Page 26 of Moonlit Fate

“Look at them, so confident in their ability,” Hale whispered. “They have no idea we’re watching.”

“Arrogance is often the downfall of the mighty,” I remarked, studying the patterns of the guards.

At my silent command, the darkness obediently lengthened and reached out, its tendrils delicately probing the perimeter. Each heartbeat brought forth whispers of information, creating a vibrant mental image of the enemy’s defenses.

Hale tensed, his gaze fixed on something beyond the tree line. “Do you sense that?”

“Power,” I murmured, a ripple of energy radiating from the middle of the Crimson Fang territory. A warning, perhaps, or a declaration of their burgeoning might.

“Whatever they’re planning, it’s big. And it involves deep magic.” He looked at the distant figures moving with purposeful intent.

As we navigated through the thicket, it seemed like the forest was guiding our every step. Hale’s gaze darted anxiously in all directions, clearly frightened by what was happening. I found myself intrigued more than anything; I had to trust that the forest meant us no harm when we emerged in a misty clearing. We settled behind an oak, its gnarled roots offering the perfectvantage point. From here, we could see the clandestine meeting unfold.

Larkin stood, arrogance wafting off him as he conversed with a figure cloaked in the colors of the Crimson Fang. The wind carried their hushed words to my ears, words laced with intentions as dark as the night itself.

“Silver Claw won’t know what hit them,” Larkin’s conspirator said. They had their back to us. I didn’t recognize them, but they spoke with a venomous glee. “We’re already carving up their land.”

“Keep it quiet until after the mating ceremony,” Larkin said, his face shining with the promise of more power. “Once Aria is mine in the eyes of the pack, we’ll have the leverage we need.”

The sound of her name triggered an immediate response from my wolf, who snarled in defiance. The possessiveness in his growl made my blood boil, forcing me to clamp my mouth shut so no sound could escape. I tamped down the rage, focusing instead on the implications of their scheme. What they were planning surpassed a territorial dispute. This was an orchestrated takeover.

“Look there.” Hale nudged me, pointing to where tents and figures dotted the rogue territory border, a mere hundred yards from where we lay hidden. “They’ve already begun the invasion.”

“Snakes slithering into our home.” I brainstormed different strategies to counter their advance. This was no longer a simple reconnaissance mission. We had stumbled on a plot that threatened everything and everyone I held dear.

“Atticus,” Hale said quietly, “how the fuck has Ragnar or Aria not sensed any of this from the prick? You’re not even pack, and you picked up on it.”

He was right. How was Larkin able to hide this level of duplicity from his alpha? Why hadn’t they sensed any of it, readit in his mind? Their connection would be far better than my superficial sweep.

Hale looked back out over the tableau of treachery the forest had laid before us. “We can’t let this happen.”

“No,” I agreed coldly, “we cannot.”

Inhaling deeply, I reached inward to the wellspring of power that lay dormant beneath my ribcage, and I extended my consciousness toward the pack members gathered beside Larkin. One by one, I touched their minds, seeking a crack, a weakness, but all I found were a lattice of mental shields.

“Fuck,” I muttered through gritted teeth, frustration lacing my tone. Each shifter was closed off, secure behind fortifications that shouldn’t have been there. How did they know of such defenses? The realization struck me suddenly. There were only a select few who possessed knowledge of these techniques. My father’s teachings, the secrets he had imparted to me, were being used against us.

“Atticus?” Hale whispered.

“Someone taught them to shield their thoughts.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue. My father had to be working with them. Why? What would be in it for him? If he had prepared the Crimson Fang pack and Larkin for mental intrusion, what else had they anticipated? “At least we know why Ragnar and the rest of Silver Claw haven’t picked up on Larkin’s dishonesty. He’s been taught to lock it down.” If my abilities hadn’t been so advanced, I wouldn’t have been able to glean anything, either.

Silently, we withdrew, leaving behind the web of deceit. The rogue part of me burned with a desire for warfare and retribution, while the man who had tasted the sweetest kiss of his life vowed to protect Aria with everything he had. I couldn’t be with her during her interactions with Larkin, but I had an important trinket, something I’d taken with me when my pack had exiled me. It would level the playing field. Larkin might beable to shield his thoughts, but the bracelet would ensure he couldn’t hide his lies. I resolved to find a time to give it to her and explain what it could do.

Fate had cast its dice, and I would answer its call. If I could tilt the odds in our favor, I wouldn’t hesitate to stack the roll.

We made it back to the den in silence, both of us lost in thought and troubled over what had transpired in front of us. When we entered the sanctuary of our home, Hale moved into the kitchen area and returned with a bottle of straw-colored liquid and two glasses. “Drink?”

I teetered on the corner of staying or seeking solace in my room. The offer of the homemade spirit was too tempting to decline. Two fingers of Hale’s moonshine would help me sleep better than any of Mia’s herbs.

I raised the glass, the rich scent filling my nostrils, and toasted with a sardonic “Cheers.” With one quick tilt, I drained the alcohol, feeling the burning sensation as it coursed down my throat. “Thanks for coming with me tonight, Hale,” I said, exhaustion settling in as I made to leave the communal area for the peaceful solitude of my room.

His hand gave my back in a friendly clap as I passed him. “Don’t mention it, Atticus. Family takes care of each other.”

Without bothering to change out of my clothes, I collapsed onto my bed, fixating on Aria and Larkin’s treachery. I wasn’t pack; I was a rogue shifter with a family. A family bound by choice, not duty, but our commitment to safeguarding the neutral unclaimed territories from the Crimson Fang was absolute. There was nothing I could do until morning arrived. I would be no use to anyone exhausted. I closed my eyes, and the world faded away as I surrendered to the familiar pull of sleep.

The dawn’s light hadn’t yet touched the horizon when I awoke, the remnants of betrayal still clinging to my consciousness. Larkin’s deceit had latched itself into me,creating a restless urgency that hummed in my veins. With the Silver Claw and rogue territories on the verge of chaos, there was no time for delay.

The waning stars provided a dim glow as I met with Joren, Hale, Mia, and Lyza outside, the cold air nipping at my skin.

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