Chapter 295

AURORA

The only sound was the fire’s crackle as I stood before the Kaida, every muscle in my body coiled with tension. The smirk on her face hadn’t wavered since we’d arrived. “I’m listening,” she said, her tone dripping with satisfaction.

I forced myself to bite back the anger bubbling inside me. “Dane’s life is slipping away,” I began, my voice steady but strained. “You have the cure. Name your terms.”

Her smirk grew as she leaned back casually. “Oh, Luna, you make this too easy. You really think I’d give away something that valuable without a price?”

The army behind her chuckled quietly, their presence a constant, oppressive reminder of the danger surrounding us.

“What do you want?” I asked, my tone cold as steel. Evelyn gave me a sidelong glance and then turned to Kaida.

She took her time answering, playing with the strings of her bow. Finally, she said, “I’ll give you the antidote. But only if Dane agrees to spend the night with me for three days.”

I heard Evelyn gasping beside me. She rushed forward, growling, “You…” I caught her arm and stopped her charging at Kaida, who wore her smirk.

My breath was caught. I balled my fists at my sides, my jaw clenched. “You’re disgusting.”

“Oh, it gets better,” Kaida continued, disregarding my reaction. “Once I carry his child, I will consider becoming his Luna. That is the price.”

“You’re out of your mind!” I spat, my voice rising despite myself.

Kaida raised an eyebrow and actually seemed to be enjoying my horror. “Am I? Or are you just realizing how far you’re willing to go to save him?”

I turned to Trajan, who was looking as grim as I did. “This is absurd,” he said firmly.

“Do not listen to him,” Evelyn growled as she narrowed her eyes at Kaida. I knew it took everything in her to stop herself from charging at Kaida. I can’t take any wrong action now; Dane’s life is on the line, and it seemed this bitch had her eyes on my Dane.

Kaida shrugged. “Absurd or not, those are my terms. Take it or leave it. But be quick about it; he doesn’t have much time left.”

The weight of her words fell on me like a blow. My mind raced, searching for alternatives. “You’re asking for something… I… he is my mate, the father of my kids,” I growled, my voice shaking with anger.

She leaned forward, her eyes glinting. “It’s entirely within your power to make it happen. I’m not forcing you. The question is, what are you willing to sacrifice for him?”

I stepped back, my thoughts spiraling. “Give me time,” I said, my voice quiet but firm.

Her smirk returned. “You have until tomorrow by nightfall. After that, the deal is off. Because he’d probably be dead… I don’t wanna ride a dead man, no matter how juicy he looks.”

I gritted my teeth as I turned to face my warriors. “Let us go.”

“Go?” Evelyn growled as she held my hand.

I nodded at her. “We can’t fight them… we are outnumbered, and we still wouldn’t get the antidote. Dane would die, and we too will die.”

Evelyn huffed as she kicked a tree stump. “Calm down… Evelyn,” Trajan said as he stood beside us.

As we left, her voice called out, light and taunting. “Tick tock, Luna. Tick tock.”

We made our way back to the edge of the forest, Kaida’s laughter ringing in my ears. I stopped abruptly, my chest heaving with suppressed rage.

The warriors started to build a campfire. We needed to rest and wait till dawn before we moved back to the pack.

“Are you okay?” Trajan asked, low.

I shook my head, my words struggling to find expression. “She’s playing games, not just that, Trajan, but trying to break us.”

“She’s trying to break you,” Evelyn gently corrected.

I turned to her, the storm in my chest overflowing into my voice. “What am I supposed to do? Agree to this madness? Sacrifice Dane’s dignity for his life?”

Trajan’s eyes were level, though his jaw clenched. “It’s not a decision for you to make alone. You have the pack to consider. Dane gets a say in this too.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “His choice? You know what he’d say. He’d take the deal just to prove a point. He’d put himself through this humiliation and call it loyalty.”

Trajan sighed deeply. “And what about you, Aurora? What are you willing to sacrifice for him?”

Evelyn cut in, “We can’t let her call the shots like this. It’s a trap meant to humiliate us… to destroy Dane’s legacy and undermine yours.”

“Agreed,” one of the younger wolves said, his voice shaking yet firm. “But what do we do instead? We can’t let Dane die.” His words stumbled, and he looked down at the earth.

The low rumble of a growl; another wolf joining. “Why not call her bluff? Storm her camp, take the antidote by force.”

“And risk losing everything?” Trajan countered quickly and firmly. “We don’t know what kind of backup she has. A direct attack could doom us all.”

A heated debate broke out, voices raised in frustration and overlapping one another. Some were for talking, others for force. I said nothing; my eyes were fixed upon the fire, and their words moved around me in swirls, like smoke.

“Luna,” Trajan’s steadfast voice cut through the noise; all eyes turned towards me. “This decision stays with you,” he said, respectful yet urgent, “What will we do?”

I opened my mouth, but no words came. My thoughts were a jumble of desperation and fury. Dane’s voice was a weak and broken whisper in my head, “Don’t leave me.”

I bunched my fists and breathed hard before looking at Trajan. “We fight,” I said, firm but shaking under the weight of what I said.

The camp was still, only the crackling of the fire there to break the silence.

“And if we fail?” one wolf asked hesitantly.

“We won’t,” Evelyn replied, giving a soft smile and a reassuring nod. She placed her hand on mine.

Trajan nodded, stepping closer. “We’ll follow your lead, Aurora. But remember, this fight isn’t just for Dane. It’s for all of us.”

I turned back to the fire, my mind racing. I couldn’t afford to show doubt now. The fire hissed and spat; I whispered into the roar, “No one will die on my account. Never again.”

Trajan must have overheard me, since he laid a soothing hand on my shoulder. “We’ll get through this,” he murmured.

Still, I watched, mesmerized by the fire, as if hypnotized, while the Kaida’s jeering echoed in my mind: Tick tock, Luna. Tick tock.