MOONLIT REVENGE

The Royal Beta's Warning

Aria's pov.

I stood in the clearing, my muscles burning endlessly after a long time of training, sweat dripping down my brow, but I didn't stop because I couldn't afford to be weak anymore, especially when my pack refused to depend on me.

Every punch and kick was fueled by a desire to prove that I wasn't just the rejected mate of Ryder, the royal alpha. It is just me and me alone, a warrior who would never bow to anyone's pity.

“That's good form,” Sarah, my best friend and loyal second in command, called out. “But try to rest; you're going to collapse if you don't take a break”.

“I'm fine. Don't worry about me,” I panted, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face.

Sarah raised a brow. “Sure, no doubt about that, you will be fine because the bags under your eyes are a fashion statement.

Her words struck me heavily before I could respond, the ground beneath us slightly rumbled with a sign that someone had crossed the pack's boundary. Sarah and I exchanged glances. “Visitors?” She curiously asked.

“I didn't call for any because I wasn't expecting anyone either,” I muttered, whipping my hands on my pants. “Let's go and check it out”.

As we made our way through the thick forest, the canopy above cast shadows across the path. When we finally arrived at the border, the scent of strange wolves filled my nostrils—one, in particular, stood out.

Ryder's Beta, Lucas.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Sarah whispered, her voice sharp with suspicion.

"I’m about to find out," I said, stepping forward as Lucas came into view.

"Aria," he greeted, his tone respectful but firm. "We need to talk."

"You have some nerve showing up here," I said coldly. "Your alpha rejected me, remember?"

Lucas sighed. "I’m not here to stir up old wounds. This is about something bigger."

"Get to the point," Sarah snapped, crossing her arms.

"Ryder doesn’t know I’m here," Lucas admitted. "But I had to come. Evelyn’s up to something dangerous."

"Evelyn?" I frowned. "That snake?"

Lucas nodded grimly. "She’s been making moves, meeting with rogue packs in secret. I have no proof yet, but I suspect she has her eyes on both your pack and Ryder’s throne."

"Why should I care about your pack politics?" I asked, though my heart raced at the implications.

"Because if Evelyn succeeds, she’ll destroy everything in her path—including your pack," Lucas said earnestly. "Ryder’s blind to her schemes right now, but he’ll regret it soon enough. He already regrets rejecting you."

I scoffed. "Spare me the lies."

"It’s not a lie," Lucas insisted. "I know Ryder. He’s just too proud to admit it, but he’s miserable without you.”

I murmured, gazing in the other direction. "That’s his problem, not mine," I said, turning to walk away.

"Aria," Lucas called after me, his voice urgent." Just be careful. Evelyn won’t play fair."

I didn’t respond, my mind already racing with questions.

Later that night, back in the heart of our pack, I stood in the training grounds, watching my warriors spar. They moved with precision and strength, but something gnawed at the back of my mind—Lucas’s warning.

Sarah approached me, her expression serious. "You okay?"

"I’m not sure," I admitted. "Lucas said Evelyn's up to something, and I believe him."

"Do you think it’s connected to the traitor your father mentioned?”

My stomach tightened. Earlier on I overheard my father's conversation about someone betraying our pack.

Although my father didn't reveal who the person was, the tension in his voice had been unmistakable.

“We just need to be vigilant to avoid strangers from crossing our borders.” I said.

I made my way back to the pack house as the warriors dispersed for the night, I planned to figure out what had been hidden.

The sky cast an eerie glow over the grounds as the moon hung in it. Just as I was about to head inside, a rustling sound caught my attention.

I sharply turned my senses on high alert. The scent was faint but unmistakable–Evelyn.

What the hell was she doing here? Is she here to blackmail me?

My heart beat heavily sending shockwaves through my body. I became unrest and crept through the shadows, following the trail until I spotted her cloaked figure near the edge of our territory.

She ignored my direction, moving stealthily, as though she didn’t want to be seen.

My heart pounded as I stepped forward, my voice cold and commanding. "Evelyn. What are you doing in my territory?"

She froze, her eyes gleaming in the moonlight.

Her lips curled into a corner with a sinister smile. "Wouldn’t you like to know?"

What game was she playing now?

Evelyn's smile sent a chill down my spine, but I held my ground. My presence here was a clear threat and I wasn't one to back down.

“You've five seconds to explain why you're trespassing,” I warned, my voice firm despite the tension crackling in the air.

Evelyn mockingly tilted her head. “Such hostility, Aria. I was just curious about your little pack”.

“Curious?” I narrowed my eyes. “I'm not buying your lies. You better speak the truth or else I will drag you to my father myself”.

Her smile faded, replaced by a gleam of irritation. “You always were a bit too bold for your good. No wonder Ryder rejected you”.

The mention of Ryder stung, but I clenched my fist, refusing to show weakness. “Is that a threat or reminder? Is that supposed to intimidate me?”.

Evelyn stepped closer, her voice low and dangerous. “Are you even aware of what is coming, Aria? Why are you busy acting like a warrior princess, the real danger is already in your pack”.

I paused for a moment with a pounding heart. "What are you even talking about?"

She chuckled darkly. "You’ll find out soon enough. But by then, it might be too late."

I lunged at her, but she was fast—too fast. She darted back into the shadows, her laugh echoing through the trees.

Growling in frustration, I chased after her, but the forest swallowed her whole. My breath came in ragged gasps as I stopped, scanning the darkness.

What did she mean by 'the real danger is already inside your pack'?

I became more terrified with a racing heart at the possibilities of my previous encounter.

Who had betrayed us? And how deep did their treachery go?