Chapter 17

The sound beneath the sanctuary came again.

A deep, dragging growl.

The stone floor trembled beneath Celine's feet.

Every warrior in the chamber went still.

Even the Blackfang leader had stopped smiling.

Damon tightened his grip around his weapon.

“What is down there?”

Lucien's eyes remained fixed on the cracked floor.

“Something that should have remained asleep.”

Celine stared at him.

“You said this sanctuary was built to protect the Moonborn.”

“It was.”

“Then why is there something underneath it?”

Lucien didn't answer.

Her mother did.

“Because the Moonborn were never the only ones being protected.”

Celine felt a chill run through her.

“What does that mean?”

Before her mother could explain, another tremor shook the sanctuary.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

Several Silvermoon warriors stumbled.

One of the Moon Guard shouted, “Everyone away from the center!”

Celine stepped backward.

The stone floor cracked wider.

Damon immediately moved in front of her.

“Stay behind me.”

Celine shook her head.

“I can protect myself now.”

“I know.”

He glanced at her.

“But you don't know what that thing is.”

A deep growl answered him.

Then something struck the floor from underneath.

The entire sanctuary shook.

Celine's pendant flashed.

Her wolf stirred.

Not with fear.

With recognition.

She pressed a hand against her chest.

“There’s something familiar about it.”

Damon looked at her.

“You can feel it?”

She nodded.

“It feels like…”

She struggled to find the words.

“Like it's calling me.”

Her mother immediately grabbed her wrist.

“Don't answer it.”

“Why?”

“Because whatever is beneath this sanctuary was never meant to recognize you.”

Celine stared at her.

“But it does.”

Her mother said nothing.

Lucien finally spoke.

“The guardian was created to protect the first Moonborn.”

Celine turned toward him.

“Then why does it feel like it knows me?”

“Because it does.”

The answer chilled her.

“How?”

Lucien looked at her pendant.

“Your blood remembers what your mind doesn't.”

Celine didn't have time to ask another question.

A violent crash erupted beneath them.

The stone floor split.

A massive claw pushed through the opening.

The Moon Guard immediately attacked.

Silver weapons struck the creature, but the blows barely seemed to affect it.

The creature pulled itself upward.

It was enormous.

Its body was covered in dark silver fur, but parts of its skin looked almost like black stone.

Ancient symbols covered its shoulders.

Its eyes burned pale blue.

Several warriors stepped backward.

One whispered,

“By the Moon…”

The creature lifted its head.

Its gaze landed on Celine.

Then it lowered itself.

It bowed.

Celine stared.

Nobody moved.

The creature remained perfectly still.

Damon lowered his weapon slightly.

“It isn't attacking.”

Lucien nodded.

“It won't.”

“Why?” Damon asked.

“Because she is its master.”

Celine looked at Lucien.

“Master?”

“Guardian.”

Her mother shook her head.

“No. Not yet.”

Celine frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Her mother stepped closer.

“The guardian only recognizes the Moonborn blood. But recognizing you doesn't mean it obeys you.”

The creature suddenly raised its head.

Its ears turned toward the entrance.

Damon heard it too.

“More are coming.”

Cassian looked toward the doorway.

“How many?”

Damon listened.

“Too many.”

The Blackfang leader smiled again.

“Then perhaps we should stop fighting each other.”

Cassian turned toward him.

“Why?”

“Because the people coming aren't here for Celine.”

Celine's mother went pale.

“Who?”

The Blackfang leader looked toward the sanctuary entrance.

“The Hollow Wolves.”

The Moon Guard warriors immediately exchanged uneasy looks.

Celine frowned.

“What are Hollow Wolves?”

Nobody answered.

Then one of the older Moon Guard warriors whispered,

“They were erased.”

Damon looked at him.

“Not erased.”

The warrior swallowed.

“Then what?”

“Buried.”

A cold silence fell over the sanctuary.

Cassian stepped forward.

“Someone explain.”

The warrior looked toward Celine.

“The Hollow Wolves were created during the first war.”

“Created?” Celine asked.

“They were wolves whose blood had been altered by forbidden magic. They had no pack, no loyalty, and no connection to the Moon.”

Celine's stomach tightened.

“What happened to them?”

“They were sealed beneath the old territories.”

Lucien's expression became grim.

“Until someone opened the seal.”

Everyone looked at him.

Celine's voice was quiet.

“You did this?”

Lucien shook his head.

“No.”

“Then who?”

He looked at her.

“That is what we need to discover.”

A violent impact struck the sanctuary doors.

The warriors raised their weapons.

Another impact.

The doors shook.

Then came a howl.

It wasn't like the howl of an ordinary wolf.

It was empty.

Cold.

Almost human.

The doors burst inward.

Three creatures rushed through.

Their bodies were lean and unnaturally pale, with dark markings running across their faces.

The first attacked a Silvermoon warrior.

Damon intercepted it.

Their bodies crashed into the wall.

The creature snarled and struck at Damon.

He blocked the blow.

Cassian rushed forward and attacked from the side.

Together, they forced the creature backward.

Celine stared.

They were fighting together.

The Alpha who had rejected her and the rogue who had saved her.

Neither trusted the other.

But both were willing to fight.

Another Hollow Wolf charged toward Celine.

