The freezing night air felt like sharp needles on her skin when Isolde walked out of the main hall. The sounds of the celebration, the repeated words, the hand-clapping, the fake happiness, all got quieter and quieter. Her legs carried her down the stone steps without her thinking, but her mind was still inside, focused on thoughts of blood mixing together. That strong, constant feeling was still present under her skin, a painful reminder of the agreement she had to keep.
Connected. The word tasted awful in her mouth.
Connected… to him.
To a frightening person.
To the one who took Carlos away from her.
A voice said her name, but it sounded strange, like it was underwater, and it didn't matter anyway. Then another voice spoke. And another one after that. The noise started to become clearer, pulling her back to the present, where four Moonlight leaders had come out of the darkness to block her way.
Elder Rowan, in front, straightened his back. His white beard stood out strongly, and he looked very disapproving. "Luna," he said, his voice strong, "we have to talk about you being the leader. Starting now."
Isolde blinked slowly, feeling tired and not believing what was happening. "Tonight? Right now?"
She only saw a small nod from Elder Mara, who looked closely at the mark on her hand, showing her new connection. "Your… situation has changed. The Moonlight Pack needs a strong, good male Alpha to guide us through this unsure partnership."
Isolde lifted her head high, standing straight and looking them in the eyes without fear. "Carlos picked me to lead with him. He trusted me more than either of you ever could."
Rowan laughed. A dry, not funny, sound. "Carlos couldn't think clearly because of his emotions. This joining," he pointed to the mark on her hand, "shows you can't think clearly enough to lead anymore."
A slow anger started in her chest, stronger than the pain in her hand. "My clear thinking," she said, her voice quiet but firm, "is the only thing stopping this pack from falling apart."
Mara crossed her arms, standing stiffly. "A mixed leadership was never supposed to last. Step down, Luna. Let someone more suitable take over."
"You mean one of your sons," Isolde said sharply, her green eyes shining.
Quietness, heavy and thick, filled the air.
Before either leader could speak, a voice cut through the stress like a knife, calm, in control, and dangerous:
"Is something wrong?"
All four became tense. Leslie Reed came out of the shadows, his cloak falling to the ground, his pale face lit up in the moonlight. His eyes, cold and unreadable, looked over the group before stopping on her.
Rowan bowed quickly, almost showing too much respect. "Your Majesty. We were just making sure things were stable. The pack can't survive if their Alpha has… mixed feelings."
Leslie looked at Isolde. Her chest felt tight from his close stare, but she forced herself to stand still.
"Do you really think that?" he questioned her directly.
Her heart was beating quickly and loudly. She didn't trust what he said and couldn't, but she also wouldn't let on that she was nervous. "I am dedicated to my group," she declared. "That is still the truth."
Something flashed in his eyes really fast, a strange thing she couldn't understand. Was it a sign of agreement, or did he know more than he let on, or was it just the lighting and her imagination?
Rowan made a small noise in his throat. "We just need her to step down,
"There is no need for that," Leslie answered, and even though his voice was calm and quiet, it felt like a sharp knife. "The deal is done. She still has the top job.
Rowan hesitated. "But, what about the group, "
"I think it's good for her to be in charge," Leslie said, his voice sounding harsh and cold. "But not from here."
Isolde became anxious. Not from here? Was he keeping her away from the vampire group? Or was he watching her so he could keep an eye on her? She didn't know for sure.
"She will be in charge just like before," he went on, "but her choices will be carefully checked to make sure they match what the group wants."
The older people looked at each other, annoyed and upset, but nobody wanted to argue with a vampire leader who was stronger than all of them.
But it wasn't what he said that bothered Isolde, it was the way Leslie's eyes stayed locked on her.
For too long. Long enough for her to notice it, to make her feel aware in a way she didn't want to feel. She glanced in another direction.
The older people left, grumbling softly, while Rowan's angry words faded away into the night air like smoke.
The quiet between her and Leslie grew thick, like something you could actually touch.
"You need to be more careful," he told her gently, and she could hear him over the wind.
Her body became tense. "I do not need your advice from you."
He kept looking right at her. "Your people are close to you. You could be hurt."
"I've been at risk of being hurt since Carlos passed away," she replied sharply, letting her anger show.
He didn't say a word, tightening his jaw. Good. She didn't need him to feel sorry for her, even when he didn't mean to do so. She didn't want his attention. She wanted to be far away from him.
"If you're done looking at me like I'm a science experiment, I want to go home," she said, moving back.
Leslie's eyes turned hard, but his voice stayed the same. "You should take it easy. Tonight is the,
"I know what tonight is," she interrupted, her voice sounding cold.
It was not said out loud, but it was very important: the wedding event.
Her stomach turned. Thinking about it made her body tighten up. Her husband would take her, touch her, make her his own.
Leslie seemed serious, hard to read, but there was something else going on, something she couldn't understand.
"I will not make you do anything you don't want to," he promised quietly.
She didn't say anything, walking past him as if he was just a shadow.
The road leading to her home was quiet, and the moonlight shone between the trees like shiny, sharp blades. Her heart beat fast with each sound of leaves moving and branches breaking. She got to her door feeling shaky, put her head on the wood, and breathed out.
She had made it through what happened. She had gotten through the meeting.
But this night… this night was a beginning. A beginning of a battle she was not prepared to face. And she wasn't certain which worried her more: Her rivals we
re hiding in the shadows… or the way she was now connected to someone who was part of that group.