CHAPTER 2
“And then she pointed directly at Serena and said, “Run from the king before he remembers what he did to me.”
Serena couldn’t move.
The world seemed to shrink around her.
The broken chapel.
The shattered windows.
The smoke curling along the floor.
The assassins standing with their weapons drawn.
None of it mattered.
All she could see was the woman standing beneath the moonlight.
The same dark eyes.
The same sharp cheekbones.
The same small scar beneath the left eyebrow.
Serena had stared at that face in a faded photograph for years.
She had cried over it.
She had whispered to it when she was lonely.
She had begged the Moon Goddess to bring her mother back.
And now that impossible woman was standing ten feet away.
Alive.
Watching her.
“Mother?”
The woman smiled.
“Yes.”
Serena’s eyes filled with tears.
“You’re alive.”
“I am.”
“Then why did you leave me?”
The smile disappeared.
“Because staying would have killed you.”
Serena shook her head.
“No.”
Her voice broke.
“You don’t get to say that.”
The woman stepped forward.
“I know.”
“You don’t get to disappear for twenty years and then walk back into my life as if nothing happened.”
“I know.”
“You don’t get to tell me you were protecting me when I spent my childhood believing you were dead.”
The woman’s eyes softened.
“I know.”
Serena’s anger faltered.
She had prepared herself for a thousand answers.
Not agreement.
Kael stood between them.
His hand rested on the hilt of his sword.
“Lyra.”
The woman looked at him.
The softness vanished.
Her eyes became cold.
“You.”
Kael’s jaw tightened.
Serena turned toward him.
“You know her.”
“Yes.”
“How well?”
Silence.
Lyra laughed bitterly.
“Better than anyone.”
Serena looked between them.
“What happened?”
Kael said nothing.
Lyra answered for him.
“He betrayed me.”
Serena’s heart pounded.
Kael finally spoke.
“I didn’t.”
Lyra’s expression hardened.
“You remember nothing.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You really don’t remember.”
Kael stared at her.
Lyra looked almost relieved.
Then she looked at Serena.
“His memories were altered.”
Serena frowned.
“By whom?”
“The Council.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“Explain.”
Lyra looked toward the assassins.
“Not here.”
One of them stepped forward.
“Enough.”
His sword rose.
“Give us the girl.”
Kael stepped in front of Serena.
“No.”
The assassin laughed.
“You can’t protect her forever.”
Kael’s wolf surfaced.
“Try me.”
The assassin attacked.
This time, Serena didn’t stand frozen.
She moved.
She ducked beneath a blade and grabbed a fallen dagger.
The weapon felt strangely familiar in her hand.
An assassin lunged toward Kael.
Serena threw the dagger.
It struck his wrist.
He screamed.
Kael glanced back.
Their eyes met.
“You’ve been practicing.”
“I’ve been surviving.”
Something changed in his expression.
Respect.
Maybe something more.
Then he turned.
The fight became chaos.
Kael moved like a storm.
Every strike was precise.
Every movement controlled.
He didn’t kill unless necessary.
He disarmed.
Disabled.
Destroyed.
Within seconds, the chapel was silent.
One assassin remained.
Kael grabbed him by the collar.
“Who sent you?”
The man laughed.
“You think the Council sent us?”
Kael’s expression hardened.
“Who?”
The assassin looked at Serena.
“The one who wears the crown.”
Then he bit down.
His body convulsed.
Poison.
Dead.
Serena stared.
“What crown?”
Lyra answered quietly.
“The crown that belongs to you.”
“No.”
Serena backed away.
“I don’t want a crown.”
“You don’t get to choose.”
“I always get to choose.”
Lyra smiled sadly.
“That is exactly why they fear you.”
Kael turned toward Lyra.
“Take us somewhere safe.”
She shook her head.
“There is nowhere safe.”
“Then we move.”
“They already know where she is.”
Kael’s eyes darkened.
“Who?”
Lyra hesitated.
“The High Council.”
Serena looked at her.
“Why do they want me?”
“Because your blood can awaken the ancient wolves.”
Serena frowned.
“What ancient wolves?”
Lyra took a breath.
“Long before the current Alpha bloodlines existed, there were wolves who could communicate with the Moon Goddess.”
Serena touched the mark on her wrist.
“The Moonblood.”
“Yes.”
“They were rulers.”
“They were guardians.”
“And you were one?”
Lyra nodded.
