The Forgotten Moon-Born

Kael kept his hand against the ancient carving.

The stone was cold.

Yet beneath his palm, something moved.

A faint pulse.

Almost like a heartbeat.

He pulled his hand away.

“Why did no one tell me this?”

Aeron lowered his eyes.

“Because most of the records were destroyed.”

“By whom?”

“The people who came after him.”

Kael turned.

“Why?”

Aeron took a slow breath.

“Because the First Moon-Born proved something the powerful did not want remembered.”

Kael waited.

“That an Omega could lead without becoming an Alpha.”

The words settled heavily in the corridor.

Kael looked back at the carving.

The Omega in the ancient image wasn't standing beneath an Alpha.

He was standing beside one.

Equal.

Neither above the other.

Lucien moved closer.

“And the Alpha beside him?”

“The First Guardian.”

Kael studied the two figures.

“They ruled together?”

Aeron nodded.

“Not as king and servant. Not as master and protector.”

He looked at Kael.

“As partners.”

Something about the word made Kael's chest tighten.

He glanced at Lucien.

Lucien was already looking at him.

Their eyes met.

Neither spoke.

They didn't need to.

Aeron continued down the corridor.

“There was a time when designation did not determine a wolf's place in society.”

Kael followed.

“Then what did?”

“Character. Ability. Choice.”

“What changed?”

“The Moon Throne.”

Kael frowned.

“You said the throne was created to protect the Moon-Born.”

“It was.”

Aeron stopped before a massive silver door.

“But every source of power eventually attracts people who want to control it.”

He placed his hand against the door.

It opened.

Beyond it was a circular chamber.

In the center stood a stone basin filled with silver liquid.

Around it were three statues.

An Alpha.

A Beta.

An Omega.

All three stood at the same height.

Kael stared.

“This is how it was?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did the world change?”

Aeron looked toward the Omega statue.

“Because after the First Moon-Born died, his successor believed the only way to preserve his kingdom was through control.”

Kael's eyes narrowed.

“And that was the beginning.”

“The beginning of the hierarchy we know today.”

Lucien's voice was quiet.

“So the Alpha supremacy in the kingdoms wasn't an ancient law.”

“No.”

Aeron shook his head.

“It was created.”

Kael felt anger rising inside him.

All his life, Omegas had been told that their position was natural.

That they were meant to be protected, controlled, claimed.

But the truth was far older.

And much simpler.

Someone had chosen to make it that way.

A sudden sound came from above.

A bell.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Aeron's expression changed.

“The Council has entered the palace.”

Kael immediately turned toward the door.

“Elyon?”

“Most likely.”

Lucien drew his sword.

“How do we reach him?”

Aeron pointed toward the silver basin.

“We don't.”

Kael frowned.

“Why?”

“Because the throne is beneath us.”

The silver liquid began to move.

A circle appeared on its surface.

Then a staircase emerged from the floor.

Kael stared.

“Another hidden passage.”

Aeron nodded.

“The Moon Palace was built with seven levels.”

“And the throne?”

“The seventh.”

Kael looked down the staircase.

“How far?”

“Far enough.”

Lucien stepped beside him.

Kael glanced at him.

“You don't have to come.”

Lucien gave him a familiar look.

“You already know my answer.”

Kael smiled despite himself.

“I was hoping you'd surprise me.”

“Not tonight.”

They began descending.

The deeper they went, the colder the air became.

The walls changed from silver stone to black marble.

Ancient symbols covered every surface.

Kael recognized the crescent.

The wolf.

The crown.

Then another symbol.

A broken chain.

He stopped.

“What does that mean?”

Aeron looked at it.

“Freedom.”

Kael touched it.

The symbol glowed.

Then a voice echoed through the staircase.

THE MOON-BORN REMEMBERS.

Kael froze.

Lucien immediately reached for him.

“Kael?”

“I'm fine.”

The voice came again.

THE MOON-BORN MUST CHOOSE.

Kael looked around.

“Choose what?”

No answer.

Instead, the Moon Seal on his chest began glowing.

