The warmth of the fire crackled softly in the hearth of Lucien's room, casting long shadows across the stone walls. Callista sat curled up on the edge of the bed, wrapped in one of Lucien's shirts, her eyes distant as the events of the past few days replayed in her mind.
Lucien entered quietly, a tray in his hands holding a bowl of stew and some bread. He set it down beside her and gently brushed a lock of hair from her face. "You haven't eaten all day," he murmured.
She gave a weak smile but didn't reach for the food. "I'm fine."
"No, you're not." His voice was soft but firm. "You nearly died, Callista. Again."
"I'm starting to get used to that," she said bitterly, looking away.
Lucien knelt in front of her, his blue eyes searching hers. "Don't joke about that. You're stronger than any of us knew… but you're not invincible."
"I felt something," she whispered, voice trembling. "When Elira hit me with that last spell… something inside me unlocked. It wasn't just magic—it was like I became something else."
Lucien tensed but didn't interrupt.
Callista's hands glowed faintly with a silver light. "I could feel everything. The wolves, the witches, the earth beneath my feet. I wasn't just fighting—I was... channeling."
"That's your bloodline," Lucien said. "You're not just a witch or a werewolf. You're both. And that makes you something more."
A moment of silence passed between them.
Then she asked the question that had haunted her since the battle. "Why didn't you tell me your father was responsible for mine's death?"
Lucien's expression darkened. "Because I didn't want to lose you before I had the chance to make things right."
Before she could respond, a soft knock echoed through the door. Beta Roland stepped in, his expression grim. "Alpha, there's someone at the gates. She says she's a defector from the coven… her name is Elira."
Callista shot to her feet, heart pounding. "Elira?"
Lucien stood protectively in front of her. "She was the one who led the attack."
Roland nodded. "She's claiming she wants to help. Says she's had a change of heart."
Lucien turned to Callista. "Do you want to see her?"
Callista hesitated. Something inside her pulsed—magic or instinct, she couldn't tell—but she nodded slowly. "Yes. Bring her to me."
As Roland left, Lucien turned back to her. "Are you sure?"
"No," she said quietly, her voice steel. "But if they think they can use me… it's time I learn how to use them."