Ch. 156..160: A Warrior Luna's Awakening Chapter 156-160
Chapter 156
Third Person’s POV
+8 Pearls
Caelum had begun to notice the change in Aurora ever since they had returned from the Mooncrest island negotiations.
Once so steady and sharp–eyed–the proud daughter of the Bluemoon Pack’s Beta, newly knighted in the Airborne Wing- she now drifted like a spirit tethered by unease. Some nights she would bolt awake, gasping, and pace until her hands shook. Other nights, she reached for a bottle, drowning herself in whiskey until she collapsed in a drunken haze.
“Aurora,” Caelum pressed one evening, his Alpha tone low but gentle, “what’s haunting you? If there’s something gnawing at your spirit, tell me. Whatever it is, I’ll tear it apart for you.”
She tried to smile, but the cracks showed. “It’s nothing. You’re overthinking.”
But Caelum didn’t believe her. His golden gaze hardened. “This isn’t nothing. Is it because of that newsfeed at the charity gala -the one that glitched and broadcast the border fire from five years ago?”
Aurora froze, her pupils widening as though struck. “How… how do you know?”
He exhaled slowly, never releasing her eyes. “Because from that night onward, you’ve been different. And now that we’ve chosen to walk together, no secrets should fester between us. Whatever burns you, I want to share it.”
Her lips trembled. The memory she had buried clawed its way back to the surface. That accidental broadcast had not been coincidence; no wolf believed in coincidences that cruel.
“That footage,” she whispered, voice hoarse, “pulled me back to that night. Back to the fire. I was there, Caelum. I tried to save him… I tried, but he burned in front of me.” Her hands trembled violently. “I couldn’t reach him. I couldn’t—”
Her body shuddered as the words “burned alive” cracked from her lips.
Caelum immediately seized her hands, grounding her with his warmth and Alpha steadiness. “Easy,” he murmured. “I didn’t know… spirits, Aurora, I didn’t know you carried this scar.”
She exhaled shakily. “It’s all right. After the rescue, I underwent therapy. I thought I was healed. But it seems… shadows remain.”
“No wonder you never spoke of it,” he said softly. “If not for that damn broadcast, I wouldn’t know my mate was once a hero of flame and ash. You think yourself scarred, but I… I wonder if I even deserve you.“.
A flicker of panic crossed her eyes. “Don’t say that. We still have battles ahead. The Mooncrest island project isn’t lost. The Thorne family still holds sway–Jocelyn especially. If we secure her support, SilverTech will not fall short.”
Aurora’s tone sharpened, her warrior’s pride returning. “Besides, there are countless drone specialists. Interference–counter systems are not Freya Thorne’s monopoly. Once you claim the project, others will scramble to work with you. We will have talent. We will have funds.”
Caelum’s tension eased. She was right. If they had the Thorne family’s signature on this deal, other investors would follow like wolves to blood. And then SilverTech would rise stronger than before.
The following day, Caelum and Aurora arrived at the headquarters of the Thorne Conglomerate.
As they approached the glass–lit lobby, several of the corporation’s higher executives spilled from the elevator, flanked by aides. Their pace was brisk, deliberate, heading straight toward the front doors.
Aurora’s pulse lifted with satisfaction. She had already arranged matters with Jocelyn. Surely, this must be the welcome she had promised.
Her lips curved into a confident smile. “See, Caelum? The Thornes send their elders to greet you. With my ties, I told you I could make them see your worth.”
Caelum’s mouth twitched in a rare smile. Perhaps his efforts were finally bearing fruit. He straightened, preparing to meet the senior wolves with the respect of one Alpha to another.
But the moment fractured cruelly.
–
11:32
Chapter 156
+8 Pearls
The executives swept past them without so much as a glance. Their eyes were fixed forward, their strides quickening, not for Caelum nor Aurora, but for the doors beyond.
Aurora’s smile faltered, freezing in place.
Caelum’s hand, half–raised for greeting, dropped to his side, his jaw tightening.
Then they saw why.
A sleek black car pulled up before the entrance. The driver leapt to open the door, his bow deferent.
From within stepped two figures: Alpha Silas, and beside him… Freya Thorne.
The Thornes‘ high command descended upon them like a tide, surrounding Silas and Freya with reverent attention. Their laughter and respect rang through the marble hall as they escorted the pair toward the elevators.
The realization hit Aurora like a lash.
They had not come for her. Not for Caelum.
They
They had come for them.
Her blood burned, humiliation searing down to the bone.
Caelum, too, stood stricken. His eyes, hardened by battles and tempered by the burden of leadership, suddenly stung as though struck by blades.
