Chapter 12

“Celine.”

The voice came from somewhere deep inside the sanctuary.

Celine couldn't move.

The sound was calm, almost gentle, but something about it made every instinct inside her scream.

Her mother tightened her grip on Celine's hand.

“Don't answer.”

“Who is that?”

Her mother didn't respond.

Celine looked into the darkness beyond the stone doorway.

“Who are you?”

The silence that followed was worse than the voice.

Then came a quiet laugh.

“You already know me.”

Celine's pendant burned against her skin.

She pulled it away from her chest.

The silver crescent was glowing brighter than before.

Her mother stepped in front of her.

“You have no right to call her.”

The voice answered immediately.

“I have every right.”

“You lost that right long ago.”

“Did I?”

The darkness shifted.

A figure appeared at the far end of the passage.

Tall.

Still.

Wrapped in a black cloak.

Celine's heart stopped.

The silver eyes from her visions stared back at her.

The same eyes she had seen beside her mother when she was a baby.

The same eyes that had haunted her dreams without her understanding why.

Her mother whispered,

“No.”

The stranger stopped several feet away.

His gaze moved to Celine.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he smiled.

“So much like her.”

Celine stepped backward.

“Who are you?”

Her mother grabbed her arm.

“Celine, don't.”

But Celine couldn't look away.

“You were in my visions.”

The stranger tilted his head.

“Yes.”

“You knew my mother.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Because your mother was once my most trusted guardian.”

Celine looked at her mother.

“Guardian?”

Her mother lowered her gaze.

“That was a long time ago.”

“What were you guarding?”

The stranger answered.

“You.”

Celine's stomach tightened.

Her mother immediately stepped forward.

“You weren't protecting her.”

“I was protecting the bloodline.”

“You wanted to control it.”

The stranger's expression hardened.

“And you betrayed me.”

“I saved my daughter.”

“You stole what belonged to my kingdom.”

Celine stared between them.

“What kingdom?”

The stranger didn't answer.

Instead, he looked at the pendant around her neck.

“You have awakened the seal.”

Celine touched it.

“What seal?”

“The one your mother placed on you.”

Her eyes widened.

“You said it was meant to hide me.”

“It was.”

“Then why does it feel like it's making everyone find me?”

The stranger smiled faintly.

“Because the seal is breaking.”

Celine's mother stepped closer.

“Don't listen to him.”

“I want the truth.”

“You're not ready.”

Celine turned sharply.

“Everyone keeps saying that!”

Her voice echoed through the sanctuary.

“My father said he was protecting me. Damon said he was protecting me. You say you're protecting me.”

She looked at the stranger.

“And you keep saying I'm part of some bloodline.”

Her hands trembled.

“I've spent my whole life being told that I'm weak.”

Her voice cracked.

“Now everyone suddenly tells me I'm something important.”

Her mother reached toward her.

“Celine—”

“No.”

Celine stepped back.

“I want someone to tell me the truth.”

The stranger watched her quietly.

Then he said,

“Your mother cannot tell you everything.”

“Why?”

“Because she was there when it began.”

Celine frowned.

“When what began?”

“The first war.”

Her mother closed her eyes.

The stranger continued.

“Long before Silvermoon, before the Riverfang alliance, before the packs divided the land, there was one bloodline that could communicate with the Moon Goddess.”

Celine listened.

“The Moonborn.”

She looked at her pendant.

“The Moonborn were not ordinary wolves. Their blood carried a connection to the first wolf spirit.”

Celine's breath caught.

“The first wolf?”

“Yes.”

“The one you called your king?”

His expression changed.

“Names have been lost through centuries.”

Celine looked at him carefully.

“Are you him?”

The stranger smiled.

“No.”

Her mother released a breath.

But then he continued.

“I am his descendant.”

Celine felt a strange disappointment.

“Then why were you in my vision?”

“Because your mother came to me for help.”

Her mother shook her head.

