THE RISE OF AN OMEGA-Chapter 27: Shadow game

Asher’s POV

It’s been almost a week since I gave Mira the task of convincing or, should I say, confusing Kira. Placing enough doubt in her mind about Ryker, my rival.

I had been happy with the report she’s been coming back with. Things in my pack had died down a little, I mean the way they mentioned the moon keeper and her possible abilities.

But I didn’t want it that way. I wanted everyone to stop talking about the moonkeeper; I wanted everything to go back to the way it used to be. And the only way was for me to get Kira back.

Every day, Mira comes back with more intriguing stories about Kira. I didn’t like the method she was using to get close to her, but after deliberately thinking about it, I found out that that was the best way for Mira to get close to her.

Training her, gaining her trust. Then, slowly, planting the seeds of doubt.

Honestly, I was impressed by how far Mira had grown. Decades ago, when I first met Mira. It was after my first battle with Ryker and his pack.

Thinking back to those times I regretted why I hadn’t killed him back then. Ryker should have died long ago, but luck intervened, and he was able to escape with his pack.

If only I had not relented, If only I had continued in pursuit, I wouldn’t be facing this problem by now, there wouldn’t have been A Ryker in this world anymore, and if there was no Ryker, then just maybe there might not be a moon keeper too.

A sudden wave of anger washed over me as I came to a realization.

So now, back to when I first met Mira.

After my battle with Ryker in the woods that very day, I was about to leave when I heard a soft thud on the ground.

I turned to look at what had made such noise. And lo and behold, kneeling before me, heads bowed, literally touching the ground, was a skinny little lady.

I extended my claws, and my eyes glowed red.

"Who are you" I asked my voice laced with a low growl

"I am your beloved servant" her soft tiny voice echoed

Servant?

I knew all my servants, and this stranger was not one of them.

"I know all my servants, and I don’t recognise you as one,", I said, stretching my hands towards her.

"I am offering myself as a servant to you, my Lord"

"Hmm,", I exhaled ", Offering yourself?" I folded my hands, leaning forward a little "And what would I gain from you."

"Information", she replied almost immediately, her voice firm.

I had never seen such a tiny creature with so much determination in her voice.

"And what kind of Information do I stand to gain from you?" I asked rolling my eyes.

"I just watched your battle with Ryker and his men, and I see that they had cheated their way onto escaping from you; I am sure you would need to know where and how they operate."

"Interesting! I wry smile appeared at the corner of my lips. "So you are a member of Ryker’s pack?"

She raised her head. "Not anymore," she said, her tone icy.

There was something in her eyes, something that I knew would be of use one day, something that I knew I could exploit.

There was this fire in her eyes, this resentment towards her pack and its alpha. Something I could work with. So without giving it a second thought, I agreed.

In exchange for information, I promised to make her stronger. She was a beta wolf with fury in her eyes, just exactly the right emotions to have to become stronger.

I must say, training Mira was one of my greatest joys; every day, she always showed new passion, new drive and, above all, a fresh anger.

Just the right mix I needed for a spy.

I had even been secretly training her while Kira was still one of us before I banished her from my sight

I looked at the time. It was slightly past the time Mira had always come to give me updates on her mission.

But I wasn’t bothered because there were a few times she arrived a few minutes late.

I started to worry when an hour passed and she was still missing.

Two hours past the usual time she was supposed to come, and she was still not back. I became more worried but I hadn’t also heard from one of my strongest beta wolves, Liam.

While she was on her mission, I had put Liam in charge of her safety. Though she didn’t know about this.

I assigned Liam for two major reasons; the first reason was so he could monitor her and let me know when she was going astray or drifting away from the plan; another reason was that he was to step in and assist her in case of any problems.

I knew that this wouldn’t be an easy task, I trusted her with it, but I just didn’t want to put all my eggs in one basket.

Finally, after about three hours past the required time, I saw someone coming towards me, in wolf form.

I noticed there were injuries on the body of the wolf when they came closer.

The wolf halted when it got To my front. I knew this wolf.

It was Mira.

She changed back into her human form, kneeling in front of me.

Her body was full of injuries. My eyes widened in surprise, and my jaw dropped down in shock.

"What happened!" I asked

She was silent for a while; she bent her head slightly, saying, "Kira found out." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"What! How?"

"I don’t know how, my Lord, but she managed to see through my deceit."

"Did she do all this to you?" I asked pointing at her injured parts.

"No, she didn’t", she paused, "I had her until..."

"Until what"

She bowed her head again.

"Until Ryker came," she said angrily.

"Ryker was there? How?"

"Honestly, my lord, I don’t know how; maybe she must have gone to see him after I Ieft yesterday, or he just came to visit her."

"But you said Isabella was around and she was keeping him from relating with Kira"

"Yes, I dont-"

"It’s okay" I interrupted

"No it’s not my Lord, I failed you, I couldn’t bring her to you, now...." her voice trailed off

"Now what, Mira?" I asked my voice laced with urgency

She looked away her facial expression was like one who was ashamed of something she had done.

It made me wonder if she was feeling like that because of the fight or if there was something else she was finding it hard to say.

"Mira!" I yelled.

"Ryker already knows your technique" she said Bowing her head in shame

I laughed hysterically "Is that why you are like this?"

She looked at me with surprise laced in her eyes.

I guess she expected me to flare up.

"Didn’t you hear what I just said?" She asked

"And so what If he does know our technique? Do you think I would be so dumb as to depend on a particular technique so I can defeat an enemy? " I asked, pacing around her.

"Did you send someone to spy on me?"

I was taken aback by her question, though what I had asked earlier, I wasn’t expecting to get an answer, but I also didn’t expect her to ask me about something like that.

Just then Liam came in.

"Greetings, my alpha," he said bowing his head

"It’s you right? The one who showed up back there " she asked angrily

"If he showed up, that means he had saved your life. Shouldn’t you be, at least, grateful?"

"You sent someone to spy on me, and you expect me to be grateful?" She scoffed folding her arms still on her knees

"I didn’t send him to spy on you; I sent him to make sure you are safe, and that was what he did."

"I can take care of myself" she blurted out rudely.

I smiled. "I know you can protect yourself, but you need to accept that you wouldn’t have been able to save yourself If Liam had not shown up."

Mira tightened her fists, her body shaking with annoyance, yet she stayed quiet. I noticed the flames in her gaze—fury, shame, and a hint of something she wasn’t prepared to acknowledge. She hated the sensation of weakness, and today served as a stern reminder that she remained imperfect.

I moved a bit nearer, softening my tone. "This isn’t about dominance, Mira." It concerns strategy. "You are important, and I won’t jeopardize our relationship due to carelessness."

She breathed out sharply, her pride preventing her from answering.

Liam, remaining at attention, remarked, "Had I not intervened, Ryker would have taken you out." So what next? Everything you’ve done, all your preparation—it would have amounted to nothing.

Mira’s jaw clenched, yet she ultimately offered a rigid nod.

I grinned slyly. "Excellent." Take lessons from this. "We don’t repeat the same mistakes"

As I turned away, I glanced at the sky growing darker. The match had shifted, yet it wasn’t finished. If Ryker believed he held the advantage, he was completely mistaken.

"Take a break for now," I commanded. "Tomorrow, we get ready for the upcoming step." Kira might have eluded us today, but she won’t evade me indefinitely.