THE TRUTH BENEATH THE MOON

Luna woke to the sound of rain.

For several seconds, she didn't know where she was.

The ceiling above her was unfamiliar.

The room smelled faintly of pine and something else she couldn't identify.

She tried to sit up.

Pain shot through her head.

She groaned and closed her eyes.

"Don't move too quickly."

Luna's eyes opened.

Kael was sitting in a chair beside the bed.

She stared at him.

"What happened?"

"You collapsed."

"Why?"

"You tell me."

Luna frowned.

"What?"

Kael leaned forward.

"The last thing I remember, you were standing in the hallway. Then your eyes changed."

"My eyes?"

"They turned silver."

Luna touched her face.

"How do you know?"

"I saw them."

"What happened after that?"

"You passed out."

"And the stranger?"

"Gone."

"The hunters?"

"Dead or captured."

"And the rogues?"

"Retreated."

Luna slowly sat up.

"How long was I unconscious?"

"Almost twelve hours."

Her eyes widened.

"Twelve?"

Kael nodded.

Luna looked toward the window.

It was still raining.

"Where is everyone?"

"Safe."

"Elena?"

"Downstairs."

"Marcus?"

"With the council."

Luna looked back at Kael.

"And you?"

"I'm here."

She studied him.

There was something different about him.

His usual confidence was gone.

He looked exhausted.

"You didn't sleep."

It wasn't a question.

Kael shook his head.

"I wasn't tired."

"You look tired."

"I've looked worse."

Luna almost smiled.

Then she remembered what had happened.

"The stranger."

Kael's expression hardened.

"What about him?"

"He knew my parents."

"Yes."

"He knew you."

"Yes."

"He said you were there the night they died."

Kael looked away.

Luna's heart tightened.

"You really were there."

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because it wasn't my story to tell."

"They're my parents."

"I know."

"Then I deserve the truth."

Kael remained silent.

Luna pushed the blanket away.

"Tell me."

"You're still weak."

"I don't care."

"You should."

"I've spent my entire life believing my parents died in an accident."

Kael looked at her.

"That's what your mother wanted you to believe."

Luna froze.

"What?"

"Your parents didn't die in an accident."

Her throat tightened.

"Then how did they die?"

Kael stood.

He walked toward the window.

"It happened eighteen years ago."

Luna waited.

"The night you were born."

She stared at his back.

"You were there?"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

Kael took a slow breath.

"Your mother came to Blackwood territory carrying you."

"Why?"

"She was running."

"From the hunters?"

"Not exactly."

"Then from who?"

Kael turned.

"From your father."

Luna stared.

"My father?"

"Your father had changed."

"Changed how?"

"His wolf had taken control."

Luna shook her head.

"No."

"It's true."

"My father loved my mother."

"He did."

"Then why would he hurt her?"

"He wasn't himself."

"What happened to him?"

Kael looked down.

"Your father was poisoned."

Luna's eyes widened.

"Poisoned?"

"Silverroot."

She didn't understand.

"What's that?"

"A plant that affects werewolves."

"How?"

"It can weaken the wolf. But in large amounts, it can also destroy the connection between the human and the wolf."

Luna swallowed.

"So he lost control?"

"Yes."

"And my mother?"

"She tried to save him."

"Did she?"

Kael looked away.

"No."

Luna felt something break inside her.

"What happened?"

Kael's voice became quieter.

"Your father attacked."

Luna closed her eyes.

She didn't want to hear this.

But she needed to.

"My mother ran?"

"She escaped with you."

"How did she get here?"

"She came to my father."

"Why?"

"Because he was the only Alpha powerful enough to protect you."

"And did he?"

Kael nodded.

"He ordered everyone to protect you."

"Then what went wrong?"

"The hunters arrived."

Luna opened her eyes.

"How did they know where we were?"

Kael looked directly at her.

"Someone betrayed us."

"Who?"

"We never found out."

"But someone did."

"Yes."

Luna's hands trembled.

"My mother?"

"She left you with us."

"Why?"

"She wanted to draw the hunters away."

Luna swallowed.

"Did she know she would die?"

Kael didn't answer.

That was enough.

Luna looked away.

"She knew."

