Stormclaw Keep, High Wing Alpha King Chambers
:.
The fire in our chambers was dying low, the crackle of embers was the only sound between us for a long while. Aelira sat near the hearth, her back straight, her hands folded in her lap, but I knew the signs. She was trembling.
Barely.
37
I’d seen her face armies and rogue packs without a flicker of fear. But this? This was different. Because this wasn’t a war we could fight with teeth and claws.
This was our daughters.
“She’s not handling it,” Aelira whispered, eyes fixed on the flames. “Vaela. She hides it, but… she’s unraveling. And Soria’s not much better. Her loyalty’s been wrapped around Vaela since they were pups.”
I exhaled slowly, rubbing my temples. “They were raised to lead,” I said. “To be the next Luna, the next enforcer, the next everything. Then Elowen arrives with a prophecy in her blood and five mates in her orbit, and they feel like they’ve been… replaced.”
Aelira’s voice cracked. “I hate thinking it. But I have to say it, Draven. I think… I think Vaela contacted them.”
My heart stopped. “Aegis?” I asked, my voice low, barely holding back the snarl.
She nodded, tears spilling silently down her cheeks. “There was an outgoing comm–link spike the night before the attack. Unsanctioned. Traced to Vaela’s private terminal. They scrubbed the data, but the techs confirmed the signal was intercepted before it was fully erased. It pinged one of Aegis’s Eastern listening posts.”
“Mother of the Moon,” I whispered. My stomach dropped. Not my daughter. Not our girl. Where did we go wrong?
“She handed Elowen over,” Aelira said, breaking. “She gave them her location, her presence here. Us. She risked the entire pack.”
I paced the room, my claws threatening to shift. Elowen was the key. To survival. To unity. To a future beyond species war and division. But she was also just a girl. A hybrid. One we swore to protect. And now our own blood had
sold her out.
“We have to call them,” I said, my voice hollow. “Bring them here. Now.”
Aelira nodded once, wiped her face, and stood tall.
Fifteen minutes later….
Vaela and Soria entered the room like they owned it, their heads held high, their eyes sharp, and matching arrogance
1/3
21:22 Wed, Sep 24
Chapter 35
radiating from their posture.
It shattered when they saw our faces.
“We know,” I said quietly and firmly, my heart breaking.
Vaela’s mouth opened, but no sound came. Soria took a step forward. “Whatever she said, we didn’t…”
“Don’t,” Aelira snapped, her voice cracking. “Don’t lie to me. Not here. Not now.”
37
The girls froze. Tears were pouring down Vaela’s face. I couldn’t look. It was breaking me. And then Vaela’s mask cracked. “You’re just replacing us. With her. Some random half–blood you didn’t even know existed until last week.”
“She is the future of this world,” I said, rising to full height. “You gave her to the enemy.”
Soria’s lips trembled. “We didn’t mean to hurt her.”
“But you did.” Aelira’s voice broke again. “You’ve endangered the prophecy. Our people. Your brother. You let your bitterness outweigh everything we raised you to be.” She was yelling now. “You risked all of our lives Vaela! Why!?
For what reason!? Jealousy!?”
Vaela just sobbed quietly as Soria held her, her eyes narrowed at her parents. The door opened behind us and Daxon walked in slowly, his eyes wide. His gaze landed on the girls…on the bags, the packed trunks, the enforcers waiting silently near the wall.
“What’s going on?” he asked, his voice hard.
Neither of the girls answered. So I did.
“Vaela sent Elowen’s location to Aegis.”
Daxon went still. Like he hadn’t fully processed it. Then he looked at Vaela. “Tell me that’s not true.”
She opened her mouth. Closed it. Then said, “She doesn’t belong here.”
Daxon’s jaw ticked once. Twice. And then he erupted.
“You don’t belong here!” he roared. “You tried to hand over a bonded mate to fucking Aegis? You’re lucky all you’re getting is exile and not a death sentence. You risked our entire pack! You’re not fit to lead! Ever!”
“Dax,” Soria whispered. “Please. You’re our brother.”
“I hope they throw you in a pit,” he snapped. “You’re dead to me.”
Aelira let out a sob that nearly brought me to my knees. I had never felt pain like this. I had to choose my pack over my own children. The enforcers stepped forward. Vaela fought. Soria begged. But it didn’t matter.
2/3
21:23 Wed, Sep 24