Then Freya lifted her head. Her gaze swept across the hall–and locked onto his.
For a heartbeat, the world stilled.
Caelum’s chest constricted. Nerves he thought long buried ignited, his pulse quickening with an ache he could not name.
But as quickly as it came, it was gone. Freya’s gaze slid past him, indifferent, as though he were nothing more than in the crowd.
The dismissal was sharper than claws.
The woman who once looked at him with devotion, whose eyes had once burned only for him, now saw him as air.
A hollow ache twisted in his chest.
The procession moved on, leaving only silence in their wake.
At last, a voice broke it.
“Ah, Aurora, Alpha Caelum–you’ve arrived.”
/
714
a
stranger
They turned to see Jocelyn’s cousin, Kinsman Thorne, an officer in the Thorne Conglomerate’s PR division. He offered a cordial smile, though the timing stung.
Thornbe here to Whitmor
“Yes,” Aurora managed, her smile brittle. “We didn’t expect Silas and Freya would be here today as well.”
Kinsman nodded. “The Mooncrest project is a joint venture between the Thornes and the Whitmors. Naturally, Alpha Silas would attend. What surprised us was that he brought Freya along. No one foresaw that match.”
He chuckled, lowering his voice. “Who would have guessed the Ironclad Alpha would fall for a woman once bound and severed under Lunar Law? Freya is… fortunate
At the mention of her Lunar Severance Phase, an awkward tension lingered. For Freya’s former mate was none other than Caelum himself. Kinsman faltered, rubbing his nose before ushering them inside. “Anyway, let’s head up”
Aurora’s lips remained frozen in a smile that felt like stone,
Fortunate? That word burned like acid.
Chapter 156
Third Person’s POV
+8 Pearls
Caelum had begun to notice the change in Aurora ever since they had returned from the Mooncrest island negotiations.
Once so steady and sharp–eyed–the proud daughter of the Bluemoon Pack’s Beta, newly knighted in the Airborne Wing- she now drifted like a spirit tethered by unease. Some nights she would bolt awake, gasping, and pace until her hands shook. Other nights, she reached for a bottle, drowning herself in whiskey until she collapsed in a drunken haze.
“Aurora,” Caelum pressed one evening, his Alpha tone low but gentle, “what’s haunting you? If there’s something gnawing at your spirit, tell me. Whatever it is, I’ll tear it apart for you.”
She tried to smile, but the cracks showed. “It’s nothing. You’re overthinking.”
But Caelum didn’t believe her. His golden gaze hardened. “This isn’t nothing. Is it because of that newsfeed at the charity gala -the one that glitched and broadcast the border fire from five years ago?”
Aurora froze, her pupils widening as though struck. “How… how do you know?”
He exhaled slowly, never releasing her eyes. “Because from that night onward, you’ve been different. And now that we’ve chosen to walk together, no secrets should fester between us. Whatever burns you, I want to share it.”
Her lips trembled. The memory she had buried clawed its way back to the surface. That accidental broadcast had not been coincidence; no wolf believed in coincidences that cruel.
“That footage,” she whispered, voice hoarse, “pulled me back to that night. Back to the fire. I was there, Caelum. I tried to save him… I tried, but he burned in front of me.” Her hands trembled violently. “I couldn’t reach him. I couldn’t—”
Her body shuddered as the words “burned alive” cracked from her lips.
Caelum immediately seized her hands, grounding her with his warmth and Alpha steadiness. “Easy,” he murmured. “I didn’t know… spirits, Aurora, I didn’t know you carried this scar.”
She exhaled shakily. “It’s all right. After the rescue, I underwent therapy. I thought I was healed. But it seems… shadows remain.”
“No wonder you never spoke of it,” he said softly. “If not for that damn broadcast, I wouldn’t know my mate was once a hero of flame and ash. You think yourself scarred, but I… I wonder if I even deserve you.“.
A flicker of panic crossed her eyes. “Don’t say that. We still have battles ahead. The Mooncrest island project isn’t lost. The Thorne family still holds sway–Jocelyn especially. If we secure her support, SilverTech will not fall short.”
Aurora’s tone sharpened, her warrior’s pride returning. “Besides, there are countless drone specialists. Interference–counter systems are not Freya Thorne’s monopoly. Once you claim the project, others will scramble to work with you. We will have talent. We will have funds.”
Caelum’s tension eased. She was right. If they had the Thorne family’s signature on this deal, other investors would follow like wolves to blood. And then SilverTech would rise stronger than before.
The following day, Caelum and Aurora arrived at the headquarters of the Thorne Conglomerate.
As they approached the glass–lit lobby, several of the corporation’s higher executives spilled from the elevator, flanked by aides. Their pace was brisk, deliberate, heading straight toward the front doors.
