Talia's POVThe Starlight Pack is throwing a party for us.This action lifted my eyebrows. Lanterns swing from above the trees, filling the lawn with bright light. Long tables are loaded with delicious cuisine-roasted meats, hot bread, and fruits that look almost too good to be true. A bonfire pops in the middle; fire kindles up into midnight while wolves from the Starlight Pack and the Misfits stick together.It's like a dream.I used to get teased, overlooked and turned away here. Now? Everyone's pushing and trying to sneak a peek at me."Is that her?""She's different," another murmured in awe.I keep my expression neutral, but inside, my wolf Tiara snorts. "They're acting like you grew another head.""They never expected me to survive," I reply silently.Bran keeps pace with me, his presence grounding as we walk together. He stays quiet, but I can sense his eyes on me as we navigate the crowd. He's tense. I can tell."His wolf won't stop pacing," Tiara notes with amusement. "He's
Talia's POV"Are you seriously blindfolding me?""Yes," Bran says.I cross my arms as Bran leads me to whatever he calls the surprise. I just hope it is worth it. "Bran, if this is another one of your pranks, I swear-""It's not," he chuckles; he places his hands gently, adjusting the fabric over my eyes. "Trust me, Talia."Trust.I huff, but I allow him to lead me on. his hand is warm around mine as we walk. The air is crisp, and I can perceive sweet smells all around- jasmine, maybe. The party has calmed down, leaving the murmur of the Pack Members settling in for bed.Bran moves slowly, making sure I don't trip, but it's not like I can't sense where I am. The ground shifts from dirt to smooth stone, and then the air around us feels... different, like I'm in an open area now."Almost there," Bran murmurs in anticipation.Tiara stirs in my mind. "He's nervous."Bran? Nervous? That's a rare sight.Whatever this is, it's important to him, she muses. Let's not make him suffer too much.
Talia's POVMy palace balcony is peaceful under the moonlight shining on the garden. I spread my arms wide, eyes shut, savoring the fresh breeze on my skin. Months of battles and quests have passed. I'm at the Starlight Pack and need some fresh air to relax before deciding my next move.My mind is racing with thoughts about the Misfits starting anew here, and I need to help them find jobs for their survival. I'll put those worries aside and enjoy the fresh air now. A new day awaits tomorrow.I rest on the stone railing, gazing at the landscape. The Misfits finally have a home. I finally have a home.Yet, my chest is tight.Because despite all of this, surviving, rejection, leading an entire pack, winning battles, and proving my worth-there's still one thing unresolved.Bran.Tiara hums softly in my mind. "You're thinking about him again."No, I'm not, I lie, my fingers tightening on the railing.Tiara huffs in amusement. "You forget that I can feel everything you do."I exhale, raking
Talia's POVGolden sunlight streams in, filtering through the curtains and illuminating the floor. I wake up slowly, stretching on the soft sheets.Then realization dawns on me.I'm at Bran's palace.Last night's memories make my heart race. The talk and the kiss made me stay when feelings became overwhelming. Not that anything else happened. Bran frustratingly remained respectful, saying goodnight after our intense moment.I feel both grateful and frustrated. He should have escorted me back home, but he didn't and I know he wants me around. We felt so emotional that after saying goodbye to each other last night, we strolled to the gate where I was supposed to go back, but we were lost in talks till I followed him to his chambers.Timid person.Tiara laughs in my thoughts. He's being patient because he values you. That, or he enjoys torturing himself.I grunt while flipping onto my stomach. I'm unsure if I should be impressed or annoyed.A knock interrupts my thoughts, and Bran's deep
Talia's POVThe air hums in anticipation as the Starfit Pack is preparing for the Moon Festival. Yes, Starfit, that is the name I and Bran agreed on to name the two Packs. We figured since we've merged, we should start seeing ourselves as one and it's only right we answer a unique name as a symbol of our unity.Lanterns float in the sky, glowing orbs of soft silver, mimicking the full moon that watches over us. The Starlight Pack's annual Moon Festival is in full swing, and for the first time, the Misfits are part of it in a normal Pack.Laughter fills the courtyard as wolves from both packs come together, bringing the aroma of roasted meats, wines, and sweet pastries. The festival celebrates unity and honours the Moon Goddess, allowing wolves to momentarily escape their struggles.I should be excited.But instead, I'm trapped in my chambers as Lyric will not let me go. I shouldn't have agreed when they volunteered to pick my dress; I agree I'm awful when it comes to picking outfits o
Talia's POV The fresh morning air buzzes with energy. The Royal Hunt, a long-standing tradition of the Starlight Pack, is starting soon. Now that the Starlight Pack is now the Starfit, it only means we'll participate too. My warriors are ready and so are Bran's. I stand at the hunting grounds' edge, inhaling pine and fresh earth. Warriors from the Starlight Pack and Misfits assemble, stretching, sharpening weapons, or shifting in anticipation. Bran and I will co-lead our first official event today as Alphas. And I'm going to win. I don't know why I'm so sure of winning, something tells me I will. Tiara sparks within me, I think we're on the same page on this. "We are going to crush them." I chuckle to myself. "Absolutely, we are." I sense a warm presence behind me and instantly recognize it. That's the one who wouldn't leave my side for once. "Try not to look too excited, Talia," Bran's voice purrs, amusement in his tone. "You'll scare the prey away." I glance over my shoulde
