The words remained in Kael’s mind long after the voice disappeared.
**Seven nights.**
**Seven kingdoms.**
**Seven deaths.**
**Only one Moon-Born will survive.**
Nobody spoke.
The battlefield had gone strangely quiet.
Smoke drifted above the ruined eastern gate.
Broken weapons covered the ground.
Wounded wolves and soldiers lay scattered across the stone.
But Kael heard none of it.
He was staring at the sky.
The black Blood Moon had developed seven cracks.
Each crack glowed faintly silver.
Seven.
Mara came to stand beside him.
“What does it mean?”
Kael didn’t answer.
Alaric approached.
“Kael.”
Still nothing.
“Kael.”
He finally looked at him.
“I don’t know.”
Alaric frowned.
“You always say that.”
“Because it’s true.”
Kael looked at his hands.
“I keep discovering that everyone knew something about me before I did.”
His voice was bitter.
“Every answer creates another question.”
Mara touched his shoulder.
“Then we’ll find the answers.”
Kael looked at her.
“You say that as though we have time.”
“We don’t.”
She pointed toward the sky.
“Which means we shouldn’t waste it.”
Kael almost smiled.
“You’re becoming irritating.”
“Becoming?”
He laughed softly.
It lasted only a moment.
Then Seraphine approached.
Her face was bruised, but she was standing.
Kael’s expression changed.
“Mother.”
She embraced him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Kael closed his eyes.
He had almost lost her.
Again.
When they separated, Seraphine touched his face.
“I thought I was going to lose you.”
Kael looked at her.
“You should have told me everything.”
“I know.”
“Why didn’t you?”
She hesitated.
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Of you.”
Kael froze.
“Of me?”
Seraphine nodded.
“You were powerful when you were born.”
“How powerful?”
Her eyes moved toward the silver wolf.
“More than any wolf I’ve ever known.”
Kael glanced at the enormous creature.
“What am I?”
Seraphine lowered her voice.
“Something that shouldn’t exist.”
Kael’s expression hardened.
“That’s not an answer.”
“No.”
She looked into his eyes.
“But it is the truth.”
Before Kael could respond, Aldren approached.
He carried a bloodstained sword.
“The council is waiting.”
Kael frowned.
“What council?”
“The remaining elders of the Moon Clans.”
“I thought the clans were extinct.”
Aldren smiled grimly.
“They were.”
Kael stared.
“Then who is waiting?”
Aldren looked toward the palace.
“The dead.”
The council chamber had not been used for centuries.
It was circular, surrounded by twelve stone seats.
Each seat carried the symbol of an ancient wolf clan.
Kael entered slowly.
Mara followed.
Alaric and Lyssara came behind them.
Seraphine and Aldren entered last.
At the center of the chamber was a circular table made from silver stone.
But there was nobody sitting around it.
Kael frowned.
“Where are the council members?”
Aldren pointed toward the seats.
“Look.”
Kael did.
One by one, figures appeared.
Not physically.
They were spirits.
Twelve ancient wolves emerged from the stone.
Their bodies were translucent.
Their eyes glowed silver.
Kael instinctively stepped backward.
The eldest spirit spoke.
“Kael Arden.”
Kael stared.
“You know me.”
“We knew you before your first death.”
Another spirit spoke.
“You were our king.”
Another:
“And our greatest failure.”
Kael frowned.
“Why?”
The spirits exchanged glances.
The eldest answered.
“Because we allowed you to sacrifice yourself.”
Kael’s jaw tightened.
“You could have stopped me?”
“We could not.”
“Why?”
“Because you had already chosen.”
Kael looked around the chamber.
“What is happening?”
The eldest spirit raised one hand.
The seven cracks in the Blood Moon appeared above the table as a projection.
“Seven kingdoms have been marked.”
The first crack glowed.
“The Kingdom of Veyr.”
The second.
“The Western Packs.”
The third.
“The Eastern Clans.”
The fourth.
“The Ashen Dominion.”
The fifth.
“The Kingdom Beneath the Sea.”
The sixth.
“The Frozen North.”
The seventh.
“The First Kingdom.”
Kael frowned.
“The First Kingdom?”
The spirit nodded.
“The place where the first wolves were created.”
“Where is it?”
“Beyond the Blood Moon.”
Kael stared.
“That’s impossible.”
“No.”
The spirit looked at him.
“Only hidden.”
Mara crossed her arms.
“What happens in seven nights?”
The spirit answered:
“The seven kingdoms will fall.”
