Claimed by the Alpha's Curse
While Kaelen met with the warriors and mages of the Accord, Lyra was summoned to the Hall of Sight, where Elder Ysara waited beside a bowl of moonwater.
“You’ve passed the bond,” she said. “But the curse... that’s another matter.”
Lyra sat, her hands trembling slightly. “Tell me what you saw.”
Ysara’s face was grave. “The curse is a living force. It binds the bloodlines of the First Circle and twists the mate bond into madness. It began with betrayal—when your ancestor, High Wolf Elana, sacrificed her fated mate to gain the Moon Goddess’s favor in war.”
Lyra felt a chill run down her spine. “And I carry her blood.”