“I was the last Moon Queen.”
Serena’s heart raced.
“And I am your heir.”
“Yes.”
Kael stepped closer.
“Then the assassins aren’t after her because of the prophecy.”
Lyra looked at him.
“No.”
“What are they after?”
Lyra’s eyes moved to Serena.
“They’re afraid she can open the Gate.”
Kael’s expression changed.
“What Gate?”
“The Gate beneath the old royal city.”
Silence.
Kael whispered, “That’s impossible.”
Lyra shook her head.
“I sealed it myself.”
Serena looked between them.
“What is behind it?”
Lyra’s face went pale.
“Your father’s prison.”
Serena stopped breathing.
“My father?”
Lyra nodded.
“Your father isn’t dead either.”
The world tilted.
Serena grabbed the edge of a stone table.
“You’re telling me both my parents are alive?”
“No.”
Lyra’s eyes filled with tears.
“Your father is alive.”
“Then where is he?”
“Under the city.”
“Why?”
“Because he tried to destroy the Council.”
Serena stared.
“And you left me?”
“I had to.”
“You left me with him.”
“No.”
Lyra’s voice cracked.
“I left you with your father’s sister.”
Serena froze.
“My aunt?”
Lyra nodded.
“She raised you.”
Serena remembered.
A stern woman.
Cold hands.
Locked doors.
Rules.
Never leave the estate.
Never speak about your mother.
Never ask about your father.
And one strange rule above all:
Never show anyone the mark on your wrist.
Serena whispered, “She knew.”
“Yes.”
“Who else?”
“The Council.”
“Kael?”
Lyra hesitated.
“Yes.”
Serena looked at him.
“You knew who I was?”
Kael shook his head.
“Not consciously.”
“But your wolf knew.”
His expression tightened.
“I’ve been dreaming about you for years.”
Serena stared.
“What?”
“Since I was nineteen.”
“What did you dream?”
“A girl standing beneath the moon.”
He looked at her.
“I could never see your face.”
Serena’s heart beat faster.
“Until now?”
“Until you walked into my palace.”
Lyra looked away.
“Then the bond has awakened.”
Serena looked at her wrist.
The silver crescent pulsed.
Kael stepped closer.
“Serena.”
She looked up.
His voice softened.
“I won’t force you to accept the bond.”
“Why?”
“Because my father once forced a woman to accept a bond.”
Lyra’s expression changed.
Kael continued.
“She died because of it.”
Serena looked at Lyra.
Lyra nodded.
“She was my sister.”
Kael closed his eyes.
Serena suddenly understood.
The tragedy between their families was deeper than she imagined.
“You’re not the man I thought you were.”
Kael opened his eyes.
“I never asked you to believe me.”
“Then why save me?”
He looked at her.
“Because even if you weren’t my mate, I would still save you.”
The words struck somewhere deep.
Serena didn’t know what to say.
Then the palace bells rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Lyra’s face went white.
“They’ve entered the city.”
Kael reached for his sword.
“How many?”
“All of them.”
“Council forces?”
“No.”
Lyra looked at him.
“The Royal Guard.”
Kael froze.
His own soldiers.
His own kingdom.
Someone had turned the entire palace against him.
A voice echoed through the corridors.
“King Kael Draven, surrender the Moonblood heir.”
Another voice followed.
“You are accused of treason, murder, and conspiracy against the Crown.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“I am the Crown.”
Lyra shook her head.
“Not anymore.”
Kael looked at her.
“What?”
She pointed toward the window.
A black banner had been raised above the palace.
The symbol of the High Council.
Kael stared.
“They’ve staged a coup.”
Serena whispered, “Because of me.”
“No.”
Kael turned toward her.
“Because of what you represent.”
He took her hand.
“We leave now.”
Serena looked at Lyra.
“And my father?”
“We come back for him.”
“When?”
“When we have an army.”
Serena almost laughed.
“An army?”
Kael’s expression became serious.
“I have one.”
“You just said they turned against you.”
“Not all of them.”
He looked toward the northern mountains.
“My wolf clans are loyal to me.”
Lyra nodded.
“If they reach the mountain packs before the Council does, we may survive.”
Kael opened a hidden door.
“Then we move.”
Serena followed.
But Lyra didn’t.
Serena stopped.
“Mother?”
Lyra shook her head.
“I can’t leave.”
“Why?”
“Because someone has to close the Gate.”
Kael turned.