Kael’s expression hardened.
“To whom?”
The chamber became cold.
“The First Mother.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“I thought she wanted the Moon’s power.”
“She does.”
“Then why destroy the kingdoms?”
“Because she needs the blood of every Moon-Born.”
Kael froze.
“There are others?”
The spirits were silent.
Kael looked around.
“How many?”
The eldest spirit whispered:
“Six.”
Silence.
Mara’s face went pale.
“Six other Moon-Born?”
“Six.”
Kael’s mind raced.
“Where are they?”
“We do not know.”
Aldren stepped forward.
“I do.”
Everyone looked at him.
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“You knew?”
Aldren nodded.
“I found traces of them centuries ago.”
“How many?”
“Three.”
Kael frowned.
“You said six.”
“I said I found traces of three.”
“And the others?”
Aldren looked toward the table.
“Dead.”
Kael’s stomach tightened.
“Who killed them?”
Aldren didn’t answer.
The eldest spirit did.
“The First Wolf.”
Kael felt the mark on his chest burn.
He understood.
The First Wolf had been hunting the Moon-Born.
Not just him.
All of them.
“Why?”
The spirit looked at him.
“Because every Moon-Born carries a fragment of the Moon Mother’s power.”
Kael whispered:
“And when we die…”
“That power returns to the First Mother.”
Mara looked horrified.
“So the seven deaths…”
The spirit nodded.
“Are not predictions.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“They’re instructions.”
“Yes.”
The room fell silent.
Kael stood.
“Then we stop them.”
The spirits stared at him.
“How?”
“We find the other Moon-Born.”
Aldren stepped forward.
“And if they don’t want to be found?”
Kael looked at him.
“Then I convince them.”
“And if they refuse?”
Kael’s expression hardened.
“Then I convince them harder.”
Mara sighed.
“That is not a plan.”
“It’s the beginning of one.”
The eldest spirit smiled faintly.
“Perhaps you really are our king.”
Kael turned toward the table.
“Tell me where to start.”
The spirit raised its hand.
A map appeared.
Seven kingdoms.
Seven glowing marks.
But one of them pulsed brighter than the others.
Kael pointed.
“That one.”
“The Frozen North.”
“Why is it brighter?”
“Because one of the Moon-Born is there.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
The spirit shook its head.
“You must discover that yourself.”
Kael sighed.
“Of course.”
Then the chamber shook.
The spirits disappeared.
The map vanished.
A scream echoed from outside.
Kael ran.
The palace courtyard was chaos.
Wolves were running in every direction.
The sky had turned silver.
Snow was falling.
Kael stared upward.
Snow.
Inside a mountain.
In the middle of summer.
Mara stepped beside him.
“That’s not normal.”
“No.”
Aldren looked toward the eastern sky.
“It’s coming from the Frozen North.”
Kael stared.
A wall of snow was moving across the horizon.
It wasn’t weather.
It was an army.
Thousands of creatures were marching inside it.
Kael could feel them.
Cold.
Hungry.
Angry.
Lyssara raised her sword.
“Enemy?”
Aldren shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at Kael.
“Messenger.”
A single creature emerged from the snow.
It was a wolf.
But unlike any Kael had seen.
Its fur was completely white.
Its eyes were blue.
And ice covered its claws.
It walked toward Kael.
Then transformed into a young woman.
She had long white hair.
Pale skin.
And a silver scar across her throat.
She stopped before Kael.
“Moon-Born.”
Kael studied her.
“Who are you?”
She looked at the silver wolf beside him.
The creature lowered its head.
The woman smiled.
“Someone who has been waiting for you.”
Kael frowned.
“How long?”
“Sixteen years.”
His expression changed.
“How do you know my age?”
She touched the scar on her throat.
“Because I was there when you were born.”
Seraphine stepped forward.
“You.”
The woman’s eyes moved toward her.
“Hello, Guardian.”
Seraphine froze.
Kael looked between them.
“You know her?”
Seraphine nodded.
“Her name is Elara.”
Elara smiled.
“Princess of the Frozen Moon Clan.”
Kael stared.
“Princess?”
Elara looked at him.
“Your sister.”
The world seemed to stop.
Kael stared at her.
“What?”
Mara’s mouth fell open.
Seraphine closed her eyes.
“Kael…”
“You have got to be kidding me.”
Elara laughed.
“I wondered how long it would take before you reacted like that.”
Kael stepped closer.
“My sister?”
Elara nodded.
“Half-sister.”
“Who is your father?”
