13. Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Luna
W hen Orion’s phone buzzed, he glanced at the screen—and froze, every muscle in his body locking up instantly. Something was very wrong.
"What is it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, sensing the shift in the air.
He didn’t respond immediately, but I saw his eyes darken as he read the message. His grip on the phone tightened so hard I thought it might shatter. I stood, crossing the room toward him, but before I could reach him, he growled low under his breath, fury rolling off him in waves.
“Orion, what’s going on?” I asked again, but he didn’t answer. His fingers flew over the phone, dialing a number.
“Jake, get over here. Now!” Orion barked into the phone, his voice a dangerous growl. “And bring everyone you’ve got. I want men at every entrance. No one gets in or out without me knowing.”
I felt a chill run down my spine. What was happening?
He slammed the phone down, his eyes blazing as he finally turned to me. “Luna, it’s not safe. I’m not taking any chances.”
“What did the message say? “I stepped closer, trying to get him to look me in the eye, to explain.
“It’s from Marcosias. He’s threatening us." Orion let out a sharp breath, the muscles in his neck tightening. “What ... what exactly did he say?” My heart stopped for a second.
“It’s not over, Alpha. Luna is next. She’ll be mine soon enough.” His lips curled into a snarl.
"He won’t touch me, Orion." I swallowed hard, the weight of those words settling in.
His eyes flashed with a wild protectiveness I hadn’t seen before. “You’re damn right he won’t. Not while I’m still breathing.”
Moments later, Jake stormed in, followed by a handful of Orion’s men. Their faces were grim as Orion paced in front of them.
“No one leaves Luna’s side. Not for a second,” Orion ordered, his voice cold and firm. “She’s under maximum protection until I say otherwise. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Alpha,” they replied in unison.
Orion turned to Jake, his eyes hard. “Double the security. I want men at every corner, inside and out. Anyone tries to get near her without my permission, you take them down. No questions.”
Jake nodded, but I saw the flicker of concern in his eyes.
Orion’s expression faltered for a moment, his fury giving way to something more vulnerable. “What happened to Miranda? Is she okay?”
“She’s fine.” Jake hesitated.
I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. Everything was spiraling. I reached for Orion’s arm, trying to ground him in the moment.
His gaze softened just a bit when he looked at me, but the storm still raged behind his eyes.
“I’m not letting him anywhere near you, Luna.”
But even as he said it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.
The morning was quiet, almost unnaturally so. The weight of Orion's warning still hung in the air from last night, refusing to let go. I was about to sink into the comfort of my routine when the sudden ringing of my phone pierced through the silence.
“Miranda?” I answered cautiously.
“Luna,” her voice came through the line, shaky and filled with desperation. “I need to see you. Please ... it’s urgent.”
I immediately tensed, suspicion creeping in. “We met yesterday, and things didn’t go so well, Miranda. Why should I trust you now?”
“I know,” she admitted quickly. “I swear, I’ll be on my best behavior this time. But you need to come. It’s about you ... and my dad.”
That was enough to get my attention. “What do you mean?”
“I can’t explain over the phone,” she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Meet me at your apartment. I have the keys. Remember you gave me the spare key some time ago. I’ll be waiting.”
I hesitated, doubt gnawing at me. This could be a trap, a ruse by Marcosias to lure me in. But if it involved Orion, I couldn’t ignore it.
“Alright,” I finally agreed. “But if you’re playing games, Miranda—”
“I’m not,” she interrupted, her tone dead serious. “Just come. Please.”
I ended the call, pacing around the room for a moment, considering my options. I couldn’t tell Orion—I knew he’d stop me from going. But I couldn’t go alone, either.
I grabbed my jacket and headed to the door, finding Jake stationed outside, ever vigilant.
“I need you to drive me to my apartment,” I said, trying to keep my voice casual. “There’s something I need to check on.”
Jake’s eyes narrowed. “Does Orion know?”
I met his gaze, keeping my tone steady. “No, and he doesn’t need to. Just drive me, and I’ll be quick.”
He nodded, but I could tell he wasn’t thrilled with the idea. Still, he didn’t argue.
We arrived at my apartment shortly after, and I could feel the tension building inside me. Something wasn’t right. As we pulled up, I turned to Jake. “Wait outside for me. I won’t be long.”
Jake frowned. “Are you sure?”
“I’ll be fine,” I assured him, stepping out of the car. “I just need a few minutes alone.”
He didn’t look convinced but nodded anyway.
I walked up the steps to my apartment, my heartbeat thudding in my ears. Miranda was already inside when I unlocked the door, pacing nervously. Her face was pale, her eyes red, as if she hadn’t slept in days.
“You came,” she said, her voice soft with relief.
I closed the door behind me, keeping my distance. “You said it was about me and your father. Start talking.”
She pressed her hands together, clearly struggling with whatever she had to say. “I overheard something. About Marcosias ... his plans for you.”
