Bonds, Lies and Forgeries
1155 Words
"We were never fated, I knew that. We were chosen. But still…" Talia whispered.
She couldn’t finish, not in front of all these strangers. She wasn’t ready yet.
Alina gently touched her shoulder and squeezed. The realization wasn't sad—it was gasoline poured on a smoldering fire. "He counterfeited the bond."
Lucian went terrifyingly still. "He manipulated a sacred law. He faked a soul claim to keep a pawn on the board."
"And to infiltrate us," the gray-haired Elder snapped. "Crown tools don't wander off alone. Someone gave Calder that pattern. Someone is helping him within the council."
Lucian stepped into the light, his face grim. "They are repeating history," he said, his voice heavy with a dark past. "The last time a Crown key was forged and smuggled across borders, the War of Ash began. Someone is trying to restart the cycle."
Find the leak. Gut the leak, Kaela hummed.
"How did he get it?" Talia asked.
"Your father's knife was missing for a day," Casius said, jaw tight. "That will give plenty of time for a counterfeit to be created.
Talia’s stomach tightened, but before she could respond, a horn blast shattered the tension.
"South gate," Casius barked. "Our unexpected visitors are getting impatient."
"Let's move," Lucian commanded.
They stormed the inner yard.
Wolves stepped aside for their King, parting like a tide. The wind whipped the banners overhead—the Crown’s banner a regal display of the black wolf, with the Obsidian crescents.
But it was the fourth flag that caught Talia’s eye—Northern Gold: Mira's, Thomas' new mate. Talia's mouth went dry with distant.
Mira, Princess of the North, stood beneath it, flanked by her own guards, looking impeccable in a spotless red suit that clung to every generous curve. Honestly?
Talia was hoping never to see this she-wolf again.
Mira watched Lucian with an intensity that bordered on obsessive.
Something profound and territorial stirred within Talia. It shocked her and was completely unexpected. She was a little shook with the intensity.
Kaela? She questioned her wolf. Silence. Oh, now you get quiet. We are talking about this later.
Lucian stepped up to the witness stones, adhering to tradition in such disputes when a wolf pack wanted to be heard on unexpected and sudden issues.
"Alpha Calder," he said, his voice rumbling low. "State your business."
Thomas stood on the other side of the portcullis. He looked exactly as Talia remembered—handsome, polished, and smiling like a wolf who held all the aces.
"I'm here for my people," Thomas said lightly, his eyes sliding over Talia like oil. "And for two wolves who belong to Black River."
"We don't belong to you," Talia shot back, stepping forward.
"They stand under my protection," Lucian said, cutting Thomas off. "Which means they don't stand under yours. You have no authority here."
"I disagree and wish to invoke my Alpha's right to challenge," Thomas stated with confidence.
The gray-haired Elder pushed to the front. "Show your left knee, Calder. We know it’s a forgery."
Thomas didn't flinch. He pushed his trouser leg up, revealing the metal plate. It caught the sun—a perfect, mocking copy with a jagged score through the heart.
"Counterfeit," the Elder spat.
Thomas immediately responded, prepared, not at all caught off guard, by being called out. "Ah, but it was a gift."
"Who gave it to you?" Lucian demanded, his aura flaring, dropping the temperature in the yard by ten degrees. "You don't have the intelligence network to pull this off alone, Calder. Who are you aligned with?"
Thomas’s smile widened. He looked past Lucian, toward the Northern banner. "Why don't you ask her?"
Movement caught Talia’s eye.
Mira stepped forward from the witness stones. She didn’t draw a weapon. Instead, she lifted her hand and wiggled her fingers in a cheerful, cheeky little wave.
"Hi, Lucian," she chirped.
The yard went deadly silent. Even the wind seemed to stop.
Lucian turned slowly, his movement liquid and deadly. He looked at the Northern representative, the alpha, his expression unreadable, terrifyingly calm.
"Mira," he said. It wasn't a greeting; it was an accusation. "You are his new Luna?"
Mira tilted her head, enjoying the moment.
"His Mate?" Lucian pressed, his voice softer, more dangerous. He did not wait for an answer; Mira's cheeky silence was enough of an answer: "Are you fated?"
Mira laughed, a bright sound that clashed with the tension. "Fated and mated, darling," she said, flashing a grin that was all teeth. "Ours is the true bond. Unlike... other attempts." She cast a dismissive glance at Talia.
Lucian took a step towards her. "You are aligning the North, your father's kingdom, with a counterfeiter?"
Mira held up a hand, palm out, stopping him with sheer audacity. "Ah, ah, ah. We are here for official business, Lucian. You and I can catch up over drinks later. Right now, my mate wants his property back."
She tilted her head towards Talia. "She is my b***h. My personal guard. And I want her back as well."
Talia’s hand drifted to her dagger. Property? b***h? Ugh.
"He has no property here," Lucian said, his eyes never leaving Mira’s face. "And you have made a grave error."
"Have I?" Mira checked her nails. "I think I've just leveled the playing field."
"Show him," Thomas called out from the gate.
Mira smirked. "With pleasure."
But she didn't attack. She didn't signal her guards.
A second horn knifed the air.
This one didn't come from the gate.
It came from deep inside the keep, echoing off the stone walls of the inner sanctum. It wasn't the low, rhythmic thrum of a parley. It was high, thin, and frantic—a scream of pure terror raising the hair on Talia's arms.
Casius’s head whipped around, his face draining of color. "The nursery wing."
The blood drained from Talia’s face. Nursery? Innocent pups?
Thomas’s smile was in his eyes. Pure evil is enjoying every moment of the chaos he likely helped to create. He looked at Talia and mouthed two words: Good luck.
"Hold them!" Lucian roared, spinning on his heel, the deadly calm fracturing into Alpha rage. "This is likely not a coincidence." He looked at the next-in-command to the Beta. "If they move, kill them!"
But Thomas and Mira weren't attacking. They were just a distraction.
Talia was already moving with Casius and the guards that he signaled to follow, before Lucian finished his command.
The realization of the "leak" the elders spoke of became more. Possibly, someone hadn't just given Thomas a key to illegally cross over the wards; they had left the back door open while the King was staring at the front gate.
We must help save those babies! This is our fault. Kaela shrieked, flooding Talia’s limbs with adrenaline.
They sprinted toward the nursery; Talia followed the other wolves and the smoke billowing high into the air.
- Writer
