Chapitre 20

I sat on the soft bed. Despite the long day, all thought of sleep was forgotten. Luna Laila wanted to betray me. I ran out of potions to protect myself and tomorrow we would travel to the heart of Silverblood.

Alpha Udyr would rip my head off himself.

Astor came out of the bathroom and eyed me with a knitted eyebrow. He too knew something was wrong.

"What should we do now?" I asked, running my hands through my strands. Hide and seek was over.

"First you need to calm down," Astor said, and the mattress sagged under his weight. "Take a deep breath. I won't let anything happen to you."

I wanted to trust his words, but they seemed too good to be real.

"How is that supposed to work?" I asked. Suddenly his hands cupped my cheeks and he stared into me.

"Do you trust me?"

I stared at him perplexed.

"Yes, of course," I whispered, searching his eyes for a reaction.

"Then nothing will happen to you. I promise to you."

"Astor, what are you up to?" I asked, grabbing his wrists. "What...?"

"There are a few ways," he said simply.

"But how?"

"It doesn't matter. It is important that you get enough sleep today. Tomorrow will be a tiring journey," he replied.

I sighed. I trusted him. Why didn't he? I turned sideways all the way to the edge of the bed. Astor let out a small sigh, but I ignored it. The pillows under my head were soft and yet...

"You know this is the first night we've been in a bed together. We shouldn't go to bed angry," Astor said.

I turned around at his words. The bluish glow of the night gave his face a flawless glow.

"Why don't you tell me what's going on?" I asked cautiously.

"I'll tell you tomorrow, okay? But let's go to sleep now," he said, and before I could digest his words, an arm wrapped around me. My breath caught for a second.

Astor pulled me against his body so that suddenly I was lying halfway across his chest. Below my head I could hear his heart beating up and down. He kissed my hair. Here, in his arms, I was safe.

"Don't be mad at me anymore. I just want you not to have to worry," he whispered, and I melted beneath his words. The sensation washed over me along with a wave of fatigue. I yawned and closed my eyes. Astor's warmth surrounded me like a protective shield.

"Good night, Dana."

"Good night..."

The sun's rays rose and threw their bright light through the curtains. I opened my eyes and rubbed out sleep. A yawn escaped my lips. That was the most peaceful sleep I've had in ages... and the first in a bed with Astor.

I frowned.

The seat next to me was empty and Astor was nowhere in sight. Only his smell showed that I hadn't imagined last night. Today we would leave for the capital.

I jumped out of bed and made my way to the bathroom. While washing my face with ice cold water, I heard the door click. I wiped my cheeks with the towel and returned to the living room.

Astor came in, holding sweet rolls and an apple in his hands.

"Here I brought you breakfast," he said. "The other warriors have already left. We should go too, so that we can be there tonight."

"Thanks," I said, giving him a small kiss on the cheek. My stomach rumbled in agreement. I wolfed down the rolls and took a hearty bite of the apple. One last time I looked around the house we were staying for the night had occupied.

"Come on, Dana," said Astor, who had already opened the door. We stepped into the morning breeze. Instead of the soldiers, the streets were stalked by excited wolves, who finally had their village back. "Beta Talon is in with some soldiers River Claw and makes for a smooth transition there."

I nodded as we made our way up the climb. At the edge I recognized a person.

"Ulf!" I yelled when I caught his scent. In his arms he carried the little girl, who was laughing at me. All signs of tears and sorrow were completely gone.

"I can't just let you go," said Ulf and nodded to Astor. "Thank you for everything you've done for us. Thank you for working here from now on. You don't even know what it means to us. "

"Thank you," Alice whispered, a little shyly.

"Your birthday will be celebrated throughout the village tomorrow," said Ulf, kissing his daughter on the temple. "It's a pity you can't stay."

"We'll definitely meet again," I replied, trying to get a smile on my face. Why did goodbyes always have to be painful?

"We will," Ulf promised before Astor pulled my arm.

We followed the climb from where we could see all the way to the former River Claw territory. Part of me was relieved that Beta Talon didn't come along. And so Astor was the only one I would know in the capital...

Am I alpha

"What are you thinking about?" Astor asked as we got to the top of the forest. We fell into a light jog.

"You've met Alpha Udyr before. How is he?"

Astor was silent for a moment, leaving only the chirping of the birds to fill the forest.

"He's... He's very withdrawn now. Hardly anyone sees him, he doesn't even have any servants. He's a long Alpha and has a lot of experience, but he doesn't have a direct successor," Astor replied. So Alpha Udyr was older. My heart started to pick up speed the further we ran.

