HIDDEN HER

Ace’s Pov "I reject his offer." The words echoed in the atmosphere like a slice of blade, which went through the murmurs of the Mooneve pack. Moments ago, the air was filled with tight anticipation, but it became immediately heavy with disbelief. I turned my gaze at Ciara. My heart fought her words and desperately clung to the possibility that I had misheard her. But her face, firm, resolute, unfamiliar, left no room for doubt. I opened my mouth to speak, but she continued. "I'm in love with someone else," she said, her voice unchangingly even yet not warm. Her hand dropped to her belly, her fingers resting protectively. "And I'm pregnant with his child." The atmosphere changed, and I froze; my mind quickly raced in a thousand directions. Pregnant? With his child? How? I had waited, respected her boundaries. I had obliged her wish to wait until after my ordination as Alpha. The murmurs rose again, growing louder as the pack processed her words. Some stared at me with pity; others turned their eyes to her, confused or disgusted. Ciara shifted slightly, her face softening as she looked at him— at Leo. Leo stood at her side, his expression unreadable but his presence damning. How could he? My brother, the one I had saved from the jaws of death and trusted with my life. My thoughts spiraled back years to that day in the eastern forest near the wild blue sea. My father was teaching me about strategy and how to keep my cool in battle. That's when I found him: a drowning boy. "Leave him," my father had said, his tone flat. "A stray brings chaos." But I didn't listen. I pulled him to shore, revived him, and insisted we bring him back. My father's warnings were stern. "You're bringing a storm into this pack, Ace. A storm with two faces." At the time, I did not listen. Perhaps I should have. "Why, Ciara?" My voice cracked as I stepped forward, my hands shaking. "Is this about my father? His disapproval for us? Or did I let you down somehow?" Her eyes flickered, but she wasn't talking. Rather, she moved nearer to Leo. "It isn't about you," she said icily. "It never was." Finally, Leo stepped forward, a smirk playing on his lips, enjoying this moment, basking in my pain. His next words fell like a slap on my face. "You've had everything, Ace. The Alpha title, the love of the pack, even her." His voice dripped with bitterness. "I was the outsider. You brought me here, but you never let me forget where I came from." "Leo..." My voice broke an instant, but it was quickly filled with rage. "You've always been my brother. I gave you everything I could. You've had my loyalty, my trust—my family's love!" "And yet," he retorted, venomously, "I have always been second. Always beneath you." Behind him, King Zizka loomed. His dark presence filled the space like a shadow swallowing light. The infamous warlord, a sworn enemy to Mooneve; a dark king whose ambition knew no bounds. "Why are you doing this?" I demanded with a rising voice. "You of all people know what he has done. The destruction he has caused." King Zizka chuckled deep and taunting. "Your father left me with no choice, boy." I turned towards him, fists tightened. "What are you talking about?" "Ahh, Alpha Boston," Zizka mused. "A man so noble, that he thought himself untouchable. He never told you the story, Ace? How he betrayed me to save his precious pack?" I froze as memories came flooding back—a failed alliance whispered about, the treaty broken. “Your father sold me out to his council,” Zizka continued, his grin wicked. “I lost my title, my lands, my family. All so he could protect his precious Mooneve. I’ve waited decades for this moment. And your little pet here,” he gestured to Leo, “gave me the perfect opportunity.” “Leo, don’t do this,” I pleaded. “Whatever Zizka promised you, it’s not worth it. Mooneve is your home. These people are your family.” “No,” he said, his voice cold. “You were my home, Ace. But not anymore.” Zizka raised his hand, silencing the murmurs. “Enough of this sentimentality. Finish it, Leo.” Leo turned back to me, his hood concealing his expression, but his hands trembled slightly. For a fleeting moment, I thought he might falter. Then he spoke. “By the order of King Zizka, Ace, you are banished from Mooneve. You are no longer welcome within its borders.” These words struck me like a death knell. Banished? From my house? From my people? From my memories? I looked around the warriors I had trained with, the elders who had once supported me, pack members to whom I had vowed protection. All were silent. “So this is how it ends?” I said, voice steady in spite of the storm raging within. “My father was right about you, Leo. About both of you,” I added, glaring at Zizka. Leo flinched but stood firm. “Today you may have Mooneve,” I assured, stepping forward with chains jangling ominously. “But it is not yours. It will never be yours.” I turned to Ciara, my voice freezing, “And you, Ciara? I hope he was worth it.” With that, I turned and began walking away, and I began to feel the weight of my banishment, heavier than chains which bound me moments before. As I crossed the gates, words of the old oracle echoed in my mind:“The wolf that is two-faced will rise again. Betrayal is that which will challenge the Alpha and only through fire shall his true strength emerge from within him.” It had been a riddle to me once. Now it is agonizingly obvious. Leo was the two-faced wolf. Ciara was the fire. I will return. And Mooneve would be mine again.