Chapter 4: The Shadow Fang Warning
1424 Words
Chapter 4: The Shadow Fang Warning
The ride back to Heaven Wolf Estate was unusually quiet. Not because Lin Yuexin had finally run out of things to say.
That was probably impossible, It was because everyone in the vehicle had read the message.
RETURN THE PHOENIX.
Four words that had transformed the atmosphere inside Blood Moon Lounge from lively to deadly.
Yuexin sat in the back seat staring out the window, n
eon lights streaked past the glass.
Normally she would've made at least ten jokes by now or maybe twenty.
Tonight, she couldn't, because one question kept repeating inside her mind.
What Phoenix?
Beside her, Long Jianyu sat with his arms crossed.
Dangerously silent.
Finally, Yuexin couldn't take it anymore.
"Are we going to talk about it?"
No answer.
"Hao Chen?"
The Beta immediately looked away.
"Nope."
"Mei Ling?"
The strategist smiled politely.
"Also nope."
Yuexin groaned.
"You people are very annoying."
Jianyu finally turned toward her.
Golden eyes meeting hers.
"You're one to talk."
"Excuse me?"
"You accidentally walked into an Alpha-only meeting yesterday."
"That happened once."
"You nearly started a diplomatic incident."
"It wasn't my fault."
"You sat in Qin Mo's reserved seat."
Yuexin froze.
"...What?"
Hao Chen immediately burst out laughing even Mei Ling looked amused.
Jianyu's lips twitched.
"The booth you sat in."
"I mean the expensive one?"
"Yes."
"The one with the giant chair?"
"Yes."
"The chair was comfortable."
"That chair belongs to Qin Mo."
Yuexin slowly turned pale.
"...The rival Alpha?"
"Correct."
"The one threatening people?"
"Also correct."
She covered her face.
"I hate my life."
"No."
Jianyu's voice softened unexpectedly.
"You simply have terrible instincts."
"That's rude."
"You sat in the enemy Alpha's seat."
"Nobody put up a sign!"
"Because normal people don't need one."
"Well, I clearly do."
For a moment, the tension eased.
Then the reality returned. And the atmosphere darkened once more.
---
By the time they arrived at Heaven Wolf Estate, the entire compound was already awake.
At midnight.
That alone told Yuexin how serious the situation was.
Luxury vehicles lined the roads, Wolf guards moved everywhere and Commanders barked orders.
Security teams rushed between buildings.
The entire estate resembled a military headquarters preparing for war.
"What happened?"
Mei Ling answered.
"Emergency clan assembly."
Yuexin blinked.
"For me?"
"For the Phoenix."
"Which is apparently me."
Nobody denied it and that worried her.
---
The Alpha Council Hall stood at the center of the estate.
Yuexin had seen photographs of government buildings before.
This was larger, massive stone pillars supported a vaulted ceiling.
Ancient wolf symbols covered the walls and hundreds of seats surrounded a circular chamber.
By the time Yuexin entered, nearly every seat was occupied.
Elders, commanders, business leaders and even Clan representatives.
Powerful wolves from every branch of Heaven Wolf Clan and every single one turned to look at her.
Yuexin immediately wanted to turn around and run, possibly to another continent.
Unfortunately, Jianyu's hand landed lightly against her back.
"Keep walking."
"I hate this."
"I know."
"There are hundreds of people staring."
"They stare at everyone."
"You're lying."
"A little."
"You're terrible at comfort."
"You seem comforted."
Yuexin hated that he was right.
---
At the center of the hall sat an elderly man.
Silver-haired, Sharp-eyed and commanding.
The moment Yuexin saw him, she understood where Jianyu inherited his authority.
Long Shiming, former Alpha King and the current patriarch.
Jianyu's father, and perhaps the only person in the room who could challenge Jianyu directly.
The old Alpha's gaze settled on Yuexin.
"Begin."
His voice echoed throughout the hall and silence fell instantly.
One elder stood. "The Shadow Fang Clan has identified the girl."
Murmurs erupted and another elder rose. "They already know about the Phoenix."
More murmurs, a third elder slammed his cane against the floor. "Then surrender her." The hall exploded.
Yuexin blinked.
"Wait, what?"
Nobody answered, because everyone had started arguing.
---
"The Shadow Fang Clan cannot be allowed to target Heaven Wolf Clan!"
"She's a human!"
"No, she's the Phoenix!"
"We don't even know if she's truly the Phoenix!"
"Then why did Shadow Fang identify her?"
"Because someone leaked information!"
The argument intensified and Yuexin watched in disbelief.
This felt less like an ancient council and more like a chaotic family group chat.
Finally, one elder pointed directly at her. "Hand her over." Silence.
