L


    Call it instinct, I just knew something was wrong and I''ve known for a while now. Terra''s arrival only worsened it.


    I was anxious as I walked through the hall, trying to distract myself with the greetings from the pack house domestic as I went by, but in the end, I reached the visitor''s sitting room where Terra was.


    My fingers curled into fists as I paused at the doorway, hoping I could read the emotions of the woman inside and mentally prepare myself. I was taken aback by the picture of the woman I saw. Instead, of the bright, vibrant woman I''vee to know, Terra sat slumped on one of the plush sofas.


    Her once-radiant copper-toned skin looked pale, and her cheekbones were more pronounced, an indication that she had lost a lot of weight. She was wearing casual clothes, different from the usual attire (Her ceremonial attire) but they hung loosely on her frame as if the clothes were hung on her.


    There was a distant look in her eyes as if she didn''t want to be here at all. The aura around her spoke volumes of sadness. I hesitated as my heart clenched at the sight and my stomach twisted into knots. Something was terribly wrong.


    My mind drifted to all my attempts to reach out to Nanny. I''d tried several times since arriving at White Moon pack but each time I called, Beta Jeremy always answered the calls. His excuses were endless and almost ridiculous – Miriam was at her devotions, she''d just stepped out, she was busy with ceremonies, she was unavable. It had been so frustrating.


    After trying many times to get a return call or even a voicemail, I decided to let it be. Maybe she was angry with me for leaving without telling her or perhaps about my decision epting Ramsey. I also reasoned that she must be fine, probably busy with a lot of duties at Blue Ridge. I also guessed that she might have returned to the Moon Temple, somewhere along the line and got busy with duties as the High Priestess in Mother Liora''s ce at the Moon Temple.


    I had also consoled myself with the thought that if something was truly wrong, I would have heard about it.


    But seeing Terra now in such a state, a new fear crept up my spine making me question everything.


    Suddenly, Terra, lifted her head, her tired gazending on me. Immediately, she rose to her feet with a weak smile.


    "Luna L," she greeted, curtseying "I''m sorry foring without giving you a notice. I know you must be busy, please forgive me."


    "Please!" I hurried over, lifting her from her semi-kneeling state until she straightened. "Please sit, there''s no need for formalities and I''m not officially a Luna yet. You don''t have to greet me as one."


    Terra nodded and sank back onto the couch without making a wittyment. That was so unlike the woman I had met during the Harvest Moon Festival or the day I had gone to the Moon Temple.


    I swallowed the tightness in my throat, trying to maintain a calm fa?ade. "Have you asked them to serve you anything yet?" I looked around the room, there was nothing. "Or can I get it for you? Tea? Water? Coffee?"


    Terra shook her head, declining softly. "No, thank you,u dear. I came specifically to see you."


    I settled into the chair across from Terra, my hands sped tightly in myp to hide their trembling. The morning sunlight streaming through the French windows did nothing to warm the chill that had settled in my bones.


    I masked my nervousness well, maintaining myposed expression, even though my heart was running a marathon in my chest.


    Terra took a deep breath and exhaled shakily. She had tears in her eyes. "What I''m about to tell you is difficult. But we have no other choice, L. You''re ourst resort, the only one who can help us."


    My heart nearly stopped beating.


    What could I do for a bunch of priestesses with supernatural powers? I mean, I''ve seen Terra and Nanny and Mother Liora showcase what they have. The only things I have to my name are good fighting skills and a non-existent Moonsinging ability that has disappearedpletely.


    "Is this about Nanny?" I whispered dreading the answer.


    Terra nodded; a tear rolled to the corner of her eyes. "Yes."


    I leaned forward. "What about her?"


    Terra''s lips trembled. "She''s not at Golden Gates nor the Moon Temple, L. Nathan has kept her in his custody for over a month now."


    I froze, blinking in disbelief and immediately experienced relief then a startledugh escaped my lips as I shook my head. "No, that''s impossible. Nathan would never do that, especially to Nanny. He adores her. He wouldn''t…"


    "But he did," Terra interrupted me. "I wish it was not true. But it is. He''s had her thrown and locked in the dungeons of Blue Ridge and all our attempts to reach out to him or even to her have failed. He''s not allowing her to take visitors, not even priestess from the temple."


    I stared at Terra, my mind was rejecting her words. I was expecting any minute from now, someone would jump into the room, maybe Nanny and tell me how they tried to prank me andugh at how easily I almost fell for it.


    But the tears and the pain I saw in Terra''s eyes were real.


    "No," I said firmly again. "Nathan would never… he''s not that kind of person."


    "L," Terra sighed. "I wouldn''t be here if this weren''t true. We tried everything. We sent messages, tried to negotiate through the council, and even pleaded with some of the warriors. Nothing has worked. Nathan won''t release her."


    I just stared at her, still trying toe to terms. My mind raced through recent memories – the unanswered calls, the excuses, the growing distance. Nathan''s subtle violent reactions, the things Ramsey had revealed to me… everything but I didn''t want to take any of his words to heart because I mean… it''s Nathan at the end of the day.


    The only thing he has shown me so far is selflessness and kindness… was Nathan capable of doing all of these things?


    "But why?" I whispered, looking up at Terra. "Why would he do this? What did Nanny do?"


    "C''mon, L," Terra sighed. "Dungeons are meant for rogues and hardened criminals. What on earth could L have done to make him throw her there? She only went to Blue Ridge after your altercation that day. She was broken because of how the wedding had gone South and med herself for it. I don''t know what happened there but that was thest time I saw her."


    I felt like the ground beneath me was crumbling.


    Nanny has been in a dungeon? For more than a month?


    My throat tightened and Nymeris stirred in my mind, growling. Nathan has done that to Nanny – my mother. Aside from her being my mother, he knows how much I love her. How much she means to me. Anger began to simmer beneath my shock.


    "How did things get this messed up?"


    "Things have changed in Blue Ridge, L. A lot has been happening in our world. Nathan is not the same person anymore. Power has changed him. He''s dered himself the Alpha Leader, uniting the werewolves under one banner separate from the Lycans. Those who oppose him or question his authority are either silenced or punished like Alpha Regan of Shadow Moon Pack and his Brother Alpha Gab were attacked and Regan died on the spot. Gab is severely wounded, so much so that they had to bring him to our healers. We don''t know if he''ll live past a week."


    "using someone of murder has serious consequences, Terra," I shrugged ufortably. "Nathan is just hurt or something else but he''s not a killer. I know that much. I know Nathan."


    "Your stepmother''s brothers were the only ones who didn''t stand for what he was doing. Although, they didn''t protest much they had their reservations. The attack couldn''t have been coincidental and the marks on their bodies were not rogues'' or Ferals'', they looked like the ws of a sane werewolf."


    "That''s enough!" I raised my hand to stop her. "I don''t want to hear a word of it again."


    "Fine, I won''t argue with you but from what I gathered, Miriam said something that made him throw her into the dungeon."


    My stomach twisted again. "What did she say?"


    "I don''t know exactly," Terra admitted. "But it was enough for him to imprison her."


    I shot to my feet. "I have to go to Blue Ridge."


    Terra rose and crossed over to where I was. "You can''t just walk into Blue Ridge and demand her release. Nathan has changed and I''m sure there''s bad blood between you two. He isn''t the same boy you knew. He''s more ruthless now. He''s consolidating power and he sees everyone as either an ally or an enemy. If you confront him the wrong way, he might…"


    "Nathan will not hurt me!" I whirled to face her. "And now that I know, I will not sit here while…" I swallowed "My mother suffers."


    "I know," Terra nodded. "Maybe you should tell the Lycan Leader first."


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