Aurora’s pulse lifted with satisfaction. She had already arranged matters with Jocelyn. Surely, this must be the welcome she had promised.
Her lips curved into a confident smile. “See, Caelum? The Thornes send their elders to greet you. With my ties, I told you I could make them see your worth.”
Caelum’s mouth twitched in a rare smile. Perhaps his efforts were finally bearing fruit. He straightened, preparing to meet the senior wolves with the respect of one Alpha to another.
But the moment fractured cruelly.
–
11:32
Chapter 156
+8 Pearls
The executives swept past them without so much as a glance. Their eyes were fixed forward, their strides quickening, not for Caelum nor Aurora, but for the doors beyond.
Aurora’s smile faltered, freezing in place.
Caelum’s hand, half–raised for greeting, dropped to his side, his jaw tightening.
Then they saw why.
A sleek black car pulled up before the entrance. The driver leapt to open the door, his bow deferent.
From within stepped two figures: Alpha Silas, and beside him… Freya Thorne.
The Thornes‘ high command descended upon them like a tide, surrounding Silas and Freya with reverent attention. Their laughter and respect rang through the marble hall as they escorted the pair toward the elevators.
The realization hit Aurora like a lash.
They had not come for her. Not for Caelum.
They
They had come for them.
Her blood burned, humiliation searing down to the bone.
Caelum, too, stood stricken. His eyes, hardened by battles and tempered by the burden of leadership, suddenly stung as though struck by blades.
Then Freya lifted her head. Her gaze swept across the hall–and locked onto his.
For a heartbeat, the world stilled.
Caelum’s chest constricted. Nerves he thought long buried ignited, his pulse quickening with an ache he could not name.
But as quickly as it came, it was gone. Freya’s gaze slid past him, indifferent, as though he were nothing more than in the crowd.
The dismissal was sharper than claws.
The woman who once looked at him with devotion, whose eyes had once burned only for him, now saw him as air.
A hollow ache twisted in his chest.
The procession moved on, leaving only silence in their wake.
At last, a voice broke it.
“Ah, Aurora, Alpha Caelum–you’ve arrived.”
/
714
a
stranger
They turned to see Jocelyn’s cousin, Kinsman Thorne, an officer in the Thorne Conglomerate’s PR division. He offered a cordial smile, though the timing stung.
Thornbe here to Whitmor
“Yes,” Aurora managed, her smile brittle. “We didn’t expect Silas and Freya would be here today as well.”
Kinsman nodded. “The Mooncrest project is a joint venture between the Thornes and the Whitmors. Naturally, Alpha Silas would attend. What surprised us was that he brought Freya along. No one foresaw that match.”
He chuckled, lowering his voice. “Who would have guessed the Ironclad Alpha would fall for a woman once bound and severed under Lunar Law? Freya is… fortunate
At the mention of her Lunar Severance Phase, an awkward tension lingered. For Freya’s former mate was none other than Caelum himself. Kinsman faltered, rubbing his nose before ushering them inside. “Anyway, let’s head up”
Aurora’s lips remained frozen in a smile that felt like stone,
Fortunate? That word burned like acid.
Chapter 156
+2 Pearls
Once, Freya had been discarded–left broken by Caelum himself. Yet here she was, standing tall, eyes forward, wrapped in the respect of two great packs. While Aurora and Caelum, for all their planning, stood in the shadow of their ascent, diminished.
Aurora’s nails dug into her palms.
How long could Silas Whitmor truly remain interested in Freya? Surely not long. Surely.
The bitterness coiled in her belly like venom, whispering promises she dared not speak aloud.
Chapter 157
Third Person’s POV
At the doors of the Thorne Conglomerate’s council chamber, Kinsman raised a hand.
+8 Pearls
“Alpha Caelum, Lady Aurora–please remain outside for the moment. The Vice–Chair and Lord Abel are currently inside with Alpha Silas, discussing the terms of the Mooncrest venture. You’ll be summoned once your names are called.”
“What?” Aurora’s eyes widened, her voice edged with disbelief. “We’re to wait?”
“Of course.” Kinsman’s tone carried the easy arrogance of one who enjoyed his little measure of power. His eyes flicked over Caelum with thinly veiled disdain.
The rumors had spread fast in the Capital: at the failed Mooncrest summit, Caelum had submitted a proposal that bore the handwriting of his former mate, Freya Thorne. Even the patents listed were hers. A Silverfang Alpha reduced to leaning on al discarded mate’s brilliance. What sort of Alpha did that? Fortune’s chosen, or simply lucky?