Lucien's Guardian Seal answered.

A silver line appeared between them.

Kael stared at it.

It looked like a thread.

Thin.

Bright.

Alive.

Aeron whispered,

“The bond.”

Kael looked at Lucien.

“What is happening?”

Aeron's voice was cautious.

“The Moon Bond is evolving.”

Lucien frowned.

“Into what?”

Aeron shook his head.

“No one knows.”

Kael stared at the silver thread.

“Does it mean we're becoming more connected?”

“Yes.”

Kael looked at Lucien.

“Emotionally?”

“Possibly.”

“Can it control us?”

Aeron hesitated.

“That depends on the bond.”

Kael's expression hardened.

“No.”

He stepped back.

“It doesn't get to decide that.”

The silver thread flickered.

Then remained.

Lucien looked at him.

“Kael.”

“What?”

“I don't think it is controlling us.”

Kael stared at him.

“How do you know?”

“Because when you stepped back…”

Lucien held out his hand.

The silver thread stretched between them but did not pull Kael closer.

“You were still free to choose.”

Kael slowly reached for his hand.

The moment their fingers touched, the thread brightened.

Kael smiled.

“Then maybe we're learning how it works.”

Lucien smiled back.

“Together.”

They reached the seventh level.

The staircase opened into an enormous chamber.

Kael stopped breathing.

At the far end stood the Moon Throne.

It was nothing like the broken throne he had seen before.

This one was intact.

Beautiful.

Terrifying.

Made entirely from silver stone, with black veins running through it.

At its center was a circular space shaped exactly like Kael's Moon Seal.

And standing before it—

was Elyon.

He wasn't alone.

Varek stood beside him.

Kael's eyes narrowed.

“You survived.”

Varek smiled.

“You sound disappointed.”

Kael ignored him.

He looked at Elyon.

“Why?”

Elyon turned.

“Why what?”

“Why did you betray my parents?”

Elyon's expression changed.

For the first time, Kael saw something other than anger in his eyes.

Regret.

“I didn't betray them.”

Kael stepped forward.

“You opened the Moon Gate for the Council.”

“Yes.”

“You gave them access to the kingdom.”

“Yes.”

“You tried to stop me from becoming king.”

“Yes.”

Kael's voice hardened.

“Then explain yourself.”

Elyon looked at the throne.

“I was trying to save you.”

Kael laughed bitterly.

“By sending soldiers after me?”

“I knew what would happen if you took the throne.”

“What?”

Elyon turned toward him.

“You would die.”

Silence.

Lucien stepped forward.

“That's not what the throne does.”

Elyon looked at him.

“You don't know what it does.”

“I know enough.”

“No.”

Elyon's eyes hardened.

“You don't.”

He pointed toward Lucien's wrist.

“The Guardian Seal isn't a gift.”

Lucien's expression changed.

“It is a sentence.”

Kael looked at him.

“What does that mean?”

Elyon answered.

“The Guardian doesn't simply protect the Moon-Born.”

He looked directly at Lucien.

“The Guardian is destined to kill him.”

Kael's heart stopped.

Lucien didn't move.

Elyon continued.

“Every Moon-Born who has awakened the throne has eventually been destroyed by their Guardian.”

Kael shook his head.

“No.”

“The Moon Bond makes you trust him.”

“No.”

“It makes you love him.”

Kael's breath caught.

Elyon's voice became colder.

“And when the throne demands a sacrifice, the Guardian will be the one who delivers it.”

Lucien looked at Kael.

Kael looked back.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Kael walked toward Lucien.

Elyon watched.

Kael stopped directly in front of him.

“If that is what the Moon expects…”

He took Lucien's hand.

“…then we'll teach the Moon something new.”

Lucien's fingers tightened around his.

Elyon's expression darkened.

“What?”

Kael looked toward the throne.

“We don't have to obey a prophecy.”

The Moon Throne suddenly shook.

Silver cracks raced across its surface.

And a voice thundered through the chamber:

THEN PROVE IT.

The throne awakened.

And beneath it, something began to rise.