The Pack's Daughter (Aysel and Magnus) novel Chapter 133

**Midnight Letters by Daniel Crowe**
**Chapter 133**

**Aysel’s POV**

The attendants had already cleared the hall, their footsteps echoing faintly as they retreated into the stone corridors of the ancient Shadowbane stronghold. The air was thick with the remnants of their presence, but now, it was just me—alone in the dimly lit room.

Perched on a long, worn leather couch, I found myself aimlessly scrolling through my phone, but the screen was nothing more than a blur of colors and shapes. My mind was elsewhere, anchored by the weight of worry. Alpha Bastien had collapsed earlier that night, and the unease in my chest refused to settle, a restless energy that only intensified with each passing moment.

My wolf, Mia, paced anxiously behind my ribs, her instincts on high alert, urging me to pay attention, to act. Time felt distorted in the oppressive silence of the fortress. An hour? Two? It was hard to tell. Outside, the rain lashed against the roof, a relentless storm fueled by wild lunar energy, and soon my eyelids grew heavy, threatening to drag me into the depths of sleep.

I must have dozed off, surrendering to the fatigue that clung to me like a shadow.

When I jolted awake, disoriented, I found myself staring at a broad-shouldered, honest-faced middle-aged pack warrior who stood beside me. He shifted his weight awkwardly, clearly caught between the desire to wake me and the uncertainty of whether he should.

The moment our eyes met, a flicker of recognition passed between us, and he brightened. “Miss Aysel,” he said quickly, his voice a mix of urgency and respect. “Alpha Magnus says the old fortress isn’t safe tonight. I’ve been ordered to escort you back to Moonvale territory.”

My brows knitted together in confusion. “And Magnus? Where is he?” The question tumbled from my lips, laced with an underlying sense of dread.

The Shadowbane driver scratched the back of his neck, his expression a blend of concern and uncertainty. “Alpha should still be… occupied.”

Most of the drivers had already departed with the others, heading to the healer’s hall where Alpha Bastien had been taken. This man was the only one left on standby, and I could sense his relief at being assigned this task, only to have it abruptly interrupted.

He was clearly curious about why Alpha Magnus would send me out into a storm at such an hour, but as a loyal subordinate, he could only follow orders. Seeing the genuine confusion in his eyes, I chose not to press him further. Instead, I rose to my feet, determination coursing through me.

“Let’s go,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil within.

It didn’t matter where I would sleep tonight, but something in the air felt wrong—an unsettling tension that made my wolf growl deep inside me, a primal warning that couldn’t be ignored.

We stepped out under an umbrella, and instinctively, I glanced back at the fortress. Through the torrential rain, the massive Shadowbane ancestral stronghold loomed in the darkness, resembling a slumbering beast, its stone fangs illuminated by sporadic flashes of lightning.

Standing beside the vehicle, a thought suddenly struck me, and I asked, “What about the driver who brought us earlier?”

The man paused, recalling the earlier events. “He said he was taking Alpha Magnus to the healers. He should’ve left by now.”

No.

A cold shiver raced down my spine, a visceral reaction to the implications of his words.

I placed a hand on the door he had opened for me, my voice tightening with urgency. “Did Magnus personally call you?”

He shook his head, confusion etched on his features. “No, miss.”

“Then was it the steward?” I pressed, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Also no.” He blinked, clearly bewildered by my intensity but answering honestly. “A familiar servant passed the message. He said Alpha Magnus wanted me to take you. That’s all.”

Impossible.

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