“No.”
Lyra smiled.
“You always were stubborn.”
“And you always were reckless.”
“Perhaps that’s why your wolf chose my daughter.”
Serena’s eyes filled with tears.
“You’re coming with us.”
“I can’t.”
“Mother.”
Lyra stepped forward and touched her face.
“I waited twenty years to see you become strong.”
Serena grabbed her hand.
“I don’t want to be strong.”
Lyra smiled.
“You don’t have to be.”
Then she looked at Kael.
“Just make sure she never forgets she has a choice.”
Kael nodded.
“I swear.”
Lyra stepped back.
The door closed.
Serena stood frozen.
Kael placed a hand on her shoulder.
“We’ll come back.”
She wiped her tears.
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
They ran.
Through tunnels.
Under the palace.
Into the forest.
The moon hung low over the trees.
Serena’s lungs burned.
Kael moved beside her.
For the first time, they were alone.
No guards.
No assassins.
No Council.
Just darkness.
And the strange pull between them.
Serena finally stopped.
“Kael.”
He turned.
“What?”
“You said your memories were altered.”
“Yes.”
“Could they be restored?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you remember about my mother?”
Kael looked away.
“A fire.”
Serena waited.
“A scream.”
His breathing changed.
“A baby.”
Serena’s heart stopped.
“You remember me?”
“No.”
He closed his eyes.
“I remember holding someone.”
“A baby?”
“Yes.”
“Me?”
“I think so.”
He opened his eyes.
Then he whispered:
“I remember your mother giving you to me.”
Serena’s heart shattered.
“What did she say?”
Kael’s face went pale.
“She told me to run.”
“With me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
He touched his temple.
“My head hurts.”
Serena stepped closer.
“What else?”
Kael’s eyes suddenly turned black.
His wolf roared.
He stumbled backward.
“Kael?”
He dropped to one knee.
His hands shook.
Then he looked at Serena with terror in his eyes.
“Run.”
She froze.
“What?”
“Run from me.”
“Why?”
“Because I remember.”
A low growl came from his chest.
His wolf was fighting for control.
Serena stepped toward him.
“Kael.”
“Don’t.”
“You’re scaring me.”
“You should be scared.”
He looked at her.
Tears stood in his eyes.
“I remember the night your mother disappeared.”
Serena’s heart hammered.
“What happened?”
Kael’s voice broke.
“I was there.”
“And?”
“I wasn’t trying to save her.”
Serena went still.
“What were you doing?”
Kael looked at her.
“I was the one who took you.”
Silence.
Serena stepped backward.
“No.”
“I was ordered to.”
“By whom?”
Kael’s face twisted.
“The Council.”
Serena shook her head.
“You said you didn’t remember.”
“I didn’t.”
“Then how?”
“Because the memory is coming back.”
His voice became a whisper.
“And Serena…”
He looked at her as if he were terrified she would hate him.
“I remember your mother screaming my name.”
Serena couldn’t breathe.
“What name?”
Kael’s eyes filled with pain.
“She called me…”
He swallowed.
“Brother.”
Serena stared.
The forest seemed to disappear.
Kael wasn’t just connected to her mother.
He wasn’t just her fated mate.
He had been there the night her family was destroyed.
And if he was telling the truth, then the man Serena had begun to trust had once carried her away from her mother.
Before Serena could speak, a horn sounded behind them.
Hundreds of wolves emerged between the trees.
At their center stood a woman wearing a silver crown.
She lifted her sword.
“Serena Vale.”
Serena stared.
The woman smiled.
“Come home.”
Kael stepped in front of Serena.
“Who are you?”
The woman removed her hood.
Serena recognized her.
The Council’s High Chancellor.
The woman who had signed the royal order declaring Serena’s mother dead.
She smiled.
“I am the woman who raised you.”
Serena’s blood froze.
Kael whispered:
“Your aunt.”
The woman lifted her sword.
“And I’m here to take back what belongs to me.”
She pointed at Serena.
“The Moonblood crown.”
The wolves began closing in.
Kael drew his sword.
Serena’s mark ignited.
The forest exploded with silver light.
And from beneath the earth came a roar so enormous that every wolf fell silent.
The Gate was opening.
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When the comments reach the promised number, Chapter 3 reveals the truth about Kael’s forgotten memories, Serena’s father, the real betrayal behind the Moonblood massacre, and whether Serena can trust the man fate chose for her.
