The Secret In The Blood

Chapter 3

Liana stood in the doorway long after Kael disappeared.

“Welcome to Blackthorn Pack.”

His words kept replaying in her mind.

She didn't understand him.

One moment he wanted her gone.

The next, he was ordering her to stay.

And somehow, despite his cold attitude, there had been something in his eyes when he looked at her.

Something almost like fear.

Liana sighed and returned to her room.

She unpacked her small suitcase, trying to convince herself that everything was normal.

This was a job.

Nothing more.

She had responsibilities waiting for her outside these walls. Her brother needed her. She couldn't afford to lose this position.

Whatever strange attraction she felt toward Kael, she would ignore it.

She had to.

A soft knock came at the door.

Liana opened it.

Emma stood there.

“Daddy wants you downstairs.”

“Okay.”

Emma grabbed her hand.

“Come with me.”

They walked through the long hallway together.

As they descended the stairs, Liana noticed several pack members watching her.

Some whispered.

Others immediately looked away.

She frowned.

“Emma?”

“Yes?”

“Why is everyone staring at me?”

Emma shrugged.

“They're probably wondering why Daddy likes you.”

Liana nearly tripped.

“He doesn't like me.”

Emma giggled.

“He does.”

“No, he doesn't.”

“He looks at you differently.”

Liana's cheeks warmed.

“Children imagine things.”

Emma smiled knowingly.

“Maybe.”

When they reached the dining room, Kael was already there.

He sat at the head of the table, reading a report.

His Beta, *Damon*, stood beside him.

The moment Kael looked up, his eyes landed on Liana.

Again, that strange pull struck her.

Her heartbeat quickened.

Kael's expression tightened.

Damon noticed.

His eyes moved between them.

“Alpha…”

Kael gave him a warning look.

Damon immediately fell silent.

Liana sat beside Emma.

Breakfast was unusually quiet.

Then Damon cleared his throat.

“Alpha, we received another report from the western border.”

Kael's expression turned serious.

“What happened?”

“One of the patrols found footprints.”

“Whose?”

“We don't know.”

Kael put down his fork.

“Were they wolf tracks?”

Damon shook his head.

“No.”

The room became silent.

“Human?”

“No.”

Kael's eyes darkened.

“What then?”

Damon hesitated.

“Something we've never seen before.”

Liana felt a chill crawl down her spine.

She didn't know why.

But the moment Damon said those words, an image flashed through her mind.

A dark forest.

A red moon.

And a pair of glowing golden eyes.

She suddenly dropped her spoon.

Everyone looked at her.

Kael stood immediately.

“Liana?”

She stared at him.

“I…”

Her head began to spin.

Then a sharp pain pierced her temple.

She grabbed the table.

“Are you all right?”

Kael reached her in seconds.

His hand touched her shoulder.

The pain disappeared.

Liana looked up at him in shock.

Kael looked equally stunned.

For a brief moment, a strange silver glow appeared beneath Liana's skin.

Then it vanished.

Damon's eyes widened.

“Alpha…”

Kael immediately pulled Liana away from the table.

“Everyone leave.”

“Alpha—”

“I said leave!”

The room emptied.

Emma was taken away by a maid.

Only Kael, Damon, and Liana remained.

Liana stared at Kael.

“What just happened?”

Kael didn't answer.

Damon looked at his Alpha.

“You need to tell her.”

Kael's jaw tightened.

“No.”

Liana frowned.

“Tell me what?”

Silence.

“Alpha?”

Kael looked into her eyes.

“You're not human.”

Liana laughed nervously.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“I don't understand.”

“You're a wolf.”

Liana stared at him.

Then she shook her head.

“No.”

“You are.”

“My parents were human.”

Kael's expression changed.

“Who told you that?”

“My mother.”

“Where is she?”

Liana's face fell.

“She died when I was young.”

“And your father?”

“Dead too.”

Kael exchanged a look with Damon.

Liana noticed.

“What aren't you telling me?”

Damon stepped forward.

“Your parents may not have been who you thought they were.”

Liana felt her stomach drop.

“What does that mean?”

Kael looked away.

“It means someone has been hiding the truth from you.”

“Who?”

“We don't know.”

“Then find out.”

Kael looked at her.

For the first time, Liana saw something different in his eyes.

Not coldness.

Not anger.

Fear.

“Why are you afraid of me?” she whispered.

Kael didn't answer.

Because he had just recognized something.

Something he had seen only once before.

A symbol had appeared beneath Liana's skin.

A crescent moon surrounded by three claw marks.

The mark of an ancient bloodline.

A bloodline believed to have disappeared twenty years ago.

A bloodline that once ruled every wolf territory.

The **Moonborn**.

And if Liana really was Moonborn…

Then she wasn't simply his mate.

She was the rightful heir to the supernatural kingdom.

Before Kael could speak, every light in the mansion suddenly went out.

Liana gasped.

Damon drew his weapon.

A howl echoed from outside.

Then another.

And another.

Kael moved in front of Liana.

“Stay behind me.”

“What is happening?”

Kael's eyes turned completely silver.

“Someone has breached the territory.”

A crash came from the front entrance.

Then a scream.

Kael looked at Damon.

“Get Emma.”

Damon nodded and disappeared.

Kael grabbed Liana's hand.

“Run.”

They had barely reached the staircase when a dark figure appeared at the end of the hallway.

Liana froze.

The stranger slowly lifted his head.

Golden eyes stared directly at her.

And then he smiled.

“Finally.”

Kael stepped in front of her.

“Who are you?”

The stranger laughed.

“I didn't come for you, Alpha.”

His eyes remained fixed on Liana.

“I came for *her*.”

Liana's blood ran cold.

The stranger whispered the words that changed everything.

“Hello, little Moonborn.”

And suddenly, Liana remembered a voice from her childhood.

Her mother's voice.

*If anyone ever calls you Moonborn… run.*