"Yes."

"And you let her go?"

"I tried to stop her."

"You could have followed her."

"I did."

"Then why didn't you save her?"

Kael's expression cracked.

For the first time, Luna saw the full weight of the guilt he had been carrying.

"Because I was too late."

Silence filled the room.

Luna stared at him.

"You were just a child."

"I was eighteen."

"You were still young."

"I was old enough to know better."

"You couldn't have known."

"I should have."

Luna looked at him.

"You've blamed yourself for eighteen years."

Kael didn't respond.

She knew.

He had.

Then Luna remembered something.

"The red-eyed man."

Kael's expression hardened again.

"Yes."

"He said my parents weren't killed because they were weak."

"He's right."

"He said they knew what I would become."

Kael nodded.

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know."

Luna frowned.

"You don't know?"

"Not completely."

"But you know something."

Kael sighed.

"The Moonborn aren't simply powerful werewolves."

"I know."

"They're connected to the moon itself."

"What does that mean?"

"They can hear wolves."

"I already can."

"They can influence them."

"I did that."

"They can command Alphas."

Luna looked at him.

"I tried to command you."

Kael nodded.

"It didn't work."

"Why?"

"Because you're not fully awakened."

"Then what happens when I am?"

Kael didn't answer.

Luna's stomach tightened.

"What happens?"

"You may become stronger than any Alpha alive."

She stared.

"That's why they're hunting me."

"Partly."

"What's the other reason?"

Kael hesitated.

"The Moonborn bloodline has enemies."

"Who?"

"Vampires."

Luna blinked.

"Vampires?"

Kael nodded.

"Ancient ones."

"You're serious."

"Very."

"Why would vampires care about me?"

"Because Moonborn blood can break certain ancient bindings."

"What bindings?"

Kael walked to a locked cabinet.

He opened it.

Inside was an old silver pendant.

He picked it up.

"This."

Luna stared.

"What is it?"

"Your mother's."

Her breath caught.

"How did you get that?"

"She gave it to my father the night she left."

Kael walked over and placed it in Luna's hand.

The moment she touched it, the room changed.

A cold wind swept through the bedroom.

The pendant glowed.

Luna's vision blurred.

She saw her mother.

Young.

Terrified.

Holding a baby.

Luna.

Her mother was crying.

"Please."

A man's voice answered.

"We'll protect her."

Luna recognized it.

Kael's father.

Her mother looked down at the baby.

"Don't let them find her."

"We won't."

"Even if she awakens?"

The older man's face became serious.

"Especially then."

The vision changed.

Her mother was standing in a forest.

Kael was there.

He looked eighteen.

Younger.

But unmistakably him.

Her mother handed the baby to him.

Kael looked down at Luna.

"What's her name?"

"Luna."

The vision faded.

Luna dropped the pendant.

She gasped.

Kael caught her.

"What did you see?"

"My mother."

"What did she say?"

Luna looked at him.

"She gave me to you."

Kael went still.

"What?"

"She gave me to you."

"I know."

"No."

Luna shook her head.

"You don't understand."

"What?"

"She told you to protect me."

Kael's expression changed.

"Yes."

"She trusted you."

"Yes."

"Then why did you leave?"

Kael looked away.

"I didn't."

Luna frowned.

"What?"

"I never stopped watching you."

Her heart skipped.

"What do you mean?"

"Your entire life."

Luna stared.

"That's impossible."

"I knew where you were."

"You watched me?"

"From a distance."

"Why?"

"Because your mother asked me to."

Luna's eyes filled with tears.

"All this time?"

Kael nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because if the hunters knew I had found you, they would have come."

Luna looked down.

"So you knew where I was."

"Yes."

"And you just let me grow up thinking I was normal."

"That was the plan."

"Until now."

"Until your powers awakened."

Luna wiped her eyes.

"Why now?"

Kael looked toward the moon.

"Because someone called you."

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"Was it the red-eyed man?"

"No."

"Then who?"

Kael's expression became troubled.

"The Moon."

Luna stared.

"The Moon?"

"Yes."

"You're saying the moon itself called me?"

"I don't know what else to call it."

Luna looked at her wrist.

The mark was no longer glowing.

