Moonlit Rebirth: The Alpha's Betrayed Mate

Silent Capture

☽ Nyra ☾

Lucan didn’t let go of my shoulders until he was sure I was unhurt. His hands were warm, but his eyes were hard.

“I should have been here,” he said. “I missed your birthday, and now this,”

“I was fine,” I replied, though my body still buzzed from the fight. Behind him, the pack tried to pretend they weren’t shaken. Iseya moved from injured to injured. Zarek shouted orders near the border, loud enough for everyone to hear. Lucan followed my stare.

“Wait…is he?”

“He rejected me,” I said softly. Lucan’s expression hardened, and I hurriedly reassured him that I was fine. I wasn’t, but I was a lot better now that he had returned.

“Did he at least protect you?” he asked, and I slowly shook my head.

“No,”

“That piece of s**t,” he grunted, and I pulled him aside, away from the others. Even though they weren’t paying any attention to us, I didn’t want anyone to overhear what I had to say.

“Lucan, this wasn’t just some random attack. The rogues moved like they had a plan. In fact, I saw one of them spare someone,” I explained. Lucan frowned.

“Who?”

“Vespera,” I whispered. Lucan went very still. I told him what I had noticed: the rogue slowing, the small dip of his head, Vespera’s tiny hand signal. When I finished, Lucan exhaled through his nose.

“If you are right,” he said. “This is betrayal,”

“It was,” I whispered. “And it is not finished,” suddenly, another alarm horn sounded. Distant and urgent. Lucan’s eyes went wide in surprise. I was surprised, and yet, a part of me understood why the rogues had come back.

“Stay here,” Lucan warned, and I shot him a look.

“No. Why?”

“Nyra. Don’t do anything reckless,”

“I won’t,” I said, and watched him leave. My hands shook, not from fear, but from certainty. The rogues had come once to test our defenses. They had waited for us to think they had left us alone, but now they were back. And I knew exactly what they wanted.

Me.

And I wasn’t going to hide. In fact, I would make it easy for them. I followed the sounds of snarls and shouting toward the western edge. The second wave was already moving. Rogues slipped between trees, dragging a struggling guard toward the forest. Two wolves tried to break through, but the rogues blocked them and forced them back. I stepped out far enough to be seen. A rogue spotted me and froze. His eyes widened before he let out a sharp call, not a howl, more like a signal. Others appeared, closing in with purpose.

They knew exactly who I was.

My wolf surged, hot and furious. I forced it down. I ran a few steps, then stumbled on purpose near fallen branches. Rough hands grabbed my arms. One rogue struck the side of my head. Pain flashed, and I let my body go limp as I closed my eyes. I was thrown over his shoulder and carried away rather quickly. I kept my breathing even and slow as I pretended to be unconscious while I took note of everything. The second wave was over.

Of course, it was.

They had gotten what they wanted. I also took note of every step. Every slope. Every sound. I heard the stream coming from the east. I felt the wind come at me from the west. However, recognition tightened around me. I wasn’t sure how, but I had been this way before. I had no idea how that was possible, but even with my eyes closed, I knew exactly where I was and where we were headed. The rogue’s lair. The soft ground turned to stone, and a moment later, a door opened. Damp air rushed over my face, and I was carried down a few steps until I was carelessly tossed onto the ground. I flinched as my shoulder hit the hard stone, but I kept my expression neutral. If anyone was watching, they would think I was still unconscious.

“Is she the one?” someone asked.

“Yes,” the one who had taken me answered.

“The White Wolf,” someone else stated, and my stomach clenched. I wasn’t supposed to be surprised. I had known they were after me. I felt a presence lean in, and I did my best to remain still. Rough fingers gripped my chin before they pressed their thumb against my throat.

“Good, she is alive,” he said. “The ritual needs her to be alive,”

Ritual?

Cold slid through me, but the memories answered with flashes: a carved circle, symbols lit like fire, chanting that didn’t belong to our time. I stayed still, but fury grew teeth. Suddenly, a familiar scent drifted closer, sweet and sharp. I knew it at once.

Vespera.

I kept my eyes closed and listened.

“Careful,” she said, her voice smooth and pleased. “Don’t bruise her. We need the blood pure,” someone chuckled in response.

“You sound experienced,”

“I am,” Vespera replied. “And I don’t intend to fail. Vaelor will not forgive it,” Vaelor, the rogue king. I managed to avoid twitching with hatred.

“The circle is prepared. The artifact is ready,” someone said.

“Good,” Vespera said. “When the moon reaches its peak, we begin. We will take what she doesn’t deserve,” my wolf slammed against my control. I tasted copper where my teeth cut my tongue. I wanted to sit up and tear her throat out with my hands.

But I stopped myself.

I needed proof. I needed a way out. I needed to know what they planned to steal and how. Someone picked me up, and I was carried deeper into the darkness. Once again, I was tossed onto the cold stone floor. I heard the metal clash as a gate closed. I heard the key turn the lock and then silence. I slowly opened my eyes. As I looked around the small jail cell, I realized that I knew this place. This was where I had been murdered before.

This was where I had died.

I forced my breathing to stay even as I listened to their every move. I kept my lids low as I watched them. Eight rogues were clearly setting everything up for this ritual. Black candles were placed around a circle that had been painted in white. A bowl had been placed in the center.

“What if Zarek comes?” one of them asked softly.

“Then we get the hell out of here,” the other one answered.

“Vespera will take care of Zarek. He won’t be a problem,” another said.

“Oh yeah? Because she is his chosen one?”

“Shut it,” the first one snapped.

“Besides, Vespera said she will spread lies about her so that the pack won’t stand with her,” another stated. I closed my eyes, and my pulse stayed steady. Fear was a luxury I had lost in my first death. All I felt now was focus. If they wanted to turn my pack against me, I would return with evidence so sharp it couldn’t be ignored. I wasn’t about to sleep, but I remained still as I watched and listened. I couldn’t stop myself from opening my eyes when I heard the key in the lock. I jumped to my feet as a big, tall rogue stepped into the cell. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of the cell. He was strong, but not strong enough. I snatched myself out of his grip.

“Behave,” he hissed as he grabbed me again. I struggled against his hold as he pulled me into the center of the circle. Someone came up behind me, and something was shoved on top of my head, effectively taking my eyesight as the darkness covered my eyes. I opened my mouth to say something, but then I heard the chanting. Low and rising. I listened, curiously, for a moment. But I swore to myself, again, silently and without mercy, that I would make them pay. All of them. And I wouldn’t stop until my revenge was complete.

☽☾