A week after Kael had confessed his love, Blackmoon Castle felt like a different place.
No more crack of whips from the dungeons.
No more servants whispering traitor’s child as Luna walked past.
There was only Kael.
The one who checked the temperature of her bathwater three times every morning.
The one who fed her fruit himself, saying it is good for the baby.
The one who slept with one hand wrapped tight around hers.
“You are acting strange,” Luna murmured, biting into an apple.
“Kael,” he corrected.
He sat on the floor, his head resting in her lap.
“And I am not strange.
I am ony making amends.” “Making amends for what?
Eighteen years?” Luna asked softly.
Kael nodded.
“Perhaps a lifetime will not be enough.” Luna stroked his dark hair.
Once, such a touch would have been unthinkable.
Now it was just part of every day.
But peace was far too fragile.
THE MORNING THAT SHATTERED EVERYTHING “ALPHA!” a guard shouted from outside.
“Someone is at the gates!” Kael was on his feet in an instant.
His Alpha state flared to life, his eyes glowing gold.
“Who is it?” “Beta Riven.
He is wounded, and says he carries vital proof.” The name seemed to freeze the very air in the room.
Riven.
His childhood friend, exiled two weeks ago, after he was caught passing information to the Whitefang pack and growing too close to Luna.
“Do not see him,” Luna said, a terrible foreboding twisting in her gut.
“I must,” Kael said.
He kissed her forehead.
“Wait here, and lock the door.” The great hall was packed, Betas, squad leaders, even servants had been called to listen.
Riven limped inside.
His clothes were torn, blood crusted at his temple.
“Kael,” he rasped.
“I nearly died bringing this to you.” In his hands lay an old iron box.
“What is it?” Kael demanded.
“Proof that Elder Alden lied,” Riven said.
“Proof that Mira Arvia was the murderer.” A murmur of shock rippled through the crowd.
Elder Alden stepped forward.
“Traitor!
Your words mean nothing!” “Silence, old man,” Riven snapped.
He threw open the box.
Inside lay three things: 1.
A letter bearing Mira’s seal, reading: To the Whitefang Alpha.
The plan proceeds as promised.
The Queen will die tomorrow night.
2.
Queen Alana’s locket, lost the very night she was killed.
3.
A dagger stained with old, dried blood.
“Mira’s fingerprints are on all of these,” Riven declared.
The hall fell dead silent.
Kael picked up the letter.
His hands trembled.
“Where did you get this?” “From the Whitefang burial grounds,” Riven lied smoothly.
“I snuck in.
It was hidden there.” Kael turned to the Elder.
“Is this true?” “It is not, Alpha!” Alden cried.
“These are forgeries!
The paper is new!
The ink is fresh!” “And you expect me to trust you?” Kael’s voice turned cold.
“After eighteen years of you keeping every record?” Luna, standing behind him, shook violently.
“Kael,” she said.
“This is wrong.
My mother.” “SILENCE!” Kael roared.
Not at her, but at everyone else.
“Take her to her chambers.
Lock her in, and keep her there until this is settled.” Two guards seized Luna at once.
“Kael, please,” she pleaded.
“Listen to me.” “I cannot right now,” Kael said, his eyes filled with pain.
“I need time.” The door slammed shut, and the lock clicked.
Alone in the room, Luna sank to the floor.
Once again, she was a prisoner.
“Why must it always be me?” she whispered.
“Just when I thought I was finally free.” Then the door creaked open.
Kael stumbled in, his hair wild, his face pale and torn.
He pulled her into his arms, holding her so tight it was as if he feared she might vanish.
“I am sorry,” he breathed against her hair.
“I am sorry I shouted at you before them all.
I am sorry I locked you away.” “Kael.” Luna sobbed.
“I was so afraid you would believe him.” “I almost did,” Kael admitted brokenly.
“Because I am a coward.
Because hating is easier than trusting.” He pulled back just enough to brush the tears from her cheeks with his thumb.
“But then I remembered how you looked when you took that arrow for me.
No one who lies has eyes like that.” Luna shook her head.
“I am not lying.
My mother never hurt anyone.
She told me once if anyone ever says she was wicked, look for the black rose tree behind the palace.
The truth is buried there.” Kael frowned.
“The black rose tree?
It died fifteen years ago.” “Dig beneath it,” Luna begged.
“Please.” That very night, at two in the morning, as snow began to fall, Kael and Luna dug with their bare hands beneath the dead, gnarled tree.
It was freezing, their hands raw and bleeding, but neither stopped.
Until Kael’s shovel struck something hard: a small wooden box.
Inside lay: 1.
A sealed order from the late Alpha to the Third Concubine: Kill the Queen.
Frame Mira.
We need war to seize control of the other three packs.
2.
An earring belonging to the Third Concubine, found at the scene of the crime.
3.
Queen Alana’s journal.
The final entry read: I know who means to kill me.
But I cannot speak his name.
He is the father of my child.
Kael read every word.
Once, twice.
Then he slammed his fist against the tree until his knuckles split open.
“MY FATHER!!” he roared.
“EIGHTEEN YEARS!!” Luna wrapped her arms around him from behind.
“It is over now.
It is over, Kael.” “He used me,” Kael choked out.
“He taught me to hate.
He turned me into a monster, so I would carry on his war.” He turned and buried his face against her, and for the first time, the Alpha wept.
“I am so sorry,” he sobbed.
“I am sorry I hurt you because of a madman’s vengeance.” “It is not your fault,” Luna whispered.
“We are both children of lies.” They sat huddled together in the falling snow until dawn broke.
THE DECLARATION By morning, the entire pack was gathered in the courtyard.
Kael stood upon the dais, Luna by his side.
“I have two announcements,” he called out, his voice ringing clear across the crowd.
“First: Mira Arvia is innocent.
The one responsible was my own father.
The proof is here.” He held up the sealed orders.
“From this day forth, the name Arvia is cleared of all shame.
Whoever speaks ill of it shall lose their tongue.” A roar of approval went up.
Some of the older servants wept openly.
“My second announcement,” Kael continued, pointing to Riven, now bound in irons, “concerns the man who brought me these false proofs.
Beta Riven.
Traitor.
He has been working with the surviving Whitefang warriors to tear us apart.” Riven laughed, a sharp, bitter sound.
“You think you have won, Kael?
This is only the beginning!
Twenty of my men lie in wait in the forest, they will.” “SILENCE,” Kael commanded.
Riven was dragged away to the dungeons.
Then Kael turned to Luna.
Before two hundred of his people, he knelt.
“I, Kael of Blackmoon, here and now claim Luna Arvia as my mate.
My chosen equal.
And the mother of my heir.” A gasp swept through the crowd, followed by thunderous applause.
Luna wept.
For the first time in her life, she knew what it felt like to belong.
That night, wrapped safe in Kael’s arms, she lay quiet and still.
“Do you regret it?” Kael asked softly.
“Choosing me?” “No,” Luna whispered.
“I am only afraid afraid this is all a dream.” “It is no dream,” Kael said, pressing a gentle kiss to her stomach.
“This is our child.
Proof that we are real.” Luna smiled and closed her eyes.
Deep in the dungeons, Riven smiled too.
He leaned close to the guard, who was secretly one of his own men, and whispered: “Tonight.
When the moon reaches its peak.
Send the signal.” Out in the dark woods, twenty shadows moved silently through the trees.
Nine days remained until the deadline.
Round two of the war was about to begin.