Theo paced the length of his private chambers, lantern light flashing off the polished stone floor. He'd watched Lucian coddle the city girl long enough. Now, it was time to turn the council—and the pack—against her.
Late that night, Theo met with a hooded figure in the abandoned courtyard behind the manor. The stranger unfurled a sealed scroll stamped with the symbol of the Ravenwood Pack—a rival clan hungry for power.
"Your Alpha's human pet threatens us all," the messenger hissed. "She must be dealt with,Help us remove her, and you'll gain our favor."
Theo's lips curved into a thin smile. "She's useful—until she isn't. Consider us… partners."
He accepted a small vial of black powder. "I'll know when to use it."
The next morning, Theo arrived early to the council chamber. Lucian wasn't going to be at this meeting so he needed to twist their mind to his direction. When the elders took their seats, he produced a fragment of the forbidden map Amara had found. Placing it on the stone table, he spoke with icy conviction:
"This map reveals hidden rites meant for the Bloodmoon Child alone. By disrupting those rites, she risks calling down a curse upon us all."
The gray‑bearded elder frowned. "Is this not the same map Lucian sanctioned?"
Theo nodded. "He sanctioned it for her benefit. But what if that benefit turns to ruin?"
Murmurs rose around the table. Doubt began to take root.
Later, Theo cornered Lucian in the hallway. "You're blinded by what you feel," he said quietly. "She's using you—and through you, she manipulates the pack."
Lucian's jaw clenched. "You're grasping at shadows."
Theo's gaze turned toward Amara's portrait on the wall. "Shadows are often the only truth left when the light fades."
That night, Theo slipped into Amara's room while she slept, sprinkling the black powder beneath her window. As he departed, he allowed himself a moment of satisfaction: soon, Lucian would have to choose—to either protect Amara, or protect his pack's future.