Chapter 157
Zara
“Kate is so much more than meets the eye,” Marcus smirked. “She’s a true genius. Your Alpha suspected, yet he still lived. What a shame, the consequences will be dire p>
My stomach clenched as his words stuck in my head, each word piercing my skin like shards of glass. Ethan could have avoided all this and told me himself, but he kept playing his games. I wasn’t sure what Marcus meant when he said it would be too late, but I couldn’t risk staying here any longer.
“Goodbye, beautiful,” Marcus purred. “Until we meet again p>
Our connection cracked like a thin sheet of glass, shattering onto the floor as I woke up in bed. The sun was beginning to rise, casting golden reflections on the damp ground. Rare rays of light filtered through the curtains, though the room remained dark.
Shrouded in darkness.
I crawled out of bed and quietly dressed. Noticing how calmly Kane was breathing. The house was quiet, and I saw no point in waking him unnecessarily.
I tiptoed downstairs, shuddering at how dark and eerie the house seemed at night. I headed to the basement, feeling an overwhelming urge to check on Kate and Ethan. Marcus’s words sank into my soul, filling me with fear and paranoia.
As I descended into the basement, I almost screamed when Luna Freya appeared from the dark dungeon tunnel. Surprise was evident in her eyes, and she pressed her hand to her heart.
“Zara, you almost gave me a heart attack,” Luna Freya exhaled sharply, her eyes dancing with amusement.
“Same here.” I nodded, breathless with laughter. “What are you doing here p>
“I needed to check on Kate.” Luna Freya frowned, concern etched on her face. “I understand Alpha Kane is suspicious after last night’s attack, and I allowed him to… interrogate her, but I needed to make sure she was okay p>
I wondered what questionable methods Kane had resorted to get answers from Kate, though I couldn’t blame him. Being Alpha was no easy task, especially when you oversee the largest pack in the world. Sometimes it required cruelty and ruthlessness, though I’d seen Kane in many forms.
“I see.” I winced, briefly wondering why I’d even come down here. “How did she p>
The words caught in my throat as the dark stain on Luna Freya’s jacket became visible. A rich color, glistening in the dim light of the basement. The blood on her jacket was still wet, though her skin was unmarked or cut.
The maternal concern vanished from Luna Freya’s face when she noticed my gaze. Something dark and wild flashed in her eyes, and without a second thought, she lunged for my throat.
I had just enough time to jump back, bumping into a pile of boxes. I groaned as something heavy hit me on the head, but I kept looking at Luna Freya. I managed to stay on my feet as the boxes fell to the floor, hoping the crash had woken the entire house.
“Kane!” I shouted through the mind link. “Kane, wake up p>
Her fangs lengthened, her claws extended as she lunged forward again. Her claws scraped the skin of my stomach, but I managed to roll away within seconds. Warm blood soaked my shirt, but I couldn’t waste time assessing the damage.
Luna Freya’s movements made it clear she had extensive combat experience. Her movements were graceful, calculated, and precise. She didn’t toy with her prey like most werewolves, but went straight for her death. Her speed was half my own, yet it was my speed that saved me from death.
“Zara?” His voice was weak over the roar in my ears. My head throbbed in time with my racing heart.
Killing Luna Freya was the last thing I wanted, but I knew she wouldn’t let me leave this basement alive. From the primal determination on her face, I knew Kane would never get an answer from her.
I felt my own claws extend and watched as she failed to protect her left side. With a slim chance of survival, I lunged at her. A furious snarl escaped her lips as my claws sank into her sides, my fangs meeting her throat.
The rich taste of her blood greeted me. Rich and depraved, like dark chocolate, I struggled to break free of her body. Her claws scratched my skin, but my grip was iron. I no longer felt the searing pain of her claws digging into my flesh. Instead, her claws felt like gentle caresses.
“Zara?” Kane’s voice was a beacon that drew me away, diverting my attention from Luna Freya.
