The chambers in the Silver Crown's eastern wing were a cocoon of velvet and fur, their high ceilings adorned with frescoes of snarling wolves, yet the air buzzed with restless energy. Ember, Sara, Sable, Aria, Flow, Marina, Avani, Eldra, Liora, Brooke, Seris, Nerys—gathered on cushioned benches and fur-draped beds, the glow of crystal vases casting soft light across our faces. I, Ember, leaned against a windowsill, the Moonscar Mountains' peaks glinting beyond, their snow-dusted slopes a stark reminder of Scorchvale Ridge's wild freedom. The full moon, three weeks away, hung heavy in my mind, Haven's choice a shadow over my heart. The garden walk's warmth—his words, "Ember, your fire weaves loyalty like a song, and your question challenges me"—mingled with the archery outing's mystery, where Riven stayed with Haven while Veyra led Liora and Sable back. Why?
Sable sprawled on a rug, her crimson tunic rumpled, her voice bold. "What's Riven done to stay with Haven? That guard Fin, was it? stared at her like a wolf spotting prey, all wild-eyed. Did she break some rule?" Liora, her teal gown flowing, frowned, her pearls glinting. "It wasn't trouble. Haven's too kind for that. Their friendship looked… easy, like a pack. Maybe it's more?" Sara, beside me, twisted her orange tunic's hem, her shy voice barely rising. "Haven's kind to everyone, but Riven… maybe she impressed him?" Her eyes flicked to me, seeking reassurance, but I hid a pang.
Aria lounged on a velvet chaise, her sapphire tunic shimmering, her smirk sharp. "Riven's no match for me. Haven's just humoring her my winds won the court." Marina, her Aero Claw ally, nodded fervently, her blue silks swaying. "You're the prince's chosen, Aria. Verna and Bree said it too." Their eliminated voices lingered, fueling Aria's ambition, grating my nerves. A breeze kissed my skin, uncalled, as if the wind itself whispered my name; the water basin across the chamber sang a soft hum, its ripples dancing without touch, and the stone floor pulsed like a heartbeat beneath my feet. My pendant warmed, a faint burn against my chest, the elements' call both thrilling and unnerving. Why me? Why now?
Vera entered, her gray wool dress stark, her silver wolf pin catching the light. "Enough gossip," she said, her voice kind but firm, her cat-like grace stirring a question? "Mind your manners, ladies. The court's rumors don't concern you. Focus on preparing yourselves. Her words quieted the room, but whispers lingered, Riven's absence a puzzle. Avani, her emerald tunic grounding her, murmured, "It's the Spirits, maybe. Something's shifting." I nodded, my thoughts on my mother, Seina, her legacy of sacrifice burned too bright to endure, her warnings about a fire that binds all elements echoing faintly in my mind.
In the royal solar, a chamber bathed in sunlight streaming through tall windows, Haven stood with Fin, Riven, Thorne, Evelyn, and Cedric, tapestries of snarling wolves glowing on the walls. Thorne's thorned crown glinted as he sat in a carved oak chair, his amber eyes sharp. Evelyn perched on a cushioned bench, her silver robe flowing, her expression a mix of awe and caution. Cedric, spectacles glinting, clutched his notebook, while Fin and Riven stood close, their connection palpable yet incomplete. An advisor, Talia, a Flame Fang elder with silver-streaked hair and a crimson cloak, joined them, her eyes wise with years.
Thorne leaned forward, his voice rumbling. "A fated mate bond? Not seen in decades—a sign the Old Spirits stir amid unrest." Fin, his armor etched with wolf motifs, nodded, his dark eyes still wild with the bond's intensity. "It hit me like fire, Your Majesty. Riven she's the one. I came for a skirmish report, but the world shifted when I saw her." Riven, her emerald tunic grounding her, felt a strong pull, her heart racing, but the bond wasn't solidified her eighteenth birthday, four days away, held the key.
Evelyn tilted her head, her voice soft. "Why now, Fin? And Riven, what do you feel?" Riven's voice was steady but uncertain. "A pull, Your Majesty, like earth anchoring me to him, but… it's not complete. I trust the Spirits, but it's new." Cedric paused, recalling ancient texts. "The bond is rare, igniting when both are near, but seals at maturity Riven's eighteenth, in four days. The Spirits' timing strengthens alliances, but it's confusing until complete."
Talia, her crimson cloak sweeping, spoke with gravitas. "This bond binds Terra Fang to the crown, a gift to quell unrest. In my grandmother's time, a fated pair united Flame Fang and Aqua Paw, ending a feud. Relieving Riven ensures the bond's sanctity, but the court must see it as unity, not favoritism." Thorne nodded, his amber eyes narrowing. "Relieve her, Haven. The Spirits' will outweighs the selection."
Haven, his black tunic rumpled, clasped Fin's shoulder, joy for his friend mingling with his own search. "Riven, you're free to court Fin. The Spirits have spoken." His golden eyes flickered to Riven, their easy friendship a steady anchor, though his thoughts drifted to Ember, her fire a pull shadowed by Kadyn's name, a jealousy he didn't voice. "We'll announce it tonight, carefully."
The court gathered in the Great Hall, the air tense as Thorne's voice boomed. "A blessing from the Old Spirits—Riven of the Terra Fang and Fin Dracon, our guard leader, are fated mates. We honor their bond, strengthening our packs." Cheers erupted, all eyes on the new mates, the Spirits' blessing celebrated with raised goblets and fervent whispers of unity. Riven stood beside Fin, her emerald tunic catching the torchlight, their hands brushing as the court's gaze held them in reverence. I caught Vera's eyes across the hall, her silver wolf pin glinting. My pendant pulsed, sharp and warm, and I looked away, heart racing. Marina, near Aria, whispered, "You're still the prince's true choice." Aria's sapphire eyes gleamed, Veyra and Bree's voices echoing in her confidence.
I stood among the now twelve, my heart stirred by Riven's joy, but the elements' pull—wind, water, earth—surged stronger. My pendant burned hotter, a searing pulse against my skin, and for a fleeting moment, the hall blurred. A vision flickered: a shadowed figure cloaked in starlight, their eyes glinting like the Moonscar peaks, whispering, "Your fire binds all, Ember—claim it, or it claims you." The hall snapped back, cheers ringing, but my breath caught, the Old Spirits' gaze heavy, their secrets weaving a destiny I couldn't yet grasp. Vera's eyes were locked on me, her stare piercing as if she saw something, a spark, a shadow, a truth I didn't yet know.