Chapter 51
972 Words
_Dorian's POV_
The raven opened its beak.
And it spoke.
At first, I thought I imagined it. Maybe exhaustion was playing tricks on my mind. But then—
"The moon weeps, yet the world sees only light. A flower wilts in the hands of the one who holds it too tight."
The words sent a chill through me.
I took a slow step back, my heart pounding against my ribs. I glanced at Marcus, expecting him to scoff or question what I had just heard. But he was frozen, staring at the raven with the same shock I felt.
Then the raven spoke again, its voice like a whisper carried on the wind—soft, eerie, and laced with something ancient.
"A melody plays, yet the dancer does not lead. Strings are pulled, yet the puppet does not bleed."
I clenched my fists. This wasn’t just a coincidence. The raven had come here for a reason.
"Who sent you?" I asked, my voice rough.
The raven c****d its head, black eyes gleaming. It let out a slow, deliberate caw before tapping its beak against the window one last time. Then, with a flutter of dark wings, it took off into the night.
For a long moment, neither Marcus nor I spoke.
Finally, Marcus exhaled. "Tell me that wasn’t real."
"It was real," I muttered. My mind was racing, trying to piece together the meaning of the words.
The moon weeps… but the world sees only light. That had to be Lyla. To everyone else, she looked fine. Happy. Like she belonged here. But the truth… the truth was hidden beneath the surface.
A flower wilts in the hands of the one who holds it too tight.
Aaron.
A melody plays, yet the dancer does not lead. Strings are pulled, yet the puppet does not bleed.
I closed my eyes for a brief moment, dread settling deep in my gut.
Lyla was helpless.
She wasn’t just staying by Aaron’s side—she was trapped. Controlled.
And I had no doubt in my mind who was responsible.
Aaron.
I pushed off the bed, urgency surging through me. "I need to see her."
Marcus frowned. "Alpha Dorian—"
"What if she's in danger?" I snapped. "What if she wants to ask for help but can’t? You saw her. She looked right at me and didn’t even flinch. Something is wrong, Marcus. And I’m going to find out what."
I didn’t wait for his response. I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door.
—
The halls of the Blood Moon Packhouse were quiet at this hour. Most wolves had already retired to their rooms, but I moved cautiously, keeping to the shadows as I searched for any sign of where Lyla might be staying.
If Aaron had her under his control, then she wouldn’t be left unguarded.
I passed a few closed doors, pausing now and then to listen. My senses were sharp, every sound heightened by the tension coiling in my chest.
Then, just as I rounded a corner—
"Looking for something?"
I stiffened.
Jason.
The Beta stood at the end of the corridor, arms crossed, his sharp eyes locked onto me.
I forced my expression into something neutral. "Just stretching my legs."
Jason didn’t blink. "Strange. I could have sworn I saw you heading in a very particular direction, Alpha."
I said nothing.
Jason stepped closer. His voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it. "Let me give you a word of advice, Alpha Dorian. Poking around where you don’t belong is dangerous."
A low growl rumbled in my chest.
Jason smirked. "Now, now. No need for that. I’m just making sure you understand the rules while you’re here."
I clenched my jaw. Jason wasn’t just warning me. He was letting me know I was being watched.
I forced myself to relax, offering a tight smile. "Understood."
Jason held my gaze for a long moment, then nodded. "Good."
Then he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, my hands clenched into fists.
I was running out of options. I needed to get to Lyla—but I had to be smarter about it.
I turned back toward my room, ready to retreat for now. But just as I reached the hallway leading to the main staircase, I heard it.
Laughter.
Soft. Sweet.
Lyla.
But it wasn’t just her laughter.
It was Aaron’s voice, low and intimate, murmuring words to her.
I stopped in my tracks, every muscle in my body going rigid.
"Are you tired, my love?" Aaron’s voice was deep, dripping with warmth.
Lyla giggled softly. "A little. But I like it here… with you."
"Then stay." His voice dropped lower. "Stay right where you belong, in my arms."
I gritted my teeth.
Shadow snarled inside me. That’s not her. That’s not our Lyla.
Aaron chuckled. "You are mine, Lyla. Always. Nothing will ever take you from me."
My heart pounded.
Then Lyla’s voice, soft and affectionate. "I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else."
Pain stabbed through my chest.
No.
This wasn’t real.
It couldn’t be.
Shadow’s fury pulsed through me. He’s lying to her. He’s manipulating her.
I had to fight back the urge to storm into the room, to rip Aaron away from her and demand the truth. But I couldn’t—not yet.
I took a slow, unsteady breath.
I had to be careful. If Aaron was truly controlling Lyla’s mind, then confronting her like this would do nothing. I needed proof. A way to break whatever hold he had on her.
I turned away, my jaw tight, my hands shaking.
I had come here looking for answers.
Instead, I had found a nightmare.
And I had no idea how to wake Lyla from it.
But one thing was certain.
I wasn’t leaving without her.
- Writer