"What happens when an alpha doesn't have a direct heir?" I asked, glancing at him sideways. The sun's rays filtering through the green foliage made his golden strands shine.

"Wolves fight for it," Astor growled, clenching his jaw, "to the death."

I was silent at the words. That would be a bloodbath.

"Will you...?" I asked anxiously. His eyes lowered to mine and his features softened a little.

"Not unless it poses a direct threat to all of us."

I frowned. Astor hadn't given me a straight no.

"I don't want you to fight," I replied, and a gentle smile blossomed on his lips.

"I can promise you one thing. I would only engage in a fight when victory is inevitable, or when there is no other way," Astor replied.

"What's going to happen to Luna Laila now? She knows what I am and I'm out of potion. You said you'd tell me what your plan is."

His expression darkened at the mention of the she-wolf.

"She should be in jail by now. You just leave the rest to me. I have my ways."

Frustration welled up inside me as sweat soaked into my uniform. What ways? Did he mean wolves in high places like Alpha Udyr? Or did he want to take care of the problem himself?

My eyes widened.

"You don't want to kill her, do you?"

"That would probably be the worst move we could make," Astor replied. "But I promise you one thing. By tomorrow evening everything will be settled and you won't have to hide anymore. I'll introduce you as my mate."

My heart beat faster as my wolf danced inwardly for joy.

"Does that mean we can officially be together?" I asked. A huge smile spread across my face, wider than the summer sun. It wasn't just the running and the heat that made my cheeks red.

"Yes," Astor said, his tone softer. "Then nothing will come between us. Then I can finally enjoy your real smell every day."

New energy bubbled through my veins at the idea that I no longer had to hide. Then we could finally show the world what we were.

companions.

Tomorrow our new life could begin, without fear and war. Hopefully things went as Astor had planned...

***

"Hey Dana, wake up," said a soft voice. My wolf grumbled, too tired to look up.

I remembered falling asleep in Astor's arms that afternoon. I buried my face in his shoulder. I growled. New smells bombarded my nose, grain, pumpkin and people. The chirping of the crickets accompanied us on the way.

I lifted my head and a yawn escaped my lips.

Astor's warm hands under my thighs tightened their grip. The crescent moon overhead cast its silvery light on his features. If you didn't know him, you would think he was made of ice-cold marble. But in his eyes he hid a warmth that few showed.

I rested my hands on his broad shoulders and tried to pull myself out of his grasp, but an amused smile spread across his lips. I could barely move an inch.

"Where are you going?" he asked. I huffed before trying again with all my might. Astor didn't change my face.

"I will..."

My voice broke when I saw it.

The White Palace.

The pointed turrets reached far beyond the city into the dark night sky. The houses and fields seemed to sleep under the moonlight.

"He's beautiful," I breathed, and Astor followed my gaze.

"That's it."

"Did you grow up there?" I asked. As the son of Beta, he must have lived there. Astor nodded, and the moon cast dark shadows on his cheeks.

He walked with me in his arms through the deserted streets. The people had done a great job here. Countless cobblestones lay before us, like a mosaic that had been put together by hand. The breeze brought thousands of smells with it. The houses thinned out and wide cornfields lined our way to the palace. Sacks of flour stood in front of a huge mill. The crickets chirped their midnight song hidden somewhere in the grass.

Now and then a mouse ran along the side of the path.

The closer we got, the bigger the palace grew in the sky. Candlelight burned behind some windows, while others were completely black.

"The warriors have been back for a long time," Astor whispered. I pressed against his chest again. A little reluctantly, he lowered me back to the ground. Not a second later he took my hand in his. My wolf purred inwardly.

The fields disappeared and a low waist-high wall separated the palace from the city. A clean gravel path led to the gates. Rose bushes and other flowers displayed their splendor in the moonlight.

"Beautiful," I murmured as the flowers gave off their scents.

“Luna Laila must have been taken to the dungeons already. We'll sleep tonight and go to Alpha Udyr first thing in the morning."

"And you're sure everything will be fine?" I asked. Suddenly Astor pulled me towards him by my hand. A tingle ran up the back of my head.

"You won't worry, understood? Nothing will happen to you or your parents," Astor said and his hand squeezed mine tightly. I nodded. My eyes fell on his lips.

A rustle drew our attention back to the palace. A piece of metal rose from an opening in the floor.

"What...?" I asked. Someone rose from the opening.

Loud voices stirred at the entrance to the palace. The huge gates swung open. Flickering torches cast their warm light outside.

