CHAPTER 2 – Shadows in the Kitchen
1315 Words
~Ember’s POV~
By the time training ended, sweat clung to my skin and my lungs burned pleasantly. Cassian had pushed us harder than usual, claiming the full moon’s approach was reason enough to sharpen our reflexes. But I knew him too well. He’d been restless lately, the kind of restless that came from worrying about things he didn’t talk about.
Maeve and I lingered on the field after everyone else had left, catching our breath and teasing each other about who nearly slipped first during sparring. By the time I finally trudged back home, the sun was already high.
The house was quiet when I opened the door — too quiet. The kind of quiet that made the fine hairs on your arms rise.
Then I heard the clink of porcelain.
Someone was in my kitchen.
I stepped inside, and my stomach sank.
Lysandra Vale stood by the counter, perfectly still, perfectly composed, her icy blue eyes locked on me like I’d interrupted a sacred ritual.
“Morning,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.
She tilted her head, her red-painted lips curving slightly. “You walk in here like you own the place, Ember.”
“I live here,” I said, setting my towel on the table.
Lysandra gave a quiet laugh that didn’t reach her eyes. “Of course you do.”
She was twenty-five, a year younger than my brother and Alpha Kieran. They’d all grown up together, trained together, fought side by side through more battles than I could count. And ever since I could remember, she’d been around — always there, always watching.
Beautiful, cold, dangerous.
Once, I’d admired her — the way she moved with confidence, the way she commanded attention without saying much. But that was before I realized how sharp her edges really were.
She wanted to be Luna. Desperately.
When her mate bond never came, she’d taken it as a challenge to the Moon herself. She’d set her sights on Kieran, certain he’d choose her as his chosen mate. Wolves could do that — choose someone even if their destined mate was dead or never appeared. But in Hollow Ridge, that kind of choice was rare. We still believed in the bond.
Still, Lysandra was patient — and ruthless.
She smiled faintly, glancing at my worn clothes. “Training again, I see. You really should consider resting, Ember. Not all of us are built to be warriors.”
“I’m not trying to be a warrior,” I replied. “I’m trying to be ready.”
Her gaze flicked over me, dismissive. “For what? The ceremony tomorrow? How sweet. I remember my first shift. I cried for hours afterward. It’s not as glorious as they make it sound.”
I poured myself a mug of coffee, ignoring her attempt to dig under my skin. “Maybe you just weren’t ready for it.”
Her smile didn’t falter, but the sharpness in her eyes deepened. “Careful, pup.”
“Always am.”
I took a sip of coffee, forcing calm into my tone. I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction.
But then she leaned closer, her perfume — expensive, floral, suffocating — wrapping around me. “Enjoy your little moment tomorrow,” she murmured. “Because soon, you’ll be nothing more than the Beta’s baby sister. And when I become Luna, you’ll learn your place.”
I let out a quiet laugh. “You’ve been saying that for years, Lysandra. You might want to find a new prophecy.”
Her eyes flashed, but before she could respond, the front door opened.
Two sets of footsteps entered — heavy, familiar.
Cassian’s voice came first, deep and commanding. “Ember, are you home?”
I turned just as he walked in, followed by Alpha Kieran.
The energy in the room shifted instantly. Lysandra’s entire posture softened; her voice turned sweet and melodic. “Cassian! Kieran! I was just keeping Ember company.”
I bit back a snort.
Cassian gave her a polite nod. “Morning, Lys.”
Kieran’s gaze swept briefly over the room — over me, the untouched coffee pot, and the tension still hanging in the air. His eyes lingered on me a second too long. “Everything all right here?”
“Perfectly,” Lysandra said, flashing her most dazzling smile. “We were just talking about tomorrow’s ceremony.”
“Of course you were,” I muttered.
Cassian shot me a look — the be nice look.
“Easy, little flame,” he said, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of my head. He’d called me that since we were kids — because of my red hair, and because I apparently had a temper that could burn through stone.
“I am calm,” I said, giving him a half-smile.
He poured two mugs of coffee, handing one to Kieran. The Alpha nodded his thanks and sat at the table, every movement calm and deliberate. Even at rest, Kieran Thorn radiated power — tall, broad-shouldered, eyes a deep green that seemed to miss nothing. He rarely smiled, and when he did, it wasn’t the kind that made you comfortable. It made you wonder what he knew.
“Are you ready for tomorrow?” Kieran asked, his tone lighter than usual.
“I think so,” I said. “I’ve been waiting for this since I was twelve.”
Cassian chuckled. “That’s true. She nearly shifted out of excitement at fifteen.”
I elbowed him. “You promised not to tell anyone that.”
Kieran’s mouth twitched in what might have been amusement. “Maybe you’ll find your mate tomorrow,” he said. “The Moon Mother favors the brave.”
Before I could reply, Lysandra spoke, her voice dripping with sugar. “Wouldn’t that be lovely? Maybe she’ll meet him and leave Hollow Ridge altogether.”
Cassian laughed softly, missing the poison beneath her words. “Don’t worry, Lys. No mate’s taking her anywhere. She’s stuck with me.”
Lysandra smiled sweetly at him. “How comforting.”
I rolled my eyes and looked away. How could they not see through her act? How could Kieran — the man who could sense a lie from a mile away — still treat her like some loyal warrior?
Kieran set down his mug and leaned back slightly, his gaze steady on me. “After your first shift, Ember, we’ll find a place for you in the pack house. You trained in governance, didn’t you?”
“I did,” I said quickly. “I’d like to work in the records wing or assist with communications.”
He nodded. “We’ll discuss it after the ceremony.”
I smiled. “Thank you, Alpha.”
Cassian grinned. “See? Soon she’ll be running the place while we’re still trying to figure out our own reports.”
I was about to respond when the doorbell rang.
Cassian frowned. “Maeve again?”
“No,” I said, already heading toward the door. “She’s on patrol duty.”
When I opened it, I found Finn standing there, tall and golden-haired, his usual grin lopsided and charming.
“Morning, Ember,” he said. “Your brother told me to come pick you up for combat review.”
Cassian groaned. “You’re supposed to rest, Ember.”
I shot him an innocent look. “I am resting. Just with movement.”
Finn snorted. “She said the same thing yesterday.”
Kieran’s faint smile returned as he rose from his chair. “Don’t keep her long, Finn. She needs her strength for tomorrow.”
“Understood, Alpha.”
As I stepped outside, I caught Lysandra’s gaze over Cassian’s shoulder — sharp, burning, venomous.
For a second, I wondered if she’d ever truly stop seeing me as a threat.
Then I decided I didn’t care.
- Writer
