Chapter 45
Elara’s blood turned to ice. Tobias—the rogue who had helped her, led her, protected her—was standing beside Marcus like they were old friends. “You’re working together,” she whispered, her words barely audible over the ringing in her ears. The triplets hadn’t noticed yet. They were too busy arguing about how to slow the poison spreading through her blood. But Elara heard every word between Marcus and Tobias. “The Bond Trial was perfect,” Tobias said softly. “She’ll exhaust herself trying to finish three mate bonds while fighting the poison. By the time she faces you, she’ll be too weak to win.” Marcus nodded.
“And if by some chance she survives, the trial itself will destroy her. Either way, the crown returns to where it belongs.” “What about your sons?” Tobias asked. “They’ll understand someday. Power means more than misguided love.” Elara closed her eyes, fighting waves of sickness. Everything made sense now. Tobias had been there for every big moment—guiding her to the crown, teaching her about her powers, even suggesting the Bond Trial. He hadn’t been helping her. He’d been setting her up. “Elara?” Kael’s worried voice broke through her thoughts. “We need to get you somewhere safe.” She opened her eyes and looked at each triplet. They were looking at her with such concern, such love. They had no idea their father was planning to destroy her—or that the man they’d trusted was a liar. “I’m fine,” she lied, forcing herself to stand straight. The crown’s silver light flickered slightly. “We need to go.” As they helped her away from the ruins, Elara’s mind raced. Marcus and Tobias thought they were so smart. But they’d made one mistake. They’d underestimated her. Meanwhile, across the pack area, Celeste Rivers crawled out from under the fallen stones. Her ribs were broken, her face was covered in blood, and her left arm hung useless at her side. But she was alive. And she was angry. “Stupid omega,” she spat, pulling herself to her feet. “Thinks she can just take everything that should be mine.” Celeste limped through the trees, ignoring the pain shooting through her body. She had one chance left to destroy Elara. One final card to play. Her phone buzzed. The message was from a banned number: “Still interested in our deal?” She smiled through her broken teeth and typed back: “More than ever.” The reply came instantly: “Good. The Blood Moon Pack will arrive tomorrow night. Make sure the Blackwood shields are down.” Celeste deleted the texts and kept walking. Let Elara play with her Bond Trial. Let her think she was winning. Soon, the entire Blackwood Pack would be under attack—and in the chaos, the little omega would finally die. Back at the Alpha house, Luna Evelyn was making something that smelled like rotting fish mixed with old socks. “This should slow the poison,” she said, giving Elara a steaming cup. “But it won’t cure it.” Elara drank the horrible mixture without moaning. Her throat burned, but she felt the poison’s progress slow slightly. “Thank you,” she said. Then, quieter: “Can I trust you?” Luna Evelyn looked surprised. “Of course. Why would you ask that?” “Because I just found out Tobias has been working with your husband this whole time.” The cup fell from Luna Evelyn’s hands, breaking on the floor. “What?” “I heard them talking. The Bond Trial, the crown, everything—it’s all been a plan.” Luna Evelyn sank into a chair, her face pale. “I should have known. Marcus has been too cool about all this. Too confident.” “There’s more,” Elara said. “I think Celeste survived the blast.
And if she did “She’ll try something desperate,” Luna Evelyn ended. “She’s always been vindictive, but now she has nothing left to lose.” A knock at the door stopped them. Ronan poked his head in. “Sorry to bother you, but we have a problem. Three of our border guards didn’t report in tonight.” Elara and Luna Evelyn shared worried glances. “That’s not normal,” Luna Evelyn said. “No, it’s not. Kael and Darian are checking the eastern line. I’m going west with a patrol team.” After Ronan left, Luna Evelyn grabbed Elara’s hand. “Promise me something. If Marcus tries to change the rules of the trial, if anything seems wrong, you run. Don’t try to be a hero.” “I can’t run. The mate bonds—” “Will mean nothing if you’re dead.” Before Elara could respond, alarms started blaring throughout the pack house. Emergency signs. Everyone ran outside to see what was happening. Alpha Marcus stood on the front steps, his face grim. “We have guests. The Blood Moon Pack has sent officials. They want to… negotiate.” Elara’s stomach dropped. The Blood Moon Pack was known for their brutality. They didn’t negotiate—they won. “How many?” someone called out. “Fifty dogs. Maybe more. They’re asking for safe passage to attend the Bond Trial.” Murmurs of confusion spread through the crowd. Enemy packs didn’t attend Bond Trials. Ever. “This stinks,” Darian grumbled, appearing at Elara’s side. “Something’s wrong.” That’s when she saw her. Celeste Rivers, stumbling out from behind the Alpha house. Her face was a mess of bruises and cuts, but she was smiling. “Surprise,” Celeste called out sweetly. “Did you miss me?” Kael snarled. “You should be dead.” “Should be, yes. But I’m harder to kill than you think.” Celeste’s eyes found Elara in the crowd. “Besides, I have unfinished business.” “The Blood Moon Pack,” Elara said suddenly, pieces clicking together. “You contacted them.” Celeste’s smile widened. “Smart little omega. Yes, I did. Told them all about your upcoming trial. About how the pack would be confused, defenses down, everyone gathered in one place.” Horror dawned on the faces around them.
