Chapter 2 A Royal Betrayal

Emilia's POV.

TWO Weeks Earlier.

It was the day of the lunar convergence. For the past hundred years, the heirs of the Lunarborn pack and the Hunter clan would meet in Eldoria— the Lycan territory in New York to renew the treaty, aligning our clans as one and putting a stop to the battle between Lycans and hunters. As our ferry glided gracefully toward the island, the clock struck noon. "I've heard tales about this place, but it's even more extravagant than I imagined," remarked Martin, my trusted advisor.

Nodding, I replied, "Don't be fooled, most of the gold you see was looted during the war centuries ago" I said, "it's the gold of the dead"

As we stepped onto dry land, the herald from Eldoria, who had been observing from afar, approached us. "It seems the stories we hear in Eldoria differ greatly from the ones you're familiar with," the herald said.

"I wouldn't be surprised if your stories depict you as heroes," Martin retorted with a wry smile.

"That's precisely the case," the herald responded, the tension rising as both parties remained loyal to their respective clans.

"Enough, both of you!" I intervened, stepping between them. "We're here for peace, not to tear each other apart. Let's proceed with the signing already."

Guided by the herald, we made our way to the grand hall, where the Eldorian council had gathered to witness the signing. "May I present Emilia Montclair, the representative of the Hunter clan," Martin announced proudly.

The herald, in turn, introduced Diana Foster, the future alpha of the Lunarborn pack. Diana and I exchanged bows in front of the imposing Moon symbol at the center of the hall.

"I was expecting your father," Diana whispered to me.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but he passed," I replied.

"That's unfortunate. I had something to give him, but I suppose you'll do," Diana said.

We returned to our seats as the ceremony commenced. The Oldest Council Member addressed the gathering, stating, "Today, we come together to renew the peace between our two clans." The ceremony proceeded for another hour, entangled in unnecessary bureaucracy.

As we reached the midpoint of the ceremony, Diana's herald approached me, conveying a message to meet her outside the grand hall. Curious, I went to join her.

"What's on your mind, Diana?" I inquired, addressing her informally, which drew a gentle reproach from her due to the formal occasion.

Despite her seriousness, we couldn't contain our laughter for long. "The ceremony was getting dreadfully dull, so I thought we could use a break," she explained.

"Alright," I agreed, eager for any diversion from the mundane proceedings.

We ascended to the second floor of the hall, where a knight guarded the stairwell's end. "Ms. Diana, do you need an escort?" he asked.

"No, I'm fine. I have the head of the Hunter clan with me," Diana replied confidently.

Outside, we settled on the terrace, gazing at the view. "Emilia," Diana called out, "do you believe this ceremony truly brings a lasting solution?"

Perplexed, I asked, "What do you mean?"

"Our clans convene here every few years to renew this contract, yet enmity persists," she said, voicing her concern. "We smile at each other but conspire behind one another's backs."

"You're right, but we're doing our best," I reasoned. "Even if we manage to stop the main families from fighting, the smaller ones will still pursue their own agendas. It's a constant struggle for power over one another."

Diana nodded, deep in thought. "Exactly, power. Everyone craves it, even though the Lunarborn clearly hold the upper hand."

"I don't believe power—" I began, but she cut me off.

"If only the Lunarborn were in control, instead of having to bow to humans," she mused, her voice tinged with frustration.

"Diana?" I called out, concerned about her sudden intensity, but she continued to speak.

"Even better, if there were no humans at all, we wouldn't have to negotiate or compromise," she added cryptically. "Diana, what do you mean by—" I started to inquire further, but my words trailed off as I saw Richard, Diana's father and the alpha of the Lunarborn pack, unexpectedly walking onto the terrace.

"What are you girls doing here?" Richard asked, his authoritative voice filled with curiosity.

"Just girl talk, you can join in if you want, father," Diana replied, trying to maintain a composed demeanor.

Richard approached us, and just as he came close, Diana swiftly drew out a silver dagger and ruthlessly slit his throat. The horrifying scene unfolded so fast that I could barely comprehend what had just happened.

"Dia… Diana, what did you do?" I stammered, my entire body trembling with shock and fear.

She turned away from her lifeless father and looked at me with an unsettling smile on her face. "Emilia, we're friends, right?" she asked in a cold, soulless tone.

"Diana, what did you do!" I exclaimed, taking a few hesitant steps back, my mind struggling to process what I had just witnessed.

She turned back to her father's lifeless body and screamed, "Emilia, why did you kill my father?"

"What? You were the one who killed him!" I yelled, utterly perplexed.

"That's not how I remember it, Emilia," she retorted calmly, her tone sending shivers down my spine. "I clearly saw you slit his throat with this knife."

"Are you trying to frame me, Diana?!" I shouted, feeling a mixture of anger and fear rising within me. "No one will believe you! You're the one with blood on your hands."

"You're right, they won't believe me… Unless—" Diana gripped the knife once more and unexpectedly stabbed herself in the stomach.

"Won't they believe me now?" she chuckled, blood spilling from her mouth as she coughed.

"You're sick!" I cried out, my heart pounding with terror as I rushed towards the door, desperate to escape the nightmarish situation.

"Help… Help me!" Diana's voice echoed through the terrace, but I couldn't bear to look back.

As I dashed down the hall, my heart raced with every step, causing me to stumble repeatedly. Startled by my state, the guard stationed at the stairwell called out, "Ms. Emilia, are you alright?"

Gasping for breath, I managed to reply, "The Alpha... he's..." but my words trailed off in my relentless distress. The guard made his way towards the terrace, while I continued my frantic rush to the hall. Pushing open the colossal doors, I collapsed in the center of the room, trembling and struggling to catch my breath.

Concerned, an Elder Council member approached, asking, "What's wrong, Ms. Montclair?"

"Diana killed the Alpha and then stabbed herself?!" I blurted out in disbelief.

The room erupted with shock and confusion. Just then, Diana crawled through the doors, accompanied by the guard from the stairwell. She grunted, attempting to discredit my claims, "Don't listen to her... She's lying. She slit my father's throat and stabbed me with this silver dagger."

"My God," gasped the Elder Council member, "Guards, arrest her!"

Guards from all corners of the hall encircled me. I considered surrendering for a moment, but the realisation that the charges against me would extend to the entire Hunter clan compelled me to take a different path. I had to escape and Clear my name!

With determination, I drew my sword and swung at one of the guards, who parried as I had anticipated. This brief distraction allowed me to slip out of the encirclement they had formed around me. In one swift move, I leaped through the glass windows, making my escape from the hall.

As I fled, Diana's furious voice echoed behind me, "I won't let my father's death be in vain! Call all the guards, hire bounty hunters, I don't care how you do it, just get me Emilia Montclair!"