A flush crept up Caelum’s neck, the sting of the younger wolf’s contempt biting deep. He was not accustomed to such treatment. Since SilverTech Forgeworks had risen from nothing to a listed enterprise within three years, Caelum’s presence had commanded respect wherever he went. In boardrooms of the old dynasties, he was received with deference, never told to wait outside like a supplicant pup.
But now, standing in the gleaming marble hall of the Thornes, the sting of humiliation dragged him back to the early days- when he was nothing but an ambitious wolf with tattered schematics in his hands, waiting endlessly for some elder to glance his way.
His hand tightened on the dossier he carried. He had poured over it, rewritten it line by line. With Aurora’s support, this was his chance to secure the Mooncrest project. He could not afford to falter.
Minutes bled into what felt like hours before Kinsman returned. “Very well. You may enter now.”
Caelum rose with Aurora and stepped into the chamber.
The air inside was heavy with power. Around the table sat the high council of the Thornes, At the head was Abel Thorne, current President of the conglomerate, flanked by senior wolves. Beside them, seated with cool poise, was Freya. And next to her, Alpha Silas–iron–eyed, commanding, unmistakably dominant.
As Caelum and Aurora moved toward the table, Silas’s voice cut the air like a blade.
“I was under the impression this meeting excluded non–essential personnel. This Aurora–she holds no seat on the Mooncrest board, does she?”
Aurora froze, her breath catching. She straightened, forcing her voice steady. My mother is Stormveil–born. That makes me of Thorne blood, at least in part.”
Silas’s gaze was cold. “And what role do you play in Mooncrest’s development?”
Aurora faltered. Silence answered for her.
One of the stewards moved forward immediately, bowing slightly. “Lady Aurora, please wait outside.”
Color drained from Aurora’s face, then flared back in a wave of indignation. “If I must leave, then so should Freya. She holds no official office in the Conglomerate. Why should she remain while I am cast out?”
Jocelyn’s lips curved into a sharp smile. “She’s right. If Aurora is not permitted, then why is Freya? My cousin holds no title in this house either.”
The chamber, quieted. Every eye shifted toward Freya.
Lennon Thorne, Jocelyn’s father, cleared his throat, his voice edged with discomfort. “Freya, perhaps it’s best if you step outside.”
Freya’s brow furrowed. Her presence here was not her own wish; she was here to guard Silas, to ensure his safety in the storm of politics. Yet she said nothing, allowing the tide to swell.
Chapter 157
Aurora’s eyes glinted with satisfaction. If she could not remain, then Freya would also be banished.
P Pearls
But before the stewards could usher her away, Silas Whitmor spoke, his voice calm but cutting through the chamber like thunder.
“The Ironclad Coalition’s cooperation with the Thornes rests solely on Freya Thorne’s judgment. If she leaves this room, then the Coalition leaves as well. There will be no Mooncrest pact.”
The words dropped like stones into still water.
“What?!” A ripple of shock tore through the table.
Such a vital contract–its final seal resting in the hands of a woman once severed from her mate under the Lunar Laws? Impossible. Unthinkable. And yet Silas’s expression bore no trace of jest.
Even Freya herself stiffened in surprise. But Silas’s posture was unyielding, the authority of an Alpha who made no idle, declarations.
Abel Thorne finally broke the stunned silence. “Then it is settled. Aurora will wait outside. The meeting continues.”
Aurora’s face burned crimson, shame and fury warring in her veins. Under so many watching eyes, she had no choice but to bow stiffly and withdraw.
The door shut behind her.
Inside, Abel inclined his head toward Caelum. “Alpha Grafton, proceed.”
Caelum rose, clutching the dossier. Once, he had been the one sitting at the high table, commanding the respect of a hall. Freya had once been the one seated lower, struggling for acknowledgment. But now their roles had reversed.
Freya sat in a place of power, her calm gaze level with Silas’s. And Caelum–Alpha of Silverfang, once her mate–stood below, reduced to petitioning.
He began to speak, his voice betraying cracks. Words he had rehearsed countless times now tangled in his throat. He stumbled, stammered, forced the points out one by one.
“At its core, SilverTech proposes… if the Conglomerate accepts partnership, then regarding the interference–resistant systems, we will secure leading experts to ensure the most advanced upgrades. Furthermore, SilverTech will make concessions. We are willing to increase our offering–an additional five percent reduction in profit shares compared to the original terms.”
The chamber stirred. Five percent was no small figure. In a project of this scale, it represented millions in value.
For the first time, several Thorne executives leaned forward, their interest piqued despite their earlier skepticism.
Though Caelum’s earlier presentation faltered, numbers had their own voice, and this concession carried weight.
