Unveiled Truth

 Night found me climbing the narrow path to the eastern palace, my heart pounding against my chest.

 The fort was silent around me, most of the pack asleep. Only the night guards prowled the walls, and I had learned their patterns well enough to avoid being discovered.

 The palace door was open, waiting.

 Sebastian stood in the center of the circular chamber, surrounded by candles that cast dancing shadows across the rune-covered walls. He wore his purple robes, and his violet eyes glowed with power that made the air thick.

" You came," he said.

" Did you doubt I would?"

" No. But I hoped you might choose ignorance. It would be easier." He signaled to the bottom where he'd drawn an intricate circle in what looked like salt mixed with silver greasepaint." Sit in the center."

 I adhered, settling cross-legged within the circle. The collar palpitated against my throat, replying to the magic drenching the air.

 Sebastian knelt across from me, his hands moving in complex patterns that left trails of violet light.

What I'm about to do will break through the memory blocks Theron placed on you," he explained." It'll hurt. The mind doesn't enjoy being forced to remember what it has been commanded to forget. However, say the word, and I'll stop if at any point it becomes too much.

" I'll not stop."

" I know." He placed his hands on either side of my head." That's what worries me."

 His power slammed into me.

 The world dissolved.

 I was twelve years old again, kneeling in the park foursquare.

 Silver Moon wolves girdled me in a circle, their faces twisted with hate and fear. In the center stood my mama, chained with silver that burned her skin, smoke rising from the contact.

 She was beautiful indeed in pain. Silver- golden hair that matched mine. Storm-argentine eyes that set me up across the distance.

" Don't look down, Kaia," Theron's voice commanded. He stood beside me, his hand heavy on my shoulder." This is what happens to those who hide their true nature. Who lies to their Alpha?"

" I never lied," my mama  said, her voice steady despite the pain." I simply didn't tell you  something you had no right to know."

" You're Shadowborn." Theron  said the word like a curse." That's everyone's business. Your very existence threatens us all."

" I've nEVER hurt anyone. My power"

" Your power nearly killed three elders when they tried to examine the abomination growing in your belly." He  signaled  to me." That thing is a weapon. And you refused to let me use it."

 My  mama's eyes blazed silver." She isn't a weapon. She's my daughter. And I'll die before I let you turn her into a tool for your  intentions."

" So be it."

 Theron shifted.

 Everything happened so fast. My mama's laugh. Gray light exploding from her body. Three elders burned, their riots cutting off suddenly as they turned to ash.

 Also, Theron's massive brown wolf is tearing into her throat.

 Blood. So much blood.

 I tried to run to her. Theron's soldiers held me back, forcing me to watch as my mama died.

 She looked at me one last time, blood bubbling from her lips.

" Remember," she whispered, her voice ever carrying across the distance." You're more than they say. Stronger than they know. Survive, my darling. Survive and make them all pay —"

 Her eyes went dark.

 Gone.

 Theron shifted back to human form, covered in her blood. He knelt before me, his hand gripping my chin.

" You'll forget this," he commanded, and I felt pack magic slam into me, foreign and invasive." You'll remember only that your mama was a traitor. That she paid for her crimes. And you'll be thankful that I allowed you to live when I should have killed you with her."

 The magic burrowed into my mind, twisting reality, burying truth beneath layers of false memory.

 But not deep enough.

 Not fully.

 Somewhere in the darkness of my mind, my  mama's last words echoed

 Survive and make them all pay.

 I came back to myself screaming.

 Sebastian's hands were still on my head, his power holding me together as the recollections crashed through me like a tidal surge.

 Every moment, I had forgotten. Every truth that had been hidden.

 The pain was excruciating.

 But beneath it, something differently was rising.

 Power.

 Raw, furious Shadowborn power that

 The collar couldn't contain.

" Kaia," Sebastian said urgently." You need to breathe. Focus on my voice."

 But I couldn't hear him over the roar in my ear.

 The collar cracked.

 Silver light exploded from the fracture, submerging the chamber. The runes on the walls blazed, trying to contain it, but my power was too strong, too angry, too long suppressed.

" Sebastian, get back!" I  heaved.

 He didn't move." I can help you contain this."

" No." I felt the power building, knew what was coming." Run. Now. Before I —"

 The collar shattered.

 Pieces of essence flew across the chamber, hitting the walls with sharp tangs.

 And my power erupted.

 It was nothing like the controlled release in training. This was a riffle of magic that had been dammed for six years, ever since Theron's repression spell had locked down my memories and my abilities.

 Silver dears gulfed me, not burning but transforming. My hair lifted, floating around my face. My eyes blazed with light that turned the chamber bright as day.

 And I felt everything.

 Every Shadowborn who had ever lived, their power flowing through me. Every memory, every death, every moment of pain and rage and hopeless defiance.

