Bella sat by the hearth in the packhouse, her thoughts swirling like the embers at her feet. The confrontation with the Nyxthorn scouts still haunted her, their fear-filled eyes etched into her memory. She couldn’t ignore the truth any longer—something inside her was changing, something she barely understood.
The packhouse was eerily quiet, with only the occasional creak of the old wooden beams breaking the silence. She tightened her grip on the medallion hanging around her neck, its faint glow a constant reminder of the unanswered questions surrounding her existence. It felt heavier now, as if it carried not just her past but her uncertain future.
Kael had been distant since the encounter, and she couldn’t blame him. The look on his face when she nearly shifted was burned into her memory: a mix of awe and apprehension. She sighed, the weight of everything pressing down on her shoulders.
A faint rustling noise outside pulled Bella from her thoughts. She frowned, her senses prickling. It was late, and most of the pack was either asleep or on patrol. Rising from her seat, she moved toward the window, peering into the darkness.
The wind stirred the trees, casting long, eerie shadows across the ground. Bella squinted, her wolf senses heightened but still unfamiliar to her. She shook her head, dismissing the feeling, and returned to her seat.
Unbeknownst to her, Esmera crouched in the shadows beyond the packhouse, her movements precise and silent. Her lips curled into a sly smile as she clutched a small vial in her hand. The liquid inside shimmered faintly, a lethal concoction she had obtained from Nyxthorn.
“This ends tonight,” Esmera muttered to herself, her hatred for Bella burning bright. The rogue had taken everything from her—Kael, her status, her future as Luna. But not for long.
Esmera slipped through the back entrance of the packhouse, careful not to make a sound. Her sharp eyes scanned the room until they landed on Bella’s untouched goblet on the table. She moved quickly, pouring the poison into the drink and swirling it until it dissolved.
The bitter scent wafted faintly in the air, but Esmera was too focused to notice. Her heart raced as she imagined Bella’s downfall.
But as she turned to leave, the floor creaked beneath her weight.
Bella froze. The sound was faint, but unmistakable. She spun around, her sharp eyes scanning the room. “Who’s there?”
Esmera cursed under her breath and ducked into the shadows, her heart pounding.
Bella’s instincts kicked in. She followed the sound, her steps cautious but determined. Her gaze darted toward the goblet on the table, and a chill ran down her spine. Something wasn’t right.
She picked up the goblet, sniffing it carefully. The faint scent of something bitter reached her nose. Her stomach churned. Poison.
Before Bella could react further, Esmera lunged from the shadows, her eyes blazing with fury. “You should’ve stayed a servant!” she snarled, aiming to snatch the goblet from Bella’s hands.
Bella reacted on instinct. She dodged Esmera’s grasp and shoved her back with surprising force. Esmera stumbled, her eyes widening in shock.
“You tried to poison me?” Bella growled, her voice low and dangerous.
“You don’t belong here!” Esmera spat, regaining her footing. “You’re a threat to all of us. You think Kael can protect you forever? You’re nothing but a rogue!”
Bella’s anger surged, the strange power within her stirring once again. Her vision sharpened, her muscles tensed, and her hands trembled with suppressed energy.
“Get out,” Bella said, her voice trembling with barely-contained fury. “Before I make you.”
Esmera laughed coldly. “You think you can intimidate me? You’re just a freak. A mistake.”
Bella didn’t reply. Instead, she stepped closer, her presence overwhelming. The air around her seemed to hum with energy, and Esmera’s confidence faltered.
“You should’ve stayed away, Esmera,” Bella said, her voice cold and steady. “Now, run.”
Esmera hesitated, but when Bella’s eyes began to glow faintly, she turned and fled, her steps frantic as she disappeared into the forest.
Bella stood there, her chest heaving as the energy inside her slowly subsided. She clenched her fists, willing herself to calm down. This power, whatever it was, terrified her as much as it terrified everyone else.
Far from Crescent Howl, Esmera ran until her lungs burned and her legs ached. She didn’t stop until she reached a secluded clearing, where a figure awaited her: Shadowbound’s emissary.
“She’s stronger than I thought,” Esmera admitted, her voice shaking. “But she’s still unstable.”
The emissary raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “And your plan to poison her?”
Esmera’s jaw tightened. “Failed. But it doesn’t matter. We can’t wait any longer. If we don’t strike now, she’ll become too powerful to stop.”
The emissary’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “Then it’s time. Shadowbound will be pleased.”
Esmera nodded, her hatred for Bella rekindling her resolve. “Crescent Howl won’t know what hit them.”