Legacy of the Wolf

Chapter Ten

Mira was on her knees, dusting the last section of the council hall's polished floor. The Gathering was set to begin in just a few hours, and the room had to be perfect. Lanterns hung from the beams, casting a warm, dim glow over the rustic wood of the hall. Rich tapestries and flags bearing the colors and symbols of the different packs lined the walls, giving the space a ceremonial feel. She had arranged every candle, every ribbon, every flower with a precision that bordered on obsession, needing the task to fill the anxious hours leading up to the plan.

But even as she concentrated on her work, her mind was spinning with everything that was about to unfold. Tonight, she and Lucas would finally find the answers she needed—the truth of what Alaric had done to her family, to her pack, all those years ago. And if all went according to plan, she would leave this place behind once and for all.

She heard the heavy doors of the hall creak open behind her, the sound cutting through the silence like a blade. Her entire body tensed as she turned to see Alaric stepping into the room, his presence dark and imposing, casting a long shadow across the polished floor.

"Mira," he greeted, his voice low and smooth, yet somehow grating. There was something about him that set her instincts ablaze with warning, her skin prickling with a deep-rooted unease. She stood, meeting his gaze with all the steadiness she could muster.

"Alpha," she replied, her voice measured, careful not to betray the wariness seething inside her.

He looked around the room, nodding with a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You've done well with the preparations," he remarked, his gaze trailing over the decorations, but Mira could sense the undercurrent in his tone, a subtle edge that made her stomach twist.

"Thank you," she said quietly, unable to stop herself from glancing toward the door, wishing she could just finish her work and leave.

But Alaric stepped closer, his gaze darkening as he watched her, and Mira felt the air in the room grow thick, pressing down on her like a heavy weight. "You've been spending a lot of time in the woods lately," he noted, his voice deceptively casual, though his eyes glinted with a calculating sharpness. "And with a certain... someone."

Mira's heart pounded, but she forced herself to keep her expression neutral, her tone even. "I've been clearing my head. Preparing for the Gathering."

Alaric tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a smile that made her blood run cold. "Clearing your head. Yes, I'm sure that's all it is," he mused, his gaze unwavering, cutting right through her.

He took another step closer, close enough that she could feel the chill radiating off him, the darkness that seemed to cling to his every word. "I know what you and Lucas are planning, Mira," he said, his voice a low murmur. The words struck her like a slap, her heart hammering in her chest as she struggled to keep her expression steady.

She met his gaze, forcing herself to stand her ground, but inside she felt a flicker of fear. He knows. He knows everything.

Alaric's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with a twisted satisfaction as he watched her. "You're not the first to think they can uncover the truth, to try and stop me," he continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "But let me make one thing clear to you, Mira. You and Lucas... you're nothing. You can't stop me. And if you try, you'll only end up like the rest who have dared to defy me."

Her jaw clenched, anger flaring up to replace her fear. "I'm not afraid of you," she shot back, the defiance in her voice a small victory, even as her pulse raced.

Alaric chuckled, a low, menacing sound that echoed through the hall. "Brave words," he mocked, his gaze cold and calculating. "But bravery won't save you, Mira. It won't bring back your family, and it won't keep you safe from what's coming."

She swallowed, her mind spinning as she tried to keep her composure. But inside, a fire had ignited, a burning determination fueled by his words. He thought he could control her, thought he could manipulate her the way he had so many others. But he was wrong. She would not be intimidated. Not now, not ever.

"I should get back to work," she said, her voice firm, refusing to let him see the trembling in her hands.

Alaric's smile faded, his gaze hardening. "Remember what I said, Mira. When the Gathering is over, you'll be where you belong. One way or another."

With that, he turned and strode out of the hall, leaving her alone in the stifling silence. She watched him go, her mind racing, her body tense with a mixture of anger and fear. She took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to calm herself, to focus on the task ahead.

As soon as she was sure he was gone, she released the breath she'd been holding, her hands shaking as she gripped the edge of a table for support. The encounter had rattled her more than she wanted to admit, the weight of his words pressing down on her like a stone. But even as fear clawed at her, determination flared within her, stronger and fiercer than ever.

She wouldn't let him win. She wouldn't let him steal her future, her freedom, or her family's truth. This was her fight, her chance to take back what had been stolen from her. She couldn't afford to be afraid, not now.

Mira glanced around the hall one last time, checking that everything was in order, then hurried out, her heart pounding with renewed resolve. She would find Lucas, and they would put their plan into motion. They had to.