Oracle Days

Chapter Twenty One

The hallways of the packhouse hum with controlled order, the stillness broken only by the occasional murmur of guards patrolling their routes. Shadows stretch long and sharp under the dim glow of the wall sconces, and every sound feels amplified. The soft creak of the wooden floorboards beneath my bare feet, and the rustle of fabric as I adjust my jacket. My pulse pounds against my ribs, but I force my steps to remain steady.

The pack is always watching. Their control is absolute, their presence constant, like unseen sentinels guarding every inch of the territory. Slipping unnoticed isn't just a challenge, it's a gamble.

The plan is reckless, but it's all I have. Answers won't come by waiting, and I won't waste another moment locked in my room while danger inches closer. The artifact has to be in Alpha Elias's office. If I can uncover what Queen Celeste seeks, I might finally understand what's tipping our world toward chaos.

"Dammit," I whisper under my breath. The office is on the first floor, heavily guarded by soldiers who seem to appear around every corner.

Descending the staircase, I feign a yawn as a soldier passes. He barely glances at me, nodding in acknowledgment before continuing on his route. I let out a slow, measured breath, but my muscles stay coiled, ready to spring into action.

Reaching the hallway leading to the Alpha's office, I press myself into the shadows, listening intently. Footsteps echo in the distance, but they fade quickly, leaving the corridor empty. With shaking hands, I slip inside, closing the door behind me with careful precision. The air in the office is colder than the rest of the packhouse, carrying a faint scent of pine and leather. Moonlight streams through the tall windows, casting an ethereal glow over the polished desk and the towering bookshelves that line the walls.

I move quickly, my fingers trailing over the desk as I search for anything out of place. The papers are neatly stacked, but nothing stands out. Frustration bubbles beneath my calm exterior as I turn to the bookshelves, running my hands along the spines, hoping for a hidden mechanism.

Then I feel a subtle shift beneath my fingers. One of the books isn't flush with the others. I tug it free, revealing a hollowed space behind it. My breath catches as my hand brushes against cold, smooth metal.

The artifact.

I draw it out carefully, its weight solid and foreboding in my hands. It's not what I expected. It's a dagger, its blade thick and unyielding, carved entirely from stone. Dark symbols are etched along its surface, their lines seeming to writhe and shift in the faint moonlight, as though the weapon itself were alive.

Before I can inspect it further, a sound cuts through the silence, the faint creak of the door.

I freeze, my body locking in place as dread pools in my stomach. Slowly, I turn, the artifact clenched tightly in my hands.

Alpha Elias stands in the doorway, his imposing frame filling the space. His eyes gleam with a cold intensity, his expression unreadable.

"What exactly do you think you're doing, little wolf?" he asks, his voice low and dangerous.

The artifact feels like a brand in my grasp, its presence damning evidence against me. My mind races, searching for a way to explain, a way to escape. But under the weight of his piercing gaze, all I can do is stand there, my pulse roaring in my ears.

"I needed to know," I say, barely above a whisper. My voice shakes, but I force myself to meet his stare. "What it is, why it's so important. Why does the Vampire Queen want it?"

He steps closer, each movement deliberate, his presence filling the room like a dark tide. "And you thought sneaking into my office would be the best way to uncover the truth?" His tone drips with disdain, but there's something else, a flicker of curiosity, buried deep beneath the anger.