Page 24 of Moon Cursed

AFTER BREAKFAST, Imet up with Nia on the way to classes.

“So?” I asked softly.

Nia glanced at me out of the corner of her eyes, and shook her head.

“What? Why?” Shock laced the whisper.

We were outside on that perfect, sunny morning—taking the long way to leadership class by skirting the border of the castle that brushed up against the trees. Even so, there was still the possibility that a hundred ears were listening, so we were careful.

“They like the changes,” Nia replied. “They like that you talk a big game. They like you. But, Daze, they don’t believe you can deliver a single promise you’ve made. Taking over all of Wolf Nation is a lot harder than taking over one school. Once they get proof that you can actually do that...”

Then the omegas will fight for me,I finished.

“There’s also the other and most obvious problem,” Nia continued. “How are the omegas supposed to help you stop what’s coming? We can’t walk around wearing earplugs all the time every day.”

“I’m working on that.” I hadn’t yet shared with Nia that I created a vocal cord killer. I hadn’t shared that with anyone who wasn’t a snooping fated jerk living in my head and my bed. That was the best, and only, weapon we had in this war. There simply weren’t enough epsilons in the world to go up against all of the alphas and betas of Wolf Nation. We needed the omegas to stand with us, which meant we had to stop the other side from ordering them to drop down and expose their bellies.

“I’m working on both of those issues,” I went on. “If they need proof, I can deliver. But I need assurances too.” I met her eyes. “What’s coming will make the last thousand years of omega oppression seem like a party. They have to be ready and willing to stand and fight by my side within the next fewweeks, not years. If they wimp out, they—you allwill lose everything.”

“But you said it’s the next generation they want,” she hissed, eyes darting around. “This generation of omegas don’t have powers worth stealing.”

“I also said the alpha council will pass laws making forced-breeding programs legal. Do you really think that’s going to start and end with me?” I said to her widening eyes. “First rule of supply and demand, Nia. You need enough supply to meet the demand.”

“Okay, okay, I get it,” she cried, holding up her hands. She looked seconds away from throwing up on the grass. “But how can I convince them how serious this threat is if you won’t let me tell themwhatthe threat is? You’re luring them in with promises of a utopia, when you need to be scaring them with the truth of the inevitable dystopia.”

I was shaking my head before she finished. The act kicked up an ache behind my eyes. “I’ve told you this, Nia. Everyone knowing the truth doesn’t stop it from happening. It just forces the alpha council to act faster, harder, and smarter. The propaganda parade has been rolling through the streets for decades before you and I were even born.

“Everyone knows I bring about the Golden Age of Wolves, but right now, only a small few of us know how. As soon as the truth gets out, the alpha council will ask the alphas and betas to choose between becoming the most powerful creatures on earth, or coddling the omegas. Spoiler alert: They. Do. Not. Choose. You.”

She flinched, lips trembling. “Gods, it would be so much easier if you could take over by right of defeat. Even now, you have access to the alpha council that no one else in Wolf Nation does.”

I sighed. Nia voiced the exact thought that I had many times. We werewolves gave way to human morality in so many ways... except one. By law, an alpha can kill a clan leader or member of the alpha council and take over their position through the right of defeat.

Wolves believed that the strongest should lead the pack at all times, and sometimes the masses don’t vote for that person. If so, it is the right of anyone stronger, wiser, or more cunning to slit their throats and lead the pack.

But of course, that was for alphas and alphas only. No one would be handing me any council seats after I killed the alpha council, which is why I was preparing for war.

“Our biggest advantage right now is that the alpha council doesn’t know that we know. They have no clue that we’re preparing for war,” I said. “The vision Luame sent me only showed me what happens if we lose this war. She’s never sent me a vision of us winning. We need every edge we have to win this fight, including the element of surprise, but that said, I asked you to be my partner for a reason.

“You’re an omega. I’m not. You know what they need to hear. You can reach them better than I can, so you tell me, do we take the risk and tell them the whole truth—knowing that even one leak can spell disaster for us?”

Nia slowed to a stop, considering me with a hard expression. “They have a right to know,” Nia said firmly, “but... you’re right too. Having the element of surprise helped you take over the school. It’ll help us take over Wolf Nation. And even though I don’t for a second believe an omega would betray us and give up the secret, I also know that doesn’t mean a damn thing when any alpha anywhere can command them to do it against their will.

“Once you find a way to protect us from alpha and beta powers, then I’ll tell them everything.”

“Agreed,” I replied easily.

“Good.” Her gaze flicked over my shoulder. “We should stop. Someone’s coming.”

Turning around, I saw she was right. There was someone approaching us. Someone I’d never seen before.

Thick mahogany waves fell around thin, bony shoulders. She smiled when I turned to her, which tugged on her face and drew the swirling symbol tattooed across her cheekbone.

I identified her as a metal wolf immediately. Only their clan required face tattoos of every of-age wolf, but as for the wide-set brown eyes, thin lips, hooked nose, and wrinkles around her temple, those didn’t summon a lick of recognition from me.

“Who are you?” I demanded. “How did you get in here?”

“I let myself in, I hope you don’t mind. The gate was wide open, so there was no reason to wait.”

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