Chapter 51
The night air was cold, crisp against my skin as I moved silently through the shadows of the estate. I kept my eyes locked on Amaya, who was sneaking toward the garden, her posture tense, her movements calculated.
Where the hell was she going at this hour? A feeling of unease settled in my stomach, twisting into something dark.
Something dangerous. I followed her. Step by step. Silent. Careful. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, my instincts screaming at me that something wasn’t right.
And then—she stopped. Right at the edge of the estate. I ducked behind a stone pillar, watching.
Amaya crouched down, her hands pressing against a section of the garden wall. Then, to my absolute shock, she pushed a small stone aside. A hidden hole. Big enough to speak through. Big enough to pass messages. And on the other side of the wall—
A rogue wolf. I froze. The air in my lungs disappeared. No.
No, no, no. It couldn’t be. But it was. I stared in horror as Amaya leaned forward, whispering to the rogue. I couldn’t hear the words. But I didn’t need to. Everything clicked. The rogue attack. The note—“Run before it’s too late.”
The traitor.
It was her. It was Amaya. My best friend.
A sharp pain tore through my chest, like something inside me had just shattered beyond repair.
I felt sick. Betrayed. But most of all—angry.
And before I could stop myself, before I could even think, I did the only thing I could. I screamed.
“GUARDS!”
Amaya’s head snapped toward me, her eyes wide with horror. The rogue disappeared instantly, vanishing into the darkness. But it was too late.
Within seconds, guards swarmed the garden, weapons drawn. Amaya whipped around, eyes darting between me and the guards. “No,” she whispered. “Aurora, you don’t understand—”
“Take her!” I commanded. The guards didn’t hesitate.
Amaya let out a startled cry as strong hands grabbed her, locking silver cuffs around her wrists. Her eyes snapped to mine, desperate, pleading.
But I felt nothing. I walked toward her, my legs shaking, my body numb. And when I reached her, I looked her in the eyes and asked the only question that mattered.
“Why?”
Amaya’s lips trembled. She didn’t answer. So I stepped closer, rage burning inside me like wildfire.
“Why the hell would you do this?” My voice shook with fury. “You sent the assassin wolf after me. You tried to have me killed!”
Amaya cried. “No, I did not do that. I am innocent.”
