authorsewen

“Let’s make a deal, Casey, sweetheart. You will accept every single allegation I lay on you, and in exchange, I’d provide the much sought-after elixir that would save your Alpha’s life.”

Casey drew in a deep breath, feeling an unfamiliar tightening in her chest. She knew she was probably making a mistake; she knew how vicious her twin sister could get, and yet she didn’t see much of a choice. The Alpha was her mate, and despite how his family treated her with disdain, she loved him. Prepared to do anything for her mate, Alpha Trent, Casey nodded.

“I’d accept more than a nod, Casey,” her identical twin snapped saucily. “Let’s make a vow between ourselves and bind the vow with our wolves. That way, none of us would be able to break away.”

Tears formed in Casey’s eyes at those words from her twin. For Macey to demand a vow as serious as wolf-binding meant she was planning something very vicious. “Do we really have to, sister?”

Macey’s answering laughter was a mixture of sauciness and disdain. “Of course we do, Sister. Just make sure you love your Alpha enough to make this sacrifice for him.”

Casey straightened her back. “Of course, I love him that much – I… we are expecting our first child.” She bent her head slightly to stare lovingly at her lower belly, missing the look of pure envy her sister shot her way.

“Good. Now, make the wolf-binding vow.”

Casey nodded. “I, Casey, bind my wolf to my vow…”

The Luna's Vow

She knocked sharply on the healer's door, her hands already fidgeting with the small pouch of shadowveil she'd carried.

"Come in," Elara called, her voice clear, her hands tying her apron as Casey pushed the door open.

The room smelled of sage and dried roots, shelves crammed with jars. "Vlad sent me," Casey said, stepping to the worktable, her fingers pulling out the shadowveil. "We need to make that mix. Now."

Elara nodded, her braid swinging as she cleared a space on the table. "Show me what you've got," she said, her eyes flicking to the pouch.

Casey dumped the shadowveil onto the table, its jagged leaves glinting faintly, almost unnatural. She grabbed vials of crushed mint and bonewort from the shelves, her hands moving fast, grinding them into a paste with the shadowveil. "This'll cut through their scent mask," she said, her voice clipped, her fingers steady despite the speed. "And hide ours if we need it."

Masking Scent