CHAPTER 2
“Check the comments for Chapter 2—because the rejected Omega may be the hidden heir to a kingdom, and the Alpha King has been searching for her far longer than she ever imagined.”
Elara stared at Darius.
The words made no sense.
“My mother was an Omega.”
Darius didn’t answer.
“She lived in a small house.”
Silence.
“She couldn’t even afford medicine when I was sick.”
His eyes softened.
“She was hiding.”
“From whom?”
“Everyone.”
Elara stepped outside.
The cold wind struck her face.
The black wolf on the ridge remained completely still.
Its head was bowed.
Around it, dozens of wolves emerged from the snow.
None attacked.
All bowed.
Elara’s heart hammered.
“What is happening?”
Darius stood beside her.
“You are being recognized.”
“As what?”
He looked at her.
“The last heir of the Moon Court.”
She laughed.
It sounded almost hysterical.
“No.”
“You don’t believe me.”
“Of course I don’t.”
Darius reached into his cloak again.
This time he pulled out an old parchment.
The seal was silver.
A crescent moon surrounded by seven stars.
Elara knew that symbol.
She had seen it carved into the pendant her mother wore.
Darius unfolded the parchment.
There was a drawing.
A woman standing beneath the moon.
Beside her was a child.
Elara stared.
The child’s face was unmistakable.
Her own.
She stepped backward.
“No.”
Darius lowered the parchment.
“Your mother wasn’t hiding because she was weak.”
“Then why?”
“Because powerful wolves wanted you dead.”
“Who?”
“The High Council.”
Elara looked at him.
“Why would they care about an Omega?”
Darius’s expression hardened.
“Because you’re not an ordinary Omega.”
He reached for her wrist.
She instinctively pulled away.
“Don’t touch me.”
Darius immediately stepped back.
“I won’t.”
She stared at him.
There was no anger in his face.
Only patience.
That unsettled her.
“Then tell me the truth.”
“I am.”
“All of it.”
He hesitated.
“I don’t know all of it.”
“Why not?”
“Because your mother never told me everything.”
“You knew her.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Darius looked toward the mountains.
“We were young.”
Elara’s eyes narrowed.
“You were her mate?”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
“Then what were you?”
“Her protector.”
Elara frowned.
“My mother never mentioned you.”
“She couldn’t.”
“Why?”
“Because if anyone knew I was protecting her, they would have found you.”
Elara looked down at the pendant.
“And now?”
“Now they already have.”
A howl echoed.
Darius’s head snapped toward the forest.
His entire body changed.
The gentle restraint disappeared.
The Alpha King became a warrior.
“Inside.”
Elara didn’t move.
“Why?”
“Because they’re coming.”
“Who?”
Darius’s eyes turned silver.
“The Shadow Wolves.”
The first arrow struck the wooden door.
Elara flinched.
Another hit the wall.
Darius pulled her inside.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
His expression hardened.
“You’re not trained for this.”
“I survived alone for three years.”
“Survival isn’t war.”
He drew his sword.
“Stay behind me.”
The door exploded.
Black-clad wolves rushed inside.
Darius moved.
The fight was brutal.
He was enormous, but fast.
Terrifyingly fast.
One attacker swung a silver blade.
Darius caught his wrist.
The blade fell.
He struck once.
The attacker collapsed.
Another came from behind.
Elara saw him first.
“Behind you!”
Darius turned.
Too late.
The assassin’s blade cut across his shoulder.
Blood spilled.
Elara screamed.
Darius roared.
His wolf erupted.
The walls shook.
The assassin was thrown through the doorway.
Silence.
Darius stood breathing heavily.
Blood ran down his arm.
Elara approached.
“You’re hurt.”
“I’ve been hurt worse.”
She tore a strip from her dress.
“Sit.”
His eyebrows lifted.
“You’re ordering me?”
“Yes.”
For the first time, he smiled.
“Interesting.”
“Sit.”
He obeyed.
Elara cleaned the wound.
She noticed his skin was covered with scars.
Old ones.
Deep ones.
“Who did this?”
“Wars.”
“You’ve fought that many?”
“Too many.”
She wrapped the wound.
Darius watched her.
“What?”
“You’re not afraid of me.”
“I should be?”
“Most are.”
“You’re bleeding on my floor.”
He looked around.
“I apologize.”
She almost smiled.
Then the sound of footsteps interrupted them.
Darius stood immediately.
“Someone else is here.”
Elara froze.
A figure entered.
An old man.
Gray hair.
Black robes.
Darius’s face hardened.
“Councilor Varrick.”
The old man smiled.
“King Darius.”
Elara stepped backward.
Varrick’s eyes moved to her.
“So.”
He smiled.
“The little Omega survived.”
Darius stepped between them.
“Don’t look at her.”
Varrick laughed.
“Still protective.”
Elara frowned.
“What does he mean?”
Darius didn’t answer.
Varrick did.
“Your mother begged the king to hide you.”
Elara looked at Darius.
“Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I promised her.”
Varrick smiled.
“You promised much more than that.”
Darius’s expression changed.
“Enough.”
Varrick raised a hand.
The forest outside erupted with hundreds of wolves.
Elara’s heart stopped.
