The Wolfless Luna's Revenge: Returning With His Secret Twins

~Samantha~

I gave up on sleep around seven. Got dressed. Splashed cold water on my face. Stared at myself in the mirror until my reflection started looking like a stranger.

The knock on my door came at seven-thirty.

"Come in." I was too tired to care who it was.

Lila entered. She looked better than the rest of us, cleaned up, rested, focused. Like the mine hadn’t almost killed her yesterday.

"We need to talk." She closed the door behind her. "About the shadow array."

"Killian already told me. Three components. Twins, royal blood, Shadow vessel." I sat on the edge of my bed. "What else is there?"

"He got it wrong. Or rather, incomplete." Lila pulled out a different scroll from her bag. "I found this after he left last night. Was going through the documents more carefully."

She unrolled it on my desk.

"What am I looking at?"

"The actual requirements for the shadow array." Lila pointed at three circles drawn in a triangle formation. "Royal blood. That’s you. Twin keys. That’s Devon and Diana. And this," She tapped the third circle. "Shadow vessel isn’t a person. It’s an object. A relic."

I moved closer. "What kind of relic?"

"Specifically, a Silver Claw relic. Something that’s been purified and blessed by the clan. It acts as a path to channel shadow power without corrupting the user." Lila’s finger traced lines connecting the three circles. "Without it, the array can’t activate. With it, Black Moon can open the shadow gate and merge our world with the shadow realm."

"And you have one of these relics?"

"I do. My father’s pendant. He wore it his entire life. It’s been purified by three generations of Silver Claw leaders." She pulled out a silver chain from under her shirt. "This is what Black Moon is really after. Not Killian. This."

"Then why did Killian’s documents say Shadow vessel?"

"Because those were older plans. Before Silver Claw figured out how to create a safer version using relics instead of living people." Lila tucked the pendant back under her shirt. "Your mother worked with my father on this. They knew Black Moon was planning something. They created a backup plan."

"What kind of backup plan?"

"The relics can be used two ways. One way activates the array like Black Moon wants. The other way destroys it permanently." Lila sat on my desk. "But to destroy it, we need all the Silver Claw relics. Not just mine. All of them."

"How many are there?"

"Five. One for each of the surviving clan members I mentioned before. We’re scattered across different territories. Hiding. Dying slowly from corruption." Lila’s voice suddenly seemed to crack. "But if we gather all five relics and combine them with your royal blood and the twins’ purification power, we can end this. Destroy the shadow array before Black Moon uses it."

"Where are the other four?"

"That’s the problem. I know general locations but not specifics. They’re in hiding for a reason. I need help tracking them down." Lila looked at me directly. "I need you to help me find them."

"Why me?"

"Because they’ll trust royal blood. They knew your mother. Served her. If you ask them to come out of hiding, they will." Lila stood up. "But we need to move fast. Three days isn’t much time to find four people who’ve been successfully hiding for ten years."

"This could be a trap." I had to say it. "You could be leading us straight to Black Moon."

"I could be. But I’m not." Lila crossed her arms. "Look, I get it. You don’t trust me. Dominic definitely doesn’t trust me. But what choice do you have? Sit here and wait for Black Moon to come take the twins? Or actually do something that might stop him?"

Did she always have to make sense or she was just so good at manipulating people?

"I need to discuss this with Dominic."

"He’ll say no. His constant doubt  is sabotaging this whole thing. For an Alpha, he’s supposed to take risk. We have a better shot taking Killian with us."

“And it’s coming from a good place of heart.” I told her.

"Then fine. Discuss it. Argue over it. Waste time. Just remember we only have three days. And Black Moon isn’t wasting his."

She left, banging the door hard.

I got up. Headed downstairs. Found Dominic in his office sorting through patrol reports.

"We need to talk." I closed the door behind me.

"About?" He didn’t look up from the papers.

"Lila has a plan to destroy the shadow array."

