THE ALPHA'S REJECTED MATE

CHAPTER 17

Whispers in the Shadows

As Elara fell into a restless sleep, the sound of howling in the distance faded into the background. The boy's injury, Kieran's silence, and Cassandra's allegations hung over her like a storm cloud.

She experienced hazy dreams with jumbled pictures of shadows moving in the moonlight. Then a quiet but authoritative voice broke through the mist.

Elara.

She made a sudden turn. Lysandra appeared in front of her as the shadows lifted. Compared to earlier dreams, the former Moon's Chosen appeared more realistic.

Her piercing blue eyes glowed with urgency, and her silver hair glistened like starlight.

"Lysandra?" Elara's tone faltered. "What brings you here?"

Lysandra stepped forward and stated, "To warn you." The darkness becomes agitated, and treachery persists in your troop.

Elara's chest became constricted. "Betrayal? Who?

Lysandra's eyes become stony. "I am unable to identify them. It is up to you to discover that truth. But Elara, follow your gut. What others try to conceal will be exposed by the shadows.

She felt a surge of frustration. "You can't even identify the traitor in the pack, despite assuring me I have one? How am I meant to prevent them?

"You underestimate your strength," Lysandra asserted. The harmony of light and shadow holds the answers. Have faith in your gift; it will lead you.

Lysandra reached out and put a hand on Elara's shoulder before she could object. She felt a surge of warmth, and they were both encircled by a dim glow.

Lysandra muttered, "There's a reason the Moon picked you." "Avoid being blinded by fear."

The dream started to fade, the light turning to black.

"Hold on!" Elara yelled. How about Kieran? Can I rely on him?

As the vision dimmed, Lysandra's voice replied. "Time will tell."

Lysandra's admonition weighed heavily on Elara when she awoke with a start. The cool night air pierced her flesh as she stepped outside after putting on a jacket. Except for the odd rustle of leaves, the packhouse was eerily silent.

Kieran was the only person who could give her the answers she needed.

She discovered him looking through documents and maps in the war room. His brow was wrinkled in concentration, and his shoulders were stiff.

"Kieran," she uttered in a quiet yet forceful tone.

Startled to see her, he looked up. "Elara. Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?

"I could ask you the same thing," she said, taking a step toward him. "What's happening?"

After hesitating, he motioned for her to come along. "We've been given information. Aldric's army is assembling. He is preparing a significant attack.

Elara felt sick to her stomach. "When?"

Kieran acknowledged, "We don't know yet." "But it's just a question of time."

She looked at the map that was laid out on the table. "So, what's the strategy?"

With a groan, Kieran combed through his hair. "I've begun getting the pack ready, but I have more to worry about than just Aldric. Cassandra has been inciting opposition. A few pack members are beginning to doubt my ability to lead.

Elara remarked, bitterly, "She's trying to turn them against you."

"I understand," he uttered in a sad voice. However, I am unable to face her head-on. Not without evidence.

Elara paused, remembering Lysandra's caution. "Kieran, I have something to tell you."

His face was unreadable as he gazed at her.

With caution, she said, "I had another vision." "Lysandra approached me. There is a traitor in the pack, she said.

Kieran squinted his eyes. "Did she mention any name?"

"No," Elara acknowledged. "However, she advised me to follow my gut."

Then he laughed harshly. instincts and visions. Is that all we have?

She yelled, "It's better than nothing." "You can't ignore this, but you don't have to trust me. Aldric won't have to destroy us; we'll do it ourselves if we can't identify the person working against us.

Kieran's mouth clenched, but he remained silent. "All right. We'll continue to watch. However, we continue to concentrate on getting ready for the attack until we have evidence.

Elara gave a nod, but their tension was still high. "Just, Kieran, exercise caution. It's not always the case that betrayal comes from unexpected sources.

Desperate for answers, Elara withdrew to the pack's archives the following day. The pages of the old books were covered in mysterious symbols and faded lettering, and they were dusty and worn.

She combed through them for hours on end, becoming more and more frustrated every minute. She was about to give up when she noticed a slight glimmer.

Tucked between two volumes, a loose page appeared to glimmer dimly in the light. Her shadows danced suspiciously about it as she cautiously pulled it out. One sign, a crescent moon encircled by spiraling tendrils of shadow, stood out among the many detailed patterns on the paper.

Her heartbeat accelerated. She had seen the same sign in her vision.

Elara?

She whirled around, holding on to the page. Standing in the doorway, Aeron's face was unreadable.

"Why are you in this place?" With a cautious tone, she inquired.

He moved closer and continued, "I could ask you the same thing." However, I believe I already know.

Her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

Aeron grinned. Did you not find something? It has to do with the Moon's Chosen.

She gripped the page more tightly. "What makes you concerned?"

"Because you're not the only one looking for answers," he replied, lowering his voice.

As Elara examined his face for any hint of dishonesty, her heart raced. Holding up the page, she screamed, "What do you know about this?"

A uncommon solemnity took the place of Aeron's grin. "Not in here," he declared. "Come with me."

She followed him, against her better judgment, out into the wilderness and into the packhouse's twisting hallways. The tension between them was evident as they traveled in silence.

At last they reached a remote clearing. Aeron pointed to a worn stone building that was partially covered by thick bushes.

"What is this place?" Elara's question was hardly audible above a whisper.

Aeron said, "The training grounds." "For the moon's chosen."

The air surrounding her tingled with energy as she took a step closer, causing her breath to catch. The same symbols from the sheet covered the structure, their faint illumination throbbing like a heartbeat.

She turned to face Aeron and asked, "How do you know about this?"

In a mysterious tone, he stated, "I have my sources."

Elara became really irritated. "Aeron, stop giving me riddles! Tell me if you know anything!

Aeron paused, his normally assured demeanor wavering. At last, he said, "The prophecy." "You underestimate its size. And some people, including those in the pack, will stop at nothing to prevent it.

Her blood froze. "Who?"

He gave a headshake. "I'm not really sure. But the secret to realizing your full potential is right here. You will need it if you wish to survive what is about to happen.

With her shadows reaching out to trace the symbols, Elara turned back to the structure. The ground underneath her seemed to be alive, and she sensed an odd tug.

Her voice was shaking as she questioned, "What do I do?"

With an unusually solemn gaze, Aeron put a hand on her shoulder. "Have faith in yourself. And trust nobody .

Elara was about to reply when a deep growl sounded from the darkness. She whirled around, her shadows brimming with vitality as her instincts blazed.

A huge wolf and a pair of bright crimson eyes sprang out of the shadows. It exuded sheer force, and its fur was as black as night.

Aeron's voice was strained as he said, "Elara." "Remain behind me."

However, the wolf's eyes were only focused on her, and its lips curled back to show its pointed teeth.

It snarled in a deep, threatening voice, "You shouldn't be here."

As the wolf, which was larger than any she had ever seen, approached, Elara's heart raced.

"What does it mean?" she muttered to Aeron.

He said, "I don't know," as he reached for his firearm.

With a deep laugh, the wolf's eyes glowed with ill intent. "Little one, the shadows may shield you, but they cannot keep you safe from what lies ahead."

The wolf roared with determination, before Aeron could lunged at it, the wolf disappeared.