Seraphina’s POV
We trailed Holly to a cave in the western borderlands, an isolated spot few ever ventured near. The dense forest around it made the place feel even more desolate.
Holly slipped into the cave’s entrance, and I moved to follow her, but Caden caught my arm.
“There are guards,” he whispered, his voice low and steady.
I squinted into the darkness. The night provided ample cover, but as wolves, our vision was sharp even in such conditions. Soon enough, I spotted the soldiers stationed at the entrance and the patrols circling nearby.
“These aren’t Emerald Howl Pack soldiers,” I whispered back.
“They’re from Silverclaw Pack,” Caden confirmed, his voice cold and calculating. “If she’s brought this many soldiers, she’s planning something far bigger than just being Alpha Sid’s Luna. So, Seraphina… should we kill them all?”
I hesitated.
Caden and his guards could handle these soldiers without breaking a sweat, but if we attacked now, Holly might catch wind and escape before we discovered where Sid was or uncovered the full scope of her plans.
“Is there a way we can sneak in without alerting her?” I asked.
Caden nodded toward one of his guards. The man silently moved into the shadows, positioning himself among the dense bushes near the cave. When a patrol passed by, he acted with precision, snapping the necks of two trailing soldiers and dragging their bodies into the underbrush. The rest of the patrol marched on, unaware of the missing men.
“Impressive,” I whispered when the guard returned.
He offered a curt nod. “Alpha, let me infiltrate the cave. This task is beneath you.”
“No. I’m going in with Seraphina,” Caden declared, grabbing a uniform from one of the fallen soldiers. He pulled it over his own clothes before tossing another at me.
I hesitated for a moment, then slipped into the uniform. It reeked of sweat and blood, but there was no time to complain.
“Thank you for doing this,” I said softly.
“If you keep being polite, I might get annoyed,” he muttered, tugging the helmet snugly onto my head and adjusting the mask to hide my face. “Let’s go.”
We edged closer to the cave, blending seamlessly with the Ironclaw soldiers. The helmets concealed our identities, allowing us to move undetected.
At the entrance, I pressed myself against the cold, damp stone, straining to catch any sound from within. Holly’s voice echoed clearly.
“…That fucking cunt Seraphina! She just had to challenge me to that stupid hunting game! Who the hell hunts bears with their bare hands?! Damn all those Northerners! I swear, I want to burn this whole place to the ground!”
Her voice dripped with venom, and my fists clenched at her words.
“Your arm is still bleeding. Do you need bandages?” a male voice asked.
“Yes. Damn bear!” she snapped. There was a pause before she continued, her tone turning smug. “Did you deliver the Equity Transfer Agreement to Father?”
“Yes, Alpha Johnson was very pleased,” the man replied.
Holly’s laugh was mocking and cruel. “Eason thought I’d let his sister go just because he gave me that stupid agreement. What a fool! Both of them are so stupid. No wonder Damon left Seraphina for that skunk Althea. At least my sister has some brains.”
My nails dug into my palms as I clenched my fists tighter.
That damned agreement—the one Eason had forced me to sign. He’d tried to get it back from Holly after realizing his mistake, but she’d played dumb, refusing to return it. Now I knew why. She’d already handed it over to Alpha Johnson.
Caden, sensing my anger, gave me a reassuring glance.
“Alpha Johnson wants to know when you’ll begin the next phase,” the male voice prompted.
Next phase? I leaned closer, my ears straining to catch every word.
“Soon,” Holly replied smugly. “Tonight, I’ll ensure Sid takes in enough of my scent to solidify my control over him completely. Tomorrow, he’ll hold a meeting to announce to the entire pack—Emerald Howl Pack officially belongs to Silverclaw Pack!”
WHAT?!
My heart slammed against my ribcage.
This couldn’t be happening. Holly wasn’t just after power—she intended to hand my pack over to her father, Alpha Johnson.
Caden placed a steadying hand on my shoulder, his sharp eyes locking with mine.
“Now we know her game,” he whispered. “The question is, how do you want to play yours?”
