Cold water hit Isla's face like a slap, shocking her awake. She gasped and tried to sit up, but heavy chains around her wrists yanked her back down."Finally awake, sleeping beauty?" Alina's voice dripped with false sweetness.Isla blinked hard, trying to clear her vision. She was sitting on cold stone, her back against a rough wall. The air smelled of damp earth and something rotting. But worst of all, the silver mark on her neck felt dead—like someone had poured ice water over a flame."What did you do to me?" Isla's voice came out as a rasp.Alina held up thick metal chains that glowed with a sickly green light. "Binding chains forged from ancient metals. They sever your connection to your precious silver blood powers. No more magic tricks for you."Terror shot through Isla's chest. She tried to reach for the warm sensation that came with her powers, but found nothing. It was like trying to grasp smoke."The triplets will come for me," Isla said, trying to sound braver than she felt."Oh, I'm counting on it." Alina's smile was sharp as a blade. "They'll walk right into our trap."A heavy door creaked open. Footsteps echoed in the confined space, and a man stepped into the dim light. He was tall and broad, with silver hair and eyes like winter storms. Power radiated from him in waves that made Isla's teeth ache."So this is the famous Silver Wolf," he said, circling Isla like a predator stalking prey. "You're smaller than I expected.""Who are you?" Isla demanded."Marcus Darkwood. Alpha of the pack your little boyfriends have been warring with for years." He crouched down until he was eye level with her. "The pack that's going to win this war, thanks to you."Isla's heart hammered against her ribs. "I don't understand."
"Silver blood, little girl. Your blood can make any wolf stronger, faster, more powerful. A few drops mixed into the right elixir, and my pack becomes unstoppable." Marcus's eyes gleamed with hunger. "We've been waiting three generations for another Silver Wolf to be born.""You're insane if you think I'll help you."Marcus laughed, a sound like shattering glass. "Help me? Oh, you don't need to be alive to help me. Dead silver blood works just as well."Isla tried not to show her fear, but her hands began trembling. "The triplets will tear you apart when they find you.""Let them try." Marcus stood up. "Alina, show our guest how long we've been planning this."Alina pulled out a thick folder stuffed with papers and photographs. She dropped it in Isla's lap with a thud."Go on," Alina urged. "Look."With shaking fingers, Isla opened the folder. The first page showed a photograph of her house, with notes about her daily routine written in the margins. The second page contained pictures of her at school, walking with friends, training with the pack. Someone had been watching her for months."You've been spying on me," Isla whispered."For over a year," Alina said smugly. "Ever since we discovered what you really were. Did you think that little necklace actually concealed your scent? We've known about your silver blood since you turned seventeen."Isla flipped through more pages. There were detailed maps of the Blackthorn estate, guard schedules, and—her heart stopped. Photographs of her parents' wedding. Photographs of her mother."My mother," Isla breathed.Marcus leaned over her shoulder. "Beautiful woman. Shame what happened to her.""She died in a car accident when I was three.""Is that what they told you?" Marcus's voice was smooth as silk and twice as dangerous. "How interesting."
sla looked up sharply. "What do you mean?""Your mother didn't die in any accident, little wolf. She was murdered."The world seemed to tilt sideways. "You're lying.""Am I?" Marcus gestured to Alina, who flipped to a page near the back of the folder.Isla's breath caught. It was a police report, but not about a car crash. The header read: "Luna Sarah Blackthorn Found Dead in Forest. Investigation Ongoing.""No," Isla whispered. "This isn't real.""Very real. Your mother discovered something she shouldn't have. Asked too many questions about the old bloodlines. Got too close to secrets that powerful people wanted buried."Isla's hands shook as she read the report. Her mother had been found with strange wounds, like she'd been attacked by a wild animal. But the police notes mentioned something else—traces of a rare poison that could kill werewolves."Someone in your own pack killed her," Marcus continued. "Someone who knew she was getting too close to the truth about the Silver Wolf lineage.""Stop it." Tears burned Isla's eyes. "Just stop.""The question is," Marcus said, "who benefits from keeping Silver Wolves weak and hidden? Who gains power when the most powerful bloodline remains secret?"Isla thought about her father, about Alpha Roderick, about all the adults who had "protected" her by concealing what she really was. A cold realization spread through her chest."You see it now, don't you?" Alina said softly. "The people you trust most are the ones who have been lying to you your entire life.""Why should I believe you?" Isla asked, but her voice lacked conviction.Marcus pulled out a small vial filled with dark liquid. "Because I'm going to prove it. This is a truth serum made from rare herbs. One drop, and whoever drinks it cannot lie for twenty-four hours."He handed the vial to Alina. "When your precious triplets come to rescue you—and they will—we'll make them drink this. Then you can ask them anything you want. About your mother. About the pack's secrets. About how much they really know."
Isla's mind reeled. Part of her wanted to believe Marcus was lying, fabricating stories to turn her against her own pack. But the police report felt authentic. The photographs were too detailed to be fake. And something deep in her gut whispered that she'd always known the adults in her life were hiding something significant."What do you want from me?" she asked quietly."Simple," Marcus said. "Join my pack willingly, and I'll tell you everything about your mother's death. Refuse, and you'll die without ever knowing the truth."Before Isla could respond, an explosion shook the structure. Dust rained from the ceiling, and somewhere in the distance, she heard the sounds of battle.Marcus smiled. "Right on schedule. Your heroes have arrived."Alina grabbed a syringe filled with glowing liquid. "Should I give her the paralytic now?""Not yet," Marcus said. "Let's see how much the triplets truly love her first. If they're willing to die for her, she might be worth keeping alive. If not..." He shrugged.Another explosion, closer this time. Isla heard a familiar roar of rage that made her heart leap—Thorne.But as footsteps thundered down the corridor toward them, Marcus pulled out a remote control with a single red button."One press," he told Isla, "and this entire mine collapses. Your dear mates will be buried alive, and you'll watch it happen before we drain every drop of silver blood from your body."His finger hovered over the button as the footsteps grew closer."Choose carefully, little wolf. Save yourself, or save them. You can't do both."