The Secret In The Archives

The words on the ancient page refused to leave my mind.

Only a woman carrying this blood may break the curse of a Lycan King.

I stared at the writing. Then at Prince Perry. “So that means…”

“It means nothing yet.” His answer was immediate.

I frowned. “But the book—”

“Ancient records are not proof.” He closed the book. His expression had returned to its usual coldness. But I could see something different in his eyes. He was thinking.

“Then why did you bring me here?”

“To find the truth.” He stood and walked toward another section of the library.

I followed. “Prince Perry, do you think I have this bloodline?”

He stopped. “I don't know.”

“Do you think my scent is connected to it?”

His eyes met mine. “Possibly.”

I swallowed. “And the visions?”

“Possibly connected too.” He turned toward the shelves.

“But possibilities aren't enough.”

His fingers moved across several old books before stopping. “These records belonged to the first Lycan rulers.” He pulled out a thick black volume. “The oldest records were written before the four major packs were established.” He opened it. Most of the pages contained ancient symbols and names I couldn't understand. Perry searched through them quickly. Then he stopped..“There.”

I moved closer. A page contained a detailed. description of the Moon-Bound bloodline. My heart raced as Perry read aloud. “The Moon-Bound bloodline is exceptionally rare. Its bearer possesses blood capable of weakening supernatural curses placed upon royal Lycan blood.” 

I looked at him. “So it's real.”

“Yes.”

“Then who carries it?”

Perry turned the page. The next section had been deliberately destroyed. Someone had scratched through the writing. Several pages were missing. Perry's expression hardened. “Someone erased it.”

I stared at him. “Why?”

He shook his head. “I don't know.” He turned another page. There was nothing. Then another page. Still nothing. The same thing happened repeatedly. Every reference to the identity of the bloodline bearer had been removed.

I touched the edge of the damaged page. “Someone didn't want anyone to know.”

Perry's eyes narrowed. “That's what it looks like.”

“Could the person have been killed?”

“Possibly.”

“Or hidden?”

He looked at me. “Possibly.”

I sighed. “So we're back where we started.”

“No.” He pointed toward the bottom of the page. I leaned closer. There was a small symbol beneath the destroyed writing. A wolf standing beside a tree.

I didn't recognize it. “What is that?”

Perry studied it. “Pack territory.”

“Which pack?”

“I don't know.” He reached for another archive book and the next hour, we searched. We found symbols belonging to Blue Ivory. Others belonged to Scarlet. Then Enchanted. But none matched the symbol. Finally, Perry opened a geographical record. He compared the symbol with the territorial markings. His finger stopped.

My heart began pounding. “You found it?”

He didn't answer immediately. He turned the book toward me. The symbol appeared beside one name.

Redwood Pack.

I stared at it. “No.”

Perry looked at me. “Redwood.”

My stomach twisted. That was where I came from. That was where I had spent my entire life. That was where everyone had called me the traitor's daughter. That was where Alpha Xavier had rejected me. And now the oldest clue to Perry's curse was pointing directly back there.

“Do you think someone in Redwood has the bloodline?”

Perry closed the book. “I don't know.”

“You know. I'm from Redwood.” 

His eyes became cold. “I can't comprehend that now cause someone erased the records.” He stepped closer. “And whoever erased them wanted this secret buried.”

A chill moved through me. “Prince Perry…” He looked at me. “What if it's connected to my bloodline? I tame the curse whenever I'm closer you.”

His expression hardened. “I’m thinking of nothing.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I won't let anyone use you to break my curse.”

I stared at him. “But if my blood can help you—”

“That doesn't give anyone the right to take your blood.” His voice was firm but something inside me softened. He seemed to care a lot about me. I once thought I was a weapon to him but he wasn't talking about me as a weapon anymore. He seemed ready to protect.

Before I could respond, the doors of the archive suddenly opened. A breathless guard rushed inside. “Your Highness.” He called, bowing his head in respect. 

Perry turned. “What?”

“We received an urgent message from Redwood.”

My heart stopped. “What kind of message?” Perry asked.

The guard hesitated. “It concerns Mira.”

Perry's expression immediately darkened. “Speak.”

The guard lowered his voice. “Alpha Xavier has discovered that you took Mira from Redwood.”

Perry's eyes became icy. “And?”

The guard swallowed. “He demands that she be returned immediately.”

Silence filled the archive. Then Perry looked at me. His voice was calm. Cold. Final. “We're going to Redwood.”

I stared at him. Because suddenly, I wasn't sure whether Redwood held the answer to his curse… or the reason someone had tried so hard to erase it.