Chapter 90
Third Party Point of view.
The Italian pack territory, a land renowned for its peace and dignified strength, had never felt this uncertain. The golden morning light cast long, trembling shadows over the cobbled paths and sun–dappled courtyards of the ancient estate. There was no serenity to be found in the air, only whispers and tension clinging like dew.
The sun had barely crested the hills when the pulse of unrest rippled through the villa. It began with whispers. Then running footsteps. Then frantic questions.
Healers stormed the infirmary wing like a hurricane trapped in stone walls. Medical tools clattered onto counters. Herbs were flung into boiling pots, wolfsbane antidotes measured and remixed, the stinging scent of blood and steel drifting into the hallway. Growls vibrated the floorboards–wolves on
edge, straining for answers.
Because the Luna was sick.
Gravely so.
And no one knew what had caused it.
Or so they believed.
“She collapsed after that night,” one young healer whispered to another, trembling as she pressed cool cloths onto Ellaine Rollin’s forehead. “I think… I
think it’s her bond.”
“I thought she was stabilizing,” the other murmured back. “Why now? Why this morning?”
No one could explain it. The bond between the Alpha and his mate was supposed to strengthen with time, not falter. Not fade.
But what they didn’t know–what they couldn’t know–was that the sickness was a lie.
Carefully crafted. Painfully executed.
And entirely necessary.
Far beyond the estate, tucked in the brush and trees like a shadow east from the past, a figure crouched in silence. His hoodie clung to him, scent dampened with iron and eucalyptus, human in appearance, yet unmistakably wolf beneath.
Kellan.
He watched the estate through slitted eyes, mouth curled into a smile that had no warmth. His fingers gripped the edge of his cracked phone, screen dim but still visible.
Katrina: She said she’s unwell, that’s it. I tried thanking her and asked if I could visit. She didn’t t reply again..
Katrina. His mate. His tool.
She’d played her part better than he’d expected, Befriending Ellaine. Earning her trust. Getting close enough to pass the potion during one of their late- night tea rituals.
And now, the results were everything he could’ve hoped for.
Kellan tapped out a cold, emotionless reply.
Kellan: Good. That means it’s working. Stay quiet.
Then, he stood.
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Chapter 90
He didn’t bother hiding the satisfaction in his expression as he turned away from the estate. Let the guards swarm. Let this antées parka, mene al tema. suspected him. No one had seen him. And by the time they realized what was really happening, it would be far to late.
Because this wasn’t just wolfsbane. This was something deeper. Mare insidious.
His rogue Alpha was known had been testing blends for years–combinations of rare herbs, supernatural extracts, even diluted blond magie, mesot to weaken not just the body, but the spirit of a wolf. And now, thanks to that and Katrina’s naive compliance, it had finally been delivered into the bloodstream of the most protected she wolf in Europe.
The Luna of the Italian Pack.
Ellaine Rollin.
The Alpha’s fated mate.
A weak Luna meant a weak Alpha. And a weak Alpha left his entire territory exposed. Vulnerable.
It was everything the rogue packs had been waiting for.
As Kellan melted into the woods, his steps quick and light, he didn’t notice the silent figures shadowing him–three wolves in human form, moving like ghosts.
Francesco Totti, Alpha Lycan of the Italian territory, stood at the edge of the hill with two of his warriors and his ever–watchful Beta, Alfonso Their presence was masked–not by chance, but by design.
A design created by Ellaine herself.
“The hidden potion is successful. He can’t smell us,” Beta Alfonso mindlinked, tone grim.
Francesto didn’t respond at first. His eyes were trained on Kellan’s retreating form. Rage simmered beneath his skin, barely contained. He could still taste the bitterness in the back of his throat–an echo of what could have happened had they not discovered the plan in time.
He thought of Ellaine. Of her hands trembling as she worked side–by–side with Lira, their chief herbalist, to reverse–engineer the potion Katrina had unwittingly introduced.
She had known something was wrong. Not because of how Mika, her wolf told her–those had been subtle–but because she could smell it too. And Ellaine, brilliant and quietly relentless, had followed that thread like a hunter to its prey.
Together, she and Lira had analyzed the residue in her drink. It hadn’t taken long to realize the truth: a synthetic blend, masking as wolfsbane, specifically designed to break a mate bond from the inside out.
It was horrifying.
And brilliant.
And useful.
Francesco’s plan had formed within hours.
Instead of exposing the traitor, they would play along. Ellaine would pretend to be sick. Gravely sick. The estate would react. The guards would tight And the enemy, thinking themselves victorious, would come close.
Close enough to catch.
Kellan was their bait.
Francesco turned to Alfonso and nodded. “Let him run. We follow. But not too close. He’ll lead us straight to the others.”
“And the human?” asked Matteo, one of the warriors.
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Alfonso’s voice was calm. “We watch her too. But do nothing yet. Luna wants to speak personally with her on their graduation day at the University
Francesco’s jaw tightened at that. He had no care for the human girl. But he knew Ellaine did care because she’s one of her friend. And that mattered.
They disappeared from the ridge like smoke, following Kellan from a distance only a tycan pack could manage
Back at the estate, time ticked in double speed.
Ellaine lay on a cot in the infirmary, breathing steady but eyes closed. Her skin was pale, her scent dulled just enough to fool even trained noses. She looked fragile. Fading.
Audrey stood near her, arms crossed, fury coiled in her spine.
“She should be resting for real,” she muttered. “She’s barely slept in days.”
Lira stepped forward, adjusting one of the fake monitors on the side table. “We have no choice. The potion was too strong. We need to check it fast-
“We have to move faster,” Ellaine’s voice interrupted softly.
Audrey’s head snapped to her. Ellaine’s eyes were open, clear and sharp beneath the guise of sickness.
“We’re running with the time, make sure that we’re faster than the rogues”
Audrey’s throat tightened. She stepped forward and placed a hand on Ellaine’s arm.
“Graduation days is in a week,” Ellaine whispered. “I want to face Katrina that day and I thought it was also the day the rogues will ambush us.”
The women exchanged a glance–unspoken but fierce. They had no time for fear. Not now.
“Any word from Francesco?” Ellaine asked, pushing herself into a sitting position, despite Lira’s protest.
Audrey hesitated.
Then nodded. “He’s following the rogue. Along with Alfonso. They won’t engage. Not yet.”
Ellaine exhaled, rubbing her forehead, “Kellan won’t stop with just me. He thinks he’s smart–he’s probably already reporting back to someone higher.”
“Luca?” Lira said, her voice like a curse.
Ellaine didn’t flinch. “If he gets even a hint that Francesco knows about the poison, he’ll find a way to reverse it. Or worse, weaponize it.”
Audrey looked at her, eyes narrowing. “So what’s next?”
Ellaine turned toward the window where a soft breeze fluttered the white curtain,
“We make them keep think I’m dying,” she said. “And then we bury them in their own lies.”
Francesco returned just before midnight, slipping into the infirmary where Ellaine waited. The guards bowed in silence as he entered, expression
unreadable.
Ellaine sat up immediately. “You saw him?”
Francesco nodded, pulling off his coat. “He thinks he won and went to Luca.”
A faint smile curved her lips. “Then the trap is working.”
He sat beside her, brushing her hair gently from her face. “Yes, it was successful.”
She exhaled. “Then we can start phase, two.”
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Francesco’s eyes burned with quiet fire. “We let them come. We give them the taste of victory. And then…”
Ellaine’s fingers curled over his. “We take everything back.”
He leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers, the warmth of their bond surging through the tension.
They were ready.
