Page 8 of The Alpha's Shattered Bonds

Guilt pressed heavily on my shoulders, especially since Selina had a young daughter, Mia. I feared I’d be overstaying my welcome if I didn’t get these nightmares under control soon.

Selina stepped into the room, padding over to my bedside. I noticed that she was already dressed, wearing the dark leathers favored by the Shadow Moon Pack for scouting. Curiosity prickled through me. “Why are you dressed for scouting?”

Instead of answering, she asked with concern, “Did you have another nightmare?”

I nodded. This was the third night in a row that these nightmares had plagued me. In our two years of friendship, I had confided my troubled history to her. She knew the heavy baggage I carried.

“I dreamed of Tyler again,” I confessed.

“Did you dream of your parents again, too?” Selina asked softly.

I nodded, the ache tightening in my chest. “It was the same dream—the invasion. Their suicide. Then, Tyler letting me fall.”

“I think these dreams are a sign, Seraphina,” she said with a certainty that made my heart quicken.

Selina was a shifter and skilled in herbalism. Yet, this readiness to speak of signs felt unusual. Portents were mine and Lyvia’s sphere.

“Has Lyvia been in touch?” I asked, wondering if our friend might have seen something that shed light on the reason for my nightmares. She was a skilled witch and well-versed in the art of foresight. Currently, she was away, staying with friends in the Blood Moon and Moonlight Pack.

Selina shook her head. “No, but Alexis and I have uncovered information from another source.” A sense of urgency rang through her voice.

Once again, I took in her scouting clothes, and my heart drummed with anticipation.

Selina’s eyes met mine, heavy with the weight of our shared past. The Shadow Moons had also suffered an invasion from the Black Moon Pack. Theirs had happened only a few months ago, a battle I’d fought alongside my friend and her mate’s pack. I’d thought, perhaps, it was the recent memories of fighting the Black Moons that were responsible for dredging up the past.

“You know Alexis was pursuing the remnants of the Black Moon Pack. Well, he caught one.”

My breath caught in my throat as I thought of Selina’s husband, the pack’s alpha. These last few weeks, he’d had his scouts searching the vast forests of Shadow Moon territory for the Black Moons who had scattered after their defeat in the battle.

“Last night,” Selina continued, “Alexis began interrogating the prisoner, and he has information about your parents.”

Shivers ran down my spine, goosebumps prickling my arms. “My parents?” I repeated, disbelief coursing through my veins.

Despite the apprehension swirling around us, Selina continued unwaveringly. “We stopped the interrogation as soon as he spoke about your parents. I thought you’d want to hear.”

My heart thumped loudly. My parents. This prisoner had information about my parents. Urgency engulfed me. “Yes.”

I bolted out of bed, grappling for my robe and stuffing my feet into my fluffy boots. Tightening the belt of my robe, I followed Selina out the door.

As we descended through the castle, the comfort of the upper quarters gave way to raw, unadorned stone. A chill danced along my spine. The corridors felt deeper and darker, shadows lengthening the further we ventured into the castle’s depths.

Upon reaching the dungeon, Alexis’s imposing figure immediately caught my attention. He cast a long shadow beneath the flickering lanterns. He was tall, with short black hair and a stern expression that seemed permanently etched on his face. But I had seen moments of lightness, usually when Selina or his daughter were near.

I turned my gaze past the Alpha toward the prisoner bound to a chair. His hands were tied behind him, and bruises marred his chin and cheek. I wondered how far Alexis had gone to extract information from him. The shifter’s hardened gaze met mine, curiosity flickering briefly.

“Now that we’re all gathered,” Alexis began, his voice heavy with authority. “Tell us again, Black Moon, about your pack’s dealings with the Silver Moons.”

The bound shifter met my gaze, a glint of defiance still lingering in his eyes, but the tremor in his voice betrayed his pain as he spoke. “To grow our power, the Black Moon Pack likes to exploit power struggles within other packs. We play the field for our own benefit.”

This was hardly new information. The Black Moon Pack had become infamous for their treachery—but I remained glued tothe spot, tension flowing through every muscle as I waited to hear what truths he held.

“Years ago,” the shifter said, his resolve cracking under the weight of his torture, “we invaded the Silver Moon Pack. The wolves we worked with from within framed the beta and his wife.”

My breath hitched in my throat. “Framed?” I repeated, astonishment flooding my senses.

“Liam and Cordelia… were framed?” The revelation battered my chest, knocking the air from my lungs. “How were they framed?” I demanded.

The Black Moon prisoner’s eyes glinted wickedly. “We had a Silver Moon on the inside—someone who got blood from both the beta and his wife. The dark witch working with our pack was able to use it to weaken the wards and prevent them from sounding the alarm long enough for us to invade.”

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