Chapter 10: Neutral Ground
1002 Words
Maya's POV:
The old stone bridge looked like it belonged in a storybook—moss on the sides, arching over a narrow creek. On another day, I might have stopped to watch the sunlight on the water. But today, it felt more like bait—a trap dressed up to look harmless.
“I don’t like this,” Danny said from the shadows of the pines. His eyes stayed on the bridge. He, Marcus, and Jessie were spread out nearby—close enough to step in, far enough not to look like trouble.
“Join the club,” I muttered, pulling my jacket tighter. The harness under it dug into my ribs, heavy and uncomfortable. Marie had made me wear it “just in case.” Every breath reminded me of the power I was trying to keep locked down.
Kai’s hand found mine, warm and steady. “We listen to her, then we leave. No deals. No matter what she says.”
I nodded, but my eyes stayed on the bridge. I wanted to know what Elena had that was worth all this secrecy.
A silver BMW pulled up on the far side. Elena stepped out like she’d walked out of a magazine—perfect sweater, perfect hair, boots that had never touched mud. Even the sunlight seemed to follow her. She crossed the bridge like she owned it.
“Maya, darling!” she called. Her voice was light, as if last night’s mind games were nothing. “You look better. Rested.”
“Elena.” My voice was flat. “Kai says you have information.”
“Straight to business. I like that.” She leaned against the railing, her smile easy. “The Shadow Council’s moving faster than we thought. Whatever they’ve been planning—it’s coming soon.”
Kai’s tone stayed calm, but his eyes were sharp. “How do you know?”
“Three of their agents came to my pack yesterday. They’re offering huge rewards to anyone who helps find and capture a ‘rogue Luna.’”
My chest tightened. “Me.”
“Not just a bounty,” she said. “Enough to tempt even rich packs. And the smaller ones? They’re already thinking about it.”
“Which packs?” Kai asked.
“Timber Ridge is leaning yes. Mountain View’s unsure. Iron Creek has already agreed.”
The air felt heavy. Those packs were too close.
“They’re not only offering gold,” Elena went on. “They’re promising territory, power, protection… and something they call the ‘new world order.’”
I frowned. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“It isn’t.” Her voice hardened. “They want to merge the supernatural and human worlds—and rule it all. And they think they’ve found a shortcut.”
“What shortcut?”
She hesitated. “They’re calling it the Convergence Ritual. It needs a Luna’s power. Not just any Luna—you. The last Silvermoon daughter.”
My stomach dropped.
“With your mate bond to Kai,” she added, “and… fear and pain to make it stronger.”
I froze. “You mean—”
“They’ll hurt him to break you,” she said quietly. “The ritual needs the Luna in deep emotional distress while the bond stays intact. That creates enough magic to—”
“What?” Kai’s voice was low.
“To tear the veil between worlds forever. One world, under their control.”
The ground seemed to tilt. I grabbed the railing.
“How do you know all this?” I asked.
“Because they came to me first,” she said. “Offered my pack a place at their table.”
“You agreed?”
“I told them I’d think about it. While I listened to every detail. Do you think I enjoyed hearing how they’d hurt you? I stayed so I’d know what we’re up against.”
“Why?” My voice was soft.
Her eyes flickered. “Because I know what it’s like to be powerful, hunted, and alone. I trusted the wrong people once. Good people died.”
I didn’t answer.
“You can’t stay at the pack house,” she said. “Too many know you’re there.”
Kai shook his head. “We can handle a few packs.”
“Six packs? Plus the Council’s teams? Plus human agencies ready to call you a terrorist? They’re not just after Maya—they’re making her too dangerous to help.”
Cold ran through me. They weren’t just coming for me. They wanted to cut me off from everyone.
“What do you want me to do?” I asked.
“Come with me. Silverwood can hide you. Give us time.”
“And leave my pack to fight without me?” I looked at Kai. The thought hurt more than I could say.
“Sometimes protecting people means leaving them,” she said.
“There has to be another way.”
“If there is, we haven’t found it. Every day you stay, you gamble with their lives. Is your happiness worth their blood?”
The words hit deep.
“How long before they come?”
“Three or four days.”
Three days. That was all.
“I need to think.”
“Don’t take too long.” She turned and walked away. The BMW’s engine faded, but her words stayed.
Kai and I stood on the bridge, the water whispering below.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
"I'm thinking I hate that she's right," I said quietly. "I'm thinking that staying with you might get you killed, but leaving you might get everyone else killed."
His hands framed my face. “And?”
“And three days isn’t enough to save the world.”
He pulled me close. “Then we start now.”
But even in his arms, I knew the truth—whatever I chose, someone I loved would pay the price.
- Writer
