Chapter 3: The Hidden Kingdom
The crimson moon remained above us.
I couldn’t take my eyes off it.
For as long as I could remember, I had been told that the moon was sacred to werewolves.
It was supposed to guide us.
Protect us.
But tonight, it looked like a warning.
Kael was still standing in front of me.
His shoulders were tense.
His eyes were fixed on the distant mountains.
The sound of horns echoed through the valley.
One.
Then another.
Then dozens.
The king’s army was coming.
“How much time do we have?” I asked.
Kael didn’t look at me.
“Not enough.”
He grabbed my hand.
“Run.”
We moved through the forest.
I struggled to keep up with him.
My ankle still hurt from the fall.
After several minutes, I couldn’t continue.
“Wait.”
Kael stopped.
“You can’t walk?”
“I can.”
I tried taking another step.
Pain shot through my leg.
I nearly fell.
Kael caught me.
Without saying anything, he lifted me into his arms.
I froze.
“What are you doing?”
“Saving time.”
“I can walk.”
“No, you can’t.”
“I don’t need you to carry me.”
His eyes met mine.
“Then stop complaining.”
I stared at him.
For the first time, I almost smiled.
Almost.
He carried me deeper into the mountains.
The forest became darker.
Stranger.
The trees grew enormous, their branches twisting together like ancient hands.
Eventually, we reached a wall of stone.
There was no door.
No path.
Nothing.
Kael placed his palm against the rock.
A black crescent appeared.
The mountain moved.
Stone separated from stone.
A hidden entrance opened.
I stared.
“What is this?”
“Home.”
I looked at him.
“Your home?”
“The Black Moon Kingdom.”
We stepped inside.
The moment I crossed the entrance, I felt it.
Power.
Thousands of wolves lived beyond the tunnel.
The hidden valley was enormous.
Silver lights illuminated houses carved into the mountainside.
Waterfalls flowed from cliffs.
Black banners bearing the crescent moon hung everywhere.
And wolves…
Hundreds of them.
Maybe thousands.
The moment they saw Kael, they bowed.
Then their eyes moved toward me.
One by one, they lowered their heads.
I stopped walking.
“Why are they bowing?”
Kael didn’t answer.
A woman approached.
She was tall, with silver hair and pale blue eyes.
She stopped in front of me.
Then she knelt.
“Your Highness.”
I nearly fell over.
“What?”
Kael sighed.
“Mira.”
The woman stood.
“You brought her here.”
“I had no choice.”
Mira looked at me.
“The Black Moon has chosen.”
I shook my head.
“I don’t understand any of this.”
“You will.”
She looked toward Kael.
“But first, we need to prepare.”
“For what?”
She looked toward the entrance.
“For war.”
—
The next morning, I woke in a room I didn’t recognize.
Dark wooden walls.
Silver curtains.
A massive window overlooking the valley.
For a few seconds, I forgot everything.
Then it returned.
Damon.
The rejection.
My father’s accusation.
The forest.
Kael.
The mark.
I sat up.
My wrist still carried the black crescent.
A knock came at the door.
“Come in.”
Mira entered carrying a tray.
“You need to eat.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
She placed the tray in front of me.
“Your body is going through an awakening.”
“What exactly am I awakening into?”
Mira sat across from me.
“The Black Moon.”
I sighed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
“What is it?”
Mira studied me.
“Long ago, werewolves were not divided into packs.”
I listened.
“There were bloodlines.”
“The strongest was the Black Moon.”
“Your ancestors could communicate with every wolf.”
“They could heal.”
“They could control the elements.”
“And they could break the bond of an Alpha.”
I stared at her.
“Break an Alpha’s bond?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because no Alpha was supposed to have absolute power.”
Mira’s expression became serious.
“Then came the first Alpha King.”
“He wanted control.”
“He wanted every pack to kneel.”
“The Black Moon Queen refused.”
“What happened to her?”
Mira looked away.
“She was betrayed.”
My heart tightened.
“By her mate?”
Mira nodded.
I looked down.
“That’s convenient.”
“What?”
“Every powerful woman in our history seems to be betrayed by the man she trusts.”
Mira smiled sadly.
“Perhaps that’s why you were chosen.”
“For what?”
“To break the cycle.”
Before I could answer, the door opened.
Kael entered.
He was wearing black training clothes.
