The council was in uproar after the rare crescent blood moon. I stood before them, calm but alert, as I revealed the most troubling detail—the moon hadn't affected me, nor the trespasser I had encountered.
Gasps rippled through the chamber.
Leticia went pale the moment I described what I'd seen.
Without a word, she retrieved something from her cloak and handed it to me. A second part of the prophecy.
Anger stirred in my chest. "You had this all along?"
"I thought it was just a fluke," she replied, her voice tight with regret. "But now... I see I was wrong. The seer who wrote this—she hid it for a reason."
I unrolled the parchment and scanned the ancient script:
The Shadow shall rise during the blood moon. The Shadow shall take the life of the Messenger and the Protector, unless they destroy him first.
That was all. Vague. Frustratingly vague.
As Leticia left, I dropped the parchment on my desk and exhaled harshly.
"We need to strengthen the borders, Alpha," one council member offered.
I gave a curt nod, jaw tight.
"I also think—" a beta patrolman burst into the room, panting.
I growled, the sound low and dangerous. I was losing patience with the constant intrusions. He froze, paling instantly.
"What now?" I snapped.
"The patrol we sent out, sir…"
"Yes?"
"Only one came back. He's unconscious. We're treating him now."
A collective gasp echoed. My eyes narrowed.
"What?!"
"Only... only one returned, s-sir," the beta stammered, trembling under the pressure of the room's growing panic.
"What are you saying?"
"How is that possible?"
"We sent ten betas!" another elder bellowed.
The chamber erupted into chaos. Voices overlapped in disbelief and anger. I remained silent, watching. Elara's gaze met mine, worry flickering in her vivid blue eyes.
"Tell Levi to bring him here," I ordered coldly.
The beta bowed and hurried out.
My wolf snarled within me, restless.
Could it be… the Shadow?
---
Minutes later, the wounded beta was brought in, his body trembling from pain and fear. Bandages wrapped around his chest and shoulder.
"We... we were ambushed, Alpha," he began, his voice weak. "We were scouting the east border. Then… half of us were taken down. In seconds."
I stepped closer, eyes locked on him. "By who?"
He swallowed. "One wolf. An Alpha. Grey fur. Red eyes. He let me live… to deliver a message."
Red eyes.
The entire room fell into stunned silence.
"What message?"
"He said… 'I am coming for your title, cursed child. I'm also coming for your life, Cassian Vale.'"
My name on his tongue made something in me ignite.
Elara turned to me, eyes wide. "Your eyes…" she whispered.
I already felt the shift—my irises had turned gold. A sign of the bloodline's fury.
Leticia shook her head gravely. "That rogue child…"
"But we banished him!" Levi growled. "How the hell did he find his way back?!"
"I should have killed him," I said through gritted teeth.
Elias Thorne.
My father's beta's son. Once my brother in all but blood. We grew up side by side, fought together, bled together.
But everything changed when my father named me his successor.
Elias had strength—almost equal to mine—but it wasn't enough. Power blinded him. He began to act out, dangerously so. He nearly killed a young alpha during training.
When it was discovered he'd joined the faction that plotted my death, my father wanted him executed. I pleaded for his life.
Foolishly.
He betrayed me. Led his own pack of defectors. I destroyed them all with my bare hands... but I couldn't kill him. So I banished him.
And now, he was back.
I leaned back, weary but focused.
"We'll decide what must be done at the next meeting," I said. "This council is adjourned."
I left the building and made for my car. Elara followed silently and climbed into the seat beside me.
"It seems there's still a lot I don't know about this pack," she said, arms folded.
Luke caught my eyes in the rearview mirror. I gave a tired sigh.
Back at the main house, I made my way to my study. Elara followed still.
My patience was fraying. I sat at my desk, leveling her with a tired but expectant stare.
"Do you need something?" I asked, leaning forward.
She didn't flinch. "I feel like you're hiding something. First, why did you suddenly declare me your mate? Second, who is that alpha? I want the truth."
I studied her for a long moment, then smiled—slow and deliberate.
"You want the full truth?"
"Yes. You shouldn't hide things from your alleged mate, Cassian Vale."
Her boldness sparked something in me. I stood and moved to stand before her, close enough for her scent to reach me—moonflowers and rain.
"If you want the truth," I said, voice low and solemn, "then you'll fight beside me. As Luna of this pack."
Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn't back down.
"This fight is ours now. We face it together."
She blinked… and smiled.
That smile—it caught me off guard. It curled under my skin, softened the hard edges of the night.
She nodded. "Then you must trust me with the truth. As the Luna of your pack."