Chapter 70
“What do you want?” she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.
Anica raised their hands in mock surrender. “Easy, Luna. I’m here to help, remember?”
Aurora hesitated, then sighed. “I don’t know what to think anymore. One minute I’m just trying to survive, and the next I’m supposed to be some… chosen wolf tied to an ancient prophecy.”
Anica stepped closer, their tone softening. “It’s a lot to take in. But you’re stronger than you realize, Aurora. I can see it.”
Their words sent a flicker of warmth through her, but she quickly pushed it aside. “I don’t need your reassurances, Anica. What I need is a solution.”
Anica smiled faintly, their golden eyes holding hers. “Then let me help you find one.”
Cassian watched the exchange from a distance, his jaw tightening as he saw Aurora talking to Anica. He couldn’t hear their words, but the easy way Anica leaned toward her, the faint smile on their lips, sent a sharp pang of irritation through him.
“Something bothering you, Alpha?” Nathan asked as he approached.
Cassian’s gaze didn’t waver. “I don’t trust them.”
Nathan glanced toward Aurora and Anica, then back at Cassian. “You think they’re lying?”
“I think they’re too comfortable,” Cassian replied, his tone clipped. “And they’re getting too close to her.”
Nathan smirked faintly. “Careful, Cassian. You sound jealous.”
Cassian shot him a glare. “This isn’t about jealousy. It’s about keeping her safe.”
“Maybe,” Nathan said, his expression thoughtful. “But you might want to figure out where your priorities lie. If Anica’s right, Aurora’s going to need more than just a bodyguard. She’s going to need someone who truly believes in her.”
Cassian didn’t respond, but Nathan’s words lingered as he turned his attention back to the camp.
That night, Cassian called for a meeting in the war room. Anica was there, their demeanor as calm and confident as ever, while Aurora sat quietly at the edge of the table.
“We can’t wait for the Lycan King to come to us,” Cassian began, his voice firm. “We need to take the fight to him before he has the chance to gather his full strength.”
“And how do you propose we do that?” Anica asked, one brow arching.
Cassian’s gaze hardened. “You’ve been in his inner circle. You know his weaknesses. If you’re truly on our side, you’ll help us exploit them.”
Anica smirked. “You’re asking me to betray someone I once followed. Bold.”
Cassian stepped closer, his voice low. “You already betrayed him by coming here. Don’t act like you’ve got a choice.”
The tension in the room was palpable, but Anica held Cassian’s gaze without flinching. “Fine. There’s a fortress in the northern mountains. It’s where he gathers his most loyal followers. If you want to cripple him, that’s where you start.”
Nathan frowned. “That’s deep in Lycan territory. It’s suicide.”
Cassian’s jaw tightened. “It’s our only chance.”
