"Sister?" Elara’s voice shook as she stared at Celeste. Rain poured through the open opening, but the water seed to avoid touching Celeste’s skin. Dark energy crackled around her like a wall. "Surprise," Celeste smirked, stepping into the house. Six massive wolves erged behind her, their eyes glowing with unnatural blue light. "Father has so many secrets, doesn’t he?" Kael moved protectively in front of Elara. "You were dead. I saw you fall."
"Death is just a doorway when you know the right magic." Celeste’s eyes drifted to the silver lines now visible beneath Elara’s skin. "I see you’ve finally accepted your heritage. How sweet." Darian and Ronan flanked their brother, making a wall between Elara and the threat. "We’re not going anywhere with you," Ronan growled. Celeste laughed, the sound eerily musical. "Oh, you misunderstand. I’m not here for all of you." Her eyes fixed on Elara. "Just my long-lost big sister." "Enough talk," Kael snapped, his body tensing to attack. "Wait!" Tobias stepped forward, his hands raised. "There’s another way." Everyone froze. Outside, the storm paused as if listening. "Luna Evelyn," Tobias said slowly. "She asked for Elara directly. It’s her dying wish." Celeste’s smile faltered. "Mother is asking for her?" "Your mother saved my life," Elara said quietly. "I owe her the chance to speak with ." A flash of sothing—jealousy? pain?—crossed Celeste’s face. "Fine.
The Luna gets her wish. But only Elara cos. The rest stay here under guard." "Not happening," Kael growled. Elara put a hand on his arm, silver light pulsing where they touched. "Trust ," she whispered. Through their bond, she pushed feelings of confidence and drive. After a tense mont, Kael nodded hesitantly. "Smart choice, brother." Celeste stepped back, gesturing mockingly toward the door. "After you, sister dear." Elara squeezed Kael’s hand one last ti before walking out into the storm. The rain quickly soaked her clothes, but she held her head high, silver eyes glowing in the darkness. Celeste led her through the trees, two guards following close behind. "Father’s been searching for you your entire life," she said conversationally, as if they weren’t trudging through mud and thunder. "Imagine how disappointed he was to discover his heir was a scrawny nobody from the Moon Pack." Elara said nothing, focusing instead on the power running through her veins. Each step felt more certain than the last. "He’ll try to control you," Celeste continued. "Use your power for his own goals. Just like he did with ." That made Elara glance sideways. "Is that concern I hear?" Celeste scoffed. "Just a friendly warning. Better to know what cage you’re going into." They reached the main pack house—a sprawling building of stone and wood. Guards lined the entry, their eyes widening at the sight of Elara’s silver-laced skin. Inside, the mood was tense.
Pack mbers huddled in corners, talking as they passed. Elara caught fragnts: "Alpha’s daughter... prophecy... silver wolf..." Celeste led her upstairs to a grand bedroom where Luna Evelyn lay pale against silk pillows. Blood-soaked bandages wrapped her body. A terrible wound, clearly ant to kill. "Leave us," Luna Evelyn ordered weakly when she saw Elara. Her voice, though faint, held the undeniable authority of a Luna. Celeste paused, then bowed slightly before backing out. The door closed with a soft click. Elara ran to the bedside. "You’re really dying." "Yes," Luna Evelyn smiled sadly. "Marcus always did have excellent aim." "Why?" Elara knelt beside the bed. "Why would he hurt you?" "Because I finally stood against him." Luna Evelyn’s hand trembled as she reached for Elara’s. "When I felt your power rise on the mountain, I knew the ti had co. I asked him about the prophecy, about you." "You knew I was his daughter all along." "I helped your mother escape when Marcus ordered her killed. She was my friend." Tears filled Luna Evelyn’s eyes. "I couldn’t save her, but I could save you." "The pendant?" "To hide your power until you were ready." Luna Evelyn’s fingers brushed the cracked stone. "I never expected you’d be fated to all three of my sons." Elara blushed. "I didn’t choose this." "The Moon Goddess did." Luna Evelyn’s grip suddenly tightened. "Listen carefully. There isn’t much ti.
