Chapter 10: The Voice in the Moonlight
They returned to Blackthorn in silence.
Liora didn’t speak to Kael.
She went directly to the highest tower.
The moon was setting.
Kael followed.
“Liora.”
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
She turned.
“Tell me everything.”
Kael looked at her.
“The night your mother died, my father was supposed to protect her.”
“What happened?”
“The Council betrayed him.”
“Why?”
“Because they feared the Moonborn.”
Liora’s hands trembled.
“And my mother?”
“She discovered the betrayal.”
“Who killed her?”
Kael swallowed.
“I don’t know.”
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
“You saw her die.”
His eyes closed.
“I saw her disappear.”
Liora stared at him.
“Disappear?”
“She opened a portal using Moonborn magic.”
“Where did she go?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then why did everyone tell me she died?”
“Because the Council wanted you to believe it.”
Liora felt the world shifting beneath her feet.
“My mother could still be alive?”
Kael didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
Suddenly the moon outside turned silver.
The mark on Liora’s wrist burned.
A voice whispered inside her mind.
Find the Queen.
Liora gasped.
Kael grabbed her shoulders.
“What happened?”
“She called me.”
“Who?”
“My mother.”
Kael froze.
Then the castle bells rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Every wolf in Blackthorn looked toward the sky.
The moon had changed.
Silver light poured over the village.
And somewhere beyond the mountains, thousands of wolves began howling.
Kael looked at Liora.
“The Queen has awakened.”
“Who is the Queen?”
Kael’s face became pale.
“The first Moonborn.”
Liora’s heartbeat quickened.
“And where is she?”
Kael looked toward the northern mountains.
“Under the Shadow King’s fortress.”
Liora stared at him.
“Then we’re going there.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t understand.”
She stepped closer.
“I spent twenty-two years being told what I was.”
Her silver eyes met his.
“Three years being told I wasn’t worth choosing.”
She touched the mark on her wrist.
“And now I finally know who I am.”
Kael stared at her.
Liora’s voice became steady.
“I am done running.”
A deep howl shook the mountains.
Kael’s wolf answered.
For the first time in three years, he didn’t fight the bond.
He stepped toward her.
Their foreheads touched.
“I’ll go with you.”
Liora closed her eyes.
“Why?”
His voice was barely a whisper.
“Because this time…”
He took her hand.
“I choose you.”
Far beyond Blackthorn, on a throne carved from black stone, Darius opened his eyes.
And smiled.
Because he had been waiting for exactly this moment.
The Moonborn had chosen her Alpha.
And now—
the war could begin.
