Chapitre 27

"You killed him," I said, but the tremor in my voice betrayed my uncertainty.

Beta Talon drew closer like a stalking predator. His green eyes gleamed at the fear I was projecting.

"But where are you thinking? He took his own life."

"Nobody's going to buy that," I hissed, looking down at Alpha Udyr's body. He lay motionless. It must have been Verbena. His brown eyes were wide, as if he were in pain. My heart clenched. I backed away further .

A laugh echoed through the room.

"But no one will know he's dead," Beta Talon said. "Once I've disposed of the body, it's like nothing ever happened. He didn't show up for months before the hearings."

The heart in my chest was pounding, searching for a solution. Suddenly I bumped against the ice-cold, rough stone. Beta Talon's grin widened. I needed time

"How could you kill him? How so?"

"He would only have prevented Silverblood from the glory that is due to all of us."

I followed his gaze to one of the walls and spotted the picture of Astor's mother.

"His mate was your sister! That's high treason!" I shouted, also hoping someone would hear me.

Talon's gaze shot back to me angrily.

"Exactly, I'm just making her dream come true! She wanted to live in a world without war and I will do everything to make her hope a reality!"

I stared at him with wide eyes.

"You're crazy," I whispered, feeling my way along the rock. When I got to the window...

"Crazy? I chose the best way," he said. "When there is only one pack left, there can be no more wars in between. I just choose the most effective method. We've been above humans for almost ten years now. The anniversary is coming soon Until then, the whole world will only bear the name Silverblood, and on that day I will also announce that Udyr is gone, that he has fulfilled his task and that the moon goddess has taken him away.He will die a hero and I'll be alpha of the world."

I groped behind my back for the window.

“That will never happen. The packs will never allow that, and certainly not Astor. You killed his father!"

Beta Talon's expression darkened.

"I am very sorry for my nephew that he caught such a nosy companion. I had so much hope in him."

"It's good that you've lost that hope."

My gaze darted to the door and there he stood between the splinters.

Astor.

My heart fluttered with relief. His deadly expression turned to his uncle while his heart pounded furiously. His chest heaved as he stepped into the room. Even Beta Talon took a step back before steadying his stance.

"What are you going to do, kill me? Then you're the pack's killer."

His words bounced off Astor without leaving any effect. He didn't care what others would think. He wanted revenge and there was no one standing between him and his father's killer.

He rolled up the sleeves of his uniform and clenched his fists. Pure anger sparkled in his brown eyes, and something else: betrayal.

Talon raised his hands just in time to deflect the first blow, but the force staggered him backward. Astor didn't play. He continued with precise punches. He pushed him further back, towards me. I walked around the fight and waited spellbound at the door.

Talon was also aware of Astor's superiority, so he did what any wolf would do in this situation.

He transformed.

His clothes tore from the cracking. The sand-colored wolf tried to catch Astor with his claws, but he deftly dodged. What should I do? I couldn't intervene. I couldn't leave him alone.

Footsteps sounded behind us.

I swung around and a surprised scream escaped my lips.

lannis

He climbed through the door and stared at the fight. Then his eyes fell on me. My heart jumped wildly. I raised my fists and took a few steps back. Its size sent more adrenaline pumping through my legs.

If I took a hit from him...

Lannis kept walking towards me.

I prayed to the moon goddess to send my wolf back to me. She could have protected us long ago.

"I don't want to hurt you," Lannis said, and a part of me believed him.

"Then stay away," I replied, fists raised. The smell of blood mingled with the stuffy air. However, the snarling of the fight beside us didn't take my attention away from the threat in front of me.

"You know I can't."

The desperation in his voice made my heart shrink with fear. Suddenly my back hit the cold wall stone. Lannis took his chance. He drew back and my eyes widened. My instincts took over and I ducked just past his fist.

But my legs didn't stop.

They sprinted across the room, unmolested by the fight or Alpha Udyr's body. I had to get out. Suddenly something grabbed me at the back of my dress.

"Let go of me!" I yelled, but Lannis held me to his chest. His sweat left a pungent odor in the air. I twisted in his grip, trying to hit him, but froze when I felt his hand around my neck.

"Stop it, or I'll kill her!" he yelled, immediately attracting the attention of the two fighting werewolves. My heartbeat was pounding against the arm around my throat. The threat was real. Astor's eyes held something for a moment that mine didn't was used to: fear.

