“Are you sure about this?”


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    I asked, my expression serious, my eyes cold, edged with something sharp, almost deadly as I stood straight, the tension in the air stretched so tight it felt like it could snap at any second.


    “Yes. I am sure about this, Beta Lilith.”


    The’s voice matched mine-calm, sharp, and just as serious.


    I didn’t look at her at first. I simply nodded once, reaching for the cold metal on the table before handing it to her. My eyes flicked to hers as I spoke, like whatever we were about to do was the most important mission of our lives.


    And honestly… it felt like it.


    “This is ourst chance, The,” I said quietly. “If you can do this we win. We walk out of here victorious.”


    A pause.


    “Are you ready?”


    The turned to me, her expression mirroring mine. Her white hair was neatly tied back, her gaze steady as it dropped to


    what I held out to her.


    Then she nodded.


    She took it.


    And under everyone’s gaze. Under Lora and Verya, who now stood together as a team, Lora swallowed nervously while Verya watched with an amused smirk, head slightly tilted as The’s entire aura shifted.


    It turned sharp. Focused. Deadly.


    Even I felt a small shiver run down my spine.


    The next second, like she had done this a thousand times before she straightened, gripping the metal gun filled with darts. She positioned herself with practiced ease, her stance steady.


    The world seemed to slow, the faint carnival breeze brushed pasher.


    Her eyes locked onto the targets, the balloons lined up in a row and then-


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    One after another.


    No hesitation. No miss.


    All ten targets-gone in a single perfect streak and without even inching, she lifted the toy gun to her mouth and blew on it like there was smoke curling from the barrel, then rested it on her shoulder with a casual pose.


    Lora’s eyes widened. Verya’s smirk deepened as she started pping slowly.


    And me?


    I pped a hand over my mouth in disbelief.


    “You did it…” I whispered.


    The turned to me, gave a small nod, and ced the toy gun back on the table, and the next second…


    p!


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    Our hands met mid-air and then we both burst outughing, jumping and practically bouncing in excitement as I yelled,


    “Oh my goddess, we did it! We won!”


    We turned toward Lora and Verya, grinning proudly.


    Lora pouted dramatically. Verya raised her hands in mock surrender, clearly entertained.


    I honestly couldn’t believe it, we had actually won. We had only arrived at the carnival an hour ago, and the atmosphere had been… awkward, to say the least.


    Lora had been shy, especially with Verya around and The… well, she wasn’t exactly chatty so, to break the tension, I suggested we split into teams.


    Of course, I paired Lora with Verya and I teamed up with The


    Each team would y five games, whoever won the most games would be the overall winner. I hadn’t even known what the prize would be at first until Verya casually mentioned it.


    Nevermore Jade.


    1 had been stunned.


    Nevermore Jade was rare. Extremely rare.


    But then again, she was the Alpha of the third-strongest pack. She was wealthy.


    I watched as she leaned toward Lora, who instantly blushed and whispered something. From the way her mouth moved, I could tell she had said something like,


    “You get a Jade too, beautiful.”


    Lora’s face flushed, and I couldn’t help but smile at them.


    I wasn’t sure if I trusted Verya with Lora, after all, she was just like the Alphas who slept with different women everyday but the Alphas had changed, and Verya didn’t exactly seem like a bad person. I just hoped she wouldn’t break Lora’s heart.


    Beside me, The was watching the interaction as well. I noticed her frown slightly, her protective instincts already kicking in.


    Seeing this, I couldn’t help but remember how she had always warned me to stay away from the Alphas. Now, something told me she’d give the same warning to Lora. I chuckled quietly and that caught The’s attention. She looked at me. confused, but before I could say anything


    I stopped mid-thought.


    People were whispering and pointing as they walked past us


    I finally noticed it


    “Wait isn’t that Beta Lilith? And the Alpha Verya?”


    I was slightly stunned. I could understand people recognizing Very but nie? I had just be a Beta, and they already


    knew me.


    O


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    “I heard she’s the daughter of thete Beta… she was the one who fought off the rogues that attacked the packhouse.”


    “Really? She must be strong. It’s good we have a strong Beta this time.”