The silence stretched after his words, broken only by the scratching of pens as aides recorded the offer.
Yet Caelum felt no relief. His eyes, against his will, slid to Freya. She sat silent beside Silas, her expression unreadable.
Once, she had looked to him as though he were the moon itself. Now, she looked through him–cold, unshaken, belonging to another Alpha’s orbit.
And in that moment, the weight of his position crushed him harder than any financial loss could.
Chapter 158
+8 Pearls
Third Person’s POV
The Mooncrest development was no small affair. Though the project itself bore the sigil of Ashbourne’s government, its execution fell upon the Thornes and the Whitmors. The Thornes carried the infrastructure and local authority; the Whitmors carried the true weight of military influence and the Ironclad Coalition’s reach. Without the Coalition, Stormveil could never have laid claim to a project of such magnitude.
So when the discussion turned to the matter of aerial defense and unmanned craft, Abel Thorne’s voice rumbled low. “If Stormveil desires, this portion of the contract could indeed be ceded to SilverTech Forgeworks.”
Jocelyn Thorne was the first to speak, lips curved in an eager smile. “I think we should. SilverTech has shown sincerity.”
Her father, Lennon Thorne, echoed swiftly. “I agree.”
Others among the Thorne council followed, their assent rising like the tide.
Abel’s gaze
shifted across the table, settling on Silas Whitmor. “And what does Alpha Whitmor think?”
Every wolf present knew the truth–though the Thornes bore their name upon the project, it was the Whitmor banner that allowed them to stand in such a place of prominence. Without the Coalition’s backing, the Thornes‘ grip on the island would be fragile at best.
Silas did not answer immediately. His eyes, sharp as steel, turned instead toward Freya Thorne. “What say you?”
The chamber hushed.
Freya did not flinch beneath the weight of his gaze. Her voice was steady, her eyes clear. “I do not approve of placing the drone contracts in SilverTech’s hands.”
Caelum’s head snapped up, shock and fury flaring in his eyes.
Jocelyn seized upon the opening like a wolf scenting blood. “Freya—surely this is nothing more than spite? Because Alpha
Caelum severed the Lunar Bond with you, and because he has since turned his gaze upon Aurora? Are you so petty you would sabotage him at the cost of the Pack’s future?”
A few murmurs rippled along the table.
Lennon Thorne’s palm struck the table. “Enough games, Freya! You may despise Caelum as a former mate, but that is personal. Here we speak of Stormveil’s future. Put away your grievances!”
Freya’s eyes sharpened. “So, to support SilverTech is ‘professional, but to oppose them is personal spite? Interesting logic, Alpha Lennon. So simple a division of public and private duty. To an outsider, it would almost seem SilverTech’s Alpha has purchased loyalty in coin rather than honor.”
The words struck like a claw to the throat. Both Lennon and Jocelyn stiffened, their expressions flickering with outrage and something else–guilt.
“Freya, how dare you slander us?” Jocelyn’s voice was sharp, but it quavered at the edges.
“You protest too quickly, cousin. One might almost believe I struck truth.” Freya’s tone carried the weight of a predator’s
sneer.
Jocelyn’s eyes flickered, the mask slipping. In truth, Aurora had whispered promises to her: should she deliver SilverTech into the Thorne’s contract, a share of profits would find its way to her pocket. That promise now burned like a brand of shame beneath Freya’s gaze.
Caelum rose, his voice tight. “Freya, no matter how bitter you are over our broken bond, you have no right to drag my company into your vendetta. SilverTech is not merely me. It is hundreds of wolves who follow my command, who labor under my banner. They do not deserve to be condemned for your grudge. If your former colleagues hear this slander, what do you think they will believe?”
Before Freya could speak, Silas’s voice cut across the chamber, smooth and merciless. “They will believe their Alpha is weak They will believe a company once strong is now rotting from the inside. They will believe their livelihoods are bound to a sinking vessel.”
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11:33 AM P
Chapter 158
The silence that followed was knife–sharp.
+8 Pearls
Caelum’s face blanched, then flushed red with rage. “Lord Whitmor–you may be Alpha of the Coalition, but even you cannot speak so basely!”
Silas leaned back, the faint curl of amusement on his lips carrying more danger than any snarl. “Basely? I spoke only what is seen. Truth is no insult.”
“I built SilverTech in three years and brought it to listing!” Caelum growled. “Do you call that weakness?”
“Three years, yes,” Silas replied, his tone iron–clad and cold. “But was it your strength–or the brilliance you stole from another?”
Caelum’s retort died in his throat.