She looked at Aldren.
Kael slowly turned toward him.
Aldren looked exhausted.
“Elara was born before you.”
Kael’s expression hardened.
“How many children do you have?”
Aldren looked away.
“More than you know.”
Kael laughed in disbelief.
“This is ridiculous.”
Mara whispered:
“Your family is complicated.”
“Complicated?”
Kael looked at her.
“Apparently my father has been collecting children like trophies.”
Elara laughed.
Aldren frowned.
“I didn’t know you were alive.”
Elara’s smile disappeared.
“You didn’t look.”
Aldren had no answer.
Kael looked at Elara.
“Are you one of the Moon-Born?”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
The mark on Kael’s chest began glowing.
Elara’s eyes widened.
“So it is true.”
“What?”
“You awakened.”
Kael looked at the sky.
“Unfortunately.”
Elara stepped closer.
“You have no idea what you’ve done.”
Kael frowned.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“You woke the First Mother.”
“Yes.”
“You awakened the First Wolf.”
“Yes.”
“You summoned the Silver Legion.”
Kael nodded.
“And now…”
Elara looked toward the mountains.
“…you have awakened the Moon Eaters.”
Kael’s expression changed.
“The what?”
The answer came from the sky.
A massive shadow passed over the kingdom.
Then another.
Then dozens.
The wolves began growling.
Elara looked upward.
“They found us.”
Kael raised his sword.
“What are Moon Eaters?”
Elara’s face was pale.
“Creatures created to kill the Moon-Born.”
Aldren stepped forward.
“How many?”
Elara looked at the sky.
“Enough.”
A massive creature descended.
It looked like a wolf made from black smoke.
Its body had no solid form.
Its mouth was filled with silver teeth.
Its eyes were red.
It landed in the courtyard.
The stone beneath it turned black.
Kael stepped forward.
The creature sniffed the air.
Then spoke.
“Moon-Born.”
Kael tightened his grip.
“Come and get me.”
The creature smiled.
“Not you.”
It pointed toward Elara.
“Her.”
Kael’s expression changed.
“No.”
The creature lunged.
Kael transformed.
His black wolf collided with it.
The impact shattered the courtyard.
The creature wrapped its claws around him.
Kael snarled.
Its body began draining his strength.
He felt his power disappearing.
The creature whispered:
“Your blood belongs to the Mother.”
Kael’s eyes flashed.
He unleashed silver energy.
The creature screamed and released him.
Elara attacked.
Ice erupted from the ground.
It pierced the creature’s body.
The Moon Eater shattered.
Kael landed.
He looked at Elara.
“You can use Moon power.”
“So can you.”
“How much?”
She smiled.
“Enough.”
Another creature descended.
Then another.
Then ten.
The courtyard filled with them.
The wolves charged.
Kael and Elara fought together.
For the first time, Kael understood what it meant to fight beside someone who shared his blood.
They moved almost perfectly.
He attacked from the left.
She struck from the right.
He created an opening.
She froze the enemy.
Together, they destroyed creature after creature.
But more kept coming.
Mara shouted:
“There are too many!”
Kael looked upward.
Hundreds.
Maybe thousands.
The sky was filled with them.
Elara grabbed his arm.
“We have to leave.”
“No.”
“If we stay, they’ll kill everyone.”
Kael looked around.
The wolves were fighting.
Seraphine was wounded.
Aldren was surrounded.
Mara was struggling.
He knew Elara was right.
“Where?”
“North.”
Kael frowned.
“Why?”
“Because that’s where the others are.”
“The other Moon-Born?”
Elara nodded.
“If we want to survive seven nights…”
She looked at the sky.
“…we need all of them.”
Kael stared at the battlefield.
Then he made his decision.
“Alaric!”
The silver wolf immediately appeared.
“Get everyone through the western tunnels.”
Alaric growled.
“And you?”
“I’m going north.”
Mara stepped forward.
“I’m coming.”
Kael shook his head.
“No.”
She stared at him.
“You don’t get to decide that.”
“Mara—”
“I’ve survived everything you’ve survived.”
She pointed at the battlefield.
“And I’m not letting you walk into the Frozen North alone.”
Kael sighed.
“Fine.”
Elara looked at them.
“You’ll need more than two people.”
Kael looked at her.
“Who?”
She smiled.
“Me.”
Aldren approached.
“Kael.”
Kael turned.
His father was bleeding heavily.
“You can’t trust Elara.”
Elara’s eyes narrowed.
“You have no right to say that.”
