Elis
I swore to myself I would be strong. Disciplined. Focused. I can't keep doing this; wandering back to Lily's shell, letting myself get lost in the hollow reflection of her. Every time I look at her, I see my mate, and every time my mind betrays me with thoughts I shouldn't have. She is not Lily. She will never be Lily. To desire her is to spit on the bond I swore to protect.
So I stopped. No more late-night checks, no more excuses to stand in the doorway, watching the fragile rise and fall of her chest. Instead, I placed her safety in the hands of guards I trust with my life. She would be watched day and night, shielded from the chaos brewing in the kingdom. And I would keep my distance… no matter how it shredded me inside. Because this kingdom is no longer a safe place. The palace itself has become a battlefield.
By the time I left the Alpha gathering, my head felt heavy, but I couldn't let it show. My wolf was restless, his blood stirring for war. The scent of fear mixed with fury in the chamber as they surrounded me, growling about vengeance, about the honor of the packs. Too many had died, our borders soaked with blood, our warriors ambushed by an enemy that moved like smoke and shadows.
I rose from my seat, letting silence crush their voices until only my own carried through the hall. "You want war?" I asked, voice sharp, eyes cutting over them. "You think blades and claws will solve this? Then tell me…what will you do when your claws turn to dust in your hands before you even strike?"
A murmur rippled through the hall.
I didn't sugarcoat it. "The enemy we face is not a wolf. He's not human. He is a dark lord who commands forces older than our bloodlines. You saw it yourselves; the Alpha who was struck down and withered to bone in a single breath. You know the attacks on me in this palace were not from mere assassins but from his hand. You've all felt it. This… is not a war we can rush into blindly."
The murmurs turned into confusion, outrage.
"Magic?!" one of the Alphas snarled. "Are you telling us we're dealing with sorcery?"
Another spat, "But our ancestors forbade magic a century ago. And the council banned witchcraft a month ago! You're suggesting we break our own laws?"
"Do you think laws matter to the shadows that slaughter our kin?" I shot back, my voice a growl now. "Do you think pride will keep you alive when your children are rotting in the ground?"
The room fell into a tense silence. I could feel their fear thick in the air. "We need a plan," I continued, forcing my tone steady. "A strong one. And that means finding magic that can counter his. Until then, marching into war is nothing but suicide."
I let my eyes sweep across them, daring anyone to defy me. But my gaze lingered, just for a moment, on Jose. He hadn't spoken. He only sat there, watching me with a calm too careful, too measured. As if weighing every word I said. As if surprised that I knew so much about the dark lord he serves.
I narrowed my eyes, locking with his just long enough for him to look away. I'll keep Lily's shell safe. I'll keep this kingdom standing. And gods help me, I'll fight the pull of my own heart before it tears me in half.
****
When I stepped into my chambers, my stride faltered. There, sitting at the table, back straight, hair cascading like dark silk, was Lily. Or what looked like her.
My breath snagged in my throat. For a moment I dared to hope… dared to believe she had returned to me. But when she turned, her smile gleamed too perfect, her bow too rehearsed.
"Alpha King," she greeted, voice smooth as velvet.
And in that instant, I knew. It wasn't her. It was the shell.
I opened my mouth, ready to demand why she dared to invade my chambers but Eunice bustled in, arms full of plates and goblets.
"My King," she sang warmly, setting the table as though this were nothing out of place. "I thought you might enjoy some company tonight. It's been a while since you and Lily dined together." She winked at me, her tone drenched in motherly mischief.
I swallowed hard. The walls pressed in on me. Eunice believed. Everyone in the palace believed Lily was still here. I had no choice but to play along.
"Yes," I forced out, dragging my gaze to the imposter. I curved my lips into a smile. "It's been far too long."
The shell's eyes lit up, so like Lily's that I nearly broke. She slid gracefully into conversation, answering my questions with wit and familiarity, each word a dagger twisting deeper. She laughed where Lily would laugh. Tilted her head the same way Lily always did when teasing me.
And I…gods help me…I played along.
Our banter sparked like fire catching dry leaves. Her smile teased me, her eyes challenged me, and before I realized, the game had spiraled into dangerous ground. My heart thundered. My restraint slipped.
"Come," I found myself saying, rising to my feet. "I want to… show you something."
Her eyes glittered knowingly as I led her past the dining table, past the pretense, into the sanctuary of my inner chamber. My steps were heavy, but my body betrayed me.
She sat on the edge of my bed, her posture regal, her expression laced with something far too alluring. I should have stopped then. I should have walked away. Instead, I untied my robe and let it fall soundlessly to the floor.
Her breath hitched. Or perhaps it was mine.
I leaned in, the scent of her…not like Lily's but seductive and it drove me mad, coiling around my senses. My lips hovered over hers, temptation a hair's breadth away.
But then her eyes widened. Not with desire but with terror .
Her gaze snapped to the silver chain around my shoulder—the necklace Lily had clasped on me with her trembling hands before she left, her voice sharper than steel.
"Never take that away from you, Elis."
And before I could react, the shell form rippled, fractured like glass under a hammer, and shattered into nothing.
I froze. My chest heaved. And the silence roared.