“I came to stop you.”

The stranger looked at her.

“You came because your daughter was dying.”

Celine's head snapped toward her mother.

“Dying?”

Her mother said nothing.

“What does he mean?”

The stranger's voice softened.

“When you were born, your wolf did not awaken.”

Celine frowned.

“I know.”

“No. You don't.”

He took one step closer.

“You weren't born without a wolf.”

Celine stared at him.

“You were born with something that could not safely remain awake.”

Her mother's eyes filled with tears.

“So I sealed it.”

Celine looked at her.

“You did this to me?”

“I did it to save you.”

“What exactly did you seal?”

Her mother hesitated.

Then she whispered,

“Your Moonborn wolf.”

The words settled heavily in the chamber.

Celine looked down at herself.

“So the reason I was wolfless…”

“You were never wolfless,” her mother said.

A tear slipped down her cheek.

“I was terrified that if your wolf awakened too early, they would find you.”

Celine's voice became quiet.

“Did you know what would happen when I turned eighteen?”

Her mother nodded.

“I knew the seal would begin weakening.”

“Then why didn't you come for me?”

“I tried.”

Celine stared at her.

“I couldn't get close without leading them to you.”

Before Celine could answer, a distant howl echoed through the sanctuary.

Her face changed.

“Damon.”

Her mother looked toward the entrance.

“He's fighting.”

Celine immediately moved toward the doorway.

Her mother caught her.

“Wait.”

“I have to help him.”

“You can't go back.”

“He's out there because he protected me.”

“He knew the risk.”

“So did you.”

Her mother stared at her.

Celine pulled free.

“I won't leave him.”

She turned toward the entrance.

The stranger watched her with a strange expression.

“You're already changing.”

Celine stopped.

“What does that mean?”

“Your wolf has begun choosing what kind of wolf she will become.”

Celine frowned.

“Choosing?”

He nodded.

“Your anger can feed her.”

Celine remembered the rejection.

Cassian's cold words.

Lila's smile.

The years of being treated as though she meant nothing.

Her mother's disappearance.

Her father's silence.

Damon fighting outside.

The anger inside her suddenly felt enormous.

The stranger's expression became serious.

“But anger is not the only thing that can awaken her.”

Celine looked at him.

“What else?”

“Trust.”

She thought of Damon.

The stranger's eyes seemed to read the answer on her face.

“That is why he is dangerous.”

Celine stiffened.

“Damon isn't dangerous to me.”

“Not yet.”

Her mother stepped between them.

“Enough.”

The stranger's expression hardened.

“You know what happens if she gives herself completely to a rogue.”

Celine frowned.

“What are you talking about?”

Her mother looked frightened.

“Nothing.”

But the stranger smiled.

“Ask your mother why the Moonborn and the Black Moon were never supposed to meet.”

Celine's heart began racing.

“Black Moon?”

The pendant suddenly flashed.

A pulse of silver light ran through the sanctuary.

The stranger stepped backward.

For the first time, fear crossed his face.

“What is it?” Celine asked.

He stared at the pendant.

“Someone has crossed the river.”

Celine turned.

A familiar howl echoed from outside.

Her heart leaped.

“Damon.”

Her mother rushed toward the entrance.

The stranger looked toward the darkness.

“No.”

Celine followed.

A figure appeared beyond the stone path.

Blood covered his torn shirt.

He was limping.

But he was standing.

“Damon!”

Celine ran toward him.

He lifted his head.

His eyes found hers.

“Celine…”

She reached him just as his knees gave way.

She caught his arm.

“What happened?”

Damon struggled to breathe.

“They're coming.”

“Who?”

His eyes moved past her.

Toward the stranger inside the sanctuary.

Then his expression changed.

“You.”

The stranger stared back.

Damon's voice dropped to a whisper.

“I thought you were dead.”

The stranger smiled.

“I thought you were.”

And somewhere deep beneath the sanctuary, something enormous began to howl.