 I was them.

 They were me.

 We were one.

 The door burst open.

 Draven stood there, shirtless and wild-eyed, easily feeling the power swell through whatever bond connected us.

 His silver eyes widened as he took in the scene — me floating three feet off the ground, wreathed in tableware debris, the shattered remains of his collar scattered across the

bottom.

" Kaia," he said precisely, like he was approaching a rabid beast." You need to calm down —"

" Calm?" My voice echoed with multiple tones, as if a dozen women spoke through me." You want me calm while my power eventually breaks free? While I ultimately remember what was stolen from me?"

 Understanding flitted across his face." Sebastian. What did you do?"

" Gave her the truth." The seer stood his ground despite the power creaking around him." Something you should have done in the morning."

 Draven's attention snapped back to me." Whatever memories you recovered, we can discuss them. But first, you need to control your power before you bring this entire palace down."

" Why?" I descended sluggishly, my feet touching the stone. The  flames didn't disappear." You wanted me to learn control. To understand my power. Congratulations, Alpha. I know very well now."

 I took a step toward him.

 He held his ground, but I saw the pressure in his shoulders. The calculation in his eyes as he measured whether he could subdue me before I attacked.

" I remember watching my  mama  die," I said vocally." I flash back to Theron tearing her throat out while I screamed. I flash back her last words. Do you know what she told me?"

" Kaia —"

" She told me to survive. To grow strong. And to make them all pay." Another step. The flames burned brighter." For six years, I've been a victim. Beaten. Starved. Broken. All because Theron buried the truth of what I am."

 I was inches from him now, near enough to feel his heat through my flames.

" I'm not broken, Draven. I'm Shadowborn. And I remember everything."

 He moved faster than I anticipated, his hand shooting out to hold my wrist.

 The mate bond burned between us, bright and hot and

inarguable.

"Also, remember this too," he said, still." I'm your mate. That bond won't let you harm me. No matter how angry you are. No matter how much power you wield. You. Cannot. Hurt. Me."

 I wanted to prove him wrong.

 Wanted to unleash everything I felt and watch him burn.

 But he was right.

 The bond held firm, a tether that indeed my rage couldn't break.

 The flames gutted.

 Dimmed.

 Eventually extinguished.

 I collapsed against him, suddenly exhausted. He caught me, his arms steel bands around my waist.

" I detest you," I said against his chest.

" I know." His hand stroked my hair." But you're alive. And that matters more than anything else."

 He looked over my head at Sebastian." You and I are going to have a very long discussion about overstepping boundaries."

" I look forward to it," Sebastian said mildly.

 Draven lifted me into his arms, cradling me like something precious.

" No more collar," I said as he carried me toward the door.

 He strained." Kaia —"

" No more." I met his eyes, letting him see the sword in mine." I'll not wear another prison. However, also kill me now if you cannot trust me without it. Because I would rather die free than live as your boxed weapon."

 For a long moment, he said nothing.

 Also, sluggishly, he moved.

" No more collar," he agreed." But you'll continue training. And if you lose control, if you jeopardize this pack—" 

"Also, I'll end myself before I let that be."

 His arms tensed." That isn't an option, moreover."

"Also, we find another way." I touched his face, feeling stubble rough beneath my fingers." Together. As mates. Not as Alpha and prisoner."

 Something shifted in his expression. Softened.

" Together," he repeated, still." I can work with that."

 He carried me back across the bridge, through the silent fortress, to my room.

 But when he set me down on the bed, he didn't leave.

 Instead, he stretched out beside me, completely clothed, his arm draped possessively across my waist.

" What are you doing?" I asked.

" Making sure you don't try anything stupid while I sleep." But his voice was gentle." And perhaps. Perhaps. Acting like the mate you earn instead of the prisoner I've been."

 I turned to face him, our lips nearly touching.

" This doesn't fix everything."

" I know."

" I'm still angry."

"Good. Anger will keep you sharp." His thumb traced my cheekbone." But anger alone will destroy you. We need to turn it into something productive."

" Like what?"

 His smile was dark. Dangerous.

" Like showing Theron and everyone else who ever hurt you exactly what the last Shadowborn can do when she stops hiding."

 The words sent heat through my veins that had nothing to do with magic.

" Are you suggesting

 vengeance?" 

" I'm suggesting justice. There's a difference." He pulled me closer." Sleep, little Shadowborn. Hereafter, we start planning how to make sure nobody ever hurts you again."

 I closed my eyes, feeling safer than I had in times despite everything.

 Because for the first time, I wasn't facing the world alone.

 I had a mate.

 A pack.

 And the power that eventually answered to my call.

 Let Theron come.

 Let them all come.

 I was done being the victim.