Chapter 9: Wolf and Whispers

POV: Lila

Cornered by the Creek

I find them at the edge of the creek. The moonlight turns the water into a silver ribbon, glittering between the trees. The air is cold and quiet, like it's holding its breath for what's about to happen.

Mira's back is pressed against a tree trunk, chest rising and falling in fast jerks. Cassian stands in front of her like a shield, his body tense. His shirt is torn, and his breathing is uneven. She clutches his arm like she's drowning and he's her only lifeline.

"Please, not now," Mira begs, her voice a shaky whisper, barely louder than the sound of the stream.

I step forward, slowly, my claws dragging across the rocky ground. Each scrape is deliberate. A warning.

"I warned you, Mira," I say lowly. "No more running."

Cassian's eyes lock with mine. They're darker than I remember. Worn. He shifts into his human form slowly, standing tall between me and her, chest bare, muscles trembling with restraint.

"She won't survive another fight," he says, his voice calm. Controlled. Like he's afraid his words will make me snap.

"I know," I reply, tilting my head. "That's the point."

Mira's gasp is sharp, and it cuts through the air like a slap.

Cassian steps forward. "Don't do this. You're better than this, Lila."

I laugh. Bitter. Empty. "I was. Before she ruined everything."

"She didn't ruin it," he says. "You're just too angry to see the truth."

"You chose her," I snap. The words burn coming out. "You let her lie to me, and you stood there while I fell apart."

He doesn't respond. He doesn't need to. His silence screams louder than any apology ever could.

I see the way she looks at him like he's her safety, her savior, And I hate her for it.

The Fight That Shouldn't Happen

I don't wait. I shift.

Pain races through my spine, bones twisting and snapping as my wolf takes over. The change is always fast now. Almost effortless.

My vision sharpens. My body surges forward.

Cassian shifts a heartbeat after me. His wolf is dark, powerful, but not nearly as unhinged. He's focused. Controlled.

We circle each other. Growls rumble deep in our chests. The space between us tightens until there's no room left for restraint.

Then I lunge.

We crash together like thunder splitting the sky. His claws scrape across my side, but I don't flinch. I sink my teeth into his shoulder, just enough to draw blood.

He roars…but he's still holding back.

Why? "You won't win like that," I growl through the link. "I'm not here to win," he responds. "Then why fight me?" "To stop you from becoming something you'll regret."

Too late for that.

I tear across his chest, drawing another slash of red. He stumbles, and I see his eyes…sad, conflicted, loyal to the wrong person. "She betrayed us," I snarl. "She used us."

"No," he snaps. "She saved you. From yourself." I go still for a second, rage simmering beneath my fur.

Then I charge again. He counters, this time grabbing me mid-leap and slamming me down. My back hits the dirt with a thud. I twist and shove him off, landing hard on my paws.

Blood spatters across the stones. Not mine. His. "You still love her," I whisper in my head.

He doesn't reply. He doesn't have to. That's what hurts the most. Behind us, a soft shuffle breaks the tension.

Footsteps. I spin toward the sound. My eyes catch a flash of blonde hair darting between the trees.

"Mira," I breathe. She's running again.

Chase Through Shadows

"She's running!" I roar.

Cassian lunges to block me, but I shoulder him aside, sprinting into the darkness. The forest closes in fast, but I'm faster. Leaves whip my face. Branches tear at my fur. Her scent blazes a trail…sharp, scared, frantic.

"She always runs," I snarl. "She never stays."

The ground is uneven, but I don't slow. My paws crush fallen twigs and dead leaves. Her scent leads me toward the deeper part of the woods, the cursed part—the place no one dares go without purpose.

But I have one.

I see a glimpse of her ahead. She slips through two fallen logs, nearly tripping. She's breathing hard, her footsteps erratic. She doesn't even look back.

"Stop, Mira!" I call. "You can't run forever!" Still no answer. Her scent stops suddenly. I slow down, ears twitching.

Water. I crouch low and stalk toward the sound.

A spring bubbles quietly between moss-covered rocks. Mira kneels beside it, gasping for breath. She holds something in her hand a charm, smooth and glowing faintly in the moonlight.

She presses it to her chest and murmurs something I can't hear. "You think magic will save you?" I step out of the shadows. She jumps, spinning to face me. "Stay back! Her hand shakes, but she doesn't lower it.

"You're not a fighter," I say. "You've never been." "You don't know anything about me."

I snort. "I know enough. I know you lied. I know you used me." Mira steps closer. "I didn't lie. I just didn't tell you everything."

"Same thing." "I was trying to protect you."

"Stop saying that!" I scream, the forest echoing my pain. "You don't get to decide what I need!" She flinches. Her eyes shine with tears…but she doesn't move.

I shift back into human form, bare and shaking with rage. My voice comes out low and lethal. "Tell me the truth, Mira. Now."

Her lips part.

"I was sent to watch you… by your father."

Truth and Traps

My breath was heavy.

No. No, no, no.

"What did you just say?" Mira lowers the charm, guilt written all over her face. "Your father… he sent me. He knew something was changing in you. He wanted someone close."

"You're lying." "I'm not." I step forward. She doesn't run.

"Why didn't you tell me?" "I couldn't. He said if I did, he'd kill me. And you."

"You were spying on me?" My voice cracks. "This whole time?"

"At first, yes." Her voice breaks. "But it stopped being about him. I started caring…"

"Stop." "I mean it." I stare at her. I want to believe her. Part of me does And that makes me hate her more.

She holds up the charm. "This proves it. Only his inner circle carries these."

It's true. I've seen it before.

My hands shake as I take it from her. The metal is cold. Heavy. Real.

"He told you to report on me?"

"Yes." "But you didn't?" She shakes her head slowly. "I couldn't. You were… more than I expected." I want to scream. To cry. To tear something apart. But then…The wind changes.

A new scent rides in. Strong. Familiar. Terrifying. Mira pales. "He's here," she whispers. "He found us."

"Who?"

Her voice barely rises above the wind. "Your brother."

Before I can move, the forest behind us splits apart like a curtain being pulled wide.

A tall figure steps into the clearing.

Towering. Muscles like carved stone. Cold, merciless eyes that shine like ice.

"Hello, little sister," he says. My blood turns to ice. "Kane," I whisper. He grins. "Father's disappointed. But I'm not. I've been waiting for this."

Mira stumbles backward. I step in front of her. "What do you want?" "To finish what Mira failed to do." I shift in a blink, my wolf snarling and wild. But Kane is faster. Too fast. He lunges and everything turns red.