THE QUEEN IN THE FOREST

CHAPTER 6

THE QUEEN IN THE FOREST

"The First Luna's heir has returned."

The words echoed through the Bloodstone Chamber.

Lyra stood motionless, her fingers tightening around the coat Mira had wrapped around her shoulders.

The elderly man remained on one knee.

His silver hair fell loosely around his face, and his dark robes were decorated with symbols Lyra had seen on the walls of the ancient temple.

She stared at him.

"Get up."

The man slowly raised his head.

For a moment, his silver eyes met hers.

Then he bowed again.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I have waited a very long time to see this day."

Lyra shook her head.

"You have mistaken me for someone else."

"No."

His voice was quiet but certain.

"I have waited twenty-two years for the blood of Queen Aurelia to awaken. I would recognize it anywhere."

Lyra glanced at the portrait behind her.

The woman in the painting looked exactly like her.

"Who are you?"

The elderly man placed a hand against his chest.

"My name is Alaric. I was once the guardian of the First Luna's royal bloodline."

"Once?"

His expression darkened.

"Until your family was betrayed."

A strange silence settled over the chamber.

Before Lyra could ask another question, Kael stepped forward.

"Enough."

Alaric turned towards him.

The old man's expression changed immediately.

He rose slowly, his eyes narrowing.

"Alpha Kael Draven."

Kael's jaw tightened.

"You know who I am."

"I know your family very well."

The words carried an unmistakable bitterness.

Kael glanced at the portrait.

"What is this place?"

"The place your ancestors tried to erase."

Kael's eyes hardened.

"Choose your next words carefully."

Alaric gave a humourless smile.

"Still issuing commands, even in a chamber that belongs to the woman you rejected."

Lyra looked between them.

"Stop."

Both men turned towards her.

She hated the way they spoke as though she were a prize being disputed between them.

"I want answers. And I want them now."

Alaric lowered his head.

"As you wish."

---

Alaric led them towards the throne.

The chamber was larger than Lyra had initially realized. Beyond the central altar were rows of ancient shelves containing scrolls, stone tablets and sealed wooden boxes.

Some of the objects were covered in dust.

Others appeared untouched.

Lyra approached a stone tablet bearing the same crescent symbol as the mark on her wrist.

"What is this?"

"The royal seal of the First Luna."

"Why is it on my body?"

Alaric studied her carefully.

"Because you are her descendant. But that is only part of the truth."

Lyra turned towards him.

"What does that mean?"

He took a slow breath.

"Your wolf was not missing. It was imprisoned."

The words sent a chill through her.

"Who imprisoned it?"

Alaric looked briefly at Kael.

Then he answered.

"People who feared what your bloodline could do."

Kael stepped closer.

"Who?"

Alaric's expression hardened.

"Your ancestors."

Silence.

Lyra looked at Kael.

His face had become unreadable.

"My family?" he asked.

"House Draven helped overthrow the First Luna's descendants. They took the authority that should have remained with her bloodline and built their kingdom upon a stolen throne."

Kael's voice dropped.

"That is a serious accusation."

"It is an old truth."

"Where is your proof?"

Alaric gestured towards the shelves.

"Everything is here. The records, the oaths, the names of those who participated in the betrayal."

Lyra approached the nearest shelf.

"Then show me."

Alaric hesitated.

"There is something you must understand first."

"What?"

"The First Luna's power is not ordinary. It is connected to every wolf born beneath the Moon Goddess. When she ruled, no Alpha could command a wolf to commit an act against its own nature without facing her judgment."

Lyra frowned.

"Are you saying I can control every werewolf?"

"No. You can awaken, command or sever certain ancient bonds, but your authority is not limitless. Your power must be learned, and it comes with a price."

"What price?"

Alaric's eyes became sorrowful.

"Every time you use your power to interfere with another wolf's spirit, you risk carrying part of its pain."

Lyra looked down at her hands.

She remembered the strange force that had thrown the stranger across the chamber.

She remembered the transformation.

And she remembered how easily the wolves had lowered their heads.

"Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"Because the people who knew the truth believed you would never survive long enough to discover it."

---

Kael remained silent.

He was listening, but his attention kept returning to Lyra.

His wolf was behaving strangely.

It had not stopped recognizing her.

Every time she moved, something inside him responded.

Our Queen.

Kael clenched his jaw.

She is ours.

"No," he muttered.

Darian's voice suddenly echoed through the communication device attached to his wrist.

"Alpha, we have a problem."

Kael stepped away from the others.

"What is it?"

"The warriors we sent to the temple have returned. Two are injured, and one is missing."

"Where is the stranger?"

"We found traces of blood near the northern entrance. But there is something else."

Kael's expression darkened.

"Speak."

"The council has issued an order for Lyra Veyne to be taken into custody."

Kael looked towards Lyra.

"Who authorized it?"