I crossed my arms, my skepticism rising. “What plans, Miranda?”
Her voice trembled as she spoke. “He used me as a pawn, to manipulate you and my father. And you ... Luna, he wants to use your powers to strengthen his clan. To turn you into a weapon.”
My breath hitched, her words hitting me like a punch to the gut. “Why are you telling me this now?”
“Because I didn’t see it before,” she confessed, her voice breaking. “I thought I could handle him. Thought I was in control. But I’m not. He’s been playing me this whole time, and now I don’t know how to escape. If I try to leave, he’ll retaliate. My father ... I can’t let him get hurt.”
My mind was racing, trying to piece everything together. Before I could respond, a sharp pain shot through my head, and my vision blurred. It was happening again.
I stumbled, grasping the edge of the table, as the room around me faded, replaced by the haunting images of another vision.
I saw the battlefield, the clans clashing in a storm of violence and blood. In the middle of it all stood Orion, gravely injured, struggling to stay on his feet. Blood poured from his wounds as he fought off attackers, but I could see it in his eyes—he was losing.
And then, standing above him, victorious, was Marcosias. A cruel smile spread across his face as he raised his arms, claiming his twisted victory.
I gasped, snapping back to reality, my body shaking. Miranda rushed to my side, her face filled with concern.
“What did you see?” she asked, her voice frantic.
I looked at her, the weight of the vision still heavy on my chest. “If we don’t stop Marcosias, Orion will die.”
“What?! What do we do? I can’t lose my father.”
“Why don’t you reconcile with your father? Our crime was just falling in love with each other and … I know how much it hurts you. I never wanted to betray you, trust me. I … I tried … stopping myself, but I couldn’t. We just couldn’t let go of each other. I’m so sorry. I’m-”
Before I could finish my statement, Miranda hugged me. “I know you didn’t want things to be like this, and I’m sorry for how I handled things. I was just angry at everyone and everything, and Marcosias took advantage of that.”
“So come with me. Let’s meet your father,” I said, holding her hands.
“I need to be with Marcosias. That’s the only way I can know what he’s planning. It’s best to keep your enemies closer.”
“But not like this. You are risking your life being with him.”
“I don’t have a choice, Luna.”
Miranda glanced nervously at the clock on the wall, her anxiety almost palpable. She shifted from foot to foot, wringing her hands as if she were itching to flee.
"I need to go back," she whispered, her voice barely steady. "If I stay too long, Marcosias will suspect something. I can’t let him know I was here."
I took a step forward, placing a hand on her arm. "Wait," I urged softly. "Jake’s waiting for me outside. If he sees you leaving before me, he’ll start asking questions. Let me leave first. After we’ve left you can go"
She bit her lip, clearly torn, before finally nodding. "Alright. But hurry."
I glanced at the door, feeling the weight of the situation pressing on my chest. "Just stay calm," I told her, hoping to reassure her, even though my own nerves were frayed.
She gave me a small, reluctant nod, and I quickly turned to leave.
When I returned to the condo, I was surprised to see more wolves, with Orion pacing around, as he pressed his phone tightly to his ear and barked orders to his most trusted men. His voice was sharp, full of barely contained fury as he rallied them, preparing for the inevitable confrontation with Marcosias’ clan.
“They’re closing in. I want every wolf ready,” he growled into the phone, his expression a mix of determination and cold fury. “We can’t afford any slip-ups. This has to be precise.
He glanced up when I walked out, but his focus remained on the call. His eyes briefly met mine—full of an intensity that told me just how serious things were. It felt like the calm before a storm. The pressure of the brewing war weighed heavily on his shoulders, and I could see the burden he was carrying for both of us. For the entire clan.
“I have to meet with a few key people tonight,” he said, ending the call. “This meeting will determine our next move. Stay here. Jake will keep watch.” His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument, but there was an undercurrent of worry in his tone.
I nodded, though unease churned in my stomach. “Please be careful, Orion.”
He gave me a quick kiss on the forehead, his lips soft but his expression hard. “I will. Just stay here and don’t leave the condo.”
As he left, the condo felt colder, emptier, without his presence. I wandered around restlessly, trying to shake the gnawing feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong. I didn’t trust this situation—Marcosias was too cunning, too unpredictable.
“I just hope this meeting goes well. I don’t know why I am anxious.”
Suddenly, there was a sound—a soft creak near the back entrance. My instincts flared. Before I could react, rough hands grabbed me from behind, yanking me backward into the darkness. I tried to scream, but a hand clamped over my mouth, muffling my cries. When they dragged me out, I saw Jake and the other men unconscious. Panic surged through me as I struggled, but my captors were too strong, their movements quick and coordinated.
They dragged me into a waiting van, and I saw the emblem of Marcosias’ clan stitched onto the sleeves of their jackets. My heart pounded in my chest.
“Stay quiet, seer,” one of them hissed in my ear. “We’ve got plans for you. I’m sure you’ll love it.”