That got his attention. "What kind of plan?"

I explained. The relics. The five Silver Claw survivors. The backup plan my mother and Lila’s father had created.

Dominic listened without interrupting. His expression got darker with each detail.

"No." His answer came the second I finished. "That’s the worst plan I have heard in my entire life."

"You are indirectly insulting my mother."

“No, I’m not. She’s dead and so is Lila’s father which means they cannot prove or defend anything that strange girl says. It’s very easy to lie and fool you.” He held his ground.

"Lila conveniently has information about a secret backup that requires us to run all over the territory chasing ghosts? While leaving the manor vulnerable? While Black Moon could attack at any time? No. We’re staying here. Behind our defenses."

“I’m not walking into another trap with my eyes open.”

"Staying here means waiting for Black Moon to come to us. On his terms. His timing."

"Staying here means controlling the battlefield. Not running across the territory on a wild goose chase."

"It’s not a wild goose chase if the relics are real!"

"If. That’s a big if, Sam. Based on the word of someone we barely know." Dominic stopped pacing. Looked at me. "Why are you so determined to trust her?"

"Because doing nothing isn’t an option!"

"Doing something stupid isn’t an option either!"

"Then what’s your plan?!" My voice rose. "Sit here and hope Black Moon just gives up? Hope the twins are safe behind walls when we know he has people inside the pack already?"

"We’ll root out the traitors."

"In three days? You really think we can find everyone working for Black Moon in three days?"

"It’s better than trusting Lila!"

"Why?! Why is trusting her so impossible for you?!"

"Because anyone is capable of betrayal! The prophecy even warned us." Dominic’s control was breaking.

“You betrayed but still, I forgave you. If anyone should have so much trust issues, it should be me.” I fired back.

“I don’t just get you sometimes.”

Right in the middle of our argument, the door opened without a knock. Lila stood there with Killian behind her. Both of them looked ready for a fight.

"I could hear you screaming from the entrance hall." Lila stepped inside. "Want to discuss this like adults or keep yelling until the entire pack knows your business?"

"Get out of my office." Dominic commanded. "You’re not welcome here."

"Too bad. I’m here anyway." Lila crossed her arms. "And I’m guessing from all the shouting that Sam told you my plan and you said no."

"I said no because it’s a trap. Because you’re using Sam to get what you want. Because I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you."

"Using her?" Lila couldn’t believe it. "I’m trying to save everyone! Including your ungrateful self!"

"By leading us on some mission to find relics that probably don’t exist? By separating us from our defenses? By making us vulnerable?" Dominic moved around his desk. "You’re either working for Black Moon or you’re an idiot. Haven’t decided which yet."

"I’m neither. I’m a survivor trying to end the threat that killed my entire clan!" Lila took a step forward. "But you’re so busy being paranoid that you can’t see help when it’s standing right in front of you!"

"Help? You call this help? Showing up injured with blatant lies? Having answers to everything? Knowing exactly where to find secret passages and hidden vaults?" Dominic’s voice rose. "You’re too good to be true. Which means you’re not true at all!"

"I’m good at this because I was trained for it! Because Silver Claw taught me how to survive! How to track! How to fight!" Lila was yelling now too. "But apparently being competent makes me suspicious in your eyes!"

"Being competent and conveniently appearing exactly when we need help makes you suspicious! Yes!" Dominic slammed his hand on his desk. "You want me to believe you’re just a helpful stranger? Fine! Prove it! Show me one piece of evidence that you’re not working for Black Moon!"

"I’ve bled for you! I’ve fought beside you! I’ve given you information that’s kept you alive!" Lila’s hands clenched into fists. "What more proof do you need?!"

"Proof that doesn’t involve you benefiting from helping us! Proof that shows you care about more than just finding these relics!" Dominic moved closer. "Because let’s face the facts, you need us more than we need you. And that makes every word out of your mouth suspect!"