MATED TO THE BEAST ALPHA BROTHERS
Chapter 30: HUNTED-The gathering of the moon’s banquet

Chapter 30: HUNTED-The gathering of the moon’s banquet

The banquet hall was a grand, ancient structure built from polished obsidian and silver-streaked marble, its towering walls lined with tapestries depicting the history of the werewolf clans. The vast ceiling reflected the moonlight streaming through the skylights, casting eerie white-blue shadows across the massive dining tables and the wolves seated around them.

But despite the finery, the tension was suffocating.

Haelyn could feel it.

The weight of predatory stares pressing against her, watching, studying, waiting.

She walked in flanked by Cerius, Archer, Artemis, Rowena, Seraphis, and Marlyil, their presence forming an impenetrable wall around her. Even though she tried to appear calm, the uneasy feeling settled like ice in her veins.

Because on the other side of the hall, waiting like a storm brewing on the horizon, was Zareth.

And beside him....Arthur, Nyx, Helen, Layla, Malcolm.

The moment their eyes met, Zareth’s lips curled into a slow, knowing smirk.

Haelyn stiffened.

His stormy silver gaze locked onto her, unwavering, unrelenting, studying her with an intensity that made her wolf stir uneasily.

Nyx stood beside him, her expression calm but unreadable. But her eyes....the same silver-blue hue as Haelyn’s own.... held a quiet malice beneath their polished surface.

Arthur stood close, his arms crossed, exuding a dark, twisted satisfaction as if he had already won. Helen and Layla whispered to each other, throwing mocking glances in Haelyn’s direction.

Haelyn took a slow breath. She would not be intimidated.

"Look who decided to show up," Layla sneered, her voice laced with condescension as she flicked a delicate strand of golden hair over her shoulder. "I was wondering if you had finally run away for good."

Helen smirked beside her, eyes alight with cruel amusement. "It’s funny seeing you standing there, acting like you belong among the Alphas. I remember when you were nothing more than...."

Before she could finish, a sharp presence cut through the space between them.

Cerius.

His golden eyes burned, his mere presence suffocating the taunts before they could fully form.

"Enough." His voice was calm, deadly. "Mind your tongue before I remove it."

Layla and Helen stiffened as if an invisible force had wrapped around their throats.

Cerius didn’t even have to move.

The raw power radiating from him alone was enough to send a silent warning.

Haelyn felt the satisfaction roll through her chest as she watched Helen and Layla’s expressions pale.

They backed off without another word, but their glares remained sharp with hatred.

Zareth suddenly moved.

Haelyn felt the shift in the air before she even saw him.

Slow, calculated steps carried him forward, his presence commanding, suffocating.

Cerius moved instantly, placing himself in front of Haelyn, his stance stiff, protective.

Haelyn’s breath caught.

Zareth smirked.

"So defensive," he mused, his voice dripping with mockery. "As if I’d do anything reckless in a place as... public as this."

Cerius didn’t move. "State your purpose."

Zareth’s stormy eyes flickered toward Haelyn, his gaze devouring her, consuming every detail as if he were memorizing her face.

"She looks just like her."

The words left him softer than expected, almost reverent.

Haelyn’s stomach twisted.

Before she could react, Zareth took another step closer.

Archer moved instantly, snarling, but Cerius lifted a single hand, stopping him.

Zareth chuckled. Dark. Low. Sinister.

"You’re on edge, Alpha King," he murmured, his fingers lifting....light as air....to graze the side of Haelyn’s cheek.

Haelyn’s breath hitched, her wolf snarling at the contact.

Before she could react, Zareth pulled back, his gaze flickering with something.... a flash of emotion, recognition, regret....before it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

His smirk returned.

"You should ask Cerius," he mused, turning back toward the head of the banquet. "If he’s told you the whole truth yet."

Cerius tensed.

But before Haelyn could ask what he meant, Zareth was already walking away.

Before Haelyn could fully regain her composure, Nyx stepped forward.

"Finally," she murmured, a slow, eerie smile stretching across her lips.

Haelyn stiffened.

Nyx’s silver-blue gaze studied her, analyzed her.

Then, slowly, she extended a hand.

"Hello, sister," she greeted smoothly. "I finally got to meet you in this lifetime."

The word sister sent a wave of unease through Haelyn’s veins.

She hesitated.

Something about Nyx felt wrong.

But refusing her outstretched hand would cause a scene.

Hesitantly, she reached out and clasped it.

The moment their fingers touched—

A dark surge of energy shot up Haelyn’s arm.

Cold. Suffocating. Toxic.

Her wolf recoiled violently, howling in alarm.

She yanked her hand back instantly, eyes wide.

Nyx’s smile remained, but it grew sharper, more knowing.

"Oh?" she mused, tilting her head. "You felt it, didn’t you?"

Haelyn’s pulse pounded.

"What was that?" she hissed.

Nyx simply smiled. "Nothing you need to worry about."

Then, with one last glance, Nyx turned and followed Zareth to their side of the room.

Haelyn’s vision swayed.

Something wasn’t right.

Her pulse sped up. Her breath shallowed.

"Haelyn?" Archer’s voice snapped her back.

She turned to him, the room suddenly spinning.

"I..." Haelyn blinked hard. "I think I need to... lay down."

Archer frowned, stepping forward, but before he could, a new presence appeared.