“You invited them to attack during the ceremony,” Marcus said, his voice deadly quiet. “I invited them to finish what you were too weak to do yourself,” Celeste shot back. “Remove the omega permanently.” Pack members started backing away from her, fear and disgust on their faces. Even her own father, Beta Rivers, looked ashamed. “You betrayed your own pack,” Luna Evelyn said. “My pack betrayed me first!” Celeste screamed, her composure finally breaking. “I was going to be Luna! I trained my whole life for it! And then this nobody shows up and takes everything!” “So you decided to get us all killed?” Ronan asked incredulously. “Not all of you. Just her.” Celeste pointed a shaking finger at Elara. “The Blood Moon Pack doesn’t want land. They want the crown. Once they kill the omega queen, they’ll leave.” “You’re insane,” Darian said. “I’m desperate,” Celeste amended. “And desperate people do desperate things.” Marcus stepped forward. “Where are they planning to attack?” “Why would I tell you that?” Celeste laughed bitterly. “You had your chance to handle this quietly. Now everyone gets to watch the omega die.” That’s when the howls started. Long, sad sounds echoing from the forest. Not Blackwood Pack screams. These were different. Hostile. “They’re already here,” someone whispered. The Blood Moon Pack had arrived early. Marcus grabbed his phone, barking directions. “All warriors to places! Protect the pack house! Get the children to safety!” Chaos occurred. Wolves scattered in every direction, some changing to wolf form, others grabbing weapons. The howls were getting closer. In the middle of it all, Elara felt the mate ties pulling at her heart. The triplets were ready to fight, to protect their pack. She could feel their determination, their fear for her safety. But something else was wrong. The crown on her head was getting heavier, its light dimming. The evil was winning. “Elara!” Kael appeared beside her. “We need to get you somewhere safe!” “No,” she said firmly. “If I hide, people die. This is my fault.” “It’s Celeste’s fault!” “I’m the one they want. I’m the one who brought this danger here p>
Before anyone could stop her, Elara stepped forward, her voice carrying across the chaos. “Blood Moon Pack!” she called out. “I know you can hear me! You want the crown? Come and take it!” “What are you doing?” Darian hissed, appearing on her other side. “Ending this,” she responded. “On my terms.” A new howl answered her dare. Closer now. Much closer. Then the first Blood Moon warrior stepped out of the tree line. Then another. And another. They weren’t just dogs. They were monsters. Enhanced somehow, like the rogues from the temple. Their eyes glowed red instead of gold, and their claws were longer than any regular werewolf’s. At their head walked a huge figure in human form. Alpha Kane Bloodmoon himself. His reputation for violence was legendary. “Well, well,” he called out, his voice carrying easily across the distance. “The famous omega queen. You’re smaller than I expected.” “And you’re uglier,” Elara shot back, getting surprised laughs from some of her pack members. Alpha Kane’s smile was full of sharp teeth. “I like her. It’s almost a shame I have to kill her.” “Try it,” Ronan growled, moving protectively in front of Elara. “Oh, I will. But first Kane’s eyes found Celeste in the crowd.
“Our little spy needs to fulfill the rest of her bargain.” Celeste’s face went white. “What bargain? I told you how to get in. That was the deal.” “The deal was information and access. You’ve given us information. Now you give us entry.” “I don’t understand—” “The pack house protection. The safe room sites. The emergency measures.” Kane’s smile turned cold. “You’re going to help us hunt down every last Blackwood wolf.” “No!” Celeste stepped backward. “That wasn’t what we agreed!” “Deals change, little beta. Adapt or die.” The truth hit everyone at once. Celeste hadn’t just betrayed Elara. She’d betrayed the entire pack. And now the Blood Moon wolves were here to kill everyone. “You played yourself,” Elara said quietly, almost feeling sorry for her old rival. But there was no time for sorrow. Alpha Kane raised his hand, and his warriors started advancing. “Kill them all,” he ordered. “But bring me the omega’s head p>
The attack began. And in the chaos of the first moments, as wolves clashed with monsters and the night filled with screams, nobody spotted the figure watching from the shadows. Tobias smiled and pulled out his phone. “Phase three is beginning,” he said into it. “The Blood Moon Pack is here. Soon there won’t be a Blackwood Pack left to rule.” The voice on the other end laughed. “Perfect. And the crown?” “Will be ours before dawn.” As Tobias hung up, his eyes glowed the same unnatural red as the Blood Moon fighters. He’d never been a rogue at all.