Astor squeezed my hand tighter as warriors poured out of the palace. The figure froze for a moment before leaping to its feet and sprinting.

A girl.

"Hold her!"

She fled from the voices of the warriors. The wind was on their side. She was fast and in one leap she made it over the low walls towards the forest. The warriors spread out and began searching for their tracks.

Was that Luna Laila?

"What's going on?" Astor and the guards asked, frozen. I seized the moment of distraction and freed myself from his grip. Anger pumped through my veins. I sprinted after her. She couldn't get away.

Luke's face appeared in my mind's eye.

"Dana!"

I could hear Astor's voice, but all I could think about was Luke. His killer wanted to escape. I jumped over the wall and followed her shadow into the forest. Dodging all roots and tripping hazards, I swept the ground. She kept getting closer, her heart pounding in her chest. Why was she so slow?

"Stop!" I shouted, but she didn't turn around. Anger burned in my legs. I had her...

I ignored the footsteps behind me.

I rammed into her with full force. A surprised scream escaped her as we both landed on the forest floor. A new smell surrounded my senses.

Surprised I sat on her.

Brown eyes stared at me.

That wasn't Luna Laila. She was human, a young girl whose face was covered with dirt. She carried the stench of excrement on her. The black hair was completely tousled. Her shock turned to anger. Her hand shot out. I staggered back to avoid the blow.

"Let go of me you monster!" she shrieked, her heart pounding in her chest. The footsteps behind us grew louder. The human girl started to run again, but the warriors sped past me.

They grabbed the girl who was screaming. The warriors showed her no mercy and twisted her arms behind her back.

"Back to the dungeon with her," they said, and carried the prisoner back to where she escaped from. Even beneath her filthy face, her eyes burned into me, tears glistening in them.

"This is your fault! She yelled at me, completely distraught. It wasn't Luna Laila. A pang pierced my heart. She tried to escape and I stopped her.

Her sobs died away in the distance as I stood rooted to the spot. What had this poor girl done to end up in the palace dungeon? Suddenly, arms wrapped around me from behind and a growl vibrated through my body.

Astor.

He didn't seem happy about the chase.

"What were you thinking?" he asked, his hot breath raising every hair on the back of my neck. He buried his fingers possessively in my hips and pressed my back against his chest.

"I thought that was Luna Laila," I whispered. "Who is this poor human and why is she in the dungeons?"

I twisted in his grip and stared into his brown eyes searching my face.

"She's a hunter's child. Her father left her here when he tried to escape. Her name is Solana and she's nothing but trouble. She's dangerous to wolves, got it? If she had the chance, she would kill you," Astor said, but his last words were more like a growl.

Solana.

Was she like Luna Laila? I had never met a Slayer before. Had she already killed someone?

"Come, I want to show you the castle."

His arm squeezed me into his side so I was completely surrounded by his scent. I leaned my head against his shoulder and enjoyed the closeness.

"It can always be like this," I whispered through the night's sleep.

"What, having to catch you again?" Astor asked in amusement. I playfully pushed him away from me.

"If I really ran away from you, you wouldn't stand a chance."

Astor leaned against my ear so his lips brushed my skin.

"Keep telling yourself that, but that doesn't make it any truer," he murmured, making my heart beat faster. The palace came into view again and the gates were still open. and entertain her outburst.

"The hole definitely needs plugging," one murmured.

As Astor approached with me in his arms, they turned to face us and bowed to him. We entered the palace, whose coolness received us. The marble floor was smooth as ice and ushered us into a huge red carpeted lobby.

"Incredible," I whispered, my voice echoing through the hall of chandeliers. They were so delicately crafted that they reflected the candlelight in all directions. Huge pillars supported the structure on their shoulders and held it upright.

I had never seen such beauty.

“There are some very talented people. Come on, I'll show you everything tomorrow. Let's go to sleep now," Astor said, pulling me towards the huge staircase that led to the upper floors.

Countless smells of flowers, wolves and wood blended together into a new note that I had never smelled before. My wolf had her ears pricked up when we reached the new floor.

If Astor hadn't pulled me on, I would have stopped at every picture on the wall. The portrait of a woman caught my eye because she had the same blond hair as Beta Talon and Astor.

"Who-?"

"Shh," Astor whispered and pulled me on. Why should I s-

"Who's there?"

i froze Footsteps followed the muffled voice from behind one of the doors. Astor turned to me.

"Leave the talking to me, okay?"

"Who is that?" I whispered, almost sounding scared.

"Udyr."

As if hearing his name, the door opened. My breath froze as I felt the presence in front of me.

Oh no...