A woman....tall, strong, her presence like fresh wind in a stagnant room.

Erin.

The Alpha of the Silverwood Pack.

"I’ll take her," Erin said smoothly, stepping between Haelyn and Archer. "She needs a quiet place to rest."

Cerius nodded once. "Take her to the upper chambers."

Haelyn barely processed the movement....Erin’s hand gripping her wrist, leading her away from the tension of the hall.

She needed to rest.

She needed to think.

But as she was led away, she couldn’t shake one thought from her mind.

Nyx’s touch.

The power inside it.

And the feeling that....somehow....a door had just been opened that she wasn’t ready to walk through.

While Haelyn was being led away, the rest of the banquet hall buzzed with low murmurs and tension so thick it was almost choking. Archer remained rigid, his arms crossed as he kept his gaze locked on where Zareth and Nyx had disappeared to.

Artemis stepped closer, voice low. "What the hell was that?"

Rowena’s face was pale, her golden eyes narrowed. "That wasn’t just a casual meeting. That was a claim."

Archer’s jaw clenched. "The bastard dared to touch her. As if she was his."

Seraphis exhaled slowly. "Because in his mind... she is."

Cerius, who had been silent until now, finally turned to Archer. "They’re trying to rattle her. They want her off balance before making their next move. This banquet isn’t just about diplomacy." His golden eyes darkened. "It’s a test."

Archer’s wolf bristled. "A test for what?"

Seraphis and Cerius exchanged a glance.

Before they could answer....

A sharp laugh cut through the air.

Arthur.

Arthur stood in a secluded corner of the banquet hall, his posture relaxed, though his smirk revealed hidden malice.

Opposite him stood Alpha Tiago Frost.

One of Archer’s oldest enemies.

Tiago had always been a rival....jealous, scheming, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. His pack, the Black Moon, had been in conflict with Archer’s for years.

Tonight, though, he wasn’t just here for politics.

He was here to talk treachery.

Arthur swirled the wine in his goblet before taking a slow sip. "It’s a shame, isn’t it?" His voice was mocking, taunting. "That the great Alpha Archer has no idea what’s coming for him."

Tiago raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You have my attention."

Arthur leaned in slightly. "We both want the same thing....to see Archer fall."

Tiago smirked, but there was skepticism in his expression. "And why should I align with you? You don’t exactly have a track record of winning against Archer."

Arthur chuckled darkly. "That’s where you’re wrong." He set his goblet down with a soft clink. "I have something now that no one else does."

Tiago tilted his head. "And what’s that?"

Arthur’s eyes gleamed dangerously.

"Zareth."

Tiago stiffened. The name alone sent a ripple of unease through him. "You’re aligning yourself with a dead legend?"

Arthur’s smirk widened. "He’s not dead. He’s watching. And waiting." He leaned in further, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And when the time comes, Archer’s entire empire will crumble beneath his feet."

Tiago crossed his arms, his gaze flickering between doubt and interest. "And what exactly do you need from me?"

Arthur exhaled slowly, as if savoring the moment. "Disrupt Archer’s forces. Sow doubt among his allies. When the time is right, strike where it hurts most."

Tiago scoffed. "And you think that’ll be enough?"

Arthur’s smirk didn’t waver. "Archer isn’t untouchable. No king rules forever."

A beat of silence passed before Tiago finally extended his hand.

Arthur clasped it.

A silent deal was struck.

And Archer had no idea the trap had already begun to close around him.

Upstairs, in the quiet guest chambers, Haelyn sat on the edge of the large bed, her body still trembling from the lingering touch of Nyx’s power.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.

"That girl..." she murmured to herself. "She called me sister."

Erin, who had been sitting near the door, glanced up.

"You don’t believe her?"

Haelyn hesitated. "I don’t know."

Erin studied her for a moment before standing. "Well, whether she is or she isn’t, you need to be careful. There’s too much happening all at once. I’ve been to dozens of these banquets over the years, but this one? The energy is different."

Haelyn exhaled, her fingers pressing against her temple. "It’s more than just energy. I feel like I’m being hunted."

Erin’s expression darkened. "That’s because you are."

Before Haelyn could respond, a sharp knock sounded at the door.

Both women tensed.

Erin moved swiftly, opening it just enough to see who stood there.

It was Cerius.

His golden eyes were unreadable as they flickered to Haelyn. "You need to come back downstairs."

Haelyn frowned. "Why?"

Cerius hesitated before stepping inside, lowering his voice.

"Zareth... is requesting to speak with you."

The words hit Haelyn like ice.

Her throat tightened.

"He’s what?"

Cerius’s expression remained unreadable, but there was something tense and unreadable in his posture.

"He has formally requested a conversation. The Council... has granted it."

Haelyn’s pulse spiked.

"They’re letting him get close to me?"

Cerius’s jaw tensed. "They have no reason to deny him. Zareth is technically an Alpha. And a powerful one at that."

Erin’s eyes burned with disbelief. "That’s ridiculous! He’s a goddamn predator!"

Cerius turned to Haelyn, his voice softening just a fraction.

"If you don’t want to go, I will personally make sure you don’t have to."

Haelyn’s breath shook.

She had two choices.

She could refuse, but that would only make her look weaker....make her look like she was running.

Or...

She could face him.

She inhaled sharply.

"Take me to him."