Valeria's scheme had unfolded flawlessly so far. Not a single crack had appeared in her careful deception, and the smoothness of it all only fueled her arrogance. Every step had been calculated, every gesture rehearsed until even the twins' suspicious eyes saw nothing but Eila in her mannerisms. The way she tilted her head, the curve of her smile, the cadence of her laugh—all borrowed from Eila with uncanny precision.
Her confidence grew bold enough that she took a greater risk: she accompanied Lukas and Zois back from the Rosebud River Pack. On the surface, it looked like a victory for her masquerade. Yet, beneath her polished calm, she had woven a subtle twist into their journey home. Instead of heading directly to the Pack House, she persuaded them otherwise.
"We should give it a few days," she had murmured in Eila's soft, honeyed voice. "Let's tell the pack we've returned, but… stay at "Robber's hut" for now. Just us. Away from the noise, the watchful eyes, the constant interruptions."
Twins were beyond happy to hear her mention the Robber's hut. It was one place they have created good memories with her and now it was an opportunity to create something special and new.
The suggestion was a gamble, but one that played perfectly into the twins' desires. Despite a flicker of unease in their steel-grey eyes, both brothers had agreed. The temptation of uninterrupted time with "Eila" was too intoxicating, too irresistible, for them to question further. After all, Leonard was away—tied up in endless business negotiations and security alliances with neighboring packs. For once, there would be no cold blue gaze shadowing them, no possessive hand ready to snatch her away.
The Robber's Hut awaited them inside of the forest, hidden beneath a canopy of overgrown pines and wild ivy. From the outside, the structure looked like an abandoned ruin—weathered planks, moss-laden stones, shutters hanging crooked as if the place were breathing its last. But within, the illusion shattered. Nina had worked her quiet magic again: the floors were swept clean, the hearth newly stocked with wood, and every corner dusted as though the place had been waiting for their arrival. Old though it was, it exuded a strange, intimate charm, an untouched sanctuary reserved for secrets.
The twins settled in quickly, their tension dissolving in the privacy Valeria had gifted them. They hovered around her constantly, eager to test the fragile boundaries of their bond without Leonard's looming interference. To them, this was freedom. To Valeria, it was conquest.
She watched them closely, her dark mind reveling in every touch they offered her under the guise of love for Eila. Each stolen moment was not just a victory—it was theft. The warmth meant for Eila the trust, the longing—all of it was hers now, claimed and devoured piece by piece.
But tonight, she reminded herself, would be the true turning point. She could not linger long in the Moon Treasure Pack's territory; the longer she stayed, the greater the risk of being unmasked by Moon Goddess. The twins' devotion was an advantage, yes, but it was not enough. Tonight, under the veil of her deception, she would strike—binding them to her realm where no one could rescue them, not even her precious sister. Only when she was successfully undefeated would Valeria think of her situation of her captives.
The evening unfolded like a carefully staged play. Lukas, to her amusement, insisted on preparing dinner himself. He scavenged herbs and roots with practiced skill, his movements quick and precise, and by the time the meal was served, the air carried the sharp, earthy scent of wild garlic and fire-roasted game. Valeria, feigning Eila's delight, praised him with shining eyes and gentle words, earning a rare, unguarded smile from the usually composed twin.
They ate by the fire, laughter and soft conversation weaving an illusion of peace. The flicker of flames painted their faces in shades of gold and shadow, and for a fleeting moment, even Valeria almost believed the lie she had created.
When the meal was done, she rose gracefully, her hand brushing over Lukas's shoulder as she leaned closer, her gaze flicking to Zois.
"Come," she whispered, her tone laced with promise. "Let's go upstairs."
The twins followed without hesitation, their eyes dark with hunger and devotion. To them, the night was an opportunity to deepen their bond with the girl they thought was theirs. To Valeria, it was the opening of the snare, the first pull of the trap that would close around them before dawn.
And as the fire died to embers behind them, the shadows of her realm stirred, waiting.