The days following Trey's downfall were a whirlwind of changes. The Black Shadow pack had accepted Dane's leadership without much resistance. His firm yet fair approach was a stark contrast to Trey's tyranny. While the pack was adjusting, I found myself caught between relief and unease. The past had finally begun to loosen its grip on me, but a shadow lingered—Dane's interest in my "funny scent" and his cryptic remarks about the Blood of Wolfsbane.
Dane, as promised, kept me close, not as a prisoner or an outsider but as someone he trusted. It felt strange to have someone believe in me, but it also left me questioning his motives.
That morning, Dane summoned me to his private study, a place few in the pack had ever been allowed to enter. The room was quiet, illuminated by soft light filtering through tall windows. Shelves lined with books and ancient scrolls framed the walls, and a map of pack territories was spread across the desk.
"Neah," he said, gesturing for me to take a seat across from him. His crimson eyes held a mixture of curiosity and something deeper—something that made me uneasy.
"What's this about?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving mine. "I need answers, and I think you do too."
I shifted in my seat, gripping the armrests. "Answers about what? "
Dane tapped his fingers on the desk. "Your scent. Your abilities—or lack thereof. And your connection to the Blood of Wolfsbane."
My stomach twisted. I had always avoided questions like these because they never led anywhere good. "I told you everything I know. My wolf was bound when I was six. Trey said it was punishment for what I did."
"But what if it wasn't?" Dane's voice was low, his words deliberate. "What if it wasn't about punishment at all but about hiding something?"
"Hiding something?" I echoed, my throat tightening.
Dane nodded. "I've been reading through the journal we found. There are mentions of an ancient lineage, wolves with unique blood that could resist—and even manipulate—the effects of Blood of Wolfsbane. Your scent, your suppressed wolf, the binding spell—it all points to you being part of that bloodline."
"That's impossible," I said, shaking my head. "I'm just… broken. I don't have special blood or powers."
"Are you sure?" Dane leaned forward, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. "If you were truly broken, your wolf would have died long ago. But it hasn't. It's bound, yes, but it's still there, waiting."
His words sent a shiver through me. For years, I had convinced myself that my wolf was gone, that I was less than everyone else. But now, doubt crept in.
"What does this mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"It means that whoever bound your wolf did it for a reason," Dane said. "And I intend to find out what that reason is. If you are part of this bloodline, you might be more important than any of us realized."
I stared at him, my mind racing. Could it be true? Could there really be more to my past than the guilt and shame I had carried for so long?
Before I could respond, a sharp knock echoed through the study. Dane's Beta, a tall and imposing man named Jarek, entered.
"Alpha, we have visitors," Jarek said, his expression grim. "A delegation from the Crimson Moon pack. They say they need to speak with you immediately."
Dane's jaw tightened. "Crimson Moon? What do they want?"
"They wouldn't say," Jarek replied. "But they brought their Alpha."
Dane stood, his presence filling the room. "Stay here, Neah," he said firmly. "This might be about you, and I don't want them getting any ideas."
I nodded, though unease prickled at the edges of my mind. As Dane and Jarek left, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far bigger than any of us had anticipated.
I paced the study, my thoughts spiraling. Dane's words echoed in my mind. A hidden bloodline. A wolf bound for reasons I didn't understand. And now, the sudden arrival of another pack—one of the most powerful in the region.
Unable to sit still, I approached the desk and stared at the open journal. The pages were filled with scribbled notes and diagrams, but one phrase caught my eye, written in bold letters: "The Crescent Curse."
Before I could make sense of it, the door creaked open. I turned, expecting Dane, but instead, a woman entered. She was tall and graceful, her silver hair flowing like liquid moonlight. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, locked onto mine.
"You must be Neah," she said, her voice smooth but laced with something predatory.
"Who are you?" I asked, stepping back instinctively.
She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm Alpha Serena of the Crimson Moon pack. And you, my dear, are exactly who we've been searching for."