Her mother screamed,

“Celine!”

The creature leaped.

Celine lifted her hands.

Silver light burst from her palms.

The creature was thrown backward.

It hit the ground but immediately rose.

Celine's heart raced.

“It didn't work.”

Damon shouted,

“Don't use the light again!”

“Why?”

“It will make them stronger.”

Celine stared at him.

“How do you know?”

“I've fought them before.”

The creature charged again.

Celine stepped aside.

Damon attacked.

His black crescent mark began glowing.

The Hollow Wolf screamed and recoiled.

Celine noticed.

“Your mark hurts it.”

Damon looked at his chest.

“I know.”

The creature lunged again.

Damon's eyes darkened.

A black aura spread around him.

Celine had never seen anything like it.

His wolf was close to the surface.

The Hollow Wolf hesitated.

Then it turned and ran.

The others followed.

Silence returned.

Damon stood breathing heavily.

Cassian stared at him.

“You knew how to stop them.”

Damon nodded.

“I learned the hard way.”

Celine approached.

“What happened when you fought them before?”

Damon looked away.

“Blackwood was attacked by creatures like those.”

Celine's eyes widened.

“That's what destroyed your pack?”

“Partly.”

“Then Lucien didn't destroy it?”

Damon's gaze moved toward Lucien.

“He sent them.”

Lucien's expression remained calm.

“I sent them because Blackwood had become a threat.”

Damon stepped forward.

“You knew what they would do.”

“I knew.”

“You let them kill everyone.”

Lucien didn't deny it.

Celine felt sick.

“Why?”

Lucien looked at her.

“Because your bloodline had to remain hidden.”

“That makes no sense.”

“It will.”

“No!”

Celine's voice echoed through the sanctuary.

“You keep saying that!”

Her wolf growled inside her.

“I am tired of everyone deciding what I can know.”

Her mother stepped toward her.

“Celine—”

“No, Mom.”

Celine looked at her.

“You knew about Blackwood too.”

Her mother lowered her eyes.

“I knew enough.”

“You knew Damon was connected to me.”

“Yes.”

“You knew about the Moonborn.”

“Yes.”

“You knew my wolf was sealed.”

“Yes.”

Celine shook her head.

“And you still left me in Silvermoon.”

Her mother looked devastated.

“I thought it was the safest place.”

“Safe?”

Celine laughed bitterly.

“I was treated like a servant.”

“I know.”

“Cassian rejected me.”

“I know.”

“Lila humiliated me.”

“I know.”

“And you watched from somewhere while I believed you were dead.”

Her mother's eyes filled with tears.

“I watched because if I returned, they would have followed me to you.”

Celine's anger faltered.

“Who?”

Her mother hesitated.

“The people who killed your grandmother.”

Celine froze.

“My grandmother?”

“She was the first Moonborn guardian after our bloodline was nearly destroyed.”

Celine's mouth went dry.

“I never knew her.”

“You were never supposed to.”

“Why?”

“Because she was murdered protecting the location of this sanctuary.”

Celine looked around.

The pieces were beginning to connect.

Her family had been protecting this place for generations.

Her mother had disappeared to protect her.

Her father had kept the secret.

Damon had been involved somehow.

And Lucien had been trying to control the same bloodline.

But there was still one question.

“Who is really hunting me?”

Her mother looked at Lucien.

Lucien looked toward the broken entrance.

Then he said,

“Not the Blackfang.”

The Blackfang leader stiffened.

Lucien continued.

“The Blackfang were only sent to find you.”

“By whom?”

Lucien's eyes met Celine's.

“The person who wants your blood.”

A voice came from the entrance.

“That's enough.”

Everyone turned.

A man stood among the broken stones.

He wore dark armor unlike the Blackfang.

A silver wolf emblem rested over his chest.

Celine's heart sank.

She knew that emblem.

“Riverfang,” Cassian said.

The stranger smiled.

“Alpha Cassian.”

Cassian stepped forward.

“Why is Riverfang here?”

The man looked at Celine.

“We came to collect what was promised.”

Celine frowned.

“Promised?”

Cassian looked confused.

“I never promised you anything.”

The Riverfang warrior smiled.

“Not you.”

His gaze moved to Gamma Voss.

Everyone turned.

Gamma Voss had gone pale.

Celine's heart dropped.

“You.”

The Gamma stepped backward.

“I didn't…”

The Riverfang warrior interrupted him.

“You promised us the girl.”

Cassian's face changed.

“Voss.”

Gamma Voss shook his head.

“I had no choice.”

“You sold her?” Cassian asked.

“I was trying to protect Silvermoon.”

Celine stared at him.

“All those years…”

Voss looked at her.

“I was told she would bring destruction.”

“Who told you?”

He didn't answer.

The Riverfang warrior did.

“Our king.”

Damon's eyes narrowed.

“Riverfang has no king.”

The warrior smiled.

“Not anymore.”

Celine felt her pendant begin to glow.

The guardian behind her suddenly growled.

The Riverfang warriors took a step back.

The stranger looked at Celine with sudden fear.

Then he whispered,

“The heir has awakened.”

Celine's wolf stirred.

The sanctuary trembled again.

And beneath the stone floor, something answered her with a roar.