Marcus will seem helpful at first. He’ll welco you with open arms, call you daughter, offer you power." "A trap," Elara guessed. "Worse. He sees you as a tool, not a child. The prophecy speaks of a silver wolf who could unite all packs under one master. Marcus wants that power for himself." "Through ?" "Through your blood." Luna Evelyn’s voice dropped to a whisper. "The ritual needs a willing sacrifice. He needs you to give your power freely." Thunder crashed outside, shaking the windows. "He’ll use my sons to convince you," Luna continued urgently. "Threaten them. Hurt them. Whatever breaks your will." Elara’s heart raced. "I would never—" "Love makes us vulnerable." Luna Evelyn’s eyes flashed knowingly. "I saw how you look at Kael. At all of them." Heat rushed to Elara’s cheeks as Luna Evelyn pressed sothing cold into her palm—a small silver key. "My secret study. Third rack, behind the red volus.
There’s a journal that explains everything—the prophecy, the curse, how to break it without suffering." Footsteps heard in the hallway outside. "One more thing," Luna Evelyn whispered desperately. "The triplets share one soul split three ways. That’s why all three are your mates. To achieve the prophecy, all four of you must be united in purpose and heart." The door burst open. Alpha Marcus stood there, imposing in his dark clothes. His eyes—so similar to Elara’s new silver ones—widened slightly at the sight of her. "So it’s true," he said, voice deep and smooth. "My daughter has returned." Luna Evelyn’s hand squeezed Elara’s in warning before falling limply to the bed. "Father." Elara stood slowly, slipping the silver key into her pocket. The word felt strange on her tongue. Marcus smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "You have your mother’s beauty, but my power." He stepped closer, studying the silver lines beneath her skin. "Magnificent.
Even stronger than I hoped." "You shot your wife," Elara said simply. His smile didn’t change. "A regrettable condition. Evelyn was going to interfere with fate." He extended his hand. "Co. The pack is ready to et their true heir." Elara looked back at Luna Evelyn, who gave an almost imperceptible nod. "What about the triplets?" Elara asked. "My sons will join us shortly." Marcus’s smile turned cold. "All three seem quite attached to you." "Where are they now?" "Safe. For the mont." The threat hung in the air between them. "Their future depends entirely on you, daughter." Elara forced herself to take his offered hand. The mont their skin touched, a jolt of power rushed between them—father and daughter, Alpha and heir. "Perfect," Marcus whispered. "The blood calls to blood." As he led her from the room, Elara cast one last look at Luna Evelyn. The Luna’s lips moved silently: Trust the bond. Marcus led her downstairs to a great hall where the entire pack had gathered. Hundreds of eyes turned to stare as they entered.
At the far end, Elara spotted Kael, Darian, and Ronan being held by guards, fury clear in their faces. "My pack," Marcus stated, his voice ringing through the hall. "Tonight marks an important mont. My oldest child has returned to us." Murmurs swept through the crowd as he raised Elara’s hand, showing the silver lines beneath her skin. "The prophecy foretold this day," Marcus continued. "A silver wolf with the power to unite all packs, to end generations of strife. My daughter, Elara, is that wolf." The pack mbers dropped to their knees one by one. Elara felt their surrender like a physical wave. "Together," Marcus said, squeezing her hand painfully tight, "we will usher in a new era of peace and prosperity." Over the sea of lowered heads, Elara’s eyes t Kael’s. Through their bond, she felt his desperate warning. Don’t trust him.
As if hearing this thought, Marcus smiled down at her with chilling love. "Tonight, at midnight, we complete the ritual that will fulfill your destiny." "What ritual?" Elara asked, though Luna’s warning echoed in her mind. "The sharing of power between father and daughter," Marcus responded smoothly. "A beautiful ceremony." Behind him, Celeste stepped forward, carrying an ornate silver dagger on a velvet cushion. Her eyes held a strange mix of envy and sadness as she looked at Elara. "Blood calls to blood," Celeste whispered, just loud enough for Elara to hear. "And his always
wins."
Reviews
All reviews (0)