Alpha King and His Heir Share One Luna

Chapter 6: Lady Katherine's Trap

Chapter 6: Lady Katherine's Trap

(Third person's POV)

In the Royal Manor's quiet hall, tension swirled as Katherine Thorne reflected on former Luna Seraphina's familiar, underhanded tactics. Her eyes narrowed as she studied Elara Rivers, taking in the girl's striking features and the unusual fact of her presence among the final candidates.

"It appears that Seraphina has set a conspiracy," she mused bitterly, her voice barely audible.

The realization struck her with the force of a physical blow. After all these years of rivalry and calculated moves, Seraphina was still manipulating everyone around her like pieces on a chessboard.

Overwhelmed by anger that had festered for decades, Katherine felt something break inside her. A laugh—harsh and derisive—escaped her lips. It started softly, then grew in volume until it echoed eerily throughout the hall, bouncing off the ancient wooden beams overhead.

The attendants froze, eyes downcast but bodies tense. They'd never witnessed such behavior from their always-composed madam.

Elara and Cordelia sat rigid in their chairs, neither daring to move. The unnerving laugh sent chills down their spines as it continued, taking on an almost hysterical quality.

Even Cordelia, who had grown up amidst pack politics and prided herself on maintaining perfect composure, couldn't hide her shock. Her usual mask of superiority slipped, revealing genuine alarm as she watched her aunt's startling transformation.

Then, just as suddenly as it began, Katherine's laughter fractured into tears. They streamed down her face unchecked, years of carefully concealed pain breaking through her carefully constructed façade.

The silence that followed was thick with discomfort. No one moved or spoke as Katherine's shoulders shook with silent sobs.

After what seemed an eternity, she drew a deep breath and straightened her spine. With practiced movements, she dabbed at her eyes with an embroidered handkerchief, erasing all evidence of her emotional display.

Though Katherine didn't know Seraphina's exact plan, she understood one thing clearly—whatever her former mother-in-law wanted, it involved this Silverwood girl. And that was enough reason to prevent it.

She leaned toward her personal attendant, lips barely moving as she whispered urgent instructions. The woman's face remained impassive, but her fingers trembled slightly as she nodded in understanding.

Composing herself completely, Katherine turned back to the two young women who watched her with wary eyes.

"Weren't you frightened just now?" she asked, her voice suddenly warm and maternal.

"No, Lady Katherine," Cordelia replied quickly, smoothing her expression.

Elara shook her head. "Not at all. We were only concerned for you."

Katherine's smile didn't reach her eyes. "How kind of you both." She sighed softly. "I was overcome with memories of my long-lost home pack. Do you know, it's been thirty years since I left the Vance territory?"

Her gaze drifted to the window where darkness had settled completely over the forest. "Sometimes I miss it terribly. The familiar scents, the places I knew as a child..."

She turned back to them, her expression softening. "That's why I called you here tonight. To ease my loneliness with the company of young wolves."

Cordelia straightened in her chair, clearly pleased to be singled out. "My grandmother mentioned that I should seek a moment with you during my time here. She was concerned about your happiness and safety."

"Did she?" Katherine reached out to pat Cordelia's hand affectionately. "How thoughtful of her. Perhaps you could stay with me tonight. We could talk about the Vance territory and all the changes since my departure."

She then turned to Elara, her warmth noticeably cooling. "Miss Rivers, I thank you for coming, but I wouldn't want to keep you from your rest. The selection process must be quite taxing for someone... unaccustomed to our ways."

The dismissal was clear, wrapped in a thin veneer of courtesy.

Elara rose, sensing that arguing would only make matters worse. "Of course, Lady Katherine. Thank you for the honor of your invitation."

"My attendant will see you out," Katherine said, already turning her attention fully to Cordelia.

(Elara's POV)

As I stepped out of Lady Katherine's hall, the heavy door closed behind me with a soft thud. The corridor was dimly lit with wall sconces that cast long shadows on the polished floor. I exhaled slowly, trying to process the strange scene I had just witnessed.

Lady Katherine's breakdown and sudden recovery had been deeply unsettling. Something about the way she had looked at me sent chills down my spine.

"That was bizarre," Emma whispered within me. "Be careful, Elara."

Before I could respond to my wolf, a young pack attendant approached quickly, his footsteps nearly silent on the stone floor. He was slight of build, with nervous eyes that darted around constantly.

"Miss Rivers?" he said, bowing slightly. "Since it is your first time here, you might not know the way—allow me to escort you to your room."

I hesitated, instinctively cautious after Katherine's odd behavior.

"Don't trust him," Emma urged. "Something feels wrong."

But the Royal Manor was enormous, its corridors winding and identical to my unfamiliar eyes. Getting lost would only create more problems.

"Thank you," I finally said. "That would be helpful."

"This way, please," he gestured, leading me down the corridor.