Aldren ignored her.
“She has spent years with the Frozen Clans.”
Kael looked at him.
“And?”
“They worship the First Mother.”
Elara stepped forward.
“Not all of us.”
Aldren shook his head.
“You don’t know what they’ve become.”
Elara’s expression darkened.
“Neither do you.”
Kael looked between them.
Then toward the battlefield.
“I don’t have time to choose sides.”
He looked at Elara.
“Can you lead us to the other Moon-Born?”
“Yes.”
“Can you keep Mara alive?”
Elara smiled.
“Probably.”
Mara frowned.
“Probably?”
Elara laughed.
“I like her.”
Kael looked at his sister.
“And can you get us through the Frozen North?”
Elara’s expression became serious.
“Yes.”
Kael nodded.
“Then we’re going.”
Aldren grabbed his arm.
“Kael.”
He looked back.
“Your mother needs you.”
Kael looked at Seraphine.
She was leaning against a broken pillar.
Their eyes met.
She smiled.
“Go.”
Kael shook his head.
“I can’t leave you.”
“You have to.”
“Mother—”
“Kael.”
Her voice became firm.
“You spent sixteen years protecting me.”
She touched his face.
“Now protect everyone.”
Kael embraced her.
Then stepped away.
Mara stood beside him.
Elara opened a portal of ice.
The Frozen North appeared beyond it.
A world of snow.
Mountains.
And endless darkness.
Kael took one final look at the ancient kingdom.
Then stepped through.
Mara followed.
Elara followed.
The portal closed.
The Frozen North was silent.
Not peaceful.
Silent.
There was a difference.
Kael immediately felt watched.
Snow covered everything.
Mountains stretched toward the sky.
Black trees stood frozen beneath layers of ice.
The air was painfully cold.
Mara wrapped her cloak around herself.
“How far?”
Elara looked toward the mountains.
“Three days.”
Kael stared.
“We have seven nights.”
“Then we have enough time.”
“Unless the Moon Eaters follow us.”
Elara’s expression changed.
“They will.”
Kael frowned.
“You sound certain.”
“They always do.”
“Why?”
“Because they don’t hunt the Moon-Born.”
Elara looked at him.
“They hunt the people who protect them.”
Kael stopped.
“What?”
Elara pointed ahead.
At the top of the mountain stood a fortress.
Black walls.
Silver towers.
A massive wolf symbol carved into the gates.
“The other Moon-Born is inside.”
Kael stared.
“How do you know?”
Elara whispered:
“Because that’s where I was born.”
Mara looked at the fortress.
“Who lives there?”
Elara’s expression became cold.
“My mother.”
Kael frowned.
“Your mother?”
Elara nodded.
“The Queen of the Frozen Moon.”
“And she’s a Moon-Born?”
“No.”
Elara looked at Kael.
“She’s the woman who killed the last one.”
A howl echoed through the valley.
Then another.
Then hundreds.
Kael turned.
At the far end of the valley, black figures appeared.
Moon Eaters.
They had followed them.
Elara drew her sword.
“We have company.”
Kael’s eyes turned silver.
Mara raised her bow.
“How many?”
Elara looked behind them.
Her face became pale.
“Too many.”
The mountain fortress suddenly opened its gates.
A woman stepped onto the wall.
She wore a crown of ice.
Her eyes were golden.
She looked directly at Kael.
Then she smiled.
“Son of Aldren.”
Kael froze.
The woman raised her hand.
Every Moon Eater stopped.
Then she spoke.
“Welcome home.”
Kael stared.
Elara whispered:
“Mother…”
The queen’s eyes shifted to her.
“You should have stayed dead.”
Elara’s face went pale.
Kael stepped forward.
“Who are you?”
The queen smiled.
“I am Queen Seraphine of the Frozen Moon.”
Kael’s expression changed.
He looked at his mother.
Then at Elara.
Then back at the queen.
“That’s impossible.”
The queen laughed.
“You’ve already learned that word means very little in our world.”
She raised her hand.
Behind her, someone appeared.
A young man.
Black hair.
Silver eyes.
A crescent mark on his chest.
Kael stared.
The young man stared back.
Then he smiled.
“Hello, brother.”
Kael’s blood froze.
Another Moon-Born.
Alive.
Inside the fortress.
And standing beside the woman who had just declared Elara dead.
The young man raised his sword.
“Come.”
His smile widened.
“Let’s see which one of us deserves the Moon.”
The fortress gates slammed shut.
And the Moon Eaters began charging.
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