Chapter 83
The night had grown quiet in the aftermath of the attack. I rocked my babies gently, watching their tiny faces relax as they slept. The weight of the day’s events pressed heavily on my shoulders. Just when I thought we’d finally found peace, it was shattered by a threat I hadn’t seen coming. Who would dare leave a message like that? “We will never accept those abominations.” The words haunted me, ringing in my ears like a curse.
Fatima entered the nursery, her face drawn with concern. “You should get some rest, Priscilla,” she urged softly. “You’ve been through a lot.”
I shook my head. “I can’t sleep, not after what happened today. It’s not just about me anymore. It’s about them,” I said, looking down at my babies. “I need to know what’s really going on in our pack. This fear… it’s deeper than I realized.”
Fatima hesitated before speaking. “You’re right. And I might have a lead.”
I turned to her, eyebrows raised. “What do you mean?”
“I overheard a conversation earlier,” she admitted. “A few pack members mentioned another secret meeting tonight at the old lodge. This one is bigger and they even have a leader. Someone is rallying against you, Priscilla. They’re feeding the pack’s fear.”
My heart raced. “Then we need to go. Now.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Fatima asked, her voice filled with worry. “If we’re caught…”
“I have to know the truth, Fatima,” I interrupted. “I can’t just stand by while someone undermines Jake and threatens my children.”
Fatima took a deep breath and nodded. “Then I’m with you.”
The two of us slipped out of the house, moving quickly through the dense forest that surrounded the pack’s territory. The moon was a sliver in the sky, casting just enough light to guide our way. The old lodge came into view, a dilapidated structure that hadn’t been used for official gatherings in years. It was the perfect place for a secret meeting.
We crouched low, hiding in the shadows as we approached the open windows. Inside, the room was dimly lit by a few lanterns, casting long shadows on the faces of the gathered pack members. I counted at least a dozen, but there could be more. Their voices were hushed, tense, like a storm brewing just beneath the surface.
I strained to listen, pressing closer to the window. A man I didn’t recognize stood at the front, speaking with a confidence that sent chills down my spine. He was tall and lean, with silver-streaked hair and a sharp, angular face. There was something about him—something dangerous. He exuded authority, and the pack members listened intently, hanging on his every word.
“We cannot stay silent any longer,” the man said, his voice low but filled with conviction. “The Alpha has betrayed us. He’s put our entire future at risk by mating with a witch and bringing those hybrids into our pack. They’re an abomination, a threat to everything we’ve built.”
I gasped, my heart pounding in my chest. Fatima grabbed my hand, her grip tight. “Who is he?” I whispered.
“I don’t know,” she replied, shaking her head. “I’ve never seen him before.”
The man continued, oblivious to our presence. “We have to make a stand. If we don’t, we’ll be forced to accept this new order—an order where tradition means nothing, where our very bloodline is tainted.”
A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, and I felt a surge of anger. How could they buy into this nonsense? My children were innocent. They hadn’t done anything wrong.
“What’s your name?” one of the pack members asked hesitantly.
“Andrew,” he replied, a sly smile playing on his lips. “But my name isn’t important. What matters is our cause. We need to show the Alpha that we won’t be bullied into accepting this. We need to stand up for what’s right.”
I felt a cold wave of realization. This was organized. This wasn’t just a few disgruntled voices; it was a coordinated effort to undermine Jake’s authority and sow dissent within the pack. I had to do something, but what? If I confronted them now, it might make things worse.
Fatima squeezed my arm, her eyes wide with fear. “Priscilla, we should go. If they find us here…”
But I shook my head. “No, I need to confront him,he cant do this.” I said, my voice filled with resolve.
Before Fatima could stop me, I stepped forward, pushing the door open. The room fell silent as every head turned in my direction. Andrew’s eyes locked onto mine, and he didn’t look surprised. If anything, he looked amused.
“Well, well,” he said, his lips curling into a smirk. “The Luna herself, gracing us with her presence. How bold of you.”
“Bold?” I repeated, my voice icy. “No, Andrew. It’s necessary. I needed to see for myself who was behind this—who was spreading lies and fear within our pack.”
“Lies?” Andrew laughed, a harsh, grating sound. “Is it a lie that your children are hybrids? Is it a lie that they’re an abomination in the eyes of tradition?”
The pack members around him nodded, their expressions a mixture of fear and agreement. I felt a sharp pang of betrayal, but I pushed it aside. I couldn’t afford to show weakness now.
“They’re my children,” I said, my voice rising. “They’re a part of this pack, just like everyone else. They’ve done nothing wrong. You’re the one causing harm, Andrew. You’re the one dividing us.”
Andrew took a step closer, lowering his voice so only I could hear. “And what will you do about it, Luna? Run back to your mate? Tell him everything you’ve heard tonight? You know what he’ll do. He’ll kill me, and then what? You’ll have a martyr on your hands, and the pack will rally behind my death. Is that what you want?”
His words hit me hard. He was right—if I went to Jake now, if he reacted the way I knew he would, it would only make things worse. It would prove everything Andrew was saying, turn him into a victim in the eyes of those who already distrusted us.
I swallowed hard, struggling to keep my voice steady. “You’re manipulating them,” I said, my eyes narrowing. “You’re using their fear to gain power.”
Andrew’s smile widened. “I’m giving them a voice,” he said simply. “A voice they’ve been too afraid to use. You can’t silence us, Priscilla. Not without proving me right.”
I stepped back, my mind racing. He had me cornered, and he knew it. If I brought this to Jake, it would escalate into violence. But if I did nothing, Andrew’s influence would only grow.
“You’re wrong about one thing,” I said, my voice quiet but firm. “You think you’ve won, that you’ve got the upper hand. But this pack—our pack—is stronger than you realize. They’ll see through your lies eventually. And when they do, you’ll be the one left standing alone.”
He chuckled softly. “We’ll see about that, Luna. We’ll see.”
I turned on my heel, grabbing Fatima’s hand as we left the lodge. My heart was pounding, my head spinning. This was far from over, and I had no idea how I was going to fix it. But one thing was clear: I couldn’t involve Jake. Not yet. This was a fight I had to handle on my own.
As we made our way back through the forest, Fatima glanced at me, her face pale. “What are we going to do, Priscilla?”
I looked up at the sky, the stars barely visible through the thick canopy of trees. “We’re going to fight,” I said quietly. “But we have to be smart about it. We can’t play into his hands.”
Fatima nodded slowly. “I trust you,” she said.
I squeezed her hand, offering her a small smile. “Thank you. We’re going to need all the help we can get.”
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