Sera's POV
The howling doesn't stop.
I stand at Kade's window, watching wolves circle the fortress in the pre-dawn darkness. Dozens of them. Maybe hundreds. Their eyes glow in the torchlight gold, green, silver.
They're not attacking. Just... waiting.
Coming for their lost queen, Kade said. But I don't feel like a queen. I feel like prey.
Kade's behind me, talking urgently with Ash and Mira who arrived minutes ago. Their voices are low but tense.
We can't fight them all, Ash is saying. There are too many.
We won't fight them. Kade's voice is firm. The wild packs haven't shown aggression in twenty years. They're not here to attack.
Then what do they want? Mira asks.
Kade looks at me. Her.
I turn from the window. My hands are shaking. I clench them to make it stop. What do I do?
Nothing yet. Kade crosses to me. At dawn, their Alpha will request an audience. We'll hear what they want.
And Marcus? He's coming at dawn too.
Kade's jaw tightens. I know. Which means we need to move fast. Ash, send word to the wild pack. Tell them we'll meet at first light. Mira, increase security on the south gate that's where Marcus will enter.
They leave quickly. Kade and I are alone again.
The bond hums between us, still warm from the kiss. From the memories it triggered.
Are you afraid? he asks quietly.
I look at the wolves outside. At the bracelet hiding my power. At the mate who's trying to protect me from enemies he doesn't fully understand.
Terrified.
He pulls me against his chest. His heartbeat is steady, grounding. You're not alone in this.
I want to believe him. But alone is all I've ever been.
Dawn breaks cold and gray.
Kade insisted I stay in his quarters, but I refused. If the wild pack came for me, hiding won't help. I need to face this.
We stand in the fortress courtyard. Kade, Ash, Mira, and me. The wild pack wolves sit in perfect formation just beyond the gates at least two hundred of them.
Their Alpha steps forward.
He's massive in wolf form midnight black with scars across his muzzle. Ancient. Powerful. When he shifts to human, he's an old man with silver hair and eyes that have seen too much.
Alpha Thornridge. His voice is gravel and smoke. We come in peace.
Kade steps forward. Alpha Ronan. It's been years.
They know each other?
Ronan's eyes shift to me. And this must be the one we've been waiting for.
My throat goes dry. Waiting for?
The lost daughter. Ronan moves closer, and Kade tenses but doesn't stop him. Twenty years we've searched. Twenty years we've hoped. And now the blood calls to us once more.
I don't understand, I say.
The wild packs refused to join territories after the massacre. Ronan's voice is heavy with old grief. We couldn't serve false leaders when the true royalty was murdered. So we've waited. Watched. Hoping one survived.
He looks at me with something like reverence. And you did. Princess Seraphina.
The name hits me like lightning. Seraphina. Not Sera. Seraphina.
Another memory flashes my mother's voice: Little Seraphina, my moonlight girl.
I stumble. Kade catches me.
How do you know? I gasp.
Royal blood calls to us. We can sense it. Ronan gestures to his pack. Every wolf here feels your power, even suppressed. You are Moonblood. You are our queen.
I'm not I can't The words tangle. I'm nobody. I scrub floors. I
You survived. Ronan's voice is gentle. That makes you everything.
A commotion at the south gate interrupts. Guards shouting. Then a cold, familiar voice cuts through the noise.
What is the meaning of this?
Marcus Grey strides into the courtyard, flanked by Council guards. His eyes sweep the scene the wild pack, Kade, me.
And his face goes pale.
He recognizes Ronan. Recognizes what the wild pack's presence means.
He knows I'm not just some omega anymore.
Alpha Thornridge, Marcus says coldly, recovering his composure. I'm here for the Council's inspection. Though it appears you have... visitors.
The wild pack came peacefully, Kade says. They're not a threat.
Marcus's eyes narrow. Wild packs haven't approached territory borders in two decades. What changed?
Ronan steps forward, and I see murder flash across Marcus's face before he hides it. What changed, Councilman, is that the true heir has finally been found.
The courtyard goes silent.
Marcus laughs. It's a terrible sound. True heir? To what? The Moonblood line is dead. Everyone knows that.
Everyone believed that. Ronan's voice is steel. Because you made sure of it. You and your conspirators, who murdered an entire family for power.
Careful, old wolf. Marcus's hand moves to his weapon. Accusations like that are dangerous.
Kade moves to stand beside Ronan. So are assassination attempts. Like the rogues you sent to kill my mate last night.
Marcus's expression doesn't change, but his eyes flash with rage. I have no idea what you're talking about.
Ash steps forward, holding the contract we found. Your signature says otherwise.
For a long moment, no one moves.
Then Marcus smiles. And it's the most terrifying thing I've ever seen.
You think a piece of paper matters? His voice is silk over poison. You think the other Council members will believe a forged document over my word?
It's not forged, I say. My voice surprises me strong, clear. And we both know it.
Marcus looks at me fully for the first time. Really looks.
And I see recognition dawn in his eyes. Horror. Fear.
You, he breathes. You look just like her. Your mother.
The admission hangs in the air.
He just confirmed it. Confirmed he knew my mother. Was there when she died.
Murdered her.
Rage floods through me. The bracelet on my wrist grows hot.
You killed them, I say. My family. You killed them all.
Marcus's hand goes to his sword. And I'll finish the job now.
He moves faster than I expect. Draws his blade and lunges straight for me.
Kade shouts. Ronan shifts. The wild pack surges forward.
But I don't need them.
The bracelet shatters.
Power explodes from my body in a wave of silver light so bright everyone shields their eyes. Marcus flies backward, hitting the courtyard wall hard enough to crack stone.
The royal markings blaze across my skin not just my arms now, but everywhere. My face. My neck. My hands.
And above my head, visible to everyone, a crown of pure silver light appears.
The mark of Moonblood royalty.
Every wolf in the courtyard wild pack, Kade's warriors, even Marcus's guards drops to their knees.
Every wolf except Marcus, who stares at me with pure hatred.
Impossible, he hisses. You should be dead. The fire the seal
Someone saved me. My voice echoes with power I don't understand. Someone hid me. Protected me. And now I remember everything.
The memories flood through me all at once. The palace. My parents. My brother. The night of fire and screaming. Elena grabbing me, running, placing the seal that hid my power and my memories.
And Marcus. Leading the attack. Giving the orders. Watching as my family burned.
You're a murderer, I say. And a traitor.
Marcus laughs, wild and desperate. Traitor? I saved the wolf packs from tyrants! The Moonbloods controlled us all with their power!
They led with compassion, Ronan growls. You killed them for greed.
Call it what you want. Marcus pulls out a small vial from his pocket. But I won't let history repeat.
He throws the vial at the ground.
Black smoke explodes everywhere. Choking, burning.
When it clears, Marcus is gone.
And on the ground where he stood, burned into stone, are four words:
THIS ISN'T OVER, PRINCESS.