Chapter 5

The blond vampire narrowed his eyes. "Then what are you doing here?"

I pulled the silver shard from my backpack and held it out in my palm.

The silver light reflected on the three vampires' faces, and they all narrowed their eyes, but none of them backed away.

"What is this?" the blond vampire asked.

I replied, "The core of the Silvermoon Pack's border defense."

The three vampires' expressions changed at once.

The blond vampire stared at the shard in my hand, his pupils narrowing.

"You're joking," he said.

I asked, "Do I look like I'm joking?"

He was silent for a few seconds, then smiled.

His smile was filled with the thrill of a predator finding its prey.

"What are you planning?" he asked.

I replied, "Take me to your prince. I've got a deal to make with the Nightshade Clan."

The blond vampire gave me a long, hard look.

Finally, he stepped aside and said, "Follow me."

I followed the three vampires deeper into the Blackpine Forest.

Behind me, I couldn't see a thing in the direction of Silvermoon Territory anymore.

*****

Three days later, in the main hall of Silvermoon Pack.

Sophia sat in a throne-like chair, with the patrol captain, Carl Nichols, standing in front of her.

"Luna, three sensor stones on the eastern border broke last night," Carl said.

Sophia was peeling fruit for Ryan, without looking up. "If they broke, just replace them."

Carl hesitated. "But when sensor stones shatter, it usually means the defense line is getting weaker."

Sophia finally looked up, frowning. "The defense line's fine. Why would it be weakening?"

Carl looked like he wanted to say something, but stayed quiet.

Ryan took the fruit from Sophia and took a bite. "Did that outsider mess with something before he left?"

Sophia's face darkened. "Would he dare?"

Carl spoke up quietly. "Luna, should we send someone to check the border hut? Ever since Allen left, no one's taken over."

Sophia waved her hand. "Send two warriors to keep watch. What could an outsider possibly do? The defense line is held up by the spell formation, not by people."

Carl opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn't say anything else.

"Yes, Luna," he said.

As he turned to leave, he brushed past Gregor at the door.

Gregor walked in, his face even more grim than usual.

"Luna, I must speak," he said.

Sophia set the fruit down. "Please, speak, Elder."

Gregor shot a glance at Ryan but stayed silent.

Sophia got his meaning, but didn't ask Ryan to leave. "Go ahead, Elder. Ryan's family."

Gregor paused for a second, then said, "I dug through the old clan records about the silver sword."

Sophia looked annoyed. "That damn sword again?"

Gregor said, his voice low. "It's not just any sword. Thirty years ago, the old Alpha made a Moon Oath Pact with the Hunter clan. The Hunters guarded the border with their silver sword, and the pack sheltered their bloodline inside our territory. The token of that pact was the Silver Edge."

Sophia was taken aback. "What Moon Oath Pact? Why don't I know about it?"

"Because only the previous Alphas and Elders knew. Alpha Caesar was supposed to inform you before he left," Gregor said, looking at her. "But clearly, he didn't."

Sophia frowned. "Even if there was a pact, so what? The sword's broken, and the Hunter's gone."

Gregor took a deep breath. "There's a clause in the pact. If the pack intentionally destroys the silver sword, it's seen as breaking the pact unilaterally. At that point, the Hunters have the right to remove all protections and aren't bound by any obligations."

Sophia's hand paused in midair. "What do you mean?"

Gregor spoke slowly, emphasizing each word. "It means the moment you broke that sword, you personally took down the border defenses and gave the Hunter free rein over the Silvermoon Pack."

The main hall went quiet for three seconds.

Ryan was the first to laugh. "Elder, aren't you overthinking this? What could an outsider possibly do with that kind of freedom? He can't even transform."

Gregor ignored him, keeping his eyes on Sophia.

He said, "Luna, do you know why the Hunter clan sealed their own power with the silver sword?"

Sophia shook her head.

Gregor lowered his voice. "Because once a Hunter awakens, they're the ultimate enemy of both werewolves and vampires. As long as the silver sword stays whole, the Hunter remains dormant. That was the balance the old Alpha struck thirty years ago. He traded the safety of our entire territory for it."

Sophia's expression finally changed. "You mean..."

"With the sword broken, the seal is shattered," Gregor said, rising to his feet. "That Wolfless guy might not be someone you can control anymore."

Sophia shot to her feet.

"No way. He's been in Silvermoon for three years and couldn't even outrun a rabbit," she said.

Gregor shook his head. "That was only because the silver sword kept the seal in place. But now?"

Sophia opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Ryan's smile froze.

His hand went to the dagger at his waist, the one forged from the broken silver sword.