Ashley could still feel the weight of the royal court’s scrutiny long after the meeting ended. Even though she had convinced the Queen, the King remained cautious. They would never fully trust her—not yet.
But she wasn’t here to win their favor. She was here to save them.
As she stepped out of the grand hall, she caught sight of Coleen leaning against a pillar, arms crossed, his sharp silver eyes fixed on her.
“You have a habit of making things difficult,” he said.
Ashley smirked, though exhaustion tugged at her. “And you have a habit of brooding.”
Coleen let out a low chuckle, but his expression quickly turned serious. “You took a big risk confronting my parents like that.”
Ashley shrugged. “Didn’t have much of a choice. They needed to hear the truth.”
His gaze darkened. “You said something back there... about the hunters suppressing our wolves.”
Ashley nodded. “Yes. The boy I tested the antidote on—his wolf was asleep, not dead. If we can wake more of them, we’ll have an army strong enough to fight back.”
Coleen exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “If this is true, we’ve been weaker than we thought for years.”
Ashley’s fists clenched. “And the hunters have been planning it all along.”
A heavy silence settled between them before Coleen finally spoke. “We need proof. More than just one boy.”
Ashley nodded. “Then let’s find it.”
Ashley wasn’t surprised when Dave and Elena insisted on coming with them.
If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
“I spent months with the elders,” Dave said. “If there’s anyone in Astravel who’s been affected by the poison, I might know who they are.”
Elena, her hand resting protectively over her stomach, nodded. “I may not be fighting, but I can help.”
Ashley glanced at Coleen, expecting him to protest—Elena was pregnant, after all. But instead, he nodded.
“Then we move fast,” he said. “We’ll start with the lower districts.”
The lower districts were where the common-born werewolves lived. While the royals and high-ranked wolves thrived in the palace, many wolves struggled in silence.
As they made their way through the city, Ashley noticed how quiet it was. Too quiet.
“Something’s wrong,” she murmured.
Coleen frowned. “I feel it too.”
A howl split the air.
Then another.
Ashley turned just in time to see a young woman collapse in the middle of the street, her body convulsing. A crowd gathered, whispers growing louder.
“She’s been poisoned,” someone muttered.
Ashley rushed forward, dropping to her knees beside the girl. Her skin was pale, her breath shallow.
“She’s one of them,” Dave said grimly. “One of the wolves whose shift was taken.”
Ashley’s heart pounded. This was their proof.
Elena quickly handed her a vial of the antidote. Ashley didn’t hesitate—she pressed it to the girl’s lips, forcing her to drink.
Seconds passed. Then—
The girl gasped, her body arching as if something had just snapped inside her.
Her eyes turned golden. Her breathing steadied. And then, before everyone’s eyes, she shifted.
Gasps rang through the streets.
“She—she’s a wolf?” someone stammered.
“She was meant to be all along,” Ashley said.
Then she turned to Coleen.
“We just proved everything.”
Word spread quickly. Wolves who had been weak for years were waking up.
The hunters' plan was unraveling.
But Ashley knew it wouldn’t be that easy.
“Do you really think the hunters won’t notice what we’re doing?” Coleen asked as they returned to the palace. “They’ll come for us.”
Ashley nodded. “Let them.”
Coleen gave her a sharp look. “You want to draw them out?”
“They’ve been working in the shadows for too long,” Ashley said. “If we don’t make a move, they’ll keep weakening us until there’s nothing left.”
Dave stepped forward. “Then we prepare for war.”
Coleen turned to his beta, eyes unreadable. “Are you ready for that?”
Dave smirked. “I’ve been waiting for this fight my whole life.”
Ashley’s pulse quickened. The war had already begun.
And this time, she wouldn’t lose.
