Chapter 6
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The cloak reeked of raw meat—Leicester had specifically instructed his maid to prepare it this way. Werewolves had keen noses for their own kind's scent, and this would deflect suspicion.
Tok, the elder werewolf leading our group, walked with the slight limp I'd treated in my previous life. His eyes held gratitude when they met mine, but also concern. "Grey controls the Sacred Cave now," he muttered. "His nose is keenest for vampire scent. Be careful."
The wolf den entrance lay deep within the Black Forest, marked by animal bones that dangled from the opening, clicking together in the wind.
As we approached, Seraphina's whining carried from inside: "This miserable hole doesn't even have a proper bed! I'm a Morningstar lady—why should I sleep on cold stone?"
Grey's answering roar held the distinctive rasp of his kind: "One more complaint and I'll throw you to the old wolves outside! Your noble blood means nothing here!"
I gripped the Silver Leaf in my pocket, smirking inwardly. She'd thought marrying into the wolf clan would make her a lady, forgetting that werewolves respected only strength, never status.
Tok guided me toward a narrow passage. "This leads to the sacred cave's rear chamber, where the stone walls stand."
The passage was pitch black and slick with moisture. I felt my way along the wall until my fingers brushed something wet and cold—fresh blood, likely from some werewolf who'd earned Grey's displeasure.
After a few more steps, Seraphina's voice drifted toward us again, now honey-sweet: "Husband, I heard that Lady Valerian might be coming. Shall I watch her for you?"
Grey snorted. "Stay out of my business. My warriors are already watching for her. If she approaches the Sacred Cave, they'll rip her apart."
I hurried forward. As I emerged from the passage, the Sacred Cave's massive bonfire came into view.
Grey's tribesmen circled the flames, tearing at deer carcasses with their teeth. Blood spattered the stone floor. Their claws had lengthened, their ears stood pointed—half-transformed into their beast forms.
The Sacred Cave's stone walls reflected the firelight with an eerie glow. I spotted the blood moon pattern carved into one wall, remembering the diary's words: "the oath is hidden behind the stone wall." As I moved toward it, a voice cut through the cave: "Who's there?!"
Seraphina stood in a stained red dress, her hair wild as brambles. She jabbed a finger at me and shrieked: "Isabella! She's come to steal our sacred relic!"
Grey leapt up, the deer bone in his hand cracking against the floor. His eyes flashed yellow, claws extending long enough to gouge stone. "Seize her!"
The clan members charged like rabid beasts. I quickly scattered Silver Leaf across the ground. As its scent spread, the lead werewolves erupted in violent sneezing fits, stumbling to a halt.
Tok moved to intercept Grey, but the younger werewolf slammed him aside with one brutal shove. The elder crashed against the stone wall, blood spraying from his mouth. "Old fool!" Grey snarled. "Helping a vampire? Ready to die?"
I pulled out Leicester's blood vial, yanked the stopper free, and poured it across the floor. The pale red droplets hit stone with an angry hiss—vampire blood was toxic to werewolves. The charging pack skidded to a halt, eyes wide with instinctive fear.
Seraphina kept screaming: "Don't be cowards! She's just one woman! Grey will reward whoever catches her!"
But none moved. The werewolves stared at the blood barrier, growling deep in their throats, unwilling to cross it.
Grey trembled with rage. He launched himself at me, his half-transformed body towering above mine, claws slicing through the air.
I ducked behind the stone wall, but my back struck something. With a soft click, the wall split open—revealing a wooden box carved with the blood moon pattern. The Blood Moon Covenant!
I snatched the box and clutched it to my chest. Grey's claws flashed before my eyes. I squeezed them shut, bracing for pain—then heard a thunderous impact as Grey's body went flying.
Leicester had arrived.
His dark red cloak made him a living shadow in the firelight. The Silver Dagger in his hand gleamed wetly—he'd slashed Grey's claws, drawing blood. Silver was poison to werewolves.
"I told you I'd sense your danger," Leicester said, moving to my side. He brushed dust from my shoulders, his touch cool yet comforting. "The Symbiotic Contract serves its purpose."
When Seraphina spotted Leicester, her eyes blazed with fury. She lunged for me, fingers curved like talons. "This is all your fault! Wasn't stealing my glory enough? Now you ruin my special day too!"
I sidestepped her attack. She stumbled, losing her balance and sprawling directly at Grey's feet.
Grey, wild with pain, lashed out with his foot, catching her in the stomach. "Useless woman! You can't even stop one person!"
Seraphina curled into a ball, sobbing. No one spared her a glance—all eyes were fixed on the Silver Dagger in Leicester's hand, terror evident in every werewolf's gaze.
"Take the covenant and go!" Leicester pushed me toward the exit, placing himself between me and the pack. "I'll hold them back!"
I raced toward the entrance, clutching the wooden box. Glancing back, I saw Leicester engaged with Grey. He moved like liquid shadow—vampire speed far outmatched even a half-transformed werewolf. Grey couldn't land a single blow.
Seraphina remained on the ground, weeping, blood and dust matting her hair. She looked much as she had in my previous life after pushing me to my death in the wasteland. I felt no sympathy—she'd chosen this path herself.
Outside the wolf den, Tok waited with a horse. He clutched his injured side, wincing. "Hurry," he urged. "Grey won't let this stand."
I swung onto the horse and looked back. Grey's roar carried from the firelit cave: "Isabella! I'll bring my entire clan to Valerian Manor! That covenant will be mine again—count on it!"
The wind carried his threat across the distance. I clutched the wooden box tighter, my fingers finding a raised section on its bottom—a hidden compartment? Perhaps the box contained more than just the covenant.
As the horse galloped away, snow sprayed against my face. I traced the hidden compartment with my fingertips, unease growing in my chest.
Leicester remained behind in the wolf den. Grey's threat lodged in my heart like a splinter. And this covenant—what secrets might it still conceal?
When Leicester returned, we'd need to examine the box immediately. But first, I had to ensure he escaped the wolf den alive.
