Chapter 12

Blood Doesn't Lie

The sound of armored boots echoed through the hidden chamber.

Claudia's voice dripped with triumph.

"You should have stayed banished, Lynnek."

Miguel immediately stepped in front of Lynnek, his sword drawn.

"Stay behind me."

Lynnek clutched her mother's journal against her chest.

"I'm not leaving it."

"You won't."

Kael signaled the Blackstone warriors, who formed a defensive line at the foot of the stairs.

The first Lucaster guards charged down.

Steel clashed against steel.

The narrow staircase became a battlefield.

Miguel fought like the stories said he did.

One swing of his sword sent a guard's weapon flying.

Another strike knocked two men backward.

He didn't kill them.

He simply cleared the path.

"We're leaving," he ordered.

Claudia laughed from the top of the stairs.

"You think it's that easy?"

She stepped into view, wearing a crimson cloak. Beside her stood Aria, dressed in black leather armor, a cruel smile on her face.

Aria's eyes fell on the journal.

"So... you found it."

Lynnek's grip tightened.

"You knew it was here."

"Of course I did," Aria replied. "Mother searched for that journal for years."

Claudia's smile vanished.

"Hand it over."

"No."

"Lynnek, you have no idea what's inside."

"Then why are you so desperate to keep it from me?"

For the first time, Claudia hesitated.

Miguel noticed.

"She's hiding something."

Claudia's eyes flashed with anger.

"Attack!"

More guards rushed down the stairs.

The chamber erupted into chaos once again.

---

Miguel fought beside Lynnek.

Back to back.

Every time a guard reached her, Miguel intercepted the attack.

Every time an enemy tried to strike Miguel from behind, Lynnek blocked them.

Without speaking...

They moved as one.

Kael smiled despite the danger.

"They already fight like mates."

---

Seeing her guards losing, Claudia snarled.

"Aria!"

Aria nodded and slipped away unnoticed.

While everyone fought, she circled behind the stone pedestal.

Her eyes locked on Lynnek.

A silver dagger appeared in her hand.

She smiled.

"Goodbye... stepsister."

She lunged.

"Lynnek!" Miguel shouted.

Lynnek turned just as Aria drove the dagger toward her heart.

Miguel threw himself between them.

The blade sank into his shoulder.

Blood splattered across the stone floor.

"Alpha!" Kael roared.

Miguel gritted his teeth but didn't fall.

Instead, he grabbed Aria's wrist with crushing force.

"You made one mistake," he said through clenched teeth.

Aria smirked.

"And what's that?"

"You aimed at my mate."

With one powerful shove, he sent her crashing into the wall.

The impact knocked the dagger from her hand.

Claudia screamed.

"Aria!"

Blackstone warriors quickly surrounded the two women.

For the first time...

Fear appeared on Claudia's face.

---

Lynnek rushed to Miguel.

"You're bleeding!"

"It's only my shoulder."

She tore a strip from her cloak and pressed it against the wound.

"You call this 'only'?"

Miguel smiled faintly.

"I've had worse."

She glared at him.

"This isn't funny."

"No."

He looked into her eyes.

"But seeing you safe makes it worth it."

Lynnek's heart skipped.

Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around him.

Miguel hesitated for only a second before holding her close.

The chamber fell silent.

Even the fighting stopped.

Every wolf present could feel the mate bond growing stronger.

---

Suddenly...

The journal in Lynnek's hands began to glow with a soft silver light.

The pages turned on their own.

A folded letter slipped onto the floor.

Lynnek picked it up with trembling fingers.

Across the front, written in her mother's elegant handwriting, were the words:

"To be opened only after the truth begins to awaken."

She slowly unfolded the letter.

The first sentence stole the air from her lungs.

> "Victor Lucaster is not your father."

Lynnek stared at the page in disbelief.

"What...?"

The entire chamber fell silent.

End of Chapter twelve