Chapter 40: Malicious Conspiracy

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Malicious Conspiracy "Careful with it," Zayn barked, standing with his arms crossed, watching two wolves wrestle a massive stone totem across the uneven field. The old relic was heavy, carved deep with ancient markings that none of them fully understood yet. Lily had found these totems first, with her sharp eyes and stubborn spirit. Zayn’s mouth tightened at the thought. Understanding the totems could wait. Right now, the priority was hiding them. At least until Alpha King Dace, the accompanying Alphas, and their men were off pack grounds. One overheard rumor, one careless whisper—and everything they had clawed to rebuild would come crashing down. Ezra came up beside him, arms folded loosely, watching the slow progress. “They’ll get it there," Ezra said with a grunt. "It’s just a damn rock. Not like they’re moving the moon.” Zayn didn’t smile. His eyes stayed locked on the dragging trail the totem cut through the dirt. As the heavy stone shifted and groaned, another image shoved its way into his mind— Lily. Her body was broken and bandaged. The deep wounds on her back hadn’t even been properly cleaned. The way she had curled in on herself in that tiny infirmary bed, trying to make herself smaller, invisible. His jaw clenched tightly. Ezra noticed. “You good?” he asked under his breath. Zayn didn’t answer. Ezra exhaled. “Look... I made sure no one said anything.” Zayn’s gaze stayed fixed on the totem. “And the ones who saw it?” “They know better than to open their mouths,” Ezra said. His voice was low, certain. “I talked to every damn one of them. Threatened where needed.” Zayn gave a short nod, but the knot in his chest didn’t loosen. He watched silently as the wolves wrestled the totem up the cracked steps of the abandoned farmhouse at the far end of the field. The building had half a roof missing, one wall eaten through by rot. It stank of damp wood and mold. But it would do. No one would come snooping there. It was the perfect hiding place until the dust settled. The heavy doors creaked closed with a low groan, swallowing the stone relic into the darkness inside. The smaller totems had been stored earlier. Zayn let out a slow breath, the weight in his chest not easing. “This isn’t fixing anything,” he muttered under his breath. Ezra clapped him on the back with a rough hand. “Maybe not. But it’s buying us time.” Zayn didn’t reply. His eyes drifted out toward the fields, toward the thin line of buildings on the horizon. The infirmary. Where Lily still lay. Healing from wounds she should have never had. The totem was hidden. But some things...couldn’t be hidden so easily. Especially the guilt clawing inside him. “Alpha!” Zayn spun around at the sound of frantic footsteps. Breathless and pale, Zephyr rushed across the field, nearly tripping over himself to get to them. Ezra stepped up, tense. “What is it?” He shouldn’t be here, he was assigned to guard Luna Queen Regina. Zephyr dropped his voice, eyes darting around. “It’s the Alpha King... and the other Alphas. They’re meeting in secret without you.” Zayn’s jaw tightened. “Where?” “The old Moon Temple,” Zephyr whispered quickly, “Near the east fields. I followed them. They’ve got guards posted but... they didn’t notice me.” Ezra swore under his breath. “They didn’t even bother hiding it better.” Zayn’s eyes darkened. “Lead us. Now.” Without another word, Zephyr turned and took off at a fast pace. Zayn and Ezra followed close behind, weaving through the quiet parts of the pack grounds. The Moon Temple had been abandoned for years. A crumbling relic left to rot after the wars. As they got closer, Zayn motioned for them to slow down. They crept closer under the cover of the overgrown brush. Faint voices carried through the broken windows. Zayn crouched behind a thick cluster of bushes, Ezra and Zephyr beside him. They could hear the low murmur of angry conversation. “Zayn is unstable...” “...a danger to his own pack...” “...can’t be trusted to lead.” Zayn’s fists clenched at his sides. His face stayed blank, but Ezra saw the rage boiling beneath. “They’re talking about you,” Ezra said under his breath. Zayn didn’t move. His eyes stayed locked on the shadowy figures inside. Then came the voice they all knew too well—booming with authority. Alpha King Dace. “We gave him a chance after the rebellion. After the deaths. But he’s clearly unfit to rule. Something isn’t sitting right. He appears to be hiding something.” Several grunts