"Selene."

For a moment, Kael said nothing.

Then he ended the communication.

Lyra had heard enough.

"Your mother wants me captured?"

Kael turned.

"She has no authority to make that decision without consulting me."

"She seems to have forgotten that."

"Lyra—"

"Don't."

Her voice was sharp.

"Don't say my name as though you have any right to use it."

Kael's expression tightened.

"I came here to make sure you were safe."

Lyra laughed bitterly.

"Safe?"

She stepped towards him.

"You rejected me in front of an entire temple. You watched me collapse, and you walked away. Now you appear here because you've discovered that I might be something important."

Kael said nothing.

"Would you have come looking for me if my wolf had been ordinary?"

His silence was answer enough.

Lyra looked away.

"That's what I thought."

---

A sudden howl interrupted them.

It came from somewhere beyond the temple.

Alaric immediately turned towards the entrance.

His expression changed.

"We must leave."

Mira looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because the forest knows she has awakened."

Another howl followed.

Then another.

Within seconds, the entire chamber seemed to vibrate with the sound of wolves gathering outside.

Alaric approached Lyra.

"Your transformation sent a call through the ancient bloodlines. Those who still remember the First Luna will come."

"And the others?"

Alaric's expression darkened.

"Those who fear her return will come too."

Kael moved towards the entrance.

"Darian!"

He activated his communication device.

"Send warriors to the northern forest. Secure every approach to the temple."

A faint crackling sound answered him.

Then Darian's voice came through.

"Alpha, we have movement everywhere. Wolves from several territories are approaching the northern boundary."

Kael looked at Lyra.

"Stay behind me."

"No."

"This is not the time to argue."

"And you are not the person who gives me orders."

His eyes flashed.

"You're walking into something you don't understand."

Lyra stepped closer.

"Then perhaps you should stop pretending that you understand it either."

Before Kael could respond, Alaric raised his hand.

"Both of you, listen."

He pointed towards the entrance.

A large shadow had appeared between the trees.

Then another.

And another.

The wolves were gathering.

But they were not attacking.

They were lowering their heads.

One by one, their bodies bent towards the temple.

Lyra stared.

Her heart began to race.

A silver-white wolf stepped out of the darkness.

It was larger than the others, with a deep scar running across its muzzle.

It approached the temple slowly.

Then it lowered itself before Lyra.

Alaric bowed his head.

"The ancient guardians have recognized you."

Lyra took a hesitant step forward.

"Why are they doing that?"

"Because they remember the First Luna."

The scarred wolf raised its head.

Its golden eyes met Lyra's.

Then, inside her mind, a new voice appeared.

Daughter of Aurelia.

Lyra froze.

The voice was not the ancient female voice she had heard before.

It was rougher.

Older.

And filled with grief.

We have waited for your return.

Lyra looked at Alaric.

"What is happening?"

But before he could answer, the scarred wolf suddenly growled.

Every other wolf in the forest raised its head.

The sound that followed was not a howl.

It was a warning.

Alaric's face drained of colour.

"No..."

Kael immediately reached for his weapon.

"What?"

Alaric stared towards the distant trees.

"They have found her."

"Who?"

The old guardian turned towards Lyra.

"The ones who murdered your mother."

---

A cold wind swept through the forest.

The gathered wolves began moving uneasily.

Lyra felt the silver symbol on her wrist burn.

Then a familiar scent reached her.

Blood.

Old blood.

The same scent she had noticed when the stranger attacked her inside the chamber.

A figure emerged between the trees.

His face was hidden beneath a dark hood.

But Lyra recognized the red glow in his eyes.

The stranger.

He had returned.

Kael stepped in front of Lyra.

"Who are you?"

The stranger laughed.

"Still protecting what you rejected, Alpha?"

Kael's expression hardened.

"Identify yourself."

The stranger removed his hood.

His face was pale, almost colourless, and strange dark markings covered the side of his neck.

He looked directly at Lyra.

"Your mother should have killed you when she had the chance."

Lyra felt something inside her break.

"Don't speak about my mother."

The stranger smiled.

"She begged for your life."

He took one step closer.

"And she died believing she had failed."

The forest fell silent.

Lyra could barely breathe.

"Who killed her?"

The stranger raised his silver blade.

"Ask the man standing beside you."

Kael's head turned sharply.

"What?"

The stranger's red eyes gleamed.

"Your precious Alpha family knows exactly what happened to the First Luna's bloodline."

Lyra looked at Kael.

For the first time, she saw something in his expression that frightened her more than the stranger's weapon.

Recognition.

Kael knew something.

And he had not told her.

The ancient voice inside Lyra suddenly awakened.

Do not trust the Draven blood.

The silver symbol on her wrist flared.

The wolves around her lowered their heads again.

And the stranger began to laugh.

"Now," he whispered, "the real war can begin."