His hair was still wet.
He looked at me.
“You’re awake.”
Mira stood.
“She needs training.”
Kael nodded.
“I know.”
I looked between them.
“Training?”
Kael crossed his arms.
“Your power is unstable.”
“What happens if I don’t control it?”
“You could hurt someone.”
“Or?”
He stared at me.
“Kill them.”
I swallowed.
“Then teach me.”
Kael smiled slightly.
“That’s what I was waiting to hear.”
—
The training ground was enormous.
Hundreds of wolves surrounded the stone arena.
I wasn’t sure if they were watching me…
Or waiting for me to fail.
Kael stood across from me.
“Shift.”
I stared at him.
“I can’t.”
“You’ve shifted before.”
“Not willingly.”
“Your wolf is inside you.”
“I know.”
“Then call her.”
I closed my eyes.
Come.
Nothing.
I tried again.
Come to me.
A growl answered.
My bones began to move.
Pain spread through my body.
I fell to my knees.
Kael immediately stepped forward.
“Don’t fight it.”
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.”
My fingers twisted.
My spine cracked.
I screamed.
Then everything changed.
Silver fur covered my body.
Flames appeared across my shoulders.
I landed on four paws.
Silence.
Every wolf in the arena stared.
Kael’s eyes widened.
I looked down.
My wolf was larger than I expected.
Silver.
With black markings.
And glowing golden eyes.
Kael whispered:
“That’s impossible.”
I looked at him.
He stepped closer.
“Your wolf has three bloodlines.”
I tilted my head.
“What does that mean?”
He stared at me.
“Black Moon.”
He pointed toward my silver fur.
“Silver Wolf.”
Then toward the flames.
“And Fireborn.”
I shifted back.
I collapsed onto the ground.
“What are you saying?”
Kael knelt beside me.
“Your mother wasn’t only Black Moon.”
My heart raced.
“Then what was she?”
He hesitated.
“A descendant of the Fireborn.”
I stared at him.
“How many bloodlines are inside me?”
Kael’s expression darkened.
“Three.”
“Is that bad?”
“For you?”
“No.”
“For everyone who wants to control you.”
—
That night, I couldn’t sleep.
I stood on the balcony.
The valley below was quiet.
Then I heard footsteps.
Kael.
He stood beside me.
“You shouldn’t be awake.”
“I could say the same.”
He smiled.
“I don’t sleep much.”
“Why?”
“Nightmares.”
I looked at him.
“About your brother?”
His smile disappeared.
“Who told you?”
“Mira.”
Kael looked toward the mountains.
“My brother was the strongest warrior in our kingdom.”
“What happened?”
“He betrayed us.”
“Why?”
“He wanted the Black Moon throne.”
I remained silent.
“Where is he now?”
Kael’s expression became cold.
“Dead.”
I looked at him.
“Did you kill him?”
“Yes.”
There was no pride in his voice.
Only regret.
“I loved him.”
I understood.
Sometimes the person who hurts you is someone you once loved.
Kael looked at me.
“That’s why I understand what happened to you.”
I lowered my eyes.
“Damon wasn’t my brother.”
“No.”
“He was worse.”
Kael didn’t argue.
The silence between us became comfortable.
Then he said:
“You don’t have to trust me.”
I looked at him.
“But?”
“But I will never force you to.”
Something inside my chest tightened.
He continued.
“Whatever this bond becomes…”
He paused.
“The choice will always be yours.”
I looked at our hands.
The black crescent on my wrist glowed.
His mark responded.
I whispered:
“Why does it react whenever we’re close?”
Kael looked at it.
“Because we’re mates.”
My heart beat faster.
“I don’t want another bond.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want to love someone only to lose them.”
His eyes softened.
“You don’t have to love me.”
I looked at him.
“Then what do you want?”
He stepped closer.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“I want you to survive.”
He turned to leave.
I suddenly reached for his hand.
He stopped.
I didn’t know why I had done it.
But I didn’t let go.
“Stay.”
Kael slowly turned.
“Why?”
I looked away.
“Just… stay.”
He nodded.
“I’ll stay.”
Neither of us knew it then.
But that simple decision would change both our lives.
Because somewhere far beyond the mountains…
someone was watching us.
And the voice that followed was filled with hatred.
“The heir has awakened.”
A shadow smiled.
“Now we can finally begin.”
