Chapter 9

Calla’s POV

The wind screamed through the trees, coming with the aroma of moist soil and far-off blood. I sat beside the fire, gazing into the flames, so my thoughts were restless. The Shadow Fangs were becoming more powerful, but so were the threats that surrounded us.

Raiden was aware. He knew I was alive, recognized what I had created, and he was dispatching warriors to eliminate me.

A part of me had always anticipated this moment to arrive. But there was something more, something that gnawed at me during the silent moments—why now?

If Raiden had intended for me to die, he could have sent assassins the minute I was exiled. He could have pursued me himself. But he hadn’t. Instead, he allowed me to vanish.

Until now.

Something about it didn’t feel right.

The crackling fire popped, and I glanced up as Darius came closer, his expression was unreadable. “Someone’s asking for you,” he said, with his tone soft, yet resolute. “A rogue. Claims he has information you’ll want to hear. ”

I raised an eyebrow. “And you trust him? ”

“No. ” Darius folded his arms. “But he was insistent. Said it pertained to your exile. ”

A gradual chill crept up my spine. I stood up, brushing the dirt off my hands. “Where is he? ”

Darius nodded toward the trees. “Waiting. ”

I trailed him through the shadows, my senses alert. The Rogue Lands were rife with deception and half-truths. If this rogue possessed information, I needed to be cautious about how much I accepted.

We stopped at the edge of the camp. while a lone figure stood under the moonlight, cloaked in darkness. His scent was unfamiliar, damp forest, a mix of old leather,  and something sharper—like rusted iron.

He lifted his head as I stepped forward, and revealed piercing amber eyes and a scar running from his temple to his jaw.

“Calla. ” His voice was low and harsh. “You don’t know me, but I know you. ”

I examined him closely. “Then you understand that I don’t trust strangers. ”

He let out a dry laugh. “Good. That’s what has kept you alive this long. ” He took a cautious step forward. Darius stiffened beside me, poised to act if necessary. “But if you want the truth regarding your exile, you’ll have to trust me—at least a little. ”

I crossed my arms. “Begin speaking. ”

The rogue's expression turned serious. “You were framed. ”

My breath caught in my throat. I had suspected it, had felt it in my bones, but hearing it articulated sent a surge of cold rage through me.

“By whom? ” My voice remained steady, but my nails pressed into my palms.

The rogue hesitated. “That’s the perilous part. ”

Darius snorted. “Everything is perilous here. ”

The rogue’s amber gaze fixed on mine. “It wasn’t solely Raiden. ”

Silence lingered between us. My heart pounded in my ears.

“What are you implying? ” I inquired, my voice softer now.

He breathed out slowly. “Your banishment wasn’t due to treason. It was about removing a threat. And that danger was never solely to Raiden. ”

A peculiar discomfort settled in my chest. “Then who? ”

The rogue’s mouth turned into a grin that was not entirely a smile. “The High Council. ”

I tensed. Darius muttered an expletive under his breath.

The High Council. The ruling body of all the packs. The ones who dictated alliances, penalties, conflicts.

They were formidable. Beyond reproach. And if they had desired my removal…

It indicated I had never had a real chance.

I swallowed hard, my thoughts racing. “Why would the High Council be concerned about me? ”

The rogue’s gaze remained steady. “Because you were destined for more than simply being Raiden’s Luna. You were meant to bring about change. ”

A harsh, bitter laugh escaped my lips. “I was supposed to be his. That was the extent of it. ”

The rogue shook his head. “No. You were meant to be a queen. ”

My breath caught in my throat.

“I don’t know the entire story,” the rogue conceded, observing me intently. “But I know this—your banishment was orchestrated long before Raiden betrayed you. Someone wanted you gone, and they manipulated him to achieve that. ”

A nauseating sensation churned in my stomach.

I had spent such a long time believing Raiden had betrayed me out of responsibility, out of rage, out of love grown cold. But if he had merely been a pawn…

Then who had pulled the strings?

Darius stepped forward, his tone sharp. “Why disclose this information now? What do you seek? ”

The rogue smiled faintly. “Revenge. ”

The term ignited the air, filled with something fierce and relentless.

I met his gaze. “Against whom? ”

His eyes flickered with something inscrutable. “The very people who stripped everything from you. ”

Silence stretched on. The fire crackled in the distance. My hands formed into fists.

For the first time since my banishment, I understood that the truth was far grander than I had ever envisioned. My animosity towards Raiden had driven me, had made me stronger, but now…

Now I possessed something even more significant.

A war to ignite.

And I would incinerate them all for what they had done.

Before I could utter another word, a sharp whistle sliced through the air.

A signal.

A warning.

Darius cursed, drawing his sword as the trees rustled around us. The rogue tensed, his expression darkening.

I turned sharply, my body coiled. And then—

The first arrow flew straight toward my heart.