The heavy oak doors creaked open, revealing a dimly lit study filled with the scent of aged whiskey and burning cedarwood. Alpha Marius sat behind a polished mahogany desk, his piercing silver eyes scanning the man standing before him.
"To what do I owe this unexpected visit, Arthur?" Marius leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping against the glass of whiskey in his hand.
Arthur stepped forward, his jaw clenched. "I assu you’ve heard the rumors."
Marius’s lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Ah, yes. The girl. Haelyn." He swirled the drink in his glass, feigning disinterest. "The first true pureblood spirit wolf in over a century." His gaze flickered to Arthur’s stiff posture. "I take it she’s proven to be a... complication?"
Arthur scoffed, pacing the room. "You have no idea." He exhaled sharply. "She’s inherited her mother’s cursed abilities, Marius. She’s dangerous. If we don’t act now, she’ll bring disaster to our kind."
Marius raised an eyebrow. "That’s quite the claim." He took a slow sip of his drink before setting it down. "Tell , Arthur... why now? Why are you suddenly so desperate to have her eliminated?"
Arthur’s hands balled into fists. "Because she’s more powerful than we ever anticipated." He turned to Marius, his voice dropping lower. "Stronger than Lunara ever was."
Marius stilled at the na. Lunara.
The na carried weight. The woman they had eliminated nearly two decades ago.
He studied Arthur for a long mont before speaking. "And you’re certain of this?"
Arthur’s expression darkened. "I watched her fight. She nearly killed Malcolm with just a flick of her wrist. Without even breaking a sweat." He stepped closer, voice urgent. "Marius, she isn’t just so anomaly. She’s a threat to everything we built."
Marius stroked his beard, considering the information. "And you think she’s stronger than Lunara?"
Arthur exhaled, nodding. "The first true pureblood in over a century." His tone carried sothing deeper....sothing dangerous. "You know what that ans."
Marius’s eyes narrowed. "It ans she’s the key."
Arthur smirked. "Exactly."
A heavy silence filled the room as the realization settled between them.
Then, Marius chuckled. "You always were ambitious, Arthur." He poured himself another drink, offering Arthur one as well.
Arthur accepted, taking a slow sip. "Ambition keeps us alive."
Marius smirked. "It also gets us killed."
Arthur leaned forward, his voice cold. "Not if we play it right."
Marius set his drink down, tilting his head. "What’s your plan?"
Arthur’s eyes glead with calculated malice. "We don’t kill her."
Marius raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Arthur’s grip on the glass tightened. "We use her."
Marius’s smirk faded. "Like you tried with Lunara?"
Arthur’s expression didn’t waver. "Lunara was strong, yes. But Haelyn..." His voice turned almost reverent. "Haelyn is purer. She’s the perfect vessel."
Marius’s gaze darkened. "You want to perform the ritual, don’t you?"
Arthur nodded. "I failed with Lunara. But Haelyn’s power... it’s untapped. And the child she carries..." He exhaled slowly. "Together, they could make unstoppable."
Marius let out a slow, thoughtful hum. "A full ascension. If it works."
Arthur’s lips curled into a dark smirk. "It will work."
Marius leaned back, staring at Arthur with a mixture of intrigue and caution. "You always did have an unhealthy obsession with power."
Arthur chuckled. "And look where it’s gotten ."
Marius swirled his drink, watching the liquid swirl like liquid gold. "You said she’s carrying a child?"
Arthur nodded. "Archer’s."
Marius exhaled sharply. "That complicates things."
Arthur smirked. "Or makes them even more valuable."
Marius’s expression turned calculating. "So what’s the next move?"
Arthur set his glass down, his fingers drumming against the polished wood. "We need to separate her from Archer and her allies."
Marius narrowed his eyes. "That won’t be easy. Archer is ruthless when it cos to what’s his."
Arthur’s lip curled in disgust. "She isn’t his. She’s mine."
Marius chuckled. "Tell that to the mate bond."
Arthur’s eyes flashed with sothing dark. "Bonds can be broken."
Marius studied him for a long mont before smirking. "Fine. I’ll back your plan. But on one condition."
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "And what’s that?"
Marius’s smirk widened. "If this goes sideways, you take the fall."
Arthur chuckled. "Deal."
Marius extended a hand. Arthur took it.
A pact was made.
The moon was high, casting eerie silver light through the towering trees as Haelyn’s feet pounded against the ground.
Her chest burned, her legs ached, but she kept running.
Sothing was wrong. Deeply, horribly wrong.
The sharp pain that had shot through her abdon at Arthur’s estate hadn’t been a mistake. It hadn’t been just her imagination. Her wolf knew.
And if her wolf knew, it ant Archer was in danger.
