ARIADNE'S POV

“Harper, please, you’ve got it all wrong—” I tried to explain, but my words were drowned out by her fury.

“No! Don’t lie to me!” She snapped, her grip tightening on my hair, yanking it painfully. “I saw the photo. You think you can fool me? Kissing him, holding him like that—you’re nothing but a homewrecking slut!”

My heart ached at her words, but I couldn’t find the strength to fight back even if I could. How could I? Harper was just a young she-wolf, misled by her emotions and the circumstances. She didn’t know. She couldn’t know.

When she finally let go, I staggered back, breathing heavily. Harper and her friends stormed off, leaving me alone in the hallway, the tension still thick in the air. I stood there for a moment, trying to compose myself, but the tears were already welling up in my eyes.

I made my way back to my room, each step feeling heavier than the last. As soon as I shut the door behind me, I leaned against it, my breath coming in shallow gasps. My reflection caught my eye—a woman who, despite her age, still looked as though she could be in her mid-twenties. My long dark hair, flawless skin, and youthful face—traits inherited from my vampire lineage—stared back at me, mocking the situation I found myself in.

“Fae, what should I do?” I whispered, sinking onto the edge of my bed.

My wolf, Fae, was simmering with anger. “She dared to lay a hand on us! On our pack’s former Luna! We should have ripped her apart!” Fae snarled in my mind, her voice full of rage.

"Calm down, Fae,” I replied gently, though I could feel her fury pulsing through me. “She didn’t know. How could she? It was all a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding or not, no one treats us this way. Especially not some naive girl who doesn’t even know who she’s talking to!” Fae growled, pacing within me, her fur bristling with agitation.

I sighed, rubbing my temples as I tried to soothe the throbbing headache that was forming. “She saw the photo, Fae. She saw us with Carsten, and she assumed… well, you know what she assumed.”

I turned to the mirror again, studying my appearance. It was true that my vampire blood gave me a youthful look, but I never thought it would lead to something like this. I had been gone from the Snowfang Pack for so long, wandering the continent, trying to bury the grief of losing my mate, that I hadn’t realized how much things had changed.

“She doesn’t know who I am,” I murmured, almost to myself. “Harper must have thought I was some young mistress trying to steal her mate. She doesn’t recognize me.”

“And why should that matter?” Fae retorted. “We don’t owe her any explanations. She should have asked before attacking us. We should have put her in her place!”

“She’s Carsten’s mate, Fae,” I reminded her softly. “And she’s young. This isn’t just about us; it’s about Carsten too. We can’t make things worse for him.”

Fae huffed but didn’t argue further. I could feel her frustration simmering, but she held back, allowing me to think clearly. It was true, Harper was unfamiliar with the history of the Snowfang Pack. She probably had no idea who I was or what I meant to Carsten.

As the realization settled in, so did the sadness. I had been away for too long. Even my son’s mate didn’t know me. She didn’t recognize the woman in that photo as Carsten’s mother but as a threat. And to think she had come here with her mind filled with such thoughts, ready to confront her rival.

I sighed heavily, wiping the tears that had spilled over. “We’ll need to fix this, Fae,” I said, my voice firmer now. “Carsten needs us to clear this up. I won’t let this misunderstanding ruin his engagement.”

“You’re too soft, Ariadne,” Fae grumbled, but I could feel her slowly calming down. “But I suppose you’re right. For Carsten’s sake, we need to make this right. But if she steps out of line again…”

“I know,” I whispered, running a hand through my hair.

ARIADNE'S POV

The morning light filtered through the curtains of my room, casting soft shadows on the walls. I stared at the ceiling, replaying the events of the previous night in my mind. Harper’s rage, her accusations, the slap that still echoed in my ears. I couldn't believe, at this age, I was worrying about such things.

I sighed in disbelief.

But then, I had to find Harper. I needed to clear up this misunderstanding before things spiraled further out of control. With a deep breath, I pushed myself out of bed, determined to make things right. After all, Carsten deserved a future free of unnecessary conflict, especially with the woman he was supposed to spend his life with.

My wolf, Fae, was restless, pacing within me, her anger from last night simmering just below the surface.

“Are you really going to let her get away with what she did, Ari?” Fae growled, her voice laced with frustration. “She attacked us, disrespected us in front of her friends, and now she’s nowhere to be found. This isn’t right!”

“I know, Fae,” I replied softly, trying to keep my emotions in check. “But I can’t make things worse for Carsten. We have to understand that Harper acted out of misunderstanding, not malice.”

“You’re too forgiving,” Fae huffed, but I could feel her trying to hold back her anger. “She should have asked questions before jumping to conclusions. You know how serious it is for wolves to accuse someone of having a mistress.”

