Twelve
861 Words
The sun had barely risen when a gut-wrenching howl pierced the mind link.
Rohan shot upright from his bed, his heart pounding and Dean snarling in his head. “Something’s wrong at the border,” the Beta’s voice echoed through the mind link. “Intruders. Unknown numbers. We’re engaging.”
Rohan didn’t hesitate.
He was out of his room and down the stairs in seconds. By the time he reached the front of the pack house, his Beta—Drake—was already waiting, eyes sharp, jaw clenched.
“I got words from the border. They’re not attacking,” Drake reported. “They’re watching. Lurking.”
“That’s worse,” Rohan growled. “Let’s go.”
In minutes, they reached the eastern border of Crystal Moon Pack territory. The air was unnaturally still, thick with the scent of blood, mud, and something darker—something wrong.
“Witches,” Dean growled inside Rohan’s head.
All around them, wolves from the patrol unit stood tense, surrounding the corpses of five Dreadfang spies, their black leather armor scorched with claw marks and singed by silver-tipped weapons.
One of the guards, panting heavily, approached Rohan. “We spotted them hiding just beyond the trees. They weren’t attacking—just watching. But once they realized we’d seen them, they charged.”
“And they fought to the death,” another added. “No hesitation. Like they were expecting it.”
Rohan knelt beside one of the corpses, sniffing the air. The familiar scent of Dreadfang wolves was unmistakable. But there was something else. The hairs on his arms stood on end as a bitter, metallic scent filled his nostrils.
“Witch magic,” he said grimly.
Gamma Elias cursed under his breath. “How the hell are witches are werewolves working together, thought we don’t get alone ”
“Not when there’s a catch to it,” Rohan muttered. “I think they have an idea about the girl capable of touching the Moonstone being birthed where the stone lies. That’s the only explanation, I mean they know they can’t touch the stone. It’s useless coming here everyday for it.”
“But they don’t know who she is,” Drake added, eyes scanning the forest. “Yet.”
⸻
Back at the pack house, the war room was filled with grim faces.
Former Alpha Jake sat at the head of the table. His presence, though no longer official, still commanded the room. Rohan sat beside him, flanked by Drake, Elias, and several elders. The Luna entered last, taking her place beside her mate.
“We’re not dealing with regular Dreadfang wolves anymore,” Jake began, voice heavy. “These spies are enchanted. Someone is guiding them. Directing their every move.”
“It’s her,” one of the elders said, her voice tight. “The head of the witch coven. The one mated to the Dreadfang Alpha.”
The room fell into stunned silence.
Rohan’s brows furrowed. “Witches and werewolves have hated each other for centuries. Why would she betray her kind and help them?”
“Love makes fools of us all,” Jake replied. “If she’s mated to the Alpha, she’ll do whatever it takes to protect him—and his ambitions.”
“And that ambition,” the Luna added, “is to claim the Moonstone… and the girl who can wield it.”
“They know they can’t have the stone without her ,” Drake said. “They want to use her.”
“Or control her,” Elias chimed in. “If she’s as powerful as the prophecy says, she could tip the balance of power.”
“But they still don’t know who she is,” Rohan repeated. “They know she was born here, where the stone lies… but not her identity.”
A moment of silence passed as the weight of that truth settled on them all.
“They’re watching us,” another elder whispered. “Studying us. Waiting for her to reveal herself.”
“We can’t let that happen,” Jake said firmly. “Until we know for certain who she is and what she can do, we must treat every omega like she’s the one. No one goes anywhere alone. No gaps in security.”
Drake clenched his fists. “They’re getting bolder, more organized. We need to strike first.”
“No,” Jake replied. “Not yet. We don’t have enough information. A direct attack on Dreadfang will only provoke a full-blown war.”
“Then what do we do?” Elias asked.
“We dig deeper,” Rohan said. “We investigate. We find out who the girl is before they do.”
Everyone turned toward the Luna as she stood slowly. Her eyes, once soft with concern, now gleamed with quiet power.
“She’s already under our roof,” she said.
Jake turned to her. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “It’s the only explanation for why they keep coming back, lurking around our territory. They know.”
Rohan’s heart beat faster. Dean stirred in his chest, restless.
His thoughts went to her.
Abigail.
- Writer