I forced myself to tear myself away from Luna Freya’s body, unable to tear my gaze away from her frozen form. Her face was contorted with rage, her claws still lengthening.
Large hands lifted me from the floor, setting me on my feet. My legs felt jelly-like, but they remained strong from the blood I’d drunk. Kane’s hands tugged at my tattered shirt, pulling it back to examine my stomach. Luna Freya’s claws had slashed across my stomach, but there was no wound.
He wiped away my blood… part of my shirt, slowly running his fingers over my stomach.
Instead of a wound, there were three raised lines, thick and jagged. The wound alone would have killed me, but the blood healed them effortlessly.
“So that’s how you healed from the knife wound,” Kane said, though there was no hostility in his voice. I dared to look into his eyes, flinching at their expression. “That would kill you p>
“I My voice broke off, and I choked, realizing I had no idea what to say.
“Luna p>
Zeke’s voice broke the trance between us, and we both whipped around to see his surprised expression. He was wearing only loose sweatpants, and it was clear he’d just woken up. His dark hair was tousled and sticking out in all directions.
“Yes.” Alpha Kane nodded slowly, his gaze landing on his friend. “Though I’d appreciate it if you’d keep that information to yourself p>
Much to my disappointment, Zeke snorted at Kane’s terminology and gave me an awkward smile.
“Luna Freya. What happened?” Zeke asked, and he and Kane met my gaze.
“Maybe it’s best to explain from the start,” Kane grumbled.
“I needed to know if Kate was telling the truth, or if there was more than one traitor in this pack. He told me Kate was a spy, but by the time I woke up, it would be too late.” I winced. “I came down here just as Luna Freya was emerging from the dungeons. There was blood on her clothes—fresh blood. When she saw that I noticed, she attacked me p>
“Luna Freya was a spy,” Zeke chuckled, shaking his head and looking at her body. “What else do I need to know p>
Alpha Zeke looked strangely peaceful, listening to the information I was giving him, even though it could be dangerous for me. Zeke turned to Kane, meeting his gaze with a hard one.
“I only need to ask once. Do you trust her?” Zeke asked Kane, and I tried not to be offended by the question.
“Zara had a chance to let me die, and here I am.” Kane nodded with a slight smile. “I trust her with my life p>
“Sorry,” Zeke smiled softly at me. “I should have asked p>
“I’m a little offended, but I understand,” I snorted, watching Zeke’s smile widen. “We need to get down there. That blood on Luna Freya’s jacket wasn’t hers p>
The three of us headed into the dungeons, walking through dank corridors toward a fork in the tunnels.
“I’ll go check on Ethan.” I nodded to them both and turned around.
The scent of fresh blood, mixed with old, at once alluring and repulsive, assaulted my nose. Entering the room where Ethan’s cage stood, I noticed two bodies collapsed on the floor.
Isaac and one of Kane’s men lay lifeless on the ground, their eyes wide, as if reliving the attack that had cost them their lives. Blood covered their throats and torsos, and I knelt to examine the wounds on their necks.
The wound on their necks had been inflicted not by shadows, but by werewolf claws. Wrinkled and jagged, the wounds on their necks still glistened with blood. My heart broke with pain for Isaac and his mate, whom I knew he had, even though I’d never met them before.
When I turned to Ethan’s cell, my jaw dropped.
Pressed against the wall like a piece of meat, Ethan’s face was contorted in horror. His shirt was torn from his body. A thick, jagged stripe crossed his entire chest. The wound gaped, revealing the whiteness of his ribcage.
On the floor of his cell lay his heart, carefully cut out of his chest.
Kane sprang into action as soon as he returned from Kate’s cell. Luna Freya had managed to free her and kill the guards. Further investigation revealed that one of the patrol teams on the western side of his territory had been killed.
We could only assume that Luna Freya had collaborated with Marcus and used them to free Kate.