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The scout made a mistake.Marcus spotted him first—a shadow in the northern trees, watching the pack house with too much focus. Amateur hour. Real scouts knew better than to stare.Or maybe he wanted to be seen. Wanted to be caught. Some cultists were fanatics. Others were just desperate.Marcus would find out which."There," Marcus whispered to his patrol.Five warriors fanned out silently through the underbrush."Surround quietly. Take him alive if possible."They moved like ghosts. Years of training showed. The scout didn't notice until it was too late.He bolted.Bad choice.Marcus was faster.He tackled him from behind.They hit the ground hard, rolling through dead leaves.The scout shifted mid-roll—claws extending, teeth bared.Marcus was ready. The Moonbane net flew from his hand, wrapping the scout in silver webbing.The corrupted magic reacted violently. Smoke rose where Moonbane touched flesh. The scout screamed.He crashed to the ground, tangled and helpless, shifting back t
Later, in a quiet corner of the yard, Erica showed up with her sketchbook and zero chill.“Mom said you’re good with patterns,” she told Lena, plopping down and already drawing.Lena lifted an eyebrow at me.“Hunter thing,” I said. “Same idea as reading runic flows.”Erica didn’t look up, just kept sketching a protection rune—lines perfect, steady. The thing glowed soft silver, brighter than anything I could manage.Liana leaned in. “Kid’s got skills.”“Better than mine,” I admitted, pride leaking out anyway. “She sees the currents. Lines them up with the ley lines nobody else can spot.”“For real?” Liana’s voice actually went up.Erica shrugged like it was no big deal. “They’re just there. Like glowing rivers under the ground.”Liana whistled low. “I’ve only met two people who could do that. Both old as dirt.”Erica beamed.We spent the next couple of hours working—me showing them basic silver wards, how intent shapes power, how belief can make a rune sing or fizzle.Liana picked it
Liana hit me with it straight out, no warm-up. “Your boy’s scent,” she said, eyes locked on Kael, “It’s ancient. Like standing in the ruins of the Old Throne, ancient.”Kael didn’t flinch, but I felt the ripple through our bond—caution, mixed with that tired acceptance he carried whenever someone got too close to the truth.I stepped between them quickly.“Liana, can we save the third degree for later? Your crew needs beds, and we’ve got a war to prep for.”She let go of his hand but didn’t break eye contact.“Fine. Old habits. Hunter reflexes don’t just vanish.”“You were a hunter?” Kai asked, voice flat, careful.“Was,” she said, finally turning to me.“Before I became Silverpeak’s war chief. We need to talk. Alone.”“Tonight,” I promised.“Deal.”Later, as her warriors headed off to crash, Liana fell in beside me, voice low.“He’s not some random rogue, Leah.”“I know.”“Do you?” She glanced around, then leaned closer.“That power coming off him—I only felt it once. In the Old Thro
“Hunter training. I’m sensitive to ancient magic.” Her eyes searched mine. “Who is he, really?”“I’ll tell you everything. Tonight. I promise.”She studied my face, looking for lies, for danger.Finally, she nodded. “You trust him?”“With my life.”“Good enough for now.” She squeezed my hand. “But I have questions. A lot of questions.”“Don’t we all.”By afternoon, Liana wanted to see what we were working with.Her words: “Need to know what I’ve got.”Which meant sparring.Marcus, Kael, and I against Liana and five of her best. Non-lethal, but real enough.Word spread fast. Soon, half the pack was watching. Morale had been low—scouts circling, the full moon closing in. People needed to see their leaders ready.The fight started quickly.Liana moved like lightning. One second still, the next she’d swept Marcus’s legs. He hit the ground hard.“That,” he called from his back, “was humbling.”She offered a hand up. “Stance too wide. Leaves you open low.”“Noted,” he groaned.Her warriors
The morning sun was still low when the welcome horns sounded across the valley.I was in the training yard, running sword forms with Marcus, when the deep notes rolled out. We both froze mid-swing.“Reinforcements,” Marcus said, already heading for the gates.I followed, hope flaring in my chest for the first time in days. After Kael’s injury, my loss of control, the endless scout reports—we needed this.At the gates, Garrett was directing the welcome. Pack members crowded around, faces bright with cautious excitement.Through the opening came a column of warriors in blue and silver—Moonstone Pack colors. Fifty strong, mounted, armored, and ready. Real help.And leading them—“Liana?”She dismounted in one smooth motion, the same graceful flow she’d had since we were kids.Tall, athletic, long dark hair in a tight warrior’s braid. A fresh scar cut across her left eyebrow, making her look even fiercer.She spotted me. Her grin broke wide.“Little Lia!”We crashed into a hug that erased
I found Kael exactly where I’d left him, still in our room, staring out the window at the sunrise.“Hey,” I said from the doorway.He turned. “Hey.”“Can we talk?”“Always.”I stepped inside, closed the door, and sat on the edge of the bed.“I’m not good at this,” I started. “Talking about feelings. Leighton beat that out of me pretty thoroughly.”“Take your time.”“The mark. The seal. All of it.” I stared at my hands. “I’m angry you didn’t tell me sooner. It feels like you took a choice away from me.”“I know. I’m sorry.”“But…” I looked up at him. “I get why you didn’t. How do you even start that conversation? ‘Hey, by the way, you’ve been marked as my destined queen since you were born’? There’s no good moment for that.”“Should’ve tried anyway.”“Yeah. You should have.” I stood and walked over to him by the window. “But I also know you were trying to protect me—give me time to heal before piling on more.”“Don’t make excuses for me.”“I’m not excusing it. I’m explaining it.” I too







