C4 Rebecca's POV

"Well, if it isn’t the prodigal brother and the perfect Luna,” a sharp voice cut through the tense silence, dripping with venom.

I froze, my heart racing as Ayara stepped into the room. Her raven-black hair cascaded down her back in flawless waves, and her emerald-green dress hugged her figure as if to remind everyone of her perfection. Her piercing blue eyes, so much like her brother Damian’s, gleamed with disdain as they landed on me.

“Ayara,” I said evenly, trying to keep my voice steady. “This isn’t the time.”

She raised a perfectly sculpted brow, her lips curving into a mocking smile. “Oh, but it’s always the time, isn’t it, Rebecca? Especially when you’re at the center of all the chaos, like always.”

Kazan tensed beside me, his gaze narrowing. “Is this really necessary, Ayara?”

Ayara ignored him, her attention locked on me. “So now your banished brother is back, ready to save the day? How convenient. Tell me, Rebecca, how many more rules will you bend to suit your needs?”

“I don’t have time for your games,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended. “There are bigger issues at hand.”

“Bigger issues?” Ayara laughed, the sound cold and hollow. “You mean the shadows clawing at the window or the cracks in this pack that you refuse to acknowledge?”

Her words stung because they weren’t entirely untrue. Damian stepped forward, his voice a low growl. “Ayara, enough.”

She turned to him, her expression softening only slightly. “Oh, Damian, I’m just pointing out the obvious. Our dear Luna seems to attract trouble wherever she goes.”

I clenched my fists, biting back the retort that threatened to escape. This wasn’t the first time Ayara had undermined me, and it wouldn’t be the last. Our rivalry had simmered beneath the surface for years, ever since I became Luna.

Ayara had made it clear from the beginning that she didn’t think I was fit for the role. As Damian’s younger sister, she had grown up expecting to have a say in pack matters, a position of influence. My arrival disrupted her plans, and she never forgave me for it.

“Ayara,” Kazan said, his tone icy. “If you’re done stirring the pot, we have more pressing matters to deal with.”

Her gaze flicked to him, her smile turning saccharine. “Oh, Kazan, it’s adorable that you think you have a place here after what you did.”

Kazan stiffened, but before he could respond, I stepped between them. “That’s enough. Both of you.”

Ayara’s smile faltered, but her eyes remained cold. “Fine. I’ll leave you to your little reunion. Just remember, Rebecca, this pack deserves better than you.”

She turned on her heel and stalked out of the room, her heels clicking against the floor like the ticking of a clock counting down to another inevitable confrontation.

I let out a shaky breath, the tension in the room lifting slightly with her departure. Kazan placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “She’s always been like that?”

“Worse,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “Ayara thrives on finding cracks and widening them. She’s been gunning for me since day one.”

Damian frowned, his expression troubled. “I’ll talk to her.”

“Don’t bother,” I said, my voice weary. “She won’t listen to you. She never does.”

Kazan crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. “What’s her deal, anyway? Why does she hate you so much?”

I hesitated, the memories rushing back like a tidal wave. “It’s… complicated. She wanted to be more involved in the pack, especially after their father’s death. She saw me as an outsider who stole her position.”

“And Damian didn’t support her ambitions,” Kazan guessed.

I nodded. “He thought it was better to keep her at arm’s length. She never forgave me for that, even though it wasn’t my decision.”

Kazan’s expression darkened. “Sounds like she’s been waiting for an opportunity to take you down.”

“She’s tried before,” I admitted, my voice low. “Spreading rumors, questioning my decisions, turning others against me. But this…” I gestured toward the broken window and the chaos outside. “This feels different. She’s using the pack’s unrest to fuel her agenda.”

Damian’s jaw tightened. “I won’t let her undermine you, Rebecca.”

“I can handle Ayara,” I said, though the words felt hollow. “Right now, we need to focus on the shadows.”

Kazan nodded, his gaze shifting to the shattered window. “They’re growing bolder. We need to figure out what they want before it’s too late.”

The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of our predicament pressing down on all of us.

Suddenly, a scream pierced the air, echoing through the halls.

My blood ran cold as I bolted for the door, Damian and Kazan close behind me. We sprinted down the corridor, the sound of our footsteps drowned out by the pounding of my heart.

When we reached the source of the scream, my breath caught in my throat.

Ayara stood in the middle of the room, her face pale and her hands trembling. Surrounding her were shadowy tendrils, writhing like snakes, their glowing red eyes fixed on her.

“Ayara!” I shouted, rushing toward her.

“Stay back!” she cried, her voice laced with terror. “They’ll kill you!”

I ignored her warning, my instincts kicking in. Damian and Kazan moved to flank me, their eyes blazing with determination.

“We need to get her out of there,” Damian said, his voice tight.

The shadows hissed, their movements growing more erratic. One of them lunged toward Ayara, and she let out another scream, stumbling back.

Kazan drew his dagger, his stance poised for battle. “Rebecca, get her out. We’ll cover you.”

I didn’t hesitate. Darting forward, I grabbed Ayara’s arm and pulled her toward the door. She resisted at first, her fear paralyzing her, but I tightened my grip.

“Move!” I snapped, my voice cutting through her panic.

As we reached the doorway, one of the shadows lunged at us, its claws swiping through the air. Kazan intercepted it, his dagger flashing as he slashed through the creature.

“Go!” he shouted, his voice echoing in the chaos.

I dragged Ayara down the hall, her sobs mixing with the distant sounds of battle.

When we finally reached the safety of another room, I turned to her, my chest heaving. “What happened? Why were they after you?”

Ayara shook her head, her eyes wide with terror. “I don’t know,” she whispered. “I didn’t do anything. They just… appeared.”

Something in her tone made my stomach churn. There was more to her story, something she wasn’t telling me.

“Ayara,” I said firmly, gripping her shoulders. “What aren’t you saying?”

She looked away, her lips trembling. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

Her words sent a chill down my spine. “What do you mean?”

Before she could answer, the door burst open, and Damian and Kazan stumbled inside, their faces grim.

“They’re gone,” Damian said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. “For now.”

Kazan’s gaze shifted to Ayara, his expression hard. “She knows something.”

Ayara flinched under his scrutiny, her shoulders hunching.

“Start talking,” I said, my voice cold and unyielding. “What did you do?”

She hesitated, tears streaming down her face. “I didn’t think it would go this far,” she whispered.

“What did you do, Ayara?” I demanded, my heart pounding.

Her gaze met mine, her eyes filled with guilt. “I… I made a deal.”