Chapter 4: The Woman in the Shadows
748 Words
Dawn arrived, but Alpha Daven Morgan remained beneath the ancient Narra Tree.
The battlefield had long been cleared.
The bodies of Geneva's assassins had been taken away by Storm Wind patrols.
Yet Daven refused to leave.
Something about the hooded woman disturbed his thoughts.
Not because of her fighting skills.
Not because she had defeated elite assassins.
But because of her scent.
Wildflowers.
Fire.
Moonlight.
The scent lingered in his mind like an unfinished memory.
Marcus approached from behind.
"You've been here all night."
Daven remained silent.
The Beta crouched beside one of the bloodstains left from the battle.
"Our scouts identified some of the dead warriors."
Daven finally turned.
"Dragon Fire Pack?"
Marcus nodded.
"The personal assassins of Geneva Dragona."
A dangerous growl escaped Daven's throat.
"If Geneva's killers were hunting her, then who is she?"
Marcus crossed his arms.
"Someone important."
Neither of them noticed the old claw mark carved into the Narra Tree.
A mark made years ago by two children.
A mark that time had failed to erase.
Meanwhile...
Deep inside the hidden valley of the resistance.
Verra sat alone beside a small fire.
Her wounds had already healed thanks to her wolf.
But her heart remained restless.
She couldn't stop thinking about him.
The moment she saw Daven standing beneath the moonlight.
The moment he fired that arrow.
The moment fate almost reunited them.
"You should be resting."
Verra looked up.
Elder Rowan approached carrying a cup of herbal tea.
She accepted it with a grateful smile.
"Thank you."
The old warrior sat beside her.
"You saw him, didn't you?"
Verra froze.
Rowan chuckled softly.
"I may be old, but I'm not blind."
Silence followed.
Finally, Verra nodded.
"Yes."
"And?"
Her eyes drifted toward the mountains.
"He looks stronger."
Rowan smiled.
"And your heart?"
Verra immediately looked away.
The elder laughed.
"That answers my question."
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
"I didn't go there for him."
"No?"
"No."
"You only traveled across three territories to visit a tree."
Verra sighed.
Rowan's laughter echoed through the camp.
Far away, inside the Dragon Fire Pack palace.
Geneva Dragona was furious.
A shattered goblet lay at her feet.
"You failed?"
The surviving assassin trembled before her throne.
"My Alpha, she was stronger than expected."
Geneva's eyes burned with rage.
"How many did we lose?"
The warrior lowered his head.
"Fourteen."
The throne room fell silent.
Fourteen elite assassins.
Gone.
Killed by a single woman.
The survivor swallowed nervously.
"There was something else."
Geneva narrowed her eyes.
"What?"
"We saw a Storm Wind Alpha."
The room suddenly became colder.
"Daven Morgan?"
"Yes, my Alpha."
Geneva slowly stood.
A dangerous smile appeared on her face.
"So..."
"Thea has finally returned."
The assassin's face paled.
"You believe it was her?"
"Who else could defeat fourteen warriors?"
Geneva walked toward the massive window overlooking her kingdom.
"The little princess survived."
For years she had hoped the girl was dead.
Now she knew the truth.
The rightful heir was alive.
And she was becoming a threat.
Geneva clenched her fist.
"If Thea wants her throne..."
Her eyes darkened.
"Then let her come and take it."
Later that evening.
Daven stood inside the council hall.
His father sat at the head of the table.
Beside him were several elders.
The atmosphere was tense.
Fredrick Morgan finally spoke.
"The wedding date has been chosen."
Daven's expression darkened immediately.
"I already refused."
"You don't have a choice."
The room fell silent.
Fredrick pushed a scroll across the table.
"The ceremony will take place in three weeks."
Daven stared at the document.
Three weeks.
Three weeks until he was forced to marry a woman he didn't love.
A woman he barely knew.
His wolf growled furiously.
Then suddenly—
A scent drifted through an open window.
Wildflowers.
Fire.
Moonlight.
Daven froze.
His heart skipped a beat.
Impossible.
The scent vanished almost immediately.
But it was enough.
He knew he hadn't imagined it.
The mysterious woman was nearby.
Very nearby.
Without warning, Daven stood.
"Where are you going?" Fredrick demanded.
Daven ignored him.
His wolf was already pulling him toward the door.
Toward the forest.
Toward her.
Because for the first time in ten years...
Hope felt real.
And somewhere hidden among the shadows beyond Storm Wind territory, Verra unknowingly touched the same silver pendant she had worn since childhood.
Neither of them knew it.
But destiny was moving faster than ever.
And soon...
The Moon Goddess would force them to confront the truth.
- Writer