Talia's POV"Alpha!" Serena's voice rings from behind me which distracts me from my routine. What could be the issue? My friends know how much I don't like my routine distracted, so for Serena to push that aside, it only means whatever this is, is worth it."Serena, I'm busy and you know that." I try to remind her."Trust me, Alpha, this is worth your time because it's your sworn duty." She replies grinning like she just won a lottery. Something is fishy, I know it the moment Serena drags me away from my training routine, claiming there's an "urgent meeting" I need to attend."What kind of meeting?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at her as she hauls me through the palace halls.She shrugs dramatically. "Important Alpha stuff. You wouldn't understand."I stop walking. "Serena, I am the Alpha."Serena grins innocently. "Then you need to be there."Before I can argue, Lyric and Luna appear, blocking my path with matching mischievous expressions."What are you two up to?" I ask because the exp
Talia's POVIf I could run from this, I would. Serena, Lyric, Luna, and half the pack's women swarm around me, their energy vibrating at a frequency I can't handle."Gold embroidery or silver?" Serena holds up two delicate fabric swatches.I stare blankly. "For what?"Lyric groans dramatically. "For your wedding, Alpha! You are getting married, remember?"I sigh, rubbing my temples. "I know, but I don't care about embroidery."Serena gasps like I've just declared war. "You don't care? Talia, you're getting mated-officially, publicly, grandly! The details matter!"Luna snickers. "She looks like she's plotting an escape." LunaI glare at them. "Because I am."Lyric waves a hand dismissively. "No way. Bran made us promise not to let you bolt."Of course, he did.Bran is thriving in all of this, greeting guests, making speeches, and enjoying the excitement of the upcoming union. Meanwhile, I'm drowning in dresses.Serena pokes my shoulder. "Come on, Talia. The pack is excited. The warrior
POV: The Old Keeper (The New Seer)I was never supposed to hear her voice again. But she never seems to stop calling and coming. The hall glows, a hint of her presence.The old runes on the walls emit a dim shimmer-not bright enough to chase away shadows, but enough to remind me that I'm not alone down here. I sit with my back against the cold stone wall, my legs stretched before me and one foot bouncing softly in rhythm with the whispers in my head. The whispers never stopped since she returned. Or let's say since she had been aware of my presence here.I remember once being brave and knowing who I was. Now I count moments by the number of breaths I can take before my past claws its way into my thoughts.And just like every time before, here she comes.Her voice reaches me before her form does-soft, low, and carried like wind through bone."You remember more than you should."It echoes through the hall like it's soaked in moonlight. Her hunting yet comforting voice. She's closer now
POV: The Old Keeper (The New Seer)I was meant to be the Stone Keeper. I was chosen right before birth. So says my grandmother. My parents were killed because they weren't supposed to bring me to life. But it happened somehow and they got punished for it. The stone started calling to me when I was young. I heard its voice, felt its pull and sometimes touched it. But that was in my dreams. I was happy, and proud or maybe the right word is overjoyed to be the chosen one.The Moon Goddess chose me. Not because someone told her to, or because I asked. The stone chose me itself. So I heard. I stood alone on Starlight Crest, high above the land, with the wind pushing at my back. The light of the moonstone reached out to me, surrounding me. I felt its warmth settle inside my chest. At that moment, I truly believed I had found my purpose.I was proud and brave. Maybe even foolish.That night, everything changed.I was meant to complete the trials to become the official Keeper. I had already
POV: The New Seer of the Dark Council (Council of the East)I see her.Even before the stars split.Even before the Moon Goddess lays her hand on her heart.I see the girl awakening.Not with my eyes or with the cursed black things that smoulder in my head and glow when they shouldn't. But deeper. The way roots see water underground. The way wolves hear a storm coming before the first drop falls.Talia.Her name echoes inside me like it's written behind my teeth.She stands in that dream-space, her spirit wide open, and I'm there-barely, briefly. A shadow just outside the light.I wasn't supposed to see her that clearly.But I did.And now I can't unsee her.Her light. Her fear. Her power.The Moonstone has chosen her, and the trials have begun.I sit motionless in the far end of the council chamber, body still as bone, even as the fire in the center crackles and spits dark orange sparks.I don't speak until I must.Until I feel them watching me. The Council of the East-seven old clo
