Chapter 10

THE WOMAN FROM HER MEMORIES

The forest exploded into chaos.

Celine barely had time to breathe before Damon grabbed her arm and pulled her behind him.

The Blackfang warriors surged forward.

Metal struck metal. Wolves howled in the darkness. Trees shook as bodies crashed through the undergrowth.

But Celine could hear only one thing.

Her mother's voice.

Run, Celine!

She stared through the chaos at the woman standing beneath the trees.

Her mother.

Alive.

After eleven years of believing she was dead.

"Celine!"

Damon pulled her down just as a weapon sliced through the air above her head.

She stumbled.

"I have to get to her!"

"You'll get yourself killed."

"That's my mother!"

"I know."

"Then let me go!"

Damon tightened his grip.

"Not until I know the way is clear."

Celine glared at him.

For once, she didn't care who was stronger.

She pulled against his hand.

"Damon!"

A roar came from behind them.

Damon spun around and knocked an attacker aside.

"Stay close to me!"

Celine looked toward her mother again.

The woman was fighting.

Not running.

Fighting.

She moved with a speed Celine had never seen before, dodging one Blackfang warrior and striking another with enough force to send him crashing into a tree.

Celine stared.

That was her mother?

The gentle woman she barely remembered?

The woman who used to braid her hair and sing softly while preparing dinner?

Her mother turned.

Their eyes met.

For one brief second, everything around Celine seemed to disappear.

Her mother's face crumpled.

"Celine."

The way she said her name broke something inside Celine.

Celine took a step forward.

"Mom."

Her mother started toward her.

Then the Blackfang leader appeared between them.

He raised his weapon.

Celine's mother stopped.

"No."

The leader smiled.

"After all these years."

"You won't touch her."

Her mother's voice shook, but she didn't move back.

"You've already lost her once," the leader said. "You won't lose her again."

Celine's chest tightened.

"What does he mean?"

Her mother looked at her.

"Don't listen to him."

"Then tell me the truth!"

The words burst from Celine.

"Why did you leave me?"

Her mother froze.

"I didn't leave you."

"You were gone."

"I was trying to keep you alive."

"You let me believe you were dead!"

"I had to."

"Why?"

Her mother's eyes filled with tears.

"Because they were hunting you."

Celine shook her head.

"Who?"

The answer never came.

The Blackfang leader attacked.

Damon intercepted him.

The two collided with enough force to send dirt flying beneath their feet.

Celine watched them fight.

Her father suddenly appeared beside her.

"Celine, we have to go."

She turned on him.

"No."

"Celine—"

"I'm not leaving her again."

Wolverine looked at the woman across the battlefield.

Something passed between them.

Pain.

Regret.

Recognition.

Celine noticed it immediately.

"You knew where she was."

Her father lowered his weapon.

"I knew she was alive."

Celine's heart sank.

"You knew."

"I searched for her."

"And you never told me."

"I couldn't."

"You could have."

"I tried."

Her father looked toward her mother.

"She made me promise."

Celine stared at him.

"Promise what?"

"That if they ever found you, I would get you away from the pack."

Her mother's voice came from across the clearing.

"I didn't know who I could trust."

Celine slowly turned toward her.

"Not even Dad?"

Her mother shook her head.

"I trusted him."

"Then why?"

"Because someone inside Silvermoon was helping them."

The words silenced Celine.

Damon heard them too.

His attention shifted from the Blackfang leader.

"Someone inside the pack?"

Her mother nodded.

"Someone close to the Alpha."

Celine's mind immediately went to Cassian.

Then Lila.

Then the Riverfang visitors.

But her mother shook her head.

"Not the Alpha."

Celine frowned.

"Then who?"

Her mother looked toward the trees.

Before she could answer, a howl sounded in the distance.

Every Blackfang warrior suddenly stopped.

The leader lowered his weapon.

A second howl followed.

Then a third.

Damon's expression changed.

"That's not Silvermoon."

Celine felt the hair rise on her arms.

Her mother looked terrified.

"They're here."

"Who?" Celine asked.

Her mother grabbed her hand.

"We have to leave."

Celine stared at their joined hands.

It felt familiar.

Warm.

Like something buried deep inside her had finally found its way home.

"Mom..."

Her mother squeezed her fingers.

"I have so much to tell you."

A sudden pain shot through Celine's chest.

She cried out.

The silver pendant flashed.

Her mother's eyes widened.

"No."

Celine dropped to her knees.

"Celine!"

Damon rushed toward her.

The forest disappeared.

A vision swallowed her.

She was standing in a strange stone chamber.

Candles burned along the walls.

A woman stood in front of an ancient altar.

Her mother.

But she looked younger.

And in her arms was a baby.

Celine.

A man stood across from her.

Silver eyes.

Black cloak.

The same man from her earlier vision.

He reached toward the baby.

Celine's mother stepped back.

"You promised me."

"I promised to protect the bloodline."

"By taking my daughter?"

"By awakening her."

"No!"

The vision shifted.

Her mother ran through a forest carrying baby Celine.

Behind her came wolves.

Dozens of them.

Then a voice echoed through the darkness.

"When the Moonborn awakens, the first blood will return."

Celine screamed.

She was suddenly back in the forest.

Damon was holding her shoulders.

"Celine!"

She sucked in a breath.

Her mother knelt beside her.

"What did you see?"

Celine stared at her.

"The man."

Her mother's face went pale.

"Which man?"

"The one with silver eyes."

Her mother closed her eyes.

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Then she whispered,

"He's not a man."

Damon's expression hardened.

"What is he?"

Her mother looked at him.

"The first Alpha."

Damon went still.

Celine frowned.

"That's impossible."

"The first werewolf was not destroyed," her mother said. "He disappeared."

"And he's coming back?"

Her mother looked toward the dark forest.

"He never left."

A cold wind swept through the clearing.

Then the Blackfang leader laughed.

"You finally understand."

Damon stepped forward.

"Who is he?"

The leader's smile widened.

"Our king."

Celine's stomach dropped.

Her mother grabbed her hand.

"We have to move now."

The distant howls grew louder.

Damon looked toward the trees.

"Everyone move!"

Silvermoon warriors began retreating.

Wolverine pulled Celine toward the path.

Damon stayed behind, covering them.

Celine looked back one last time.

The Blackfang leader wasn't following.

He was simply watching.

Then he slowly lowered his weapon.

And smiled.

As if everything had gone exactly according to plan.

Celine's mother pulled her deeper into the forest.

"Mom, where are we going?"

"Somewhere they cannot find you."

"Does such a place exist?"

Her mother looked at her.

"It did."

Celine's heart sank.

"Did?"

Her mother tightened her grip.

"It doesn't anymore."

A branch snapped behind them.

Everyone stopped.

Damon turned.

His eyes narrowed.

Something was moving through the darkness.

Then a pair of silver eyes appeared between the trees.

Celine's pendant began to glow.

Her mother's face drained of color.

"He's found us."