Chained to the Enemy Alpha

Lily sat surrounded by stacks of books, her fingers rubbing her temples in frustration. For days, she'd been searching for information about crystal totems, yet every book offered only vague mentions or basic knowledge she already possessed. She closed another thick volume with a sigh, adding it to the growing pile of unhelpful resources.

The small lamp on her desk flickered, casting dancing shadows across the walls. Lily glanced out the window, noticing that night had fallen. She'd lost track of time again.

Stretching her stiff limbs, Lily decided to call it a night. No use straining her eyes further when the information simply wasn't there. She turned to find Martha asleep in the armchair by her bed, head tilted at an uncomfortable angle, soft snores escaping her lips.

A fond smile touched Lily's lips as she grabbed a blanket from her bed and gently draped it over the older woman. Martha had insisted on staying with her despite Lily's protests that she needn't bother.

Needing to clear her head, Lily moved to the window and pushed it open. The cool night air rushed in, caressing her face and bringing with it the scents of pine and wildflowers. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply, allowing the tension to drain from her shoulders.

When she opened her eyes, something in the garden below caught her attention. A pair of glowing eyes stared back at her from between the rose bushes. Lily blinked, thinking her tired mind was playing tricks.

She was wrong. There was a wolf down there, one she'd never seen before.

The wolf tilted its head, its amber eyes locked with hers. Then, unmistakably, it dipped its head in a beckoning motion before disappearing behind the hedges.

Curiosity sparked within Lily. Without stopping to think, she grabbed a light coat from her wardrobe and slipped it over her nightdress. She cast a quick glance at Martha, still sound asleep, before quietly opening her door and stepping into the hallway.

The corridor was empty, lit only by lamps that created pockets of light between long stretches of shadow. Lily moved silently. Every few steps, she paused, listening for any sign of movement.

Behind her, a shadow moved, following at a distance. Lily remained unaware, her thoughts focused solely on the mysterious wolf in the garden.

She reached the side entrance that led directly to the gardens, pushing the heavy door open just enough to slip through. The night air was cooler now, raising goosebumps on her arms. Lily pulled her coat tighter as she stepped onto the gravel path.

The scent hit her first, strong, familiar, masculine. Zayn's scent hung in the air. Lily froze, her heart pounding against her ribs. She turned quickly, scanning the darkness behind her, but saw no one.

Had he been watching her? Was he following her?

When she turned back around, she gasped. The wolf stood directly before her, barely an arm's length away. Its amber eyes regarded her with intelligent curiosity.

Lily stepped back instinctively, her hand flying to her mouth.

"Don't be afraid," the wolf spoke in a whisper. "I'm a friend."

The voice was familiar. Lily watched, wide-eyed, as the wolf's form began to shift. Bones cracked and reformed, fur receded, and within moments, Hunter stood before her, fully clothed and smiling.

"Sorry for the dramatic entrance," he said, his voice low. "Some conversations are best had away from prying ears."

Lily's racing heart began to slow. She signed quickly, 'You scared me! What are you doing here?'

Hunter reached into his coat and pulled out a leather-bound book. Its cover was worn, the pages yellowed with age.

"I believe this is what you've been searching for," he said, offering it to her.

Lily took the book with trembling hands. In the dim moonlight, she could make out the title embossed in faded gold: 'Crystal Totems: Origins, Powers, and Mysteries.' Her eyes widened as she looked back at Hunter.

'How did you know I was looking for this?' she signed, bewilderment clear in her expression.

Hunter's smile widened, revealing white teeth. "I have my ways. Information is my business, after all."

He glanced around the garden, his expression turning more serious. "The pack looks good. Zayn's doing a fine job as Alpha."

Lily nodded, still clutching the book tightly against her chest.

"But sometimes," Hunter continued, his voice dropping even lower, "when things seem to be going too well, that's when you need to be most careful."

A chill ran down Lily's spine that had nothing to do with the night air. 'What do you mean?'

"Keep your eyes open, Luna Lily." The title sounded strange coming from him. "Not everyone wishes you or those you love well."

'Are you warning me about something specific?' Lily signed frantically. 'Please, if you know something…'

Hunter ignored her question, asking instead, "Do you still have that coin I gave you?"

Lily nodded. The silver coin with strange markings remained hidden in her jewelry box.

"Good. Remember, my offer still stands. Should you ever need my help, the coin will bring me to you."

Before Lily could question him further, a distant noise caught Hunter's attention. He tensed, head turning sharply toward the main building.

"I've stayed too long," he muttered. "Remember what I said, Luna. Be vigilant."

In one fluid motion, Hunter shifted back into wolf form. He gave her one last meaningful look before disappearing into the darkness.

Lily watched him go, mind racing. What danger was he warning her about? Who couldn't be trusted? She looked down at the book in her hands, wondering what secrets it might contain.

With a shaky breath, she turned back toward the main building. She needed to return to her room before anyone noticed her absence. As she walked, she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, though each time she glanced behind her, she saw nothing.

Once safely back in her chamber, Lily closed the door quietly and leaned against it, heart still pounding from her strange encounter. Martha hadn't moved from her chair, still sleeping peacefully under the blanket.

Lily sat on her bed and opened the book with trembling fingers. The first pages contained detailed illustrations of crystal totems, categorized by color and shape. Notes in a cramped hand filled the margins, offering insights not found in any of the texts she'd previously consulted.

She flipped through the pages eagerly, absorbing the wealth of information. Here were answers to questions she'd been asking for weeks—the origins of the totems, their powers, how they were created, how they could be used.

A soft groan from the armchair pulled Lily's attention away from the book. Martha stirred, blinking sleepily as she adjusted the blanket around her shoulders.

"Lily?" she mumbled, voice thick with sleep. "What time is it?" Her eyes fell on the book in Lily's hands. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

Lily nodded while smiling as she clutched the precious volume.

Martha smiled back, relief evident in her tired eyes. "Good. That's good."

As Martha settled back into the chair, Lily returned her attention to the book. At the back of her mind, a question remained.

Had someone seen her exchange with Hunter?