I am sorry.

As quickly as I saw the emotion, it disappeared again and an iron expression covered it. He let go of Talon, who fell to the ground, weak. They both gasped and Astor took a step towards me.

I gasped as the arm squeezed around my neck.

"Stay back. If you get any closer, I'll kill her," Lannis said and I started scratching at his skin. He eased the pressure a little.

Loud cracking broke the stare. Beta Talon pulled on a pair of pants and looked at me, panting but triumphant. Astor was still staring at me petrified.

"Well, I like that better. We shouldn't fight, my son," Talon said, and his provocative words made Astor seethe inside. But on the outside he showed no reaction.

"What do you want?" he asked instead, not looking at him.

"I know exactly what I want, and if you stand in my way, I'll take care of the problem."

"Mother would be ashamed of you."

Anger flashed across Talon's face and he strode toward me and I leaned back as far as Lannis would let me. I narrowed my eyes when I felt a touch on my hair.

"Such a beautiful thing. It would be a shame if I had to put a silver whip on that face," he said, and my lip began to tremble.

Suddenly pain shot through my right side and I screamed. Talon had slapped me lightly, but the scars throbbed with the agony. “Laila has already done a great job. If you want your mate to remain reasonably intact, you will do as I tell you."

"What do you want?" Astor asked a second time, but this time his voice was strained. To my relief, Talon stepped away from me again and I opened my eyes.

"I want Silver Crown, I want Mountain Shadow, and in the end Ice Claw will be mine, too. I will be the new Alpha of Silverblood and the whole world."

"You're not a real alpha. A true Alpha doesn't care about what they want, they care about what their pack needs," Astor replied, chest wide. A growl escaped Talon's throat and he nodded to Lannis behind me.

Suddenly we started to move.

"Astor?" I cried, helpless in the werewolf's grip. A growl made the ground vibrate beneath us. Lannis had to half-carry me as I threw a fight. "Astor!"

"Don't worry," Talon said, but for me the voice was fading in the background as we walked down the corridor. "It's your choice. Go to the dungeons with her or be banished forever. Whatever you choose, you should." rise up against me again, I will tear them to pieces without hesitation."

"Astor, flee!" I yelled without even batting an eyelid. The arm around my neck tightened and I gasped. My eyes felt like they were about to pop out of their sockets. A loud growl erupted behind me.

I soon realized the descent into the dungeon. I closed my eyes as the horror repeated. The smell of death and despair made my stressed heart pound.

At the bottom we were surrounded by silver cells. The guards opened one of them with their black gloves. Angry footsteps followed us and I tried to look over Lanni's shoulder.

"No, Astor, please! You can escape!"

His eyes were fixed on me. Lannis turned with me so we were face to face.

"No silver," Astor growled.

Another pair of steps followed us.

"All right," Talon replied, "no silver. You may even share a cell. Should you change your mind, Astor, I offer to lead my army to victory. No one would be better than you."

"I'd rather die," he growled and demonstratively walked past us into the open cell.

"As you wish," Talon replied disapprovingly. Suddenly the grip on my neck loosened, giving me room to breathe deeply again. Lannis shoved me forward and I stumbled into Astor, who caught me easily.

I buried my head in his chest as Beta Talon's last words faded into the distance.

"As for those hunter scum, make sure she never sees the light of day again. In the last few days, people have been far too kind to her..."

A sob shook through my body and Astor held me tighter against him, his scent and warmth enveloping me. He gently stroked my hair. I could still feel Lanni's grip on my neck, like a threat.

"Shh, everything will be fine. I promise you that," Astor whispered. At his calm, I looked up and searched his eyes. He wasn't afraid, quite the contrary, sheer determination shone through the darkness of the dungeon.

I opened my mouth.

Something inside came over me so suddenly that I just disappeared. My eyes changed color and I could still watch someone return that I had missed for a long time.

My wolf.

Without hesitation, she stood on tiptoe. Astor didn't stop me as she buried her teeth in his shoulder. He held me tighter as the sensation between us overwhelmed me.

Almost imperceptibly, Astor sat against one of the stone walls so that I sat on his lap. He stroked my hair soothingly while my wolf formed the bond between us.

"Everything will be fine, I promise..."