But she could feel it.

Something had changed.

"Kael."

"What?"

"There's something else."

"What?"

"I can hear a heartbeat."

Kael immediately became alert.

"Where?"

Luna closed her eyes.

"Outside."

Kael walked to the window.

"Whose?"

"I don't know."

He opened the window.

Cold air rushed inside.

He listened.

Nothing.

Luna frowned.

"It's gone."

Kael looked at her.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He closed the window.

"You're learning."

"I don't want to learn."

"You don't have a choice."

"I hate that."

"I know."

Luna stared at him.

"You keep saying that."

"Because I do."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then someone knocked.

Kael turned.

"Come in."

Elena entered.

"Luna?"

"I'm fine."

Elena smiled.

"Good."

She looked at Kael.

"We need you downstairs."

"Why?"

"The council has arrived."

Kael's face hardened.

"Already?"

"They want to see her."

Luna immediately shook her head.

"No."

Kael looked at her.

"You don't have to go."

"Then why are they here?"

"Because they're afraid."

"Of me?"

"Yes."

Luna stood.

"Then let them be afraid."

Elena smiled.

"I like her."

Kael gave Elena a look.

"Not helping."

They left the room.

The council waited in the main hall.

There were seven members.

All older.

All serious.

Luna immediately felt their eyes on her.

One man stood.

"Is this her?"

Kael stepped in front of Luna.

"Watch your tone."

The man ignored him.

"Bring her forward."

Luna stepped around Kael.

"I'm right here."

The man studied her.

"You look like your mother."

Luna stiffened.

"You knew her?"

"I did."

"Then tell me what happened to her."

The man looked at Kael.

"Not here."

Luna's eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

"Because there are things you aren't ready to hear."

Luna almost laughed.

"That's what everyone keeps saying."

The council members exchanged glances.

One woman finally spoke.

"You don't understand what you're carrying."

"Then explain it."

"Your bloodline."

"I know."

"No. You don't."

She stood.

"Moonborn blood is not merely power. It is a key."

"A key to what?"

"The Lunar Gate."

The room became silent.

Kael looked at the woman.

"That's impossible."

She shook her head.

"Your father said the same thing."

Kael's face changed.

Luna looked at him.

"What is the Lunar Gate?"

The woman answered.

"A doorway."

"To where?"

"Another realm."

Luna stared.

"Another realm?"

"Yes."

"What is there?"

The woman lowered her voice.

"Something that should never be released."

A cold feeling moved through Luna.

"What?"

"The first werewolves."

Everyone went silent.

Kael stepped forward.

"Enough."

The woman looked at him.

"You cannot hide this anymore."

Kael's voice was low.

"I can protect her."

"You couldn't protect her mother."

The room went silent.

Luna looked at Kael.

He didn't respond.

The woman continued.

"And you won't protect Luna if you continue keeping secrets."

Kael's eyes flashed gold.

"Choose your next words carefully."

The council member stood.

"We have already lost too many."

Luna stepped forward.

"What happens if I open this gate?"

The woman looked at her.

"You don't open it."

"Then who does?"

"You."

Luna's stomach dropped.

"Why?"

"Because the gate recognizes only Moonborn blood."

She looked at her wrist.

The crescent mark.

"How do I stop it?"

The woman shook her head.

"We don't know."

"Then why are you here?"

"To decide whether you should remain alive."

The entire room froze.

Kael stepped forward.

"No."

The council member looked at him.

"She is dangerous."

"She is under my protection."

"That protection may destroy us."

Kael's voice became deadly.

"Then you'll have to come through me."

Luna stared at him.

The council members exchanged looks.

Finally, the eldest member spoke.

"The decision will be made at the next full moon."

"When?"

"Three nights."

Luna's heart sank.

"What happens then?"

The old man looked at her.

"You will be tested."

"And if I fail?"

He didn't answer.

Luna understood.

She turned toward Kael.

He looked at her.

Neither spoke.

Outside, thunder rolled across the sky.

And somewhere far beyond the Blackwood territory, something answered.

A howl.

Not from a wolf.

Not from a human.

Something ancient.

Something awake.

And Luna knew, with terrifying certainty, that the next three nights would change everything.