Chapter 5: A Wolf That Should Not Exist
Liora couldn’t sleep.
She stood on the castle balcony overlooking Blackthorn.
The village below was quiet.
Then she heard footsteps.
Kael.
“You should rest.”
She didn’t turn.
“You should stop following me.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because you’re standing outside my room.”
Liora looked at him.
“This is your balcony?”
“Yes.”
She glanced around.
“Oh.”
For the first time, a tiny smile crossed his face.
It disappeared quickly.
“You need to leave.”
“Again?”
“This isn’t safe.”
“Because of the shadow?”
“Yes.”
“Who is he?”
Kael didn’t answer.
“Kael.”
His eyes hardened.
“His name is Darius.”
“And?”
“He rules the Shadow Pack.”
Liora’s expression changed.
“Shadow Pack?”
“They were destroyed twenty years ago.”
“Apparently not.”
Kael stared at her.
“You don’t understand what you’re dealing with.”
“Then explain it.”
He stepped closer.
“There are legends about the Moonborn.”
“I’ve heard them.”
“Most of them are wrong.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
Kael hesitated.
“The Moonborn were not powerful because of magic.”
“Then why?”
“They could control the ancient wolves.”
Liora frowned.
“What ancient wolves?”
Kael’s voice dropped.
“The first wolves.”
The air seemed colder.
“According to the old records, they existed before the packs.”
“And my mother?”
“Was one of them.”
Liora’s heart raced.
“You knew her?”
Kael looked at her.
“I met her once.”
“When?”
“The night she died.”
Liora froze.
“What did you say?”
Kael’s face became unreadable.
“I wasn’t supposed to tell you.”
“You will tell me everything.”
He looked toward the forest.
“Your mother wasn’t killed by the Shadow Pack.”
Liora’s voice trembled.
“Then who killed her?”
Kael looked back at her.
“Someone inside Blackthorn.”
