Chapter 83: Secrets Uncovered

Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Secrets Uncovered Lily strode across the training grounds, her steps purposeful despite the lingering heaviness in her chest. Martha followed close behind, her watchful eyes scanning the area. Warriors paired off in combat drills, the clash of wooden practice swords and grunts filling the morning air. Ragnar spotted them immediately. He broke away from his training session and approached with a respectful nod. “Luna Lily,” he said, his voice gruff but respectful. “Do you need something?” Lily shook her head and signed quickly. Martha translated, “She’s looking for Axel, Jett, and Ryker.” Ragnar’s brow furrowed. “Those three? What business do you have with Zayn’s men?” Lily’s expression hardened slightly. She signed again. “The Alpha assigned them to me,” Martha explained. “She doesn’t need your services today.” Ragnar’s jaw tightened, but he nodded stiffly. “They’re at the far end of the training ground. I’ll take you.” As they crossed the field, Lily felt eyes on her. Some warriors paused their drills to watch her pass. Most quickly looked away when she met their gaze, but a few nodded respectfully. Small progress, she thought. Ragnar pointed toward three men sparring in the corner. “There they are.” Lily nodded her thanks. She signed quickly to Martha. “She says you’re dismissed for now,” Martha told Ragnar. “She’ll send for you when needed.” Ragnar’s expression darkened. “With respect, Luna, I don’t think—” Lily held up her hand, her eyes firm. She pointed to herself, then to the warriors, then made a shooing motion toward Ragnar. “I’m not leaving you alone with them,” Ragnar growled. Martha stepped between them. “The Luna has given you an order.” Ragnar hesitated, then bowed stiffly. “As you wish.” He stepped back but remained within eyesight, arms crossed and watching closely. Lily approached the three warriors. Axel noticed her first, his tall frame tensing as he nudged the others. All three stopped their training and turned to face her. “Luna,” Jett greeted, the youngest of the three being the first to acknowledge her properly. His dark hair was slicked back with sweat, but his eyes were alert and respectful. Ryker merely nodded, his massive frame dwarfing everyone around him. Axel didn’t bother hiding his disdain, twirling his practice sword impatiently. Martha stepped forward. “Luna Lily requests your assistance with a private matter.” “What kind of matter?” Axel demanded, his tone bordering on insolent. Lily signed rapidly, her movements precise and determined. “This matter is to be kept secret between us. She hoped that all three of you would adhere to this. No one can know.” The three warriors looked at eachother with a look of confusion. Axel was the first to react. “If you are planning on hurting our Alpha-” Lily immediately shook her head. “No, that is not what she intends to do, Axel. She would never harm Alpha Zayn. But this matter, for all intended purposes, must be kept from him. When the time is right, Luna Lily will tell him,” Martha stepped in to explain. “What is it that you want us to do, Luna?” Ryker asked calmly as he tried to pull Axel back. From the sidelines, Ragnar watched intently, unable to hear their conversation but noting the warriors’ uncomfortable expressions. When Axel stepped forward aggressively toward Lily, Ragnar tensed, ready to intervene. “Who do you think you are?” Axel hissed, leaning into Lily’s space. “What gives you the right to—” Ryker’s massive hand clamped onto Axel’s shoulder, pulling him back. “Enough,” he rumbled. “Alpha Zayn ordered us to help Luna Lily with anything she needed. We have our orders.” Axel shrugged off Ryker’s grip and backed down. Jett looked between them before offering Lily a small smile. Ragnar relaxed a little, choosing not to interfere. Still, he kept a close eye on them. “It’s not going to be easy,” Jett admitted, “When do we start?” Relief washed over Lily’s face. She signed quickly. “Now,” Martha translated. “If you’re ready.” The three warriors exchanged glances. Finally, Ryker nodded. “Lead the way, Luna.” As the group headed toward the exit, Ragnar’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. He watched them leave, clearly unhappy about being left behind. The urge to follow them settled in his stomach. He sighed, muttering to himself, “It’s not my place to pry.” Unknown to the group, Ezra observed their interaction with interest. He made no move to stop them but noted their departure. He headed to Zayn’s office to report the matter to him. “Luna Lily took the three warriors you assigned to her today,” He reported, “They left the training grounds together.” Zayn didn’t look up from the papers on his desk. “And?” Ezra raised an eyebrow. “You’re not concerned?” “Should I be?” Zayn shuffled through another stack of documents. “Those three can handle themselves. And her.” “She dismissed Ragnar,” Ezra added, leaning against the doorframe. “Seemed quite determined to work with your men specifically.” Zayn finally looked up, his expression unreadable. “I’m sure she has her reasons. Besides, we have bigger problems to worry about.” He gestured to the financial reports before him. “Winter is fast approaching. Our stores are half what they should be, and rebuilding efforts have drained what little funds we had.” Ezra examined the papers closely, his frown growing deeper as he did. “Did the Alpha King approve of our request for aid?” He asked Zayn. “No,” Zayn’s jaw tightened. “And I don’t expect him to. Dace never cared for our pack, even when my mother, his aunt, was alive. Neither did he care when we were enslaved. I don’t expect him to start now.” “What’s our next move then?” Ezra asked. Zayn’s eyes fell on a small crystal totem sitting on his desk, the one Lily had exchanged with him for food. He picked it up, turning it over in his hands. “Xavier used to brag when he was drunk,” Zayn said thoughtfully. “About the fortune his family had accumulated. Gold, jewels, ancient artifacts...” “In a vault somewhere,” Ezra finished. “But we’ve searched the main house thoroughly.” “Perhaps not thoroughly enough,” Zayn stood abruptly. “Let’s pay Xavier a visit.” The stench hit them before they reached the cells. Urine, unwashed bodies, and despair clung to the stone walls of the dungeon. Guards stood at attention as Zayn and Ezra approached. “Alpha,” they acknowledged with respectful nods. Zayn stepped past them to the cell at the end. Inside, a pathetic sight. Xavier, the once-proud heir to the Thunderpaw pack, crawled on all fours among actual dogs, fighting for scraps of food thrown on the floor. “Bark for it,” a guard taunted, holding a piece of meat just out of reach. “Come on, show our Alpha what a good dog you are.” Xavier barked, a broken sound that was barely human. The guard laughed and tossed the meat, which Xavier scrambled to grab before the real dogs could get it. There was no pity written on any of their faces. Ezra watched intently, knuckles turning white as he relived the horrid past in his mind. Zayn watched on coldly. “Bring him here,” Ezra ordered. One of the guards pulled on a silver chain, tugging on the silver collar around Xavier’s neck. The broken man didn’t move, still fighting for scraps with the dogs. Annoyed and impatient, the guard cracked a whip and tugged on the chain with more force. “The Alpha wants to see you!” The guard yelled. Xavier immediately crawled over on all fours. He was naked, but his entire body was covered in dirt and grime. He didn’t dare look up and panted like a dog. “There’s no point,” Zayn said quietly. “He’s broken beyond use.” Ezra nodded, then turned to the guards. “Bring the items that were confiscated from him when he was brought here.” The guard returned moments later with a small tray with five items. A gold ring bearing the Thunderpaw crest, a silver dagger with an ornate handle, a small key of unusual design, a folded piece of parchment, and a lock of dark, curled hair tied with a red ribbon kept in a small glass tube. Zayn’s eyes fixed on that last item. He reached for it with trembling fingers, bringing it closer for a better look. One deep breath was all it took. The scent was unmistakable, unchanged. Sweet with hints of lavender and something uniquely her. Irene. His dead mate. Ezra watched as all color drained from Zayn’s face. “What is it?” he asked, concerned. “Zayn?”