A Bloodstained Warning

Chapter Thirteen – A Bloodstained Warning

Zara's POV

The soft glow of morning light filtered through the large window, making golden hues across the luxurious room. For a brief moment, the warmth pulled me from sleep, and I lay there, my body still heavy with exhaustion.

For a second, I forgot where I was.

Then it all came crashing back.

The execution.

The betrayal.

Hunter.

A sharp sigh escaped me as I forced myself to sit up. That's when I noticed it.

A note on the bed beside me.

My brows furrowed. Reaching out, I picked it up, my fingers brushing against a small folded note tucked beneath it.

The words were written in sharp, precise handwriting.

"Get dressed and meet me at the dining hall."

No signature.

But I didn't need one to know it came from Hunter.

I exhaled, glancing at the clothes left for me—a deep blue dress, simple yet elegant. It wasn't meant to impress. Just fit.

A part of me bristled at the silent command. He was giving me orders now?

But another part of me… was curious.

Why invite me to eat with him?

Why treat me with even an ounce of respect when my own family never had?

Shoving the thoughts aside, I made my way to the adjoining bath, letting the warm water ease the stiffness in my limbs. Once dressed, I stepped out, only to find a maid waiting outside.

She gave a small bow before gesturing for me to follow.

Without a word, I did.

---

The deeper we walked into the Shadow Fang mansion, the stronger the scent of fresh bread, roasted meat, and something sweet lingered in the air.

By the time we reached the dining hall, my stomach twisted painfully in anticipation.

Then I stepped inside.

And paused.

The room was larger than I expected, a grand wooden table stretching through the center, covered with steaming plates of food.

At the head of the table, Hunter sat—his posture relaxed yet commanding.

Behind him, Kieran stood in silence, his sharp gaze flickering toward me for only a second before returning to his Alpha.

But my eyes quickly landed on someone else.

Selene.

Seated beside Hunter, her expression cold, her grip on her fork a little too tight.

And then—

A girl.

Young. No older than sixteen. She sat further down the table, quietly eating.

I frowned slightly.

Who is she?

I hadn't seen her yesterday when I arrived.

Was she Hunter's sister?

No I don't think so , and there was no resemblance between them.

Before I could dwell on it, the maid gestured toward a seat at the far end of the table. I took it without a word.

The food smelled too good, and my stomach twisted painfully. It had been so long since I had eaten a proper meal.

But I wasn't the only one distracted.

I caught the way Selene's grip tightened, her shoulders going rigid.

Then, without a word, she stood up, grabbed her plate, and walked away.

Hunter didn't react.

Neither did Kieran.

I frowned. "What's wrong with her?" I directed the question toward Hunter.

He didn't look up as he cut into his meal. "Forget about her."

That was all he said.

No explanation. No elaboration.

Just an order to drop it.

I clenched my jaw but didn't push further.

After the meal ended, the young girl left quietly, her presence barely acknowledged by anyone else.

And I—

I stood and turned to Hunter, uncertain of what to do next.

For once, there was no command. No direct order.

So I did what felt natural.

I inclined my head slightly. "Thank you for the meal."

Then, I walked away.

---

The corridors of the mansion were quieter than I expected.

I let my feet carry me aimlessly, taking in the grand paintings, the towering bookshelves, the flickering candlelight against dark stone walls.

I wasn't looking for anything.

But then—

I saw her.

The young girl from earlier.

She stood at the far end of the hallway, peeking around a corner.

But she wasn't looking at me.

She was watching Kieran as he spoke with Hunter.

Her eyes were wide, filled with something soft—something shy.

A small smirk tugged at my lips as I walked toward her.

She didn't notice me until I was standing right beside her.

"What are you doing?" I asked casually.

She jumped, spinning toward me with wide eyes.

"I—" she stammered, then quickly looked down, a small blush dusting her cheeks. "Nothing."

I arched a brow. "That didn't look like nothing."

She bit her lip, clearly embarrassed.

Then, after a moment, she sighed and straightened.

"I'm Lilliana," she introduced herself, offering a small smile. "But you can call me Lily."

There was something genuine about her.

Unlike Selene, whose presence felt like ice, Lily carried an innocent warmth.

I smiled back. "I'm Zara."

Lily's eyes lit up slightly. "You're really pretty," she said bluntly.

I blinked, then let out a small laugh. "Thank you."

A thought crossed my mind, and I tilted my head. "Are you Hunter's sister?"

She laughed—a soft, musical sound.

"No," she said, shaking her head.

Then, to my complete surprise, she added—

"Selene is my sister."

The amusement in her voice was genuine, but my body stiffened.

Selene?

Before I could process it—

Something slammed into my back, sending me crashing to the floor.

Pain shot through me as I gasped, my hands scraping against the cold marble.

I twisted around, stunned, my heart pounding—

Only to find Selene standing over me, yellow eyes burning with rage.

"Stay away from my sister," she snarled.

I barely had time to react before a sharp sting bloomed across my cheek.

I touched my face, my fingers coming away wet.

Blood.

Selene had clawed me.

Something inside me snapped.

A deep, low heat spread through my veins, and I felt my wolf stirring inside me—

The same force I had felt when I first shifted.

The same power I had been forced to suppress.

Lily gasped, stepping back, her eyes widening in shock.

And then—

Selene froze.

Her eyes widened as she took an instinctive step backward.

Because she saw it.

My eyes.

They were no longer brown.

They were turning purple.