Serena’s heartbeat picked up slightly, she leaned forward in the uncomfortable seat. She raised a brow and cleared her throat.
"I don’t understand. I thought the old Alpha, Darius’ father, died like everyone else," Serena said.
"Died like the rest of us?" Mike wheezed a bitter chuckle. "That’s the story they tell the foolish and children. I’ve lived here my whole life, little miss. I’ve seen more than most. That man wasn’t mad. He was... broken, maybe. Something got to him. Took hold. But the council made their choice when they locked him away. Some say he begged to be sent to the wilds. Said he heard the gods there."
Serena’s throat went dry.
"After that," Mike continued, oblivious to her reaction, "things started to fall apart. Wolves started fighting each other. Territory disputes. Family turned on each other, blood was thicker than water but they did not care. All this peace talk now?" He shook his head slowly. "Too late. That kind of rot doesn’t heal easy."
Serena stared at him, unsure of what to say. Her thoughts whirled. She had heard whispers, yes. Talk in the halls when people thought she wasn’t listening. But this was the first time someone had spoken of it so openly, like it was truth and not speculation.
"You... you think Ironshade is cursed?" she asked softly.
The Moonseeker had said that one else apart from the council, but it would be hard to conceal things. Ironshade was a cardinal pack and one of the oldest in Kaldora, these things are not that simple.
Mike gave a slow nod. "Not cursed, touched by the angry goddess. The kind of touch that doesn’t wash off. It does not matter who leads now. They’ll be carrying that weight."
She fell silent. The wind outside whistled softly, and the papers on the table flickered. She did not know why Livia had left her here, but now she was starting to wonder if it had been intentional. The timing was too strange. And Mike, this old, half-blind man spoke like someone who had been waiting a long time to tell his story.
Her hands twisted together in her lap. "Do you believe in fate?"
Mike snorted. "I believe in wolves doing what they must. Sometimes fate’s just the name we give to things we don’t want to face."
Before Serena could ask more, the front door creaked. She jumped slightly as Livia stepped inside, brushing off her cloak and giving them both a cursory glance.
"You’re still talking," she said dryly.
Mike grinned. "Always."
Serena rose, unsure of what to do with the swirl of thoughts pressing against her ribs.
Livia tilted her head toward the door. "Come. We’re done here."
Serena nodded slowly, casting one last look at Mike, who raised his glass of water in mock salute.
As they stepped outside into the sunlight, Serena’s eyes lingered on the quiet house and the strange truths it seemed to carry. Whatever had happened to Ironshade’s former Alpha... it had not been madness alone.
Serena nodded slowly, casting one last look at Mike, who raised his glass of water in mock salute.
As they stepped outside into the sunlight, Serena’s eyes lingered on the quiet house and the strange truths it seemed to carry. Whatever had happened to Ironshade’s former Alpha... it had not been madness alone.
The wind had picked up slightly, carrying with it the scent of pine and damp soil. The sun was already beginning its descent, casting a warm, honeyed light across the stones. Serena followed Livia in silence, her boots crunching over the dry path that led back to the horses.
But she wasn’t truly aware of where her feet were taking her.
Her mind was still tangled in Mike’s words, looping over and over in her head like thread wound too tightly: Touched by the angry goddess. What did that mean? And why had no one spoken of it before? It unsettled her and excited her. It was something new and she was glad that she was able to leave the castle.
She rubbed her arms against the breeze.
The thought that something had "taken hold" of the former Alpha gnawed at her. If that were true, what had truly broken him? What darkness had he stumbled into that even the council feared it enough to bury it beneath polished speeches and silence? And if that darkness still lingered... what did that mean for Darius?
Her steps slowed without her realising. She had drifted behind Livia, her gaze fixed on the earth.
The other woman turned suddenly, clearly having noticed the gap between them. Her cloak snapped in the breeze as she narrowed her eyes. "Serena," she barked. "Are you sleepwalking?"
Serena startled and looked up. She looked around herself and then shook her head. "Oh no, I am sorry."
Livia gave a short, irritated exhale and turned back around. "Keep up. I do not have the energy to watch you wander into the woods like some fairy-touched fool."
Serena pressed her lips together and quickened her pace, falling back into step behind her. The sting of the words faded quicker than usual. This time, Livia didn’t sound cruel, just tired.
They walked in silence for a time. Serena’s fingers curled into the folds of her cloak. The question had begun forming in her throat well before she gave it voice.
"Livia..." she said gently. "Are you all right?"
Livia didn’t stop walking, but her posture stiffened. Her silence was long enough that Serena was sure she wouldn’t answer.
Then, softly, "Why do you ask?"
Serena hesitated. "Because you usually seem impatient when you’re annoyed, which is all the time. Today you just seem... off."
Livia snorted, but it didn’t carry the usual disdain. "And what would you know of how I usually am?"
"I pay attention." Serena offered a tentative smile. "Even if you’d prefer I did not." Fresh chapters posted on novel⚑fire.net
Livia casted a sidelong glance and then scoffed but Serena caught the small playing on her face.