She stord through the front gates of the estate, ignoring the calls of the guards.
Then....
"Haelyn?"
A familiar voice cut through her panic.
Artemis.
She nearly crashed into him as he stepped into the hallway from one of the corridors, his brows furrowed in confusion. "What the hell is going on?"
"I...I don’t have ti to explain." She tried to brush past him, but he caught her wrist.
"Haelyn, slow down. What’s wrong?"
Her breathing was erratic, and her voice shook. "Sothing’s wrong with Archer."
Artemis’s grip on her tightened, his expression darkening. But instead of stopping her, he simply nodded. "Let’s go."
They rushed toward Archer’s office, the tension between them thick, suffocating.
Halfway there, Ravi appeared in the hallway.
His brows furrowed at their frantic expressions. "What’s happening?"
Haelyn didn’t even slow down. "Sothing’s wrong with Archer."
Ravi’s face paled slightly. Without another word, he joined them.
The urgency clawed at her as they finally reached the doors.
Haelyn didn’t hesitate.
She pushed them open.
Archer was leaning back in his chair, one arm lazily draped over the armrest, a half-empty glass of whiskey sitting beside him. His golden eyes flickered up at their sudden entrance, a slow smirk curling on his lips.
"Well, well." His voice was teasing, amused. "Did I miss sothing?"
Haelyn froze.
He looked... fine. Completely fine.
The panic in her chest twisted into confusion.
"You’re okay?" she breathed.
Archer arched a brow. "Should I not be?"
Haelyn hesitated, her wolf still restless. "I felt...." She stopped herself, glancing at Artemis and Ravi before fixing her gaze back on him. "I felt like sothing was wrong with you."
Archer’s smirk softened.
Slowly, he rose from his chair, closing the space between them. His hands settled on her waist, pulling her in.
"Worried about , little wolf?" His voice was teasing, but there was sothing warm in his golden eyes.
Haelyn stiffened slightly. "Archer..."
"I’m fine," he murmured against her hair. "Just... a little tired."
Artemis looked away, his jaw clenching.
Haelyn noticed.
She tried to step back, but Archer’s grip tightened.
"Stay with tonight," he whispered against her ear.
Haelyn tensed. "I...."
"Please." His voice was softer now, almost vulnerable.
She sighed, fingers curling slightly against his chest. "Fine. But just tonight."
Archer smirked in satisfaction. "That’s all I need."
Artemis turned sharply, walking away before he could hear more.
Haelyn’s heart ached.
She knew this wasn’t easy for him.
She just wished she knew how to fix it.
It happened so fast.
One mont, Archer was standing tall, his arms around Haelyn. The next....
His body jerked.
His smirk faltered.
His golden eyes widened in alarm.
Then....he collapsed.
"Archer!" Haelyn scread, catching him before he hit the ground.
A violent cough wracked his body, and blood splattered onto the black and white rug beneath them.
Ravi froze in horror. "What the...."
Artemis whirled around. "What the hell is happening?!"
Archer gasped, his fingers digging into Haelyn’s arms so tightly it hurt.
"Get Rowena!" Artemis bellowed, his voice edged with panic.
Ravi was already moving.
Haelyn’s hands shook as she cradled Archer’s head in her lap. "Stay with ," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Please, Archer, don’t you dare...."
Another violent cough.
More blood.
His breathing was getting weaker.
His skin colder.
Haelyn pressed her forehead to his, desperate, terrified.
Sothing was very, very wrong.
And they were running out of ti.
Hidden in the shadows of the hallway, Lyra pressed her hands over her mouth.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
Her heart pounded violently in her chest as she stared at the horrifying scene unfolding before her. Archer....collapsing, coughing up blood. Haelyn screaming. Artemis panicking.
No. No. No.
Layla and Helen lied to her.
They told her it was just to weaken Haelyn’s bond with him, to make him vulnerable. They never said it would kill him.
If he died....
If anyone found out she had a hand in this....
She was dead.
She needed to leave. Now.
Panic clawing at her throat, Lyra turned and ran.
She bolted down the corridor, her breath ragged, her pulse hamring.
She didn’t see Rowena and Ravi approaching from the other side.
She nearly collided into them.
"Lyra?" Rowena frowned. "Where the hell are you going in such a rush?"
Lyra’s pulse skyrocketed.
"I..." She swallowed hard, forcing a strained smile. "I just....needed so air."
Rowena narrowed her eyes.
Ravi glanced at her retreating figure before shaking his head. "Whatever. No ti for this. Archer needs help."
Lyra took that as her escape and bolted.
She didn’t stop until she was far away from the estate.
She needed to find Layla and Helen.
Now.
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