    As people whispered and moved past us, the next second, a shiver ran down my spine, an almost instinctive warning.


    Four people had passed by.


    Two men, two women.


    I hadn’t seen them, not really but I felt them.


    And somehow… I recognized their aura.


    It carried a faint trace of death. The same aura I had sensed from the four strangers at the coronation when I became Beta.


    I jerked my head toward their direction but no one was there. They had blended into the crowd, disappearing like smoke.


    Just as I was beginning to think I’d imagined it, Verya’s voice snapped me back.


    “I thought I saw something, dumplings over there. I’m rather hungry. Shall we go?”


    She was standing in front of me, leaning slightly, towering over me. My breath hitched. That smile… it was charming, but there was something off about it. Something dangerous.


    Instinctively, I nodded.


    Before I could say anything, Verya reached for my hand and pulled me toward the dumpling stall.


    At the corner of my eye, I caught Lora’s sad, hesitant gaze as she and The followed behind. I watched Verya carefully. She moved like a cat-slow, deliberate, andmanding.


    When we reached the dumpling stall, Verya released my hand and gestured for me, The, and Lora to sit. The was about to step forward to order, since Verya was clearly the Alpha, but then…


    Verya’s gaze sharpened, the air shifted.


    The froze, sweat prickling at the back of her neck.


    “Sit, I will order” Verya said, voice calm yet didn’t leave any room for argument.


    Lora swallowed hard, lowered her head, and pulled The to the table.


    Verya stepped to the front of the stall and ced the order. A grif-looking man nodded and began preparing the dumplings.


    And for a moment. I heard Verya speak with an amused smirk.


    “I do have a question-if, perhaps, your store were destroyed. how muchpensation would cover the cost?”


    The man looked confused but shrugged casually


    “Fifty silver coins. I think. Why?”


    He handed her the te of dumpling


    Verya shook her head, smiling faintly


    “Just asking,” she replied.


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    Then she turned and carried the dumplings to our table, movements measured and smooth, cing them down and sitting. For a moment, she didn’t say anything.


    Verya’s eyes scanned the surroundings, her smile unwavering but there was something behind it. My brows furrowed. Something was wrong.


    “Something is wrong, isn’t it?” I asked cautiously.


    Lora and The turned toward me, confused.


    Verya’s smile widened, and she leaned back, and the words that spilled out froze everyone.


    “My guards around here… have been killed.”


    Everyone stiffened.


    Verya had left a portion of her guards, mostly women, to watch over the packhouse, and brought some with us. They hadn’t been walking close, but they were always behind us, keeping watch.


    Lora and The’s eyes darted around, trying to confirm her words and saw nothing. My own brows knitted tighter.


    Verya continued, her smile still in ce, calm but chilling,


    “If they can kill my guards… it means they are strong.” Her head tilted as she stared at me. “Someone here is their target.


    I had felt the tension earlier.


    “Is there really danger around?”


    I asked Dravena through mindlink.


    She didn’t answer immediately. I could see her sitting on her throne, legs crossed, chin resting on her hand with that bored look, staring at me before speaking as if stating the obvious


    “Yes, there is. And they are strong.”


    She paused…her smirk widened.


    “But of course, not as strong as we are,” she added, and almost immediately, the world seemed to shift around us.


    The air changed. My senses sharpened, Verya’s eyes narrowed, and a smirk yed on her lips. My own lips curved into a frown.


    And then it happened.


    Four daggers flew through the air.


    Verya tilted her head just in time, dodging one effortlessly, before moving toward Lora, who had frozen in ce. She pulled Lora into her arms as another dagger flew toward her neck, parady missing


    I reacted instantly too, leaping back as if the world had slowed Adagger sliced beneath my chin, and twisted mid-air,nding with precision and moving toward The. I kicked away dagger aimed at her, eyes scanning the crowd, narrowing to three figures surrounding us.


    My breath hitched.


    Two identical women, dressed in red, their smirks mirroring each other.


    A man bes


    ide them, smiling, amusement glinting in his eyes.


    I recognized them. They were the people at the party.


    ル


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    Cede


    <strong>Cede</strong> is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a ir for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cede’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.