielding. "You're not going, Haelyn."
"Why?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "Why won't you come with me?"
He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "Because I don't trust Arthur, and I don't trust you."
Her breath hitched. "You don't trust me?"
"Should I?" Archer shot back, his tone laced with bitterness. "After everything, should I really follow you into whatever trap your father is setting?"
Haelyn rose to her feet, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "This isn't about him. This is about her. My mother."
"I don't care," Archer said coldly. "If you want to walk into Arthur's claws, go ahead. But don't expect me to save you."
Her heart clenched at his words, but she refused to let him see her crumble. Without another word, she turned and left the room.
By the time Haelyn arrived at the estate, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over the sprawling grounds. The servants barely acknowledged her as she walked in, their faces blank and indifferent.
"Well, well, look who decided to grace us with her presence," Layla's mocking voice rang out as she appeared from the side corridor. Her sharp smile was anything but friendly.
Haelyn stopped, her expression calm. "Hello, Layla."
Layla folded her arms, circling Haelyn like a predator. "What's this? No snappy comebacks? No biting remarks? You've changed, haven't you?"
Haelyn met her gaze steadily. "I have."
Layla's smirk faltered. "Don't think your new little attitude will protect you here. You're still nothing but a stain on this family's name."
"Is that all, Layla?" Haelyn asked, her tone so even that it made Layla's blood boil.
"You think you're so special," Layla hissed, stepping closer. "But you're not. You're just the girl Arthur uses when it's convenient for him."
Haelyn tilted her head slightly. "And what does that make you?"
Layla's eyes flared with anger, but before she could reply, Arthur's voice boomed from the other end of the hall. "Enough, Layla."
Layla snapped her mouth shut, glaring at Haelyn one last time before storming off.
Arthur approached, his expression as cold and indifferent as ever. "You're late."
"I wasn't aware there was a set time," Haelyn replied, her voice quiet but firm.
Arthur ignored her, turning and walking toward the garden. "The ceremony is starting. Don't keep us waiting."
The ceremony was uneventful but eerily tense. Haelyn sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap as Helen fluttered around, offering her soft smiles and sweet words that felt too forced to be genuine.
"You've grown into such a lovely young woman, Haelyn," Helen said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Haelyn stiffened slightly. "Thank you."
Helen's eyes glinted with something unreadable. "I hope you'll stay a little longer after the ceremony. We'd love to spend more time with you."
"I'll think about it," Haelyn said, her tone neutral.
Helen's smile didn't waver, but the mischief in her eyes grew.
After the ceremony, Haelyn slipped away to the graveyard, her footsteps soft against the gravel path. She knelt before her mother's grave, her fingers tracing the name etched into the cold stone.
"I wish you were here," she whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I wish you could tell me what to do. Everything feels so wrong, and I... I don't know if I'm strong enough."
Her sobs grew louder as she let the pain overwhelm her. She was so lost in her grief that she didn't notice the figure approaching from behind.
A sharp jab in her neck made her gasp. Her hand shot up instinctively, but her vision blurred, and her body grew heavy.
As she crumpled to the ground, Layla stepped out from the shadows, her arms crossed smugly. "Well, that was easy."
Arthur, Helen, and Malcolm appeared behind her, their faces illuminated by the moonlight. Arthur crouched beside Haelyn's unconscious form, his expression unreadable.
"She's heavier than I thought she'd be," Malcolm muttered, glaring at the limp body.
"Stop complaining," Arthur snapped. "We've got her now. That's all that matters."
Helen smirked, brushing her hands together. "Shall we begin?"
Malcolm stood silently for a moment, staring at Haelyn's motionless body. His thoughts churned as he glared at her.
"When I finally get rid of you,stupid bitch," Malcolm thought venomously, "maybe I'll finally be worthy in your eyes, Father."
Arthur straightened, his cold gaze sweeping over the group. "Let's go. We have work to do."
As Haelyn's unconscious body was carried away, the graveyard fell silent once more. The faint rustle of leaves in the wind was the only sound, but a shadow lingered just beyond the trees.
Unseen, someone watched, their glowing eyes narrowing. "They have no idea what they've just started," the figure murmured before slipping into the darkness.
The moon hung high in the sky, its pale glow casting long shadows across the forest surrounding Archer's estate. Archer sat by the window, his golden eyes fixed on the horizon, his jaw tight. He didn't want to admit it, but a knot of unease twisted in his chest.
She should've been back by now.
He stood abruptly, pacing the room, running a hand through his disheveled hair. His wolf growled restlessly within him, pacing just as he was.
"She's fine. She's probably sulking or taking her sweet time," he muttered to himself. But even as he said it, the worry gnawed at him.
The sound of footsteps storming into the hall snapped him out of his thoughts. Artemis's voice cut through the tension like a whip. "Where the hell is she, Archer?"
Archer turned slowly, his brother's stormy gray eyes blazing with anger as he strode into the room, Aunt Selene right behind him.
"You let her go alone?" Selene's voice thundered, her fur coat trailing behind her as she stopped in front of Archer, her piercing silver eyes narrowing.
"I didn't let her do anything," Archer snapped, his frustration spilling over. "She made her own decision."
"You didn't stop her?" Artemis growled, his fists clenched. "You knew what Arthur is capable of, and you just let her walk into his trap?"
Archer's eyes flashed with anger. "I told her not to go! She didn't listen!"
"That's your excuse?" Selene barked, her tone sharp and unforgiving. "You're the Alpha King, Archer. You don't just stand by while your pack…your mate….is walking into danger!"
"She's not my mate!" Archer shouted, his voice echoing through the room.
Selene's expression darkened, her voice dropping to a deadly calm. "Then what is she to you, Archer? A possession? Someone you can cast aside when it suits you?"
Archer didn't answer, his jaw tightening as he looked away.
"Do you even care about her?" Artemis demanded, stepping closer. "Because if you don't, I will. I won't let anything happen to her."
Archer's wolf snarled, his eyes snapping back to Artemis. "Don't you dare."
"Enough!" Selene's voice cut through their brewing argument like a blade. "This isn't about your egos or your petty rivalry. This is about Haelyn. She's in danger, and we've wasted enough time arguing."
Artemis glared at Archer one last time before turning to Selene. "We need to go after her. Now."
Selene nodded. "We'll split up. If Arthur has her, he won't waste time."
Archer finally spoke, his voice low and tense. "We don't know if he has her."
"Then where is she?" Artemis snapped, his frustration boiling over. "She hasn't returned, Archer. You know as well as I do that something's wrong."
Archer clenched his fists, his wolf growling in agreement. He hated this. Hated that Artemis was right. Hated that he'd let his pride get in the way.
Selene stepped between them, her voice firm. "Enough of this. Archer, Artemis, we move now. If either of you want to prove you care about her, you'll stop bickering and do something."
Without another word, Selene strode out of the room, her presence commanding. Artemis followed closely behind, but not before throwing one last glare at Archer.
Archer stood there for a moment, the silence pressing down on him like a weight. Then he growled, his wolf pushing him forward.
"Let's find her," he muttered, his voice filled with determination.
The three of them disappeared into the night, their shadows swallowed by the forest as they began their frantic search for Haelyn.