Freya rose then, her voice cutting through the chamber like a drawn blade. “SilverTech cannot guarantee the completion of interference–resistant upgrades. The only way they could attempt it would be by drawing on fresh investment–Stormveil’s coffers, not their own. If their upgrades fail, the Thornes shoulder the loss. Lost time, lost resources, delayed schedules. Tell me, is that risk acceptable?”
三
Her gaze swept the table, then returned to Abel. “And there is more. Word runs through the Capital that SilverTech’s lifeblood is failing. Their cashflow teeters. Before this council votes, should you not verify if SilverTech is already bleeding out?”
Gasps rippled through the chamber. Abel Thorne leaned forward, eyes narrowing. “Freya, is this rumor or truth?”
“Send an audit,” she answered evenly. “You will see for yourselves.”
Caelum slammed a fist on the table, his composure snapping. “You cannot stand there and blacken my Pack’s name with lies! Freya, whatever hatred you bear, you cannot invent such things!”
Freya’s eyes glinted cold as moonlight. “If your coffers are full, then answer me this, Caelum. Why is it that when the Lunar Severance was finalized, all you could return was my parents‘ death stipend? A mere one hundred 1.53 million sovereigns- blood money from the Hall of Martyrs–while you kept every property mortgaged and every account empty? Where were your riches then?”
The chamber froze.
Every Thorne present knew of the severance. Few had known the details. To hear that Freya, daughter of Arthur and Myra- fallen wolves of the Iron Fang Recon Unit–had been repaid not with wealth but with the very blood–compensation of her parents‘ sacrifice… the air itself seemed to grow heavy.
Faces turned toward Caelum, shock and disdain plain in every eye.
The truth
His cheeks burned crimson. He opened his mouth, but no words came. The truth sat heavy in the room, a wound reopened before every elder and kin.
his
SilverTech, once hailed as a miracle, now stood revealed as a hollow edifice. And the Alpha who had built it–his strength, his honor, his claim–shaken beneath the gaze of his former mate.
Chapter 159
Freya’s POV
O
The room was heavy with silence, the kind that suffocates even the strongest of wolves.
D
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Across the long oak table, my uncle Abel Thorne’s voice cut sharp through the air. “Alpha Caelum, whether Stormveil should continue any dealings with SilverTech Forgeworks… I believe the family must reconsider carefully.”
His words were final. A rejection, veiled in civility, but a rejection nonetheless.
I caught the look on Caelum’s face–ashen, drained, like a warrior stripped of his blade. The Alpha of Silverfang Pack, proud head of SilverTech Forgeworks, suddenly looked like a lone wolf cornered.
When the meeting ended, I walked out alongside Jocelyn Thorne. She wasted no time in voicing her bitterness, her voice sharp as a dagger.
“If not for Freya meddling, the elders would never have turned against the proposal.”
My name fell from her lips like
venom.
Outside the chamber, I found Aurora waiting anxiously, her hands clenched, her wolf aura tense. She rushed forward the moment Jocelyn spoke.
な
“What?” Aurora’s eyes widened. Her voice trembled, but her rage was unmistakable. “Do you mean Freya ruined it?”
The newly appointed Bluemoon pilot had been grooming this partnership for moons, I knew. To her, this was more than just business–it was ambition, prestige, validation.
And when she saw me step through the door, she didn’t hesitate. She stormed toward me like a storm breaking its chains.
“Freya Thorne! Just because Caelum divorced you during the Lunar Severance Phase, you want to destroy him? You’re
birth to a daughter like you!”
pathetic! Disgraceful! No wonder your parents–heroes of Stormveil–should never have give
The words lanced into me. For a heartbeat, I went
d. Then fire rushed to my
blood.
My hand struck before my wolf could even think. The slap cracked across her face, sharp and clean.
Aurora reeled back, her eyes wide in shock. She hadn’t expected me to strike.
མར་པོ་བའམ་རམ་དག་
“You dare spit poison about my parents?” My voice was ice, my wolf rising, growling within me. “One more word, Aurora, and you’ll regret it.”
Her lip curled in defiance. “I will say it. Your parents-
My foot drove forward, sending her body flying against the stone wall. She crumpled, her WolfComm device spilling from her pocket.
And then, I let go.
The power I kept caged deep inside surged outward, a ripple of raw Alpha dominance flooding the Corridor. The air thickened, charged, the walls themselves seeming to shudder with the weight of it. Aurora gasped as if the air had been sucked from her lungs, her wolf collapsing beneath the pressure. She clawed at her throat, eyes wide with terror, her body trembling like prey before a predator.
From the chamber doors, Caelum stormed out, his voice raised. But the moment he stepped into the force of my aura, stride faltered. His pupils flared, his wolf reeling under the pressure that pinned him as surely as chains.
