Scarred Wolf Queen Chapter 47

**Briony's POV**

Victoria took an exaggerated sniff, like she was trying to catch my scent. Her eyes flashed with spite before her expression morphed into fake shock.

"This is insane!" she practically shouted, making sure everyone could hear. "It took me forever just to get permission to see the third floor, and you're living there?" Jealousy dripped from every word.

I shrugged, keeping my cool. "Not your business, Victoria."

"It absolutely is my business," she stepped closer. "Has nobody noticed how this runt has been clinging to the future Alphas? Now she's suddenly living with them and wearing their clothes?" Her gaze locked onto Maxwell's hoodie I was wearing. "It all makes sense! What did you do to them? Some kind of love potion? Or something even more desperate?"

Anger surged through me, but I refused to give her the reaction she wanted. Taric, however, looked seriously annoyed by her comments.

"That's enough," he said firmly. "Warrior Briony is a trained fighter and a lodge resident. The living arrangements made by Alpha and Luna aren't your concern."

Victoria's jaw dropped at his use of "warrior" for me. "She's not a warrior! She hasn't even been approved for Sentinel training! She's just the Beta's problem child who can't grasp basic manners!"

I opened my mouth to snap back when Victoria whirled toward Taric. "And why are you so friendly with her? You know her name but call the rest of us 'child'? I'm - "

"The future Luna?" Taric cut her off coldly. "Let me be clear. Even if you somehow became Luna someday, I still outrank you. And until the Moon Goddess herself picks you for that title, I don't need to remember your name."

He paused, his stare like ice. "Briony earned recognition through her performance in the Sentinel trials. She impressed the Alpha King's guards with pure skill and strategy. More importantly, she shows respect to everyone in the pack. You need to earn the privilege of being remembered."

Taric's face suddenly changed, like he was listening to something I couldn't hear.

"Briony, Luna needs to see you. Take the elevator; Conrad is waiting." He stepped aside while blocking Victoria's path. As I walked away, I heard him tell her: "Last warning – go back to your room or you'll be confined. Now leave."

His voice wasn't loud, but the growl underneath it sent chills down my spine.

Conrad was already at the elevator when I reached it. "Is anyone going to tell me what's happening?" I asked. "I went to bed early and woke up with five boys and Layla crammed in my room."

"Not here," he glanced around, voice dropping to a whisper. "Unknown threat triggered defense protocols. Visitors were sent home, and remaining guests are confined to their rooms. Those boys volunteered to guard you, giving up their spaces for Sentinels on patrol duty."

"That's at least more than Taric told me," I said, deciding not to push it.

"You'll have to tell me someday," Conrad said suddenly, "how you got Taric to be so friendly."

"What do you mean?"

"He never tells people his name," he explained with curious eyes. "It's one of his things."

The elevator rose in tense silence. My wolf was on high alert, trying to catch any clue about what was happening. I breathed deeply, forcing myself to stay calm.

When the doors opened, Luna Isabella immediately pulled me into a tight hug. I had to pat her shoulder to signal I couldn't breathe.

"Thank goodness you're safe," she said, stepping back but keeping her hands on my shoulders. "We were so worried."

"Why would you worry about me?" I asked, confused. "What happened?"

Luna took a deep breath, hesitation crossing her face. "Last night, someone breached our northern perimeter." Her voice shook slightly. "That area should be our most secure natural barrier, but patrols found unauthorized tracks. The intruder got about five miles in without detection, left something near a major outpost, then vanished without a trace - no scent trail, nothing to follow."

She paused like she was gathering courage. "They left a box containing a torn Luna mark - the silver moon emblem from a Luna's consecration ceremony. There was a note saying 'First her, soon you.'"

My stomach dropped. "Someone attacked a Luna?"

Luna nodded, grief flashing in her eyes. "The mark had blood on it. But what's truly concerning is..." she hesitated. "The skin around it showed silver powder burns with a pattern just like the scars on your back."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I couldn't breathe. My hands flew to my mouth as memories flooded back - that bone-deep agony, the smell of burning flesh, Victoria's laughter. The world started spinning, blood roaring in my ears.

I could see Luna's lips moving but couldn't hear her. My body went ice-cold, like I was trapped in my own skin. That remembered pain - the pain that once pushed me to the edge of death - washed over me again. I couldn't move, couldn't escape the prison of fear.

Through the fog, I heard a crash, then warm arms wrapped around me, pressing my face against a broad chest. I felt familiar warmth but couldn't break free from those terrible memories.

"Little Lightning, please, breathe!" An urgent voice sounded in my ear as hands cupped my face. "If you don't breathe, I'll have to take drastic measures. You're scaring all of us! Bri! Breathe!"

The panic in that voice gradually cut through my mental haze. Through blurry vision, those green eyes with gold flecks stared at me anxiously - Benjamin's eyes. His expression held a fear I'd never seen before, tears even glistening at the corners. Why was he so afraid? Had I done something wrong?

No, it was me! This terror came from inside me, this deep sense of despair. I couldn't look away, could only sink into his warm gaze.

"Damn it!" he suddenly shouted, and before I could understand why he was angry, his lips pressed firmly against mine.