ine''s


    POV


    A traitor is inside Ste''s Soul.


    Is my dream a premonition or-


    "It can''t be..." I murmured to the midnight wind; it''s cold but not suffocating.


    "B-But who could be betraying us? Could you find that out? Could Jason and Grandmama Jane find it out?" Tyler slowed me down. The High Priestess reached for my hand, "Just leave it to him and our pack, dear." Her eyes darted to the Alpha of the Amber Pack.


    ***


    Though it wasn''t my fault, I still felt guilty.


    I have been marked by the Hearteaters since birth. Once again, my ignorance almost cost someone''s life. First it was the beach ident that killed the Rutherfords and my pet dog Joey,


    and now...


    Does my arrival in Ste''s Soul put the lives of the wolves here at risk?


    ''You cannot escape your fate our fate...'' The words directly from the tongue of Eliane,


    the Forest Witch, ringed in my ears.


    ''I must go now, Ruel. I must make peace with them and undo my creation before-'' Does Eliane try to revert her wrongdoings? Is she really the viiness everyone said she is?


    But the memories of that dream-like encounter with her, the moment when I looked at her eyes, their color identical to mine, I felt some sort of emotions I do not know why I feel. Emotions that are-


    "Pity and mercy." I could not hear my own voice. The way that man, Ruel, betrayed her...


    Why does she affect me? Who is Eliane really? Is there more side of the story told by the werewolves of Ste''s Soul?


    ''Every viin is the hero in their story.'' That quote whispered to me as if another voice lives in my head.


    The air whipped across my face as I went down the carriage that brought me to the entrance of the arena. Its fa?ade may contend to Rome''s The Colosseum. Tyler said that this is where sparring and gathering usually take ce. And also where the wedding reception after the ceremonies will take ce.


    I felt excited and scared at the thought of me and Tyler''s wedding. A sudden strayed sadness wrapped around my heart and I don''t know why. Tyler is too much for me. Am I worthy to be her wife? To be her Luna?


    A muscr arm was instantly wrapped around my waist as soon as my feet touched the ground. Tyler''s scent makes me feel serene and secured. "Are you okay now, ine?"


    I was looking up at him the entire time. When he lowered his gaze to mine, my lips brushed at his stubble. He smiled.


    "I want to fuck, babe," I whispered. As if other werewolves cannot hear me through their


    sharp hearing.


    "Later," he muttered. But it was more of a promise to me.


    "Later," I just murmured back what he said to me.


    I took a very deep breath, willing my emotions to stay in their ce. Letting my


    ''confident'' and fearless side take over me.


    ''Here we go, ine,'' then I exhaled.


    Then Tyler pushed the gigantic door open. Everyone is already inside: the in-house servants, the husbands of she-wolves, the cook, the mortal wives, every wolf member in the Amber, Shadow, and Silver pack. Even Hades, Pegasus, and Cerberus are even inside; the barking of the three pet wolves made me confirm that.


    And in the stage, at the center, is a heart-eating beast-the Hearteater is tied to a wooden pole, bed of hay andrge twigs beneath him. The fire floating at Jose''s palm is ready to jump at it and burn the bastard that even the ashes could not escape the wind.


    I looked around the spacious arena. It truly is an arena. I thought it was just what it''s called. Only the midnight sky serves as the roof, the twinkling stars add as a source of light to therge torches at the four corners.


    Windy and cool, thank the Goddesses Tyler lent me his ck leather jacket. I reached for his hand as he walked me to the seat. His breath is warm; the heat on his palm makes me wonder if werewolves are immune to even the harshness of Antarctica''s climate...


    "We are gathered here for the sudden disturbance of the beast-" Jason pointed to the Hearteater tied at the stake. "That threatened to shatter the concord Ste''s Soul has maintained for years."


    ; I suddenly sneezed. Jason and the Hearteater''s eyes slid towards mine. The fucking


    heart-eating monster smirked.


    face.


    ; "Eliane..." I can read between its lips.


    Jose''s sword of ice inched closer to the Hearteater''s neck. But it just spits at the Beta''s


    It took Jason''s strong hand to stop Jose from decapitating the awful beast. Yet.  "Jose." Tyler''smanding voice thundered, shutting everyone both mortals and werewolves in a heartbeat.


    "If I were you, Alpha..." The Hearteater spoke, mocking Tyler''s title. It tilted its head to the side before speaking again. "I would not marry that green-eyed bitch if you want to save your kind."


    Jose''s nose red; Jason blinked. But Tyler..."I was surprised that even a monster can beg for mercy."


    "I was not begging for mercy. I am only warning you if you want to avoid her wrath..." Her? Who? Eliane?


    "Eliane is dead. Her head lies six feet beneath Ste''s Soul," Jason countered.


    "Her body is dead. But her soul...she''s evesting. The Forest Queen lives forever-in the woods, in the wind. Even on this night."


    Light shed before my eyes and, before I knew it, a great white wolf tore the bat- like left arm of the Hearteater.


    Tyler''s towering appearance then appeared beside his brother. "Don''t you dare tell me what to do!"


    The Hearteater chuckled. It was the same dark amusement that sent me at that phantom where I saw Eliane


    Is the beast referring to me as a green-eyed bitch?


    *... You must choose. Choose wisely, or your destiny will bleed like mine.'' Eliane''s words reverberated inside me again. My head suddenly ached and I fell to the ground, hand pressing against my forehead.


    ''You cannot escape your fate our fate...''


    I heard Jose shout my name. But I was left dazed, unmoving. That unknown presence ws inside my mind.


    ''Choose wisely, or your destiny will bleed like mine.'' I screamed in pain. I pulled my hand and when I looked at it, the tangy, rusty aroma of blood astonished me.


    Soon I felt it. Blood leaking from within me and through my eyes. I am crying— crying with tears of blood.


    ''Or your destiny will bleed like mine...''


    "ine!!!" Tyler''s shriek knocked the breath out of me.


    When I hoisted my head, only a burning image at the stake was visible in my sight before werewolf healers and mortal in-house doctors came rushing at me.


    ***


    Tyler''s POV


    "There were three Hearteaters here in Ste''s Soul," I began giving my speech while I constantly monitored my fiancée, who was resting in one of the seats apanied by healers and doctors. "No one can enter inside if no one invites them to Ste''s Soul." I tried to control the fury


    inside me. Thank the Goddesses that Remus is helping me with that.


    The two Hearteaters earlier are easily incapacitated. But the one that recently burned, seen by several subjects, is the one who imitated Grandmama Jane. And the one I witnessed on top of ine, taking the living daylight out of her and pushing her closer within the grip of death. But I will never allow it. I did not allow it. Not in a freaking thousand years. Not when I am


    still a breathing flesh.


    "If you are all going to be honest about who and why you did that, we may be able to


    understand and forgive you."


    ''I doubt you will,'' Remus blurted.


    I hid my smirk and my brother took over the stage.


    Striding towards ine as I bnced the warmth and coolness of midnight air, I beamed


    at her when she arched her head to my direction.


    ; But she shut her eyes again, leaving me grumpy. Pegasus barked once beside her and I


    stroked the Silver Pack''s pet moon-white fur.


    "Let us begin," Jason''s dark and hoarse voice sank in. I grinned at my brother whereas he


    just gave me a simple nod.


    It''s time to know who the motherfucking mole is.