Freya!” he barked, though his voice cracked against the weight of my presence. “What… what are you doing to her?”
his
“What I should have done long ago.” My words cut sharp as a blade, and the dominance didn’t waver. “If she dares slander my parents again, I will not stop at broken ribs.”
For the first time, Caelum truly looked at me–saw me. His lips parted, confusion and disbelief written all over his face. “You… you’re not…. an Omega?”
10:08 AM PP.
Chapter 159
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I met his gaze, cold and unflinching. The answer lingered on my tongue, but I didn’t waste it on him. He wasn’t worth it.
So I said nothing. I let the silence hang, heavy with the truth he didn’t deserve, my wolf aura pressing down on them both until Aurora whimpered like a pup cornered.
Just then, Aurora’s fallen WolfComm lit up on the ground. A message flashed across the screen.
Only one word.
Murderer.
Her eyes widened in horror. She lunged for the device, clutching it to her chest as though shielding herself from claws
unseen.
“Caelum,” she whispered, her voice suddenly desperate, “let’s go… we need to leave.”
He frowned, confused by the sudden shift. “You’re pale, Aurora. That blow must have been harder than I thought. I’ll take you to the healers-”
“No.” She shook her head too quickly, clutching her WolfComm tighter. “Just… take me home.”
He gave her one last look, then wrapped his arm around her and led her into the waiting lift.
I stood there, still, watching. My wolf eyes narrowed. Something about that message had rattled her to the bone.
Beside me, Silas approached quietly. His presence carried the weight of the Ironclad Coalition, steady and unyielding. He reached for my hand–the one that had struck Aurora moments ago–and lifted it gently, his touch unexpectedly soft.
“Does it hurt?” he asked.
I blinked at him. Hurt? The sting was on Aurora’s cheek, not mine. Yet his eyes were warm, too warm, and the gesture… intimate.
I pulled my hand back slowly, masking the strange flutter in my chest. Around us, the younger Thorne cousins exchanged glances, muttering. To them, I was the violent one. To Silas, somehow, I was the one worth shielding.
Jocelyn’s gaze burned into me from across the hall, her jaw tight, her eyes seething. She hated me more in that moment than
she ever had before.
Later that night, Silas was buried in his work inside the study, poring over scrolls of Ironhold Consortium contracts. I sat on the couch nearby, speaking into my headset.
“Lana, I told you already,” I sighed. “I’m still assigned to protect Silas. I can’t log in right now.”
On the other end of the WolfComm line, Lana groaned theatrically. “Freya, please! If you don’t join me in the raid, I’ll fail the quest. This is life or death in the game server!”
I smirked faintly, shaking my head. “Life or death? You exaggerate.”
“Not this time!” she protested.
“What’s this about? Silas’s voice broke in, closer than I realized. I turned to see him standing behind me, his gaze amused. “Lana wants me to jump into the game with her. But I’m not sure it’s the right time,” I admitted.
He tilted his head, thoughtful. “No reason you shouldn’t. Though I prefer your focus remain on me, this manor has more than one Iron Fang Recon officer stationed. You can spare an hour.”
Then he added, almost too casually. “But if you go, can you take me with you?”
I blinked. “Into the game?”
“Yes.” His lips quirked, the faintest of smiles.
Ten minutes later, Lana’s avatar waited in the virtual lobby. When she saw the low–leveled, bare–bones figure standing awkwardly beside me, her jaw nearly dropped.
10:09 AM P P ·
Chapter 159
+8 Pearls
“Who’s that?” she demanded.
“Alpha Silas,” I answered flatly.
“…You brought him into the raid?”
Her disbelief was almost comical. But I only crossed my arms, my wolf stirring with something strange–anticipation, maybe.
Chapter 160
Freya’s POV
“He insists on joining the game.”
+8 Pearls
I rubbed the bridge of my nose, exhaling slowly into the WolfComm mic. Even I couldn’t hide the note of resignation in my voice.
On the other end of the channel, Lana groaned. “What? Freya, I begged you to log in because I need to finish this mission tonight. But if he tags along… how am I supposed to carry a dead weight? He looks like the sort of player who wouldn’t know the difference between a scope and a stun grenade.”
I flicked my gaze sideways. Silas sat on the couch beside me, leaning back with a casual confidence that only Alphas seemed capable of. In the virtual world, his avatar was laughably bare–bones–leather scraps, no proper armor, and a weapon that looked like it would shatter after two swings. He might have commanded the Ironclad Coalition in the flesh, but in–game he was nothing more than a newborn pup stumbling into the hunt.
“It’ll be fine,” I told Lana, my voice clipped. “Just let him stick to my side. He won’t slow you down.”