of agreement followed. Zayn stood up, brushing the dirt from his pants. His expression was ice cold. “Let’s not keep them waiting,” he said quietly. Ezra nodded grimly. Together, they walked straight up to the shattered entrance of the Moon Temple. The heavy wooden doors creaked on their hinges as Zayn shoved them open with one hard push. The room fell silent. Every Alpha’s head turned sharply toward them. The Alpha King’s face twisted first in surprise, then something sharper—suspicion. “Well, well,” the King said slowly, his voice smooth like poison. “What a surprise.” Zayn stepped inside fully, not flinching under their stares. Ezra stayed just behind him. Zephyr hovered at the edge—then, with a smart nod to Zayn, he slipped quietly back into the shadows and was gone before anyone could think to stop him. Zayn didn’t look back. His focus was on the men standing in front of him. “The problem with meeting in secret,” Zayn said, voice calm but cold, “is you never know who’s listening.” The Alphas shifted uncomfortably. The Alpha King, though, smiled thinly. “You misunderstand. We were simply discussing... concerns.” Zayn crossed his arms. “Without your host? Without your ally?” The King’s smile widened, but his eyes stayed cold. “Are you sure you’re still our ally, Zayn?” Ezra growled low under his breath, but Zayn lifted a hand to silence him. Zayn’s voice dropped, dangerous. “Be careful how you finish that sentence, Your Majesty.” The tension snapped tight across the room, heavy enough to choke on. Nobody moved. Nobody spoke. "You meet in secret on my land," Zayn said, voice low and sharp, "and you think I wouldn’t notice?" A few of them avoided his gaze. The Alpha King crossed his arms. "You’re overreacting, Zayn. We were only... exchanging thoughts." "Thoughts about me? About how I’m unfit?" Zayn’s voice cracked like a whip across the room. "In my own pack grounds? That’s more than just talking. That’s disrespectful." The King’s eyes gleamed. "We meant no offense." "Then why was I left out?" Zayn asked, stepping forward. His gaze swept across the gathered Alphas, pinning each one where they stood. "If there’s something to say about me, say it to my face." A heavy silence settled. Finally, Alpha Kade cleared his throat. "It’s not just this, Zayn. There’s... talk. Whispers that you’re hiding things. Keeping secrets." Zayn smiled coldly. "I lead. I make decisions to protect my people. That’s my right as Alpha." The Alpha King’s smile faded. "When those decisions affect us all, they stop being your right alone." Zayn’s jaw tightened, but he kept his tone even. "I owe you no explanations for how I run my pack." "You owe loyalty to the alliance," Alpha Revin said, a hint of challenge in his voice. "And I have been loyal," Zayn snapped back. "My wolves have fought beside yours. Bled beside yours. Don’t mistake caution for betrayal." The Alpha King stepped forward slightly, his gaze sharp. "Caution is one thing. Secrets are another." Zayn’s lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. "If you think I’m hiding something... you’re right." A few of the Alphas straightened up in alarm. The King narrowed his eyes. "You admit it?" "I admit I keep my cards close," Zayn said coolly. "Because unlike you, I remember that wolves are not the only monsters out there. Not all battles are fought in the open." The Alpha King’s fists clenched briefly at his sides before he masked it with another smile. "You play a dangerous game." "So do you," Zayn said, voice like ice. "Plotting against an Alpha in his own territory? That’s a line you don’t want to cross." Another heavy pause. Zayn glanced across the room, making sure he had everyone’s attention. "Since you’re all so concerned about my leadership," he said casually, "let me make it very clear where we stand." He took a slow step forward, radiating pure authority. "I have decided," he said, voice carrying across the cracked walls, "to name my Luna." Murmurs broke out instantly. A few Alphas exchanged wide-eyed glances. The Alpha King’s brows lifted. "You intend to choose a mate... now?" Zayn smiled thinly. "Not just any mate." He let it hang a second longer, savoring the shift in the room. "I will be claiming Lily Brightpaw of Thunder Paw," he said, clearly, "as my Luna." The room exploded. Shouts, protests, disbelief. "You can’t!" "I can," he said simply. "And I will." The Alpha King stepped forward again, voice hard. "You’d bind yourself to her? A mute girl? The daughter of your enemy?" Zayn didn’t blink. "I would."