Memories or a Mental Trap?
The distance from the banquet granted the silence they needed. Samuel stopped before the doors of the royal chambers, the sound of his leather boots echoing across the marble floor. He turned to his daughter, amber eyes gleaming with the intensity only ancient-blooded Lycans possessed.
— You were impeccable out there, my little moon. — Samuel's voice was a low thunder, heavy with fierce pride. — But do not think I failed to notice the growl you kept in your chest. The Morning Sun is a strong Alpha, yet he allows that blonde she-wolf to cloud his judgment. An Alpha who cannot distinguish a stumble from an ambush is an Alpha capable of leading his Luna into danger.
He placed a heavy, warm hand upon Elizabeth's shoulder.
— Tell me the truth, Elizabeth. Do your eyes see goodness in her as the others do, or are you simply waiting for the moment her mask falls on its own?
Far from the pack's watchful eyes, Elizabeth's posture as the "gentle Luna" eased.
— She is an omega offered as tribute, Father.
She relaxed her shoulders as she faced him. Her silver-gold eyes sharpened.
— I see the bitch she is beneath every act of "fragility," every display of carelessness or feigned distraction.
Her voice was flat, younger than usual, stripped of its customary maturity.
— I may be twenty. That is a fact. But to assume I am foolish enough not to notice when a whore throws herself at another's Alpha? That would be an insult to my intelligence. … Father, I see her cowardice. It is not hidden from me. Sofia is enraged… she claws at the walls of my subconscious…
She took his free hand.
— But I am not an idiot. My silence is neither weakness nor stupidity. I simply dislike petty intrigue… Yet since my Alpha refuses to see the sly little whore he calls friend… let her continue her games, Father. We will extend this engagement for one more year. I will make Dandara roll in the very mud of seduction she tosses around, believing herself a queen.
She kissed her father's hand tenderly.
— I will do to her what I do to the she-wolves who think they can reach you. I will give her a stage and let her believe herself clever. If she wants Theodor, I shall give her exactly what she thinks she desires — and in the end, we will withdraw from the alliance without appearing to retreat.
Keeping his hand near her lips, she kissed his signet ring.
— No one desires an Alpha blind in judgment, nor one who keeps a sly whore as his companion. She believes she has won by throwing herself at him. She does not yet realize she has become my entertainment. From today forward, Dandara will be my diversion within this pack.
Samuel's gaze gleamed with dark amusement and approval. He knew the strength of the blood running through her veins. Elizabeth was not merely a wolf; she was a Lycan who understood that true war was not won by claws alone, but by patience and positioning.
— Sofia has always had a sharp instinct for the scent of carrion, even when disguised in floral perfume, — Samuel remarked, referring to his daughter's inner wolf with a faint smile. — Extending the engagement is a masterstroke. It gives Theodor enough rope either to hang himself or to learn to see. And as for Dandara… if she wishes to be the center of attention, let her — but upon a stage you have built.
He leaned down and kissed the crown of his daughter's head, where the mark of the black crescent seemed to gleam with cold intensity.
— Sleep well, my little Alpha. Tomorrow, the Morning Sun will come to apologize. Let him kneel — not beneath your screams, but beneath your silent disappointment. Nothing wounds an Alpha more deeply than feeling he is losing the respect of his superior female.
Dawn in the Morning Sun Pack
The sun had barely begun to rise over the horizon, painting the Crystal Valley in hues of orange and gold, when the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the guest corridor. Theodor had not slept. Elizabeth's scent — that mixture of snow and sandalwood — lingered in his lungs, tangled with guilt over the previous night's incident.
He stopped before Elizabeth's doors. Dandara had sought him earlier, tearful, complaining of "ankle pain" from her fall, attempting to keep him within her chambers. Yet for the first time, Theodor felt a simmering irritation at his friend's constant "fragility." He needed to see his fiancée.
He knocked softly upon the oak door.
— Elizabeth? It is I, Theodor. May we speak alone before breakfast?
Inside, Elizabeth was already awake, draped in a white silk robe that contrasted with the dark mark upon her forehead. Sofia, her wolf, growled low, ready for the game.
— Ah… I do not know if you should enter, Theodor. I am scarcely dressed…
She sounded faintly concerned. The subtle movement within the room reinforced the claim.
— Y-You may come in.
She spoke from beneath the covers, her face turned toward the window where tree branches brushed softly against the glass.
— You look tired.
She faced him, clutching the blanket around her bare, pale shoulders. The robe had slipped delicately to one side. The sunlight fell upon her like a possessive Alpha claiming territory. Her hands remained before her body, shielding her chest. Her hair was loose and disheveled around her face, marked by the softness of recent waking.
— Close the door… What did you wish to discuss?
She watched him with sweet, half-sleepy eyes.
— Has something happened?