Chapter 3: The letter that never existed

The room fell silent.

Lyra stared at Kael, certain she had misheard him.

"A letter?" she whispered.

Kael nodded.

"Selene said she kept it all these years."

He reached into his coat and pulled out an old, yellowed envelope.

"I haven't read it yet."

Lyra frowned.

"Then why are you looking at me like I'm already guilty?"

Kael didn't answer.

Instead, he handed her the envelope.

Her hands trembled as she unfolded the letter.

The moment she saw the handwriting, her heart skipped a beat.

It looked exactly like hers.

Every curve.

Every signature.

Every stroke of the pen.

But she had never written it.

She began to read aloud.

Selene,

Leave the Crimson Moon Pack tonight.

Kael is mine now. If you don't disappear, I'll make sure you never see another sunrise. If you love him, you'll leave and never come back.

Don't tell anyone. No one will believe you anyway.

—Lyra

Her hands shook so violently that the paper slipped from her fingers.

"No..." she whispered.

"I never wrote this."

Kael picked up the letter.

"It looks exactly like your handwriting."

"Someone copied it!"

"Who?"

"I don't know!"

"Then how do you explain your signature?"

"I can't!"

Kael closed his eyes.

"I want to believe you."

"But every piece of evidence points to you."

Those words cut deeper than any blade.

"Evidence?" Lyra cried.

"A single letter?"

"After everything we've been through together?"

"You trust a piece of paper more than your own mate?"

Kael looked away.

"I don't know what to think anymore."

Tears filled Lyra's eyes.

For the first time since they met, she realised something terrifying.

He wasn't fighting for her.

He was looking for a reason to doubt her.

Before she could speak again, another knock sounded at the door.

Rowan entered.

His face was pale.

"Alpha..."

"What is it?"

"The council has gathered."

"They're demanding an emergency meeting."

Kael frowned.

"Why?"

Rowan swallowed hard.

"The letter has spread through the entire pack."

"They're questioning whether Lyra is worthy of being Luna."

Lyra's stomach dropped.

"So it's already public?"

Rowan nodded.

"Someone made copies."

Kael looked stunned.

"I only received the original an hour ago."

"Then who copied it?" Lyra asked.

No one had an answer.

Outside the council hall, pack members whispered as Lyra walked past.

"That's her."

"The fake Luna."

"I always knew she was too perfect."

Some looked at her with pity.

Others with hatred.

Not one person offered a smile.

Inside, the elders sat in a circle.

The oldest elder stood.

"Luna Lyra Ashwood."

"You have been accused of threatening the Alpha's former mate."

"Until this matter is resolved, the council has decided..."

He paused.

The silence was suffocating.

"...to suspend your authority as Luna."

Gasps filled the room.

Lyra's face turned white.

She looked at Kael.

Surely he would stop this.

Surely he would defend his wife.

Instead...

Kael lowered his eyes.

He said nothing.

The elder struck his staff against the floor.

"From this moment, Luna Lyra will surrender her crown until the investigation is complete."

A servant walked toward her.

With trembling hands, Lyra removed the silver crown she had worn with pride for five years.

As the servant reached for it—

A loud voice echoed through the hall.

"Don't touch that crown!"

Everyone turned.

An elderly woman stepped through the doors, wrapped in a black cloak.

Her silver eyes glowed with an unnatural light.

The room fell silent.

Even the elders stood.

"The Moon Oracle..." someone whispered.

The old woman pointed directly at Selene.

Then she spoke words that froze the entire room.

"That woman..."

"...is hiding a secret that will destroy this pack."

End of Chapter 3

Cliffhanger: What secret is Selene hiding, and why has the mysterious Moon Oracle returned after decades of silence?