Chapter 5: Starlights and Secrets

​The air in the Chamber of Ancestors was still humming with the remnants of the Full Moon ritual. As the silver glow around Elara slowly dimmed, she felt a strange, new weight in her soul, a warmth that meant she was no longer alone. Her wolf was there, curled up in the back of her mind like a sleeping guardian.

​"The moon has blessed you," Orion whispered, his eyes soft with relief.

​Ryker stepped forward, his expression proud but stern. "You’ve done well, Elara. But the power you just took is a lot for a body to carry. Go to your quarters. Rest. Tomorrow, we finish what was started fifteen years ago."

​Elara nodded, her legs feeling a bit like jelly. The brothers escorted her back to her wing of the Citadel, their presence a silent, formidable wall around her.

​Once she reached her room, the heavy oak doors clicked shut, leaving her in the luxurious silence of her suite. The moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, reflecting off the ocean waves outside. Elara sat on the edge of her massive, silk-covered bed, staring at the obsidian ring on her finger. She felt like a queen, but deep down, she was still the girl who had been kicked into the mud just twenty-four hours ago.

​A soft, rhythmic tapping came at her door. It wasn't the heavy, authoritative knock of Ryker.

​"Hey, Princess? You awake?"

​Elara smiled. "Come in, Finn."

​The door swung open, and Finn slid inside. He had ditched his leather tunic for a simple black hoodie and joggers, looking less like a legendary Alpha warrior and more like a protective older brother. He was carrying a silver tray with two steaming mugs of cocoa and a plate of chocolate-chip cookies.

​"I figured the 'Divine Blood of the Ancients' probably tastes a bit metallic," Finn said with a wink, sitting cross-legged on the rug in front of her bed. "Thought you might want something that actually tastes good."

​Elara laughed, reaching for a mug. "Thank you,

Finn. You’re right. The ritual was... intense."

​"Intense? Elara, you blew the dust off the ceiling! I thought Silas was going to have a heart attack about his hair getting messed up," Finn teased, making a dramatic face.

​Elara giggled, the sound light and genuine. It was the first time she had laughed like that in years. "Is he really that vain?"

​"Oh, you have no idea. He spends more on hair products than we spend on SUV tires," Finn whispered conspiratorially. "But don't tell him I said that, or he’ll hide my car keys in the shadows."

​They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, sipping their cocoa. Finn’s presence was warm and grounded, pulling Elara out of her head.

​"Are you scared about tomorrow?" Finn asked, his voice turning a bit more serious.

​Elara looked into her mug. "A little. Not of them... but of who I used to be there. I’m afraid that when I see Valerius, I’ll feel like that weak Omega again."

​Finn reached out, gently nudging her knee with his hand. "Look at me, Elara. You couldn't be a weak Omega if you tried. You have the blood of the Moon Goddess and four brothers who would literally move mountains if you asked us to. If Valerius even breathes in your direction wrong, I’ll personally show him how fast a Thorne can move."

​He stood up, stretching his muscular arms over his head. "But for now, you need to sleep. Ryker has already ordered a 'convoy of doom' for the morning. He wants us to look as intimidating as possible. I think Silas is even polishing the door handles of the SUVs as we speak."

​Elara smiled, feeling the tension leave her shoulders. "Goodnight, Finn. And... thank you. For finding me."

​Finn paused at the door, his eyes glowing a soft, playful orange for a second. "We didn't just find you, Elara. We found our heart. Now get some sleep, Queen. Tomorrow, we go hunting."