Chapter 15

Celine stood completely still.

The baby's cry echoed through the chamber.

Once.

Twice.

Then silence.

She stared at the ancient cradle in the center of the room, unable to understand what she was hearing.

It was empty.

Yet the cry had sounded real.

Her mother stood behind her, trembling.

Damon remained close to Celine, his attention moving between the walls and the open doorway.

“What is this place?” Celine whispered.

Her mother didn't answer.

Celine turned.

“Mom.”

Her mother looked at the cradle.

“This is where everything began.”

“What began?”

“Your life.”

Celine's eyes narrowed.

“I know I was born.”

Her mother gave a sad smile.

“You were born here.”

Celine looked around.

“This sanctuary?”

Her mother nodded.

“Not inside the room you're standing in. Beneath it.”

She pointed toward the floor.

“There used to be a chamber below this one.”

Celine touched the wall.

“And the cradle?”

“It was prepared for you.”

Damon looked at the inscription.

“Who carved her name?”

Her mother lowered her eyes.

“The Moon Guard.”

Celine turned sharply.

“They knew I would be born?”

“They knew there was a child coming.”

“Why?”

Her mother took a shaky breath.

“Because of the prophecy.”

Celine's stomach tightened.

“I am tired of hearing that word.”

“I know.”

“Then tell me the truth without hiding behind it.”

Her mother stepped closer.

“The prophecy said that one day, a Moonborn child would be born with the ability to unite the divided wolf bloodlines.”

Celine stared at her.

“Unite them?”

“Yes.”

“Why would that be dangerous?”

“Because whoever controlled that child could control the packs.”

Damon's expression hardened.

“So that's why they hunted her.”

Her mother nodded.

“Some wanted to protect her. Others wanted to use her.”

Celine looked toward the inscription.

“And Lucien?”

“He wanted to control the Moonborn.”

A voice came from the doorway.

“I wanted to protect the Moonborn from those who would destroy them.”

Celine turned.

Lucien stood at the entrance.

The Moon Guard remained behind him.

“You lied,” Celine said.

“I told you what you needed to know.”

“You said my mother betrayed you.”

“She did.”

Her mother shook her head.

“I refused to let you turn my daughter into a weapon.”

Lucien's eyes hardened.

“She was never meant to live an ordinary life.”

“She was my daughter.”

“She was the heir.”

Celine stepped between them.

“I am neither your weapon nor your property.”

Lucien looked at her.

“That remains to be seen.”

Damon moved forward.

“Leave her alone.”

Lucien smiled.

“You still think you can protect her.”

“I don't have to think.”

Celine looked at Damon.

Something inside her warmed.

Lucien noticed.

“The Black Moon has already begun to answer her.”

Damon's expression changed.

Celine looked at him.

“What does that mean?”

He didn't answer.

Lucien did.

“The connection between the Moonborn and the Black Moon is older than any pack.”

Her mother immediately interrupted.

“Enough.”

“No,” Celine said.

She looked at Damon.

“I want to know.”

Damon exhaled slowly.

“The Black Moon is not simply a mark.”

“What is it?”

“It's a bloodline.”

Celine touched her pendant.

“And you're part of it?”

“Yes.”

“Then why does my wolf react to you?”

Damon looked into her eyes.

“Because our bloodlines were once bound together.”

Her mother's face tightened.

“That bond was broken for a reason.”

“Why?”

“Because the last time the two bloodlines joined, there was war.”

Celine's eyes widened.

“Between the packs?”

“Between everyone.”

Damon shook his head.

“The war wasn't caused by the bloodlines.”

Her mother looked at him.

“It was caused by people who wanted to control them.”

Celine stepped toward the cradle.

A faint silver glow appeared beneath it.

She stopped.

“There's something here.”

Damon came beside her.

“What?”

Celine knelt.

Her fingers brushed across the stone floor.

She felt a vibration.

Then she saw something.

A small metal box had been hidden beneath the cradle.

Celine pulled it free.

It was covered in dust.

Her mother stared at it.

“You found it.”

“What is it?”

“I thought it was lost.”

Celine opened the box.

Inside was a folded piece of cloth and a small silver key.

She picked up the cloth.

There was writing on it.

Her mother's handwriting.

Celine looked at her.

“You wrote this.”

Her mother nodded.

“It was meant for you.”

Celine unfolded it.

The message was short.

My little moon, if you ever find this, then the seal has begun to break.

Her hands trembled.

I wanted to tell you everything, but every truth came with a price. If they find you before your wolf fully awakens, don't trust anyone who claims they can control your power.

Celine swallowed.

The final sentence made her heart pound.

Find the door beneath the Moon Temple. The answer to your birth is waiting there.

Celine looked up.

“The Moon Temple.”

Her mother nodded.

“I never wanted you to go there.”

“Why?”

“Because that's where they kept the first records of the Moonborn.”

Damon looked at Lucien.

“And that's where you trained me.”

Lucien said nothing.

Celine folded the message.

“I need to go.”

Her mother shook her head.

“No.”

“I need answers.”

“And you'll find them.”

“Then why stop me?”

“Because the Moon Temple is no longer safe.”

A loud crash suddenly came from above.

Everyone froze.

The Moon Guard warriors drew their weapons.

Damon's head lifted.

“They found the sanctuary.”

Celine's mother looked toward the doorway.

“Blackfang?”

Damon listened.

“No.”

Another crash.

This time, a familiar voice echoed through the sanctuary.

“Beta Wolverine!”

Celine's eyes widened.

“That's Silvermoon.”

Her father.

Wolverine appeared at the top of the staircase with several warriors behind him.

His clothes were torn, and his face was bruised.

But he was alive.

“Celine!”

She rushed toward him.

“Dad!”

He pulled her into a brief embrace.

Then he looked at her mother.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Finally, Wolverine whispered,

“You came back.”

Her mother nodded.

“I had to.”

Wolverine looked at Celine.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

His gaze moved to the silver light around her.

“You awakened.”

Celine stepped back.

“You knew?”

He lowered his head.

“Yes.”

Her anger returned.

“You knew about the Moonborn.”

“Yes.”

“You knew Mom was alive.”

“Yes.”

“You knew Damon.”

His eyes moved toward Damon.

“Yes.”

Celine stared at him.

“How many secrets have you been keeping from me?”

Wolverine looked exhausted.

“Too many.”

“Then start talking.”

He looked at the others.

“Not here.”

Damon stepped forward.

“Why?”

Wolverine's expression became serious.

“Because someone from Silvermoon followed us.”

Everyone became still.

Celine frowned.

“Who?”

Wolverine didn't answer immediately.

Then a howl sounded above them.

A Silvermoon warrior rushed down the stairs.

“Beta!”

Wolverine turned.

“What happened?”

“The eastern entrance has been breached.”

“By Blackfang?”

The warrior shook his head.

“No.”

His face was pale.

“By Silvermoon warriors.”

Celine stared.

“What?”

“They're attacking the sanctuary.”

Wolverine's face hardened.

“Who is leading them?”

The warrior swallowed.

“Gamma Voss.”

Celine felt cold spread through her body.

Lila's father.

Her family.

Her pack.

The people she had trusted.

Damon looked at Celine.

“Someone gave them the location.”

Her mother whispered,

“They found us.”

Lucien smiled faintly.

“No.”

Everyone looked at him.

“They didn't find you.”

His eyes settled on Celine.

“They were invited.”

Celine's pendant suddenly burned.

A deep growl rose from within her.

And from somewhere above the sanctuary came a voice she knew far too well.

“Bring me Celine Wolverine.”

Alpha Cassian.

Celine's heart stopped.

He had come for her.