The room was suffocating, even with the windows open. Heat rolled off Zyra's skin in waves, her muscles tensed as if bracing for battle—but this was no ordinary fight.
It was her rut.
A cruel, relentless craving burned through her veins, tightening every nerve. Every instinct screamed at her to hunt, to claim, to own
She growled, shaking her head, as if that could stop the way her body pulsed with unfulfilled need. Her fingers curled into the silk sheets of her bed, her breath ragged. The air was thick with her own scent—sharp, demanding—filling the chamber like a warning.
The worst part? She knew exactly what had triggered it.
Liora.
And her goddamn wolf.
Even my wolf is a big fool, she thought bitterly, triggered by such nonsense.
The infuriating Omega had slithered her way into Zyra's senses, tangled in her instincts like a thorn she couldn't rip out.
This can't happen now. I have a mission to accomplish, I must get her hair, she must be kn her way here now, Zyra thought.
A knock came at the door. She already knew who it was …
Zyra bared her teeth. "Leave."
The door creaked open anyway.
Kael leaned against the frame, golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "Damn, you look like hell."
Zyra shot him a murderous glare. "Do you wish to die, Kael?"
Kael smirked and stepped inside, unbothered by the thick tension in the air. "No. But I do have a duty to make sure my Alpha doesn't burn herself out."
Zyra exhaled sharply, suppressing the way her skin felt too tight, too sensitive. "Get out, Kael."
He tilted his head, pretending to consider it. "You know, you could just call Ser—"
"Finish that sentence, and I'll rip your throat out."
Kael chuckled, stepping closer despite the danger glowing in her silver eyes. "Relax. I'm not that serious, I enjoy my life too much. But you need to do something before you tear apart your own damn room."
Zyra's jaw clenched as another pulse of heat rolled through her, leaving her trembling with frustration. "I am doing something. I'm controlling it."
"Yeah, looks like you're really succeeding." Kael folded his arms. "You reek of tension and frustration. Just rest, Zyra. Or deal with it before it drives you insane."
Zyra's fingers twitched. She wanted to strangle him. Or maybe rip apart something else entirely.
She has a plan this night , so doing anything Like that would spoil it. Celestine had told her not to inform Kael about it , because he is irrational at times when it comes to Moonveil and might spoil the plan , yet, he is… standing ,pissing her off.
"Leave now" Zyra barked at him
Kael sighed, shaking his head. "Fine, fine. Suffer then. But don't come crying to me when you snap and start howling at the damn moon."
Zyra snarled, launching a pillow at him—but Kael was already halfway out the door, laughing.
"Take care, Alpha," he teased before shutting the door behind him.
Zyra collapses back onto the bed, cursing the Moon Goddess and her own wretched instincts and of all the time her rut could show up , it is this exact day.
This was going to be a long night , I hope she comes and I hope I don't lose control. Zyra's silver eye burned with rage , lust and need all together.
‐‐‐
The night wrapped around LIORA like a whisper, the weight of the decision pressing against her chest as she adjusted the hood of her cloak. The fabric was dark enough to blend into the moonlit shadows, but it did little to settle the anxiousness in her veins.
This was reckless. Dangerous. If she were caught.
She exhaled slowly, clearing the thought before it could root too deep. No second-guessing. She had made up her mind the moment she read that note.
Zyra.
Liora lips pressed into a thin line. She had to know what that arrogant Alpha meant.
Pulling the cloak tighter, she stepped lightly across the stone floor of Moonveil's stronghold, her bare feet making no sound. The guards were stationed at their usual posts, unaware of the shadow slipping past them.
She moved with practiced grace, weaving through corridors and ducking behind pillars when necessary. Years of navigating the forests alone had made her footsteps soundless, her movements effortless. The night itself embraced her, hiding her from unwanted eyes.
When she reached the outer walls, she paused, scanning the area. The gates were too well-guarded, but she never intended to take the obvious path.
Instead, she turned to the old sycamore tree just beyond the training grounds. Its branches stretched high and proud, and more importantly, close enough to the wall to serve her purpose.
With a deep breath, she leaped, her fingers catching the rough bark with ease. The climb was quick, her limbs moving in quiet efficiency as she reached the highest branch that bent toward the outer wall.
The moment she landed on the stone, she crouched low, heart hammering. No one had seen her.
Perfect.
Now came the hard part—getting into Lunarion's territory undetected.
The trek through the forest was eerily quiet, the scent of damp earth and pine filling the air. She kept to the shadows, her body moving like the wind—light, unseen.
When she neared Lunarion's borders, she slowed, scanning for patrols. The territory was not heavily guarded, but there were a good number of guards ,she hadn't expected that. Strange. Or maybe Zyra helped me out so I could get in… No.
Liora lowered herself to the ground, her fingers brushing against the soil as she moved, slow and deliberate. A small stream ran along the eastern edge of the territory—her best way in.
She reached the water's edge and inhaled deeply before slipping in, letting the cool current embrace her. The water was shallow enough that she could stay low, only her nose and eyes above the surface.
Silent. Invisible.
The stream led her beneath a broken part of Lunarion fencing—just as she had hoped. She slipped through, rolling onto the grass, her breath coming in quiet pants.
She was in.
A smirk tugged at her lips as she stood, her cloak clinging to her damp form.
Time to find the Alpha.
Liora scanned the towering structure before her—the Alpha's chamber. It loomed at the heart of the Lunarion stronghold, a fortress within a fortress. Built from dark stone and reinforced with iron, it was designed for both dominance and defense. Massive wolf carvings lined the entrance, their snarling faces illuminated by flickering torches. The air carried the distinct scent of leather, steel, and Zyra herself—a raw, untamed presence that made Liora's pulse quicken. She sniffed the air and she perceived it as Smoky cedarwood and wild musk but "Her scent is too strong" she murmured to herself.
Her sharp gaze flickered toward the massive doors, protected by Kael and a few scouts engaged in low conversation. Getting in unnoticed through the main entrance was impossible.
But the window?
Her eyes darted upward. The chamber's open window was tall and wide, allowing in the cool night air. The flickering candlelight inside cast shifting shadows on the wall. It was high, but not unreachable.
Liora crouched behind a pile of stacked crates, calculating. If she timed it right, she could scale the side without being seen.
Her fingers curled around the edge of the stone wall, testing her grip. Taking a silent breath, she leaped, her body moving with fluid grace. Her fingers caught the narrow ledge just below the window, muscles tightening as she hoisted herself up. Her boots barely made a sound against the stone.
The night wind brushed against her damp cloak as she slipped inside, landing silently on the polished floor. She pressed herself against the wall, her breath steadying.
She was inside the Alpha's chamber.
And Zyra was just a few feet away.