Chapter 5 Five

Nymera's POV

The sun bled red as it sank behind the mountains, casting a strange, heavy light over the Crescent Moon Pack grounds. I shivered, arms crossed tightly around myself as Astra and I stood in awkward silence outside the healer's ward.

It still didn't feel real. Humphrey was dead.

Inside, Kaelith sat slumped in a chair, staring blankly at the tiled floor, his hands bloody from punching the walls when the news came through.

"This wasn't supposed to happen," Astra whispered, her voice trembling. She wasn't looking at me; she was watching Kaelith like she didn't know him anymore. Maybe she didn't.

Neither did I.

A few feet away, the Alpha's guards whispered among themselves, shooting me dark glances like it was my fault. Like a wolfless girl could cause this much destruction.

I swallowed hard and turned away from them.

"I should go," I said quietly. "I don't belong here."

"You're not leaving," Astra snapped, startling me. Her face softened immediately. "I mean-you can't walk alone. Not tonight."

A chill slid down my spine. For the first time in days, I noticed how quiet the pack grounds had become. Too quiet. Even the wolves had stopped howling.

Danger lurked in the silence. I could feel it.

"Come on," Astra muttered, tugging my sleeve. "Let's get you home."

We walked through the thinning crowd, boots crunching against the gravel path. Above us, the clouds thickened, hiding the stars. I kept my head low, trying not to notice the stares. Every whisper felt like a knife in my back.

Wolfless.

Cursed.

Trouble follows her.

Maybe they were right. Wherever I went, disaster followed.

"Don't listen to them," Astra said under her breath, like she could hear my thoughts. "You didn't kill him. It wasn't your fault."

I wanted to believe her. I really did.

But something inside me whispered otherwise.

My house looked smaller than ever as we approached, its crooked roof leaning dangerously to the left, like it was too tired to stand upright.

Astra hesitated at the gate. "Are you sure you'll be alright?"

I nodded, offering a weak smile. "Thank you for walking me."

"Hey." She caught my arm before I could turn away. "Promise me you'll stay inside tonight. No wandering. No-" She hesitated, biting her lip. "Just... trust me, Nymera."

I frowned. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head quickly. "Nothing. Just be safe, alright?"

And then, without another word, she was gone, vanishing into the mist that had started to creep over the streets.

Confused but exhausted, I slipped inside the house, bolting the door behind me. The silence wrapped around me like a second skin.

I didn't bother lighting a candle. I just sank onto my narrow bed and stared at the ceiling, trying not to think about Humphrey's blank, lifeless face.

Tomorrow, everything would be worse. I could feel it.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Sleep didn't come easy-but eventually, the darkness swallowed me whole.

BANG!

The loud crash jerked me upright. My heart pounded against my ribs as I stared into the dark. Another bang-this time against the door.

I stumbled to my feet, hands shaking. Someone-or something-was trying to break in.

Stay calm. Stay calm.

I crept toward the window, heart hammering. Peeking out, I saw... nothing. Just swirling mist.

Until-

A shadow moved.

A large, hulking figure, pacing back and forth by my door. I couldn't see his face, but the fury radiating off him was almost visible.

I backed away, stumbling over the uneven floorboards. I needed to run-but where? The back door was jammed, and the windows were too small.

The door shuddered again. Then a low growl rumbled through the night.

Not a man.

A wolf.

But whose?

The packs never attacked their own... unless ordered to.

I have to move.

I grabbed the first thing I could find-a broken chair leg-and crept toward the corner, heart thundering so loudly it drowned out everything else.

The door cracked under another heavy blow.

One more hit, and it would splinter.

I braced myself.

But just as the final blow came-

A howl split the air.

High-pitched. Commanding.

Instantly, the shadow froze.

Another figure burst out of the mist, slamming into the attacker with the force of a freight train. The two figures rolled across the ground, snarling, snapping, blood flying in sprays across the dirt.

I pressed myself against the wall, breathing hard, terrified to even look.

The fight was brutal. It only lasted seconds-but it felt like forever.

Finally, the smaller wolf-silver-furred and bleeding heavily-forced the attacker back. With a final snarl, the hulking figure retreated into the mist, leaving only silence behind.

The silver wolf stumbled, panting hard, then shifted.

My jaw dropped.

"Kaelith?"

He was shirtless, bruised, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. His eyes found mine instantly-wild, desperate.

"Nymera," he gasped, staggering toward me. "You have to come with me. Now."

I shook my head, backing away instinctively. "What's happening?"

"No time." He grabbed my wrist, dragging me toward the door. "They're coming for you."

"Who?!" My voice cracked with terror.

"The Council. The Elders. Astra-" His eyes darkened. "There's a plan. They're saying you cursed the pack. That you caused Humphrey's death. They're planning to execute you at dawn."

I froze.

"No," I whispered. "No, they can't-"

"They can. And they will." His voice was rough. "Unless we run. Right now."

Tears blurred my vision. My mind screamed at me not to trust him-he had humiliated me, betrayed me-but instinct screamed louder.

I didn't have a choice.

"Where are we going?" I choked out as he pulled me into the mist.

He didn't answer.

Because up ahead, more shadows were forming-dark figures stepping out of the fog.

Blocking the path.

Kaelith cursed under his breath, yanking me sideways, into the trees. Branches tore at my skin, but I barely noticed.

Behind us, the footsteps grew louder.

Faster.

We broke through the trees and into a clearing-and there, waiting like a nightmare made flesh, stood a figure cloaked in black.

Astra.

She smiled coldly, a dagger gleaming in her hand.

"You should've stayed in your cage, little wolf," she said sweetly.

Then she lunged.