POV: TaliaTalia's body is still in Misfit Town.She lies motionless in her bunk, one hand still faintly glowing with the pulse of the stone. Bran is the first to find her. He had followed the ripple of magic that burst through the trees when she touched the stone. Now, he kneels beside her, his face pale with fear, trying not to panic.But this isn't about her body. It's about where her spirit has gone.Talia opens her eyes to skyless light. She's no longer in the woods or her room or anything that feels familiar. Everything around her is soft and glowing, like the space between stars had taken shape.This place isn't real in the way real places are. It feels more like memory and meaning stitched together. There's no ground, but she doesn't fall. No air, but she can breathe.In front of her, a tall stone arch rises out of nothing. Symbols glow along its edges-the same ones that had appeared on her arms. The same rhythm and same pull.A voice echoes across the space.Talia, Keeper of
Aunt MerleComing back to Misfit Town without being seen was never simple. But this time, it was more than just secrecy-I couldn't let anyone see me carrying the stone. Only the one meant to carry its power should lay eyes on me right now.That's why I used the bone ash spell. Just enough to hide myself from the senses of others. The magic made sound slip away from me and light bent around me. It wasn't perfect. But it was enough.I moved quietly past the outer trees of the town just before sunrise, the stone wrapped tightly in moon cloth and held close to my chest. It wasn't heavy, not in the usual way, but it throbbed with heat and energy-like it had its heartbeat. It didn't feel human. It didn't feel alive. But it was something old. Ancient.With each step closer to the heart of the town, the air changed. It started to hum softly. Like the ground and the trees could sense what I was bringing. Like the town itself was deciding if I should be allowed in.The streets and homes hadn't
POV: TaliaI got up before dawn because something stirred me awake. Dead silence. I don't feel anything at all. It's only a switch. It felt like the air just ditched the world I was familiar with.I sat upright in bed, my breath hanging somewhere between snoozing and shouting. My room still sat in darkness, with the curtains hardly moving. My arms were on fire.I rolled up my shirt sleeves and took a look.Marks. Faint and glowing. It feels like starlight veins running from my wrists to the bend of my elbows. They beat along with my heart-actually, not my heart. Something that goes deeper. Something older.The stone. I haven't laid a finger on it or even seen it, but I can feel its pull. It's like a tune I haven't listened to, but it feels familiar. It's transforming me. I'm not sure how long this will last. Or who I'll turn into by the time it's over.I run my fingers over the glowing trails. They're cozy. Full of life. Not painful. Not yet."Bran?" I whisper, even though I know he's
Aunt Merle's POVIt moved the moment I did.Like it had been waiting for me.The corrupted guardian stepped forward, limbs wrong in all the ways that make your bones ache just looking. It's fur peeling like bark in the sun, muscles twitching under pale, half-dead skin. Its eyes glowed green-brighter now-flickering like candlelight trapped in rot.I didn't move at first. I let my breath settle. Let my pulse slow. Fear is a clever liar. It whispers things like you can't, you're too old, you failed once and you'll do it again.But I'm not here to win. I'm here to protect what needs to be protected.I reach into my bag, my fingers finding the vial of ashroot tincture. My sister made this once, back when she still believed we could hold the line against everything coming for us. I never liked the way it smelled-burnt leaves and regret-but it helps in moments like this. I dab a bit under my nose. It clears the air and sharpens me."Let's get this over with," I whisper, more to myself than t
Talia's POV Strange things are beginning to happen to me after our search for the cookbook in the archives. The first time it happens, I'm brushing dirt off a silver spoon half-buried beneath a pine root, and the second I touch it, the world turns upside down.Not like in the dramatic way people say, but like gravity forgets her job. My knees give, my vision fuzzes, and a weightless heat rushes behind my eyes, burning. A voice I don't recognize, and not mine-whispers something sharp and slanted. The spoon clatters to the ground."Hey!" Bran's voice cuts through the dizziness. "Talia-hey, look at me. Stay with me."I blink. His face is so close, framed by leaves and worry lines. His hands hover just inches from my shoulders, unsure whether to touch me or watch.I grab his sleeve. Just to make sure I'm here. Now. Not wherever that flash dragged me."I'm fine," I say, but it sounds like a lie even to me. My voice is raspy, too breathy."Liar. That's your lying face. Also your 'don't tel
Aunt Merle's POVThis night is way colder than I anticipated.Canada may be known for its brutal winds and icy cold, but there's something uniquely cold about the forests near Misfit town. It murmurs hidden truths. The old ones. Some that remember me, and some I'd rather forget.I stomp through the frozen ground, my boots crunching as I head down the winding trail into the thick woods, my satchel bouncing at my side with each brave step I take. In my bag, I've got some sage, nightroot, a couple of white candles blessed during a blood moon, and a solar power bank that I almost forgot until I felt like I should take it with me.I recognize this path. Even after so many years. Even after grief tried to bury it under layers of avoidance. There was a time when my sister and I carved our initials into one of these trees, laughing like we were still children, despite being mothers by then. My fingers brush against the bark of that same tree as I pass. It no longer laughs. Me neither.This jo