EP:8
1476 Words
HOPE'S POV.
The room felt too small.
The storm outside shook the healer’s den, thunder rolling above the roof, but inside it was silent. The only sound was Kian’s weak breathing and the soft drip of rainwater sliding off the twins’ clothes.
Derek and Dalilah stood in the corner, whispering to each other. Their eyes never left Kian, not even for a heartbeat. Their expressions were pale, tense—almost afraid.
Marwen leaned over Kian, squeezing the juice from the red leaf between her fingers and trying to guide it past his lips.
“Come on,” she muttered softly. “Swallow.”
His chest rose only slightly. Barely.
Vera stepped beside me, lowering her voice so no one else could hear.
“Hope… what do you think is going on?” she whispered. “How can the High Priest’s children know the Delta of an enemy pack on a first-name basis?”
I shook my head slowly. “I don’t know. I really don’t.”
But the things I would give to know what is going on here. Something about the twins’ behavior wasn’t normal. They weren’t just familiar with Kian—they were frightened for him. They feared for what might become of him.
Vera folded her arms, frustration clear on her face. “It better make sense soon. I'm not liking where this is headed, Hope. I just hope we haven't caused any actual problems by bringing this man here.”
Before I could answer, the door swung open with a heavy thud.
Everyone turned.
High Priest Antioch stepped inside, his long white robe soaked at the hem, droplets of rain sliding down his sleeves. His presence filled the room instantly. Even the storm seemed to quiet around him.
We all bowed.
“High Priest,” I said, straightening.
He didn’t respond. His sharp, assessing eyes were locked onto Kian, almost alarmed.
He walked closer, stopping right beside Marwen. His jaw clenched.
“What happened to him?” he asked, voice deep and steady.
Marwen didn’t answer. She simply nodded toward me.
“Perhaps you ask Delta Hope,” she said. “She was the one who found him, Priest Antioch.”
Antioch’s gaze moved to me.
“Tell me what happened, Delta.”
I exhaled heavily. “I found him drowning in the river during the storm with his hands bound behind his back with silver chains. He collapsed when he tried to speak to me. He was badly injured and throwing up blood, so we brought him here.”
A dark curse slipped out between Antioch’s teeth. He rubbed his forehead once, then looked at Marwen.
“How is he now?”
Marwen sighed. “He was in terrible condition when he arrived. It seems he was stabbed with something that contained a very deadly poison. But thanks to Delta Hope bringing the red leaf herbs on time, he will live.”
Antioch closed his eyes briefly. Relief crossed his face for just a moment.
“Thank the Moon,” he whispered.
Then he looked at me again, serious.
“Thank you, Delta. Goddess preserve your soul, dear child."
I bowed. “Thank you, Antioch.”
He looked like he was deep in thought for a few seconds. Then he looked back at me.
“Delta Hope, when he wakes up, you inform me first. Before anyone—”
The door slammed open before he could finish.
Damon walked in like a storm himself, anger written across every part of him. Two royal guards followed behind him, their clothes equally wet from the rain.
“I’m afraid,” Damon said, voice cutting through the room, “that won’t be possible.”
The tension was immediate.
Antioch stiffened beside me. The twins looked away in fear. Even Marwen paused her work.
Damon stepped closer, eyes moving between Antioch and me.
“Whatever you two are planning…” he pointed at me, bitterness dripping from his voice, “…is not going to happen. Not on my watch.”
I rolled my eyes and turned away, refusing to give him the reaction he wanted.
He snapped his fingers, and the guards stepped forward.
Damon continued, raising his voice so the whole room would hear:
“The guards will stay here tonight. And the moment that Wolvesden beast wakes up, he will be detained in the royal dungeon—where he will await execution.”
The room froze.
My mouth fell open. Beside me, Priest Antioch’s eyes went wide with horror.
Dalilah clapped a hand over her mouth. Derek stepped forward like he wanted to speak, but fear held him still.
“Execution?” I furrowed my brows. “For what exactly, if I may ask?”
Damon's eyes snapped to me. "He's an enemy!"
"An enemy without a weapon," I shot back at him. "He might be from enemy pack but he wasn't wielding a weapon, prince Damon. He didn't hurt anyone."
Antioch stepped in front of me, anger flashing in his eyes.
“Execution?” he snapped. “Since when are wolves executed for something as common as trespassing without a proper hearing, Prince Damon?”
Damon smirked. “Since I said so. Why, do you have a problem with that, Antioch? If you do, feel free to challenge me directly and see what happens.”
Antioch’s hands curled into fists.
Damon lifted his chin proudly, his gaze hardening. “I am the crown prince of Lunar Dome, the heir to the throne of wolves. My word is law, and my authority comes second only to my father’s.”
He stepped closer, eyes cold. “As heir to the throne, I have the right to decide anything. And I will watch it happen. I don’t need a hearing. I don’t need permission. My. Word. Is. Law.”
My wolf growled inside me.
Fawn was more irritated with him even more than I was.
Antioch stepped closer, refusing to back down.
“With all due respect, Prince Damon, I understand what you think of him and why you would want him executed for stepping into this land. But you need to know that the man lying on that table has saved my life before on two different occasions,” he said firmly. “Despite the hatred between our packs. Despite the enmity. He saved me. And now he lies here near death. We don’t know what happened to him, Your Highness. I am willing to take responsibility for him. At least until he can walk and leave on his own. He does not have to be put to death when he hasn’t even done anything wrong.”
Damon moved so close their noses almost touched.
“And when, may I ask,” he hissed, “did you become a traitor, High Priest Antioch? When did you start siding with our enemy? Or maybe”—Damon stepped even closer—“maybe I should just have you executed alongside him, since you seem to care for him so much. How about that? Would you like to hang side by side with your so called saviour, Priest Antioch? Because the way I see it, I think you do.”
A quiet sob escaped Dalilah. Derek stepped forward but didn’t dare intervene.
But Antioch didn’t move an inch.
“I am no traitor, Prince Damon,” he said quietly. “I simply repay good with good. I will take this matter to the King myself. I am not asking for much—only enough time for him to regain strength and leave.”
Damon scoffed.
“My father the King does not need to be bothered with such irrelevant matters. I—the future king, YOUR future king—have already made my decision. And it will stand. I don’t need permission from anyone, Antioch. Certainly not from you.”
His voice dropped, colder than the storm outside.
“Over my dead body will a member of Wolvesden pack be allowed to live after daring to step foot on Lunar Dome territory.”
The tension thickened to a point where it could be cut with a knife.
Antioch’s jaw tightened, but his voice stayed calm.
“In that case,” he said, “you leave me with no other option but to take this to the King immediately.”
Damon laughed—a sharp, bitter sound full of mockery.
“Go on then. Run to my father like a little b*tch. Go on, Antioch. Let’s see if he values your opinion more than his own son’s. His heir. I wonder what you think of yourself."
Antioch didn’t respond. He stared at Damon for a long moment, then simply turned and headed for the door.
“Derek. Dalilah. Let’s go,” he said.
The twins quickly followed their father out, relief and anger mixing in their expressions.
- Writer
