In the dark forests of the Dark Moons pack, Elia Ross, a young healer, seeks to heal the wounds of her past. Sent as a protector to the fragile and gentle Liora, she discovers the disturbing secrets of the lupine hierarchy. At the top of this society reigns Kael Drax, the dominant Alpha, as fascinating as he is ruthless. Ten years earlier, Kael was involved in the tragedy that destroyed Elia's family, but he seems not to remember her. When an arranged marriage between Kael and Liora is announced to unite two powerful packs, Elia sees an unexpected opportunity: to protect Liora, but also to confront the Alpha with his sins. However, troubling questions haunt her mind: why does Kael seem strangely attracted to her? What is he hiding behind his brutal decisions? And, most importantly, is she willing to betray her own principles to uncover the truth and break the chains of her past? As tensions rise and pack rivalries intensify, Elia will have to choose between justice, vengeance, and a forbidden desire.
Chapter 1 Chapitre 1
The woods were thick, damp and secret. Elia Ross felt the cold wind caress her cheeks as she approached the immense domain of the Dark Moons pack. The forest seemed to envelop him, whispering warnings through the rustling of dead leaves beneath his feet. Every step she took in this foreign land seemed to echo the suffering she had left behind. She wasn't there for her, though. She was there for Liora.
She had not chosen to accept this mission. It was the only way for her to continue moving forward without letting herself be swallowed up by the past, to protect this fragile young woman who had no idea of the dangers weighing on her. Elia hadn't come here for the pack feuds or the power struggles; she had come for a promise made to a deceased friend. But by entering the territory of the Dark Moons, she already understood that this promise would take her much further than she had imagined.
As soon as she crossed the edge of the forest, the silhouettes of the pack's guards appeared in the shadows. Their presence was imposing, almost threatening. No words were exchanged, but the atmosphere spoke volumes. They watched him with piercing eyes, evaluating every gesture, every movement. She was a stranger here, and in the packs, that meant more than you might think.
She stopped at the entrance to the compound, her heart beating a little faster under the invisible pressure of the place. The Dark Moons pack was a place of order, inflexible rules and hierarchy. The packs were like kingdoms, and this particular kingdom was ruled by a ruthless Alpha: Kael Drax . If Kael Drax was a legend among her people, then she had heard enough whispers to know that he was not a man to be taken down without paying the price.
A guard finally approached her, assessing her with a cold gaze. He motioned for her to follow him. Elia obeys without question, feeling more and more like a piece on a chessboard, mercilessly moved by invisible hands. She let herself be guided through the enclosure, where black stone buildings stood like sentinels. The tension in the air was palpable, every corner seemed to hold its breath. The pack members stared at her from afar, some curious, others wary.
She finally arrived in front of a large, solid, imposing wooden door. The guard struck three distinct times. After a moment, the door opened, revealing the interior of a large hall, where the smell of leather and burning wood hung in the air. It was an austere but impressive decorated room, with heavy carpets and ancient armor hanging from the walls.
In the background, sat a silhouette that left no room for doubt. He was there. Kael Drax . His cold, penetrating gaze passed through her as soon as she entered. Elia felt a wave of heat pass through her, although the ambient cold persisted. His golden eyes were like two flames in the darkness. He didn't seem to have recognized her immediately. She would have expected it, but his intense gaze made her feel strange, as if something was happening beneath the surface of his icy gaze.
"You're Elia Ross, right? » His voice was as dark as the room around them, deep and commanding.
She nodded, not taking her eyes off him, determined not to let herself be intimidated. "Yes, Alpha. I am here to protect Liora . »
A flash of intrigue flashed in Kael 's eyes. He rose slowly, his movements as graceful as they were frightening, like a beast ready to pounce. " Liora ...My fiancee. » The way he said the word had a strange tone, as if there wasn't really any passion behind the words, but a cold obligation. " I see. So you are the healer that was sent to me. »
"I'm not just a healer," she replied with a calm she didn't fully feel, "I'm here to watch over her. »
Kael seemed to measure his words, his eyes inspecting her like a riddle he was seeking to solve. "You're very...calm for a stranger. However, it seems to me that you are hiding much more beneath this facade. »
Elia felt a rush of adrenaline invade her veins. It was a subtle remark, but full of innuendo. Kael Drax was never satisfied with mere appearances. He saw things that others didn't see.
She held his gaze, her breathing even, controlling her game. "Maybe. But for now, my only priority is Liora . »
An almost imperceptible smile appeared on Kael 's lips. A smile that didn't reach his eyes. " Liora is... precious, isn't she? » He approached her, his heavy footsteps echoing against the stone floor. "I have no doubt that you have much to offer. But know this: here in the Dark Moon Pack, no one is ever really what they seem. »
She stood up on her heels, but Kael 's piercing gaze left her no room for error. She wasn't ready to fully reveal herself yet, but he saw something. He was sure of it. And yet, she couldn't back down.
He turned on his heel without another word and headed towards a door that led to another corridor. "Come on. Liora is waiting for you."
Elia followed him, but the path she took was not the only one that intrigued him. The pack was filled with murmurs, looks full of mystery. It wasn't hard to feel the tension in the air. Liora , this innocent young woman, was more than just an issue. She was at the heart of a much larger struggle than Elia had envisaged.
The door finally opened into a soberly furnished room. Liora , lying on a bed, looked up upon hearing their entrance. Her eyes were as pale as her face, and she seemed frail, almost translucent, as if she had been suffocated by the weight of her own existence. Her hair, almost silver blond, fell around her face with awkward grace.
"Are you Elia? ", she asked in a soft, almost shy voice. "I...I'm happy to meet you. Kael told me a lot about you. »
Elia approached, his heart sinking at the sight of the young woman's fragility. "Yes, Liora , I am here to help you. Everything will be fine. »
But as Liora reached out her hand towards her, Elia felt a chill freeze her skin. Something was wrong. Liora wasn't just fragile; she was sick, exhausted by something older, darker, than simple physical weakness. His eyes, too, had a strange, almost haunted glow.
She sat down by the bed, carefully observing his pale face. "How are you feeling? » asked Elia.
Liora looked down. "Tired. Always tired. » A slight tremor ran through his hand. " Kael says everything will be fine...but sometimes I'm not sure what he means. »
Elia placed a hand on his, trying to give him some comfort. But deep inside her, a certainty was growing. Liora wasn't telling the whole truth. There were secrets here, within these walls, secrets that could change everything. But what role did Kael play in all this?
"We'll find out what's hurting you," Elia replied softly. She had to find an answer. An answer before it's too late. But the shadows in the room seemed thicker and thicker, as if they were listening to every word she said.
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