“How many?”
Darius listened.
“Too many.”
Varrick looked at Elara.
“Come with us.”
“No.”
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand enough.”
Varrick smiled.
“You have your mother’s stubbornness.”
Elara’s blood ran cold.
“You knew her.”
“I killed her.”
Silence.
Darius moved.
Varrick laughed.
“Not yet.”
Darius stopped.
The old man held up a black crystal.
Inside it was a tiny flame.
Elara stared.
“What is that?”
“Your mother’s life.”
Darius whispered:
“No.”
Varrick smiled.
“She isn’t dead.”
Elara’s heart shattered.
“Where is she?”
“In the Moon Fortress.”
“Take me there.”
Darius grabbed her arm.
“No.”
Elara looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because that’s what they want.”
“I don’t care.”
“I do.”
She pulled away.
“You’ve known about my mother for years.”
“Yes.”
“And you never told me.”
“I couldn’t.”
“You decided for me.”
His expression tightened.
“Your mother made me promise.”
“I am not my mother.”
“I know.”
“Then stop treating me like a child.”
Darius stared at her.
Something shifted in his eyes.
“You’re right.”
He turned toward Varrick.
“Take me instead.”
Varrick laughed.
“The King?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you want the Moonblood.”
Varrick’s smile widened.
“Correct.”
“Then take me.”
Elara grabbed Darius’s arm.
“No.”
He looked down at her.
“This is my choice.”
“You don’t get to sacrifice yourself.”
His eyes softened.
“Neither do you.”
Varrick watched them.
Then his expression changed.
“You really don’t know, do you?”
Darius frowned.
“Know what?”
Varrick pointed at Elara.
“Why the Moonblood awakened.”
Elara looked at him.
“Tell me.”
Varrick smiled.
“Because your fated mate is here.”
Darius went still.
Elara’s heart stopped.
“What?”
Varrick laughed.
“You really didn’t tell her?”
Darius’s jaw tightened.
“Varrick.”
The old man continued.
“Three years ago, when Alpha Lucian rejected you, the bond didn’t disappear.”
Elara’s face went pale.
“It transferred.”
“To whom?”
Varrick pointed at Darius.
“The Alpha King.”
Silence.
Elara stared at Darius.
He didn’t deny it.
Her voice became a whisper.
“You’re my fated mate?”
Darius closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Everything inside her seemed to break.
“No.”
“Elara—”
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
“You knew.”
“I knew before I came here.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I wanted you to choose me without the bond.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“That isn’t fair.”
“I know.”
“You should have told me.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“That you would hate me.”
Elara looked at him.
“You are the first person in years who made me feel like I mattered.”
His eyes softened.
“And you are the first person who made me want something more than a kingdom.”
Her heart trembled.
Then Varrick interrupted.
“How touching.”
He lifted the black crystal.
The flame inside grew brighter.
Elara’s mark burned.
She screamed.
Darius grabbed her.
“What’s happening?”
Varrick smiled.
“The Moon Fortress is calling its queen.”
The ground split.
Silver light erupted.
Elara’s eyes turned completely white.
She heard a voice.
Her mother’s.
Come home.
Then another voice.
A man’s.
Kill the king.
Elara gasped.
Darius held her.
“Who are you hearing?”
She looked at him.
Her expression was terrified.
“Your father.”
Darius froze.
“My father is dead.”
“No.”
Elara’s voice changed.
“He’s alive.”
Varrick smiled.
“He has been waiting for you.”
Darius stared at him.
“What have you done?”
Varrick stepped backward.
“Nothing.”
He pointed toward the mountain.
“The Moon Fortress has awakened.”
The entire mountain began to glow.
A massive stone gate appeared in the cliff face.
It opened.
Beyond it stood hundreds of wolves.
And at their center was a throne.
A woman sat upon it.
Silver hair.
Golden eyes.
A crown.
Elara’s mother.
Alive.
Elara took one step forward.
“Mother.”
The woman stood.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“My little moon.”
Elara began crying.
Darius reached for her.
But Elara didn’t move.
Her mother whispered:
“Come to me.”
Then she looked at Darius.
Her expression changed.
“Stay away from my daughter.”
Darius froze.
Elara turned.
“Why?”
Her mother raised her hand.
The wolves behind her drew their weapons.
“Because the Alpha King is the reason you were rejected.”
Elara stared.
Darius’s face went pale.
“What?”
Her mother looked directly at him.
“You don’t remember.”
Darius’s eyes darkened.
“Remember what?”
She smiled sadly.
“The night you killed your own brother.”
The mountain shook.
Elara looked at Darius.
He couldn’t speak.
His wolf began howling inside him.
And then a memory flashed through his mind.
Blood.
A sword.
A child.
His own father.
And a command:
Kill the Moon Queen.
Darius staggered.
Elara grabbed his arm.
“What did you remember?”
He looked at her.
Terror filled his silver eyes.
“I think…”
He swallowed.
“I think your mother is telling the truth.”
The fortress doors slammed shut.
Elara and Darius were trapped outside.
And from inside the mountain came the sound of her mother’s voice:
“If you want to save Elara, King Darius… you must finally remember who ordered you to kill me.”
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