Igo Vanyin is a man who thrives on secrets. He knows too many and knows too much. Having multiple alliances and even more enemies. He was the type to not have a friend, but not have as an enemy either. He wears secrets like a second skin, each whispered truth stitched into the fabric of his being. And now, he claims to have Kade's weakness in the palm of his hand.
I study him through the dim haze of the underground lounge, fingers idly tracing the rim of my untouched glass. The scent of aged whiskey and smoldering cigars lingers in the air, mixing with the ever-present murmur of clandestine deals.
He watches me, his expression one of measured amusement. But beneath that, there's something else—something sharp. A man like Igo doesn't play games unless he's certain of his endgame.
"I'm listening," I say finally, voice smooth, unreadable.
Igo smirks. "You always were the patient type." He leans back in his seat, swirling his drink before lifting it to his lips. "But patience, my dear, is a dangerous thing in a world like ours. Sometimes, you have to strike before the iron even knows it's hot."
I don't blink. "And you would know all about striking at the right time, wouldn't you?"
His chuckle is low, dark. "Touché."
I rest my elbow on the table, tilting my head. "Enough theatrics. If you have something worth my time, say it."
He sets his glass down with a quiet clink, his gaze sharpening like a blade. "Kade has a brother."
Silence stretches between us for the span of a heartbeat. Celeste shifts slightly beside me, but I don't look at her.
Slowly, deliberately, I lean forward. "That's old news. I assume you have more than just a family tree to recite."
Igo's lips curve. "Oh, I have much more." He lifts his fingers, rubbing them together as if savoring the weight of the information. "Elias Volkova. Younger, hidden away for years, out of sight, out of mind. Most people assume he's dead."
I arch a brow. "He isn't?"
"Very much alive," Igo murmurs, eyes gleaming. "And not just alive—he's dangerous, Lilith. Kade has spent years keeping him locked away, away from power, away from his pack. But Elias… he's no prisoner. He's waiting."
Something cold slithers through me, a quiet hum of intrigue.
Kade, the ruthless, ambitious Alpha, hiding a brother in the shadows?
Interesting.
I go still, considering. If there's one thing I know about people like Kade, it's that they don't suppress someone unless they fear them.
"Where is he?" I ask.
Igo chuckles, shaking his head. "Ah, ah. That information comes at a price."
I sigh, feigning boredom. "Name it."
His smirk doesn't waver. "A favor, as I said. When I call on you, you will oblige. No questions, no negotiations."
Celeste stiffens beside me, but I don't look away from Igo.
"No limits?" I ask.
He takes another sip of his drink, dragging out the moment. Then he sets it down and leans in. "I won't ask you for anything that would destroy you. That wouldn't benefit either of us."
I study him. Igo is many things, but a liar isn't one of them. He's survived this long by keeping his word, even when it drips with blood.
And if Elias Volkova is the key to Kade's destruction… then this deal is worth the risk.
I extend my hand. "We have a deal."
Igo's smirk widens, his fingers cool as they clasp mine. "Pleasure doing business with you, Lilith."
The Ride Back
The storm has broken by the time we leave the underground lounge. Rain slashes against the car windows, turning the city into a blur of shifting lights and reflections.
Celeste is silent beside me, arms crossed, expression unreadable. But I can feel the tension radiating off her like heat.
Finally, she speaks. "That was reckless."
I glance at her. "It was necessary."
Celeste exhales sharply, shaking her head. "A blind favor, Lilith? You don't just agree to something like that."
I smirk. "You think I didn't weigh the risks?"
She gives me a flat look. "I think you enjoy playing with fire a little too much."
I hum, looking out the window. "Fire is the best way to burn a kingdom to the ground."
Silence stretches between us, thick with unspoken words.
Then, after a long pause, Celeste murmurs, "Elias Volkova."
I nod. "He's Kade's weakness. Or, at the very least, the fracture in his foundation."
She shifts slightly, thoughtful. "If Kade has kept him hidden, there's a reason. Either he fears him… or he's protecting him."
"Either way," I murmur, "we find him."
Celeste doesn't argue. She knows, just as I do, that the only way to bring down an empire is to strike at its most vulnerable point.
And I have a feeling Elias Volkova is exactly that.
Lightning flashes, illuminating the skyline for the briefest of moments.
A storm is coming.
And this time, I am the storm
The estate is quiet when we arrive, the only sound the distant rumble of thunder retreating into the night. The storm has passed, leaving behind a sky still heavy with the scent of rain. I step out of the car, my boots clicking softly against the stone driveway, and inhale the cool air.
Celeste says nothing as we walk inside, but I catch the way she glances at me—thoughtful, curious. I ignore it. There's no need for words between us tonight.
The halls are dimly lit, the air thick with the stillness of the late hour. Most of the household has retired for the night, but my mind is restless, my body thrumming with a strange energy I can't shake.
As I climb the grand staircase, an inexplicable pull tugs at me—an instinct, sharp and sudden. I don't question it. My feet move of their own accord, leading me to the farthest wing of the estate.
To Lily's room.
The door is slightly ajar, and just as I reach for it, I freeze.
A sound drifts through the crack in the door—soft, muffled. A quiet, heartbreaking sob.
My wolf, always dormant beneath my cool exterior, stirs awake in an instant. Protective. Possessive.
Before I can think, I push the door open.
Lily is curled beneath the covers of her small bed, her tiny frame trembling with silent cries. The sight punches through me, sharp and unexpected.
For a moment, I stand there, unmoving, staring at the child who should have been fast asleep. Then, without hesitation, I move.
I cross the room swiftly and kneel beside her bed. "Lily." My voice is softer than I've ever heard it, barely a whisper.
She gasps, startled, and lifts her tear-streaked face. Her blue eyes, wide and glistening, search mine, filled with something raw. Something that grips my chest.
I don't ask her why she's crying. I don't demand an explanation.
Instead, I do the only thing that feels right.
I gather her into my arms.
Lily tenses at first, but as soon as she realizes I'm not letting go, she clings to me. Her tiny hands clutch at my blouse, and her sobs break into quiet sniffles as she buries her face into my shoulder.
"It's okay," I murmur, my fingers threading through her soft hair. "You're not alone. You'll never be alone."
Her grip tightens.
I don't know how long I sit there, rocking her gently, whispering quiet reassurances. Her breathing slows, her small body growing heavier in my arms as sleep finally claims her.
I should put her down. I should stand, leave the room, return to my own bed.
But I don't.
Instead, I shift onto the tiny mattress, still cradling her against me, and let my own eyes drift shut.
The last thought that lingers in my mind before sleep takes me is a dangerous one.
This child… she might be my only weakness.
The Next Morning
The room is bathed in soft morning light when Elara steps inside, moving with her usual quiet efficiency. She carries a small tray, intending to wake Lily and help her prepare for the day.
But the sight before her makes her freeze.
Lilith Luna Dusk, the feared soon to be Alpha Queen, is curled into the tiny bed, her arms wrapped protectively around the sleeping child.
Lily's head is tucked beneath Lilith's chin, her small hands still gripping the fabric of the Alpha's blouse. Their breathing is slow, synchronized, peaceful.
Elara swallows thickly, something warm blooming in her chest.
She had always known there was more to Lilith than the sharp edges and ruthless power she wielded. But seeing this… seeing her like this…
A single tear escapes before she can stop it.
She quickly wipes it away, then quietly steps back, leaving them undisturbed.
For the first time in a long time, the Alpha Queen looks at peace.
And for the first time in her life, Elara wonders if Lilith has finally found something—someone—worth protecting beyond herself.