The room froze and Yuexin's stomach dropped.
Then Jianyu spoke. "No." One word.
The elder frowned. "Alpha—"
"No." The temperature seemed to drop.
Jianyu's golden eyes glowed faintly. "She remains under my protection."
Another elder rose. "You would risk the clan for one girl?"
The room waited and Yuexin also waited.
Even she wanted to hear the answer but Jianyu looked completely calm.
"Yes."
The hall erupted.
Yuexin stared, her heartbeat stumbled.
For some reason...those two letters hit harder than they should have.
Yes.
No hesitation, no negotiation, no doubt and just yes.
This man is very dangerous.
---
Finally, Long Shiming raised his hand and the room fell silent.
"The girl deserves an explanation." Everyone nodded reluctantly.
Yuexin sat straighter.
Finally, answers.
Long Shiming looked directly at her.
"Do you know what the Moon Phoenix is?"
"No."
"Good."
Yuexin blinked.
"Good?"
"Because ignorance is safer."
"That's not reassuring."
The old Alpha sighed, apparently she reminded him of someone.
"A thousand years ago," Long Shiming began, "before the wolf clans united, there existed another race."
The room became silent.
Respectful.
"The Moon Phoenix."
Yuexin listened carefully. "They were neither wolves nor humans."
"Then what were they?"
"Guardians." The old Alpha's voice lowered.
"Beings connected to lunar energy itself." The hall remained silent.
"The Phoenix bloodline maintained balance between supernatural races."
Yuexin frowned. "Maintained balance?"
"They prevented wars." Mei Ling continued.
"They settled disputes." Hao Chen added quietly.
"They united clans." Long Shiming nodded. "But power creates fear."
Yuexin already knew where this was going. "Someone betrayed them."
"Correct." The old Alpha's expression darkened.
"The Moon Phoenix Clan was hunted." The room grew colder. "Most died."
"Others disappeared."
"And eventually..." "Everyone believed they were extinct."
Yuexin swallowed. "You're saying..."
Long Shiming nodded. "We believe you carry their blood." The room watched her.
Yuexin felt overwhelmed."This is insane."
Nobody disagreed, because it absolutely was.
---
Suddenly— A voice interrupted.
Cold, beautiful and sharp.
"Even if she's the Phoenix, she doesn't belong here."
Xiang Ru.
Yuexin almost groaned, the woman stood gracefully.
Perfectly composed and perfectly irritating.
Every word targeted Yuexin directly.
"She is untrained."
"Human."
"Inexperienced."
"She's already attracting enemies."
The criticism continued, one point after another.
Until finally Xiang Ru looked at Jianyu.
And there it was, the real issue pure jealousy.
"You've known her for three days."
"You are risking everything." The room watched carefully.
Jianyu remained seated. "Are you finished?"
Xiang Ru stiffened, the answer had clearly not been what she wanted.
---
Later that evening—
The meeting finally ended.
Exhausted, Yuexin escaped onto a balcony overlooking the estate.
The night air felt wonderful.
The balcony door opened, she didn't need to turn around.
"How did you know it was me?" Jianyu approached.
"You walk differently."
His eyebrow rose. "You can tell?"
"You stomp."
"I do not stomp."
"You absolutely stomp."
Yuexin rolled her eyes.
Then leaned against the railing.
The city glittered in the distance.
Beautiful, dangerous and complicated, kind of like the man beside her.
"So."
She looked at him.
"Would you really have handed me over?"
His answer came immediately.
"No."
"Why?"
For a moment he said nothing.
Then his golden eyes met hers. "Because you're under my protection."
Her heartbeat quickened. "You keep saying that."
"And I'll keep saying it."
The air suddenly felt warmer and neither looked away.
Neither moved.
And for one brief moment... The rest of the world disappeared.
Until—
"ALPHA!"
The balcony door burst open and Hao Chen rushed forward.
The mood shattered instantly.
Yuexin jumped back and Jianyu looked annoyed.
Hao Chen wisely ignored it. "We have a problem."
The Beta's expression darkened. "A serious one."
"What happened?" Hao Chen looked around carefully.
Making sure nobody else was listening, then he lowered his voice.
"Our investigation is complete."
The atmosphere shifted instantly. "We traced the information leak."
Jianyu's eyes narrowed. "And?"
Hao Chen's face became grim. "Someone inside Heaven Wolf Clan informed Shadow Fang about Yuexin."
Silence.
Yuexin's blood ran cold.
A traitor inside the clan, inside the walls they believed were safe.
And suddenly the warning from Blood Moon Lounge felt far more terrifying.
Because the enemy wasn't just outside, the enemy might already be inside.
- Writer