Silas’s golden eyes flicked toward me, unreadable, though there was a ghost of amusement on his lips.
Lana muttered something about bad omens, but then sighed in defeat. “Fine. As long as he doesn’t seriously, Freya, why is he even playing with us? Doesn’t the great Alpha Whitmor have empires to run?”
get in
my way. But
I opened my mouth, but before I could answer, his voice cut through the channel like steel sliding free of a sheath.
“Is it so strange for a male to want to follow his mate into battle?”
The sound of his voice in the channel startled Lana so badly I heard the crackle of her headset and a muffled curse. “Silas Whitmor is in the room with you?”
“Yes.”
“…And he’s your mate?” she demanded, breathless.
Heat crawled up the back of my neck. “It’s… recent,” I admitted, reluctant.
There was a beat of silence on the channel. Then Lana erupted into the shrieking laughter of a wild prairie marmot. “Freya! Are you telling me you bonded with that Whitmor and didn’t think to tell me? The same Freya who swore she’d never let a male Alpha lay claim to her?”
Silas’s gaze landed on me, steady, piercing. The weight of it was unbearable, like he was peeling back every layer of my defenses. I cleared my throat sharply and muttered, “I planned to tell you in person. Focus on the mission, Lana.”
She groaned, muttering about betrayal and best friends, but at least she redirected her attention.
The game loaded, throwing us into a war–torn cityscape. Six of us in the squad: Lana, myself, Silas, and three other familiar voices who’d run countless raids with us before.
“Stay close,” I told Silas firmly, my voice the same command I’d once used to direct warriors of the Iron Fang Recon Unit. “Do not wander. If you fall behind, I won’t come back for you.”
His lips curved faintly. “Understood.”
We moved through the shattered streets, weapons drawn. My avatar’s rifle glinted with enchanted steel mods, the reward of long seasons grinding for resources. Silas trailed close behind me, his rookie avatar sticking out like a pup in a den of seasoned hunters.
“Hey, newbie,” one of the others teased over comms. “First time, huh?”
Silas gave a soft affirmative hum.
“What’s your name, then?”
“Silas Whitmor.”
10:09 AM P p·
Chapter 160
The channel went dead silent. Then laughter broke out.
“No way. That’s the same name as the Ironclad Coalition’s Alpha.”
“Man, you’ve got some nerve, naming your rookie after him. You trying to cosplay a legend?”
+8 Pearls
“Ha! Next you’ll say you’re really him. As if the Alpha of the Whitmor family empire has time to play games with us.”
I could almost feel Lana’s exasperation radiating through the comm line. She wanted to shout the truth–that the very Alpha they joked about was sitting here with us, lounging like he had nothing better to do. But she held her tongue, for once..
We pressed forward. Gunfire erupted from a rooftop, enemies dropping into our path. My wolf surged as adrenaline spiked through me. My fingers danced across the screen, movements quick and precise. My avatar darted into cover, rolled out, and struck. Headshots dropped one after another. Burst fire cleared corridors. When a teammate was pinned, I shifted seamlessly into support, cutting down their attacker before they fell.
The game blurred into instinct, into rhythm. Every kill, every maneuver echoed the training burned into me from the Iron Fang Recon Unit. In this digital battlefield, I wasn’t just playing. I was commanding, leading, dominating.
Beside me, Silas was silent. But I felt his gaze, heavier than the smoke of burning pixels. Not on the screen–on me. Watching the way my fingers moved, the sharp focus in my eyes, the wolf aura that bled through even into this simulation.
“Don’t fall behind,” I snapped without looking, sensing his distraction.
He smirked faintly, his avatar stumbling to keep up with mine.
The mission point glowed ahead, but suddenly the streets filled with hostile squads. More than one team. They’d allied together, waiting to ambush us before we reached the target.
“Damn it!” Lana cursed, gunfire rattling through her headset. “Are these bastards ever going to let us finish the damn quest?”
Explosions tore through the virtual concrete. Our team scrambled for cover. I dropped to a flank, returning fire with ruthless precision.
But this was no ordinary skirmish–it was a slaughter waiting to happen. Too many enemies. Too much crossfire.
I turned my head toward Silas, his rookie avatar blinking stupidly on the screen. He’d be torn apart in seconds if he tried to fight.
“Silas,” I barked, voice sharp. “Forget following me. Find cover. Now.”
For a heartbeat, he hesitated–like the Alpha in him resisted taking orders from me, even here. But then, slowly, I saw his avatar move, ducking behind a collapsed wall.
Good. He listened. For once.
The roar of battle swallowed us whole. My wolf stretched within me, teeth bared, eager for the fight.
And I dove headlong into the storm.