Chapter 6 - THE BLOOD OF THE FIRST MOON
We withdrew into the underground council chamber.
For the first time, Damian sat somewhere other than the Alpha's chair.
Aurelia took the center.
I remained standing.
“No more half-truths.”
She nodded.
“No more.”
Orson placed an ancient map on the table.
Seven territories surrounded a mountain marked with the Vale crest.
“Before individual Alpha lines existed, northern wolves followed one ruling bloodline.”
“The Vales,” I said.
“Yes.”
Aurelia shook her head.
“Not exactly.”
She looked at me.
“The First Moon line.”
I stared at her.
“Our family married into it centuries ago.”
Orson continued.
“Every few generations, a daughter is born with the original trait.”
“No scent?”
Damian asked.
Orson looked at him.
“A scent so dominant that ordinary wolves cannot consciously process it.”
The words settled heavily.
I remembered every insult.
Every whisper.
Scentless.
Broken.
Unwanted.
Aurelia continued.
“When sealed, you appear to have no scent.”
“And when unsealed?”
Nobody answered immediately.
“Tell me.”
Orson looked at me.
“Wolves recognize you as sovereign.”
I laughed because the alternative was screaming.
“I'm not sovereign.”
“Blood doesn't care what title you want.”
Damian leaned forward.
“Can she control wolves?”
“No,” Aurelia said sharply.
“Not like puppets.”
She looked at me.
“But her presence strengthens true bonds and exposes false ones.”
My eyes went to Serena.
The broken ruby necklace.
“That is why her necklace cracked?”
“Yes.”
Damian's face changed.
“Then my rejection—”
“Was never a true rejection.”
I stared at Aurelia.
“What?”
Damian stood.
“Explain.”
“The bond between two wolves cannot be created by ceremony.”
Aurelia looked between us.
“Nor destroyed by humiliation.”
I felt sick.
“No.”
“Elara—”
“No.”
Damian approached.
I stepped backward.
“You rejected me.”
“I know.”
“You chose her.”
“I know.”
“You don't get to discover some magical technicality and pretend it didn't happen.”
“I am not pretending.”
“Good.”
I pointed toward Serena.
“Because you made that choice.”
Damian lowered his head.
“Yes.”
That single word mattered more than any apology.
For once, he didn't defend himself.
A horn sounded above us.
One of Aurelia's guards entered.
“Gideon has sent terms.”
“What terms?”
“He wants Miss Vale outside the gate by sunset.”
“And if we refuse?”
The guard hesitated.
“He will reveal the names of everyone involved in Frost Hollow.”
I looked at Aurelia.
She seemed almost relieved.
“Let him.”
Orson stared at her.
“Aurelia.”
“No more secrets.”
She turned toward me.
“Your father discovered that several Alpha families planned to eliminate the First Moon bloodline.”
“Why?”
“Because your existence threatens inherited authority.”
Damian looked at the map.
“If wolves naturally recognize Elara, territorial Alphas become secondary.”
“Exactly.”
“Who planned it?”
Aurelia looked toward Orson.
He closed his eyes.
Then he spoke.
“My father.”
Damian froze.
Orson continued.
“And Damian's grandfather.”
The room went silent.
Damian slowly stood.
“My grandfather died before I was born.”
“Yes.”
“Are you saying Cross territory helped attack the Vales?”
Orson nodded.
Damian's face became unreadable.
I stared at him.
The family that had sheltered me was connected to the family that had destroyed mine.
Then Serena laughed.
Everyone turned.
She had been chained to a chair near the wall.
“You're all still missing the best part.”
Aurelia's expression hardened.
“What?”
Serena smiled at Damian.
“Your grandfather wasn't the last Cross involved.”
Damian's face changed.
Serena leaned forward.
“Ask your father.”
Damian stopped breathing.
“My father is dead.”
Serena's smile widened.
“No.”
May you like
She shook her head.
“He isn't.”