I nodded, knowing Fae was right. In our world, loyalty is everything. To accuse an Alpha of infidelity was a grave offense, one that could shatter bonds and destroy trust. Harper’s mistake wasn’t a small one, but I couldn’t let it ruin my son’s future. He had already lost so much, and I wouldn’t let this be another loss he had to endure.

I searched the pack house, hoping to find Harper or one of her friends, but they were nowhere to be seen. As time passed, the sense of urgency grew. Finally, I decided to seek out Carsten in his Alpha office. He had to know where she was.

When I reached his office, I found him hunched over his desk, papers scattered around him. The tension in his shoulders was evident, and the dark circles under his eyes spoke of sleepless nights.

“Carsten,” I called out gently as I entered the room.

He looked up, surprised to see me. “Mother,” he greeted, attempting a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “What brings you here?”

“I’ve been looking for Harper,” I explained, trying to sound calm. “But I can’t find her anywhere. Is everything okay?”

Carsten’s expression tightened, and he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “There’s been… a lot going on, Mother. Harper and I… we’ve had our share of misunderstandings, and it’s been stressful for both of us.”

I walked over to him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Tell me. You can lean on me."

Carsten hesitated, as if unsure whether to burden me with his troubles. But I was his mother.

“It’s like she doesn’t trust me anymore,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “She keeps bringing up this idea that I’m hiding something, that I’m seeing someone else. But I’m not, Mother. I swear.”

“I believe you, okay?” I said firmly, squeezing his shoulder. Deep inside, I felt really guilty because I was the cause of it! God, why, of all people, did Harper think that I was my son's mistress? Ridiculous.

"But where is she right now?" I asked.

He sighed. “Beta Elijah saw them off. They’re back at the River Howl Pack now.”

For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. It seemed like it became bigger than anticipated. From what I heard, they were supposed to stay here until the engagement banquet. Fae growled within me, frustrated by the turn of events.

“I don't know with you, Ari. But I didn't like that woman, not one bit," Fae told me honestly.

THIRD PERSON'S POV

In the heart of this darkness, a group of figures gathered, their eyes glinting with the hunger of wolves—some wild, some rogue, all dangerous.

A lone woman stood before them, her figure draped in a long, hooded cloak that obscured her face.

Without a word, she reached into the folds of her cloak and produced a small leather pouch, tossing it onto the ground between them. The bag spilled open, revealing a hefty sum of gold coins and crisp bills, more money than most of these wolves had ever seen. The glint of the gold under the pale moonlight caught their attention, their eyes narrowing with interest.

Next, she took out a photograph, holding it up for them to see. The face in the picture was that of a woman—her features delicate, her eyes bright, but there was a strength in her gaze that suggested she was no ordinary target. The woman in the cloak placed the photo on the ground beside the money, her movements deliberate, as if she were offering a sacrifice to the gods of the wild.

“Abduct this woman for me,” she commanded, her voice cold and sharp like the crack of a whip. There was no hesitation in her tone, no room for argument. This was not a request—it was an order.

The wolves exchanged glances, some eager, others wary. Among them were a few rogues, their eyes wild with the promise of violence.

One of the rogues, a man with a scar running down the side of his face, stepped forward. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his eyes reflecting the predatory instincts that had kept him alive for so long. He glanced at the photo, then back at the woman.

“Are you sure she’s getting out of that pack today?” He asked, his voice low and gravelly. There was a hint of skepticism in his tone as if he couldn’t believe that such a target would be left unprotected.

The woman turned her head slightly, her gaze locking onto the man who had spoken. Though her face was hidden, the intensity of her stare was palpable. After a moment, she nodded, the movement slow and deliberate.

“Yes,” came a voice from the crowd. A man stepped forward, keeping his head low, avoiding eye contact with the others. He was dressed plainly, but the wolves could smell the scent of Snowfang’s territory clinging to him. A traitor, then. He continued, his voice trembling slightly, “She’s leaving the pack today. I was sure of it.”

The woman nodded once more, seemingly satisfied with the answer. She turned back to the gathered wolves, her eyes narrowing beneath the shadow of her hood.

“You will take her to the abandoned property deep in the woods,” she instructed, her voice as cold as the night air. “Make sure she’s far from Snowfang’s territory. She must be completely isolated—away from any help.”

The rogue with the scar shifted, his brow furrowing. “What do you want with her?” he asked, his curiosity piqued. “She doesn’t look like the kind who’d be easy to handle.”

A tense silence followed his question, and for a moment, it seemed like the woman might not answer. But then, she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

“That is none of your concern,” she hissed, her tone brooking no further inquiry. “Your task is to bring her to me. Alive. Unharmed, if possible. The rest… is my business.”

The rogue held her gaze for a moment longer before finally nodding.

The woman straightened, taking a step back from the group.

“Remember,” she said, her voice echoing through the silence, “if you fail me, there will be consequences. But if you succeed… you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams.”

With that, she turned on her heel, disappearing into the shadows.