We passed through several hallways before stepping out into the gardens. The night air was cool against my skin, filled with the scent of pine and night-blooming jasmine. Under different circumstances, I might have found it beautiful.

"The candidate quarters are on the eastern side, correct?" I asked, trying to orient myself. I had a good memory for directions and recalled that we had arrived at Lady Katherine's chambers from the east.

"Yes, but there's an upcoming event in the main courtyard that we should avoid," the attendant explained hurriedly. "We'll take a slightly longer route to bypass the commotion."

That seemed reasonable enough, so I nodded and followed as he led me along a winding path that curved deeper into the gardens. The bright lights of the manor grew more distant with each step, replaced by the soft glow of pathway lanterns that cast eerie shadows among the trees and hedges.

After some time, however, I began to notice something odd. We seemed to be walking in looping circuits rather than making progress toward any destination. The same ornamental fountain had appeared twice now on our left, though each time the attendant had directed me down a different branching path.

"Emma," I thought to my wolf. "Are we...?"

"Going in circles," she confirmed grimly. "And moving further from the main buildings with each loop."

I slowed my pace, trying to make sense of what was happening. Then, like pieces of a puzzle snapping together, I recalled the eerie look in Katherine's eyes, the whispered instructions to her attendant, and the calculated way she had separated me from Cordelia.

This wasn't a confused guide—it was a trap.

Panic surged through me as I abruptly stopped walking. "I believe we've taken a wrong turn," I said, forcing my voice to remain calm. "The candidate quarters should be in the opposite direction."

The attendant turned, his nervous demeanor suddenly more pronounced. "No, no—you're mistaken. Just a little further this way."

"I'd prefer to return to the main path," I insisted, taking a step backward.

Emma growled within me. "Run!" she urged. "Now!"

I turned to flee, but the attendant moved with supernatural speed, closing the distance between us in an instant. Before I could react, he threw something directly into my face—a fine powder that clouded the air around me.

I gasped in surprise, inadvertently inhaling much of the substance. The effect was immediate. My limbs grew heavy as though weighted with lead, and my thoughts became sluggish and unfocused.

"I'm sorry," the attendant whispered, trembling visibly as he backed away. "Don't blame me; if you must, then blame Lady Katherine..."

With those parting words, he turned and fled, disappearing into the darkness of the garden.

"Emma!" I called internally, but my connection to my wolf felt fuzzy and distant.

"Fight it," she urged, her voice sounding far away. "We need to find help."

I forced my increasingly uncooperative body to move, stumbling forward in what I hoped was the direction of the main manor. Each step required immense concentration as the mysterious powder took greater hold over me.

The garden paths, which had seemed merely confusing before, now twisted like a labyrinth in my drugged perception. Shadows lengthened and wavered as though alive, and the gentle night sounds of the forest became distorted and threatening.

A wave of intense heat suddenly flooded through me. My skin felt as though it was burning, my face almost smoking with fever. I closed my eyes against the sensation, but it only intensified.

My hands began to tremble uncontrollably. I could barely remain upright as I shuffled forward unsteadily, desperate to find anyone who might help me.

A new sensation joined the burning heat—a sharp, itching feeling that crawled across my skin like thousands of biting ants. The piercing itch was maddening, making me want to claw at my own flesh for relief.

"Emma," I called again, but there was no response. The connection to my wolf had faded completely, leaving me frighteningly alone in my own mind for the first time since my wolf had awakened.

Another wave of dizziness hit me, stronger than before. The world tilted violently, and I felt myself falling. The impact with the ground barely registered through the chaos of sensations overwhelming me.

It felt as though my internal organs were being crushed, pain radiating from my core outward. A strange electric current seemed to flow through my veins, gathering into streams of hot liquid that rushed toward my lower abdomen.

I felt wetness spreading through my underwear, reminiscent of menstruation but somehow different—more intense, more alarming. The sensation was utterly foreign and terrifying.

Was this what dying felt like? Had I been poisoned?

With my senses failing rapidly—my vision blurring, my sense of smell gone entirely—panic gripped me completely. I had never felt so vulnerable, so utterly helpless.

"Save me..." I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible even to my own ears.

Through the fog of my fading consciousness, I thought I heard footsteps approaching—measured, deliberate steps that seemed to make the ground vibrate beneath me.

Hope flickered weakly in my heart. Someone was coming. Perhaps I wasn't going to die alone in this garden after all.

But as the presence drew nearer, a new fear took hold. Even in my weakened state, I could sense an ominous and fierce aura emanating from whoever approached—an air of ruthlessness that made me wonder if being found would prove worse than being abandoned.

The footsteps stopped directly beside me. I tried to open my eyes, to see who stood over me, but my eyelids refused to cooperate.

A stern, deep male voice broke the silence, sending chills through my already trembling body.

"Which pack's she-wolf are you?"