The wind howled through the trees as Elara rocked baby Mira to sleep. Their small cabin felt cozy and safe, far from all the pain Kael had caused. Riven had gone hunting with his pack, promising to return before midnight. Lightning flashed outside. Thunder rumbled. Mira stirred in her arms but didn't wake up. Then came the knock. Three slow taps on the wooden door. Elara's heart jumped. Riven never knocked like that. He always called out her name.
"Who's there?" she whispered, holding Mira closer. Silence. Another knock. Louder this time. Elara crept to the window and peeked through the curtain. A tall figure stood in the dark. Rain poured down his dark hair. His eyes glowed silver in the moonlight. A monster. But not one she knew. "I mean no harm," the man called out. His voice was smooth like honey. "I have news about your family." Family?
Elara's parents died when she was young. She had no family left except Mira. "Go away!" she yelled back. "My mate will return soon!" The man laughed softly. "Riven won't be back for hours. I made sure of that." Fear shot through Elara's chest. What did he mean? What had he done to Riven? "Let me in, Elara Moonwhisper," the stranger said. "Yes, I know your real name. The name your grandma carried. The name that makes you power." Moonwhisper? That wasn't her last name. Her last name was Stone. Plain, simple Stone. But something inside her heart flickered when he said Moonwhisper. Like a light being lit in a dark room. "You're lying," she called out, but her voice shook. "Am I? Then why does your daughter's scar look like a crescent moon? Why do your eyes turn green when you're angry? Why did Kael want you so badly he went crazy when you left?"
Elara looked down at Mira. The tiny freckle on her shoulder did look like a moon. She'd always wondered about that. Thunder crashed again. The stranger was still waiting. "Five minutes," Elara said, opening the door just a crack. "Say what you came to say, then leave." The man stepped inside, water dripping from his black clothes. He was beautiful in a dangerous way.
His smile showed beautiful white teeth. But his eyes held secrets. "I'm Caden," he said, bowing slightly. "I've been searching for you for months." "Why?" "Because you're not just any omega, Elara. You're the last of the Moonwhisper family. Your grandma was Luna Supreme of the Northern Territories. The most powerful female monster in history." Elara's legs felt weak. She sat down hard on her chair, still holding sleeping Mira. "That's impossible.
My parents were nobody special. They lived in a tiny village." Caden pulled out a leather bag. From it, he took an old picture. The woman in the picture had Elara's face. The same green eyes. The same dark hair. But she wore a golden crown and stood beside a huge white wolf. "Your grandmother, Luna Celeste Moonwhisper," Caden said. "She disappeared thirty years ago. Everyone thought the bloodline was gone forever." Elara looked at the photo. The woman looked exactly like her, but older. Stronger. More sure. "Why should I believe you?" "Because I can teach you to use your power. I can help you become what you were born to be. A leader.
A Luna who rules over all packs." "I don't want to rule anyone." Caden's eyes flashed. "Don't you want to make Kael pay for what he did? Don't you want the power to protect your daughter from anyone who tries to hurt her?" Yes. The word burned in Elara's throat. She did want those things. "What would I have to do?" "Come with me. Learn from the old ways. Unlock the power in your blood." "I can't leave Riven. He's been good to me." "Has he? Or is he just another Alpha who wants to control you?" Before Elara could answer, the door burst open.
Riven stood there, soaking wet and angry. His eyes burned red. His hands had changed into claws. "Get away from her," he growled at Caden. Caden smiled quietly. "Hello, Riven. Still playing the hero, I see." "You have no business here, rogue." "I have every right to speak to my Luna." "She's not your Luna!" Riven stepped forward, muscles tensing for a fight. Elara jumped up, still holding Mira. "Stop! Both of you! You'll wake the baby!" Caden raised his hands calmly. "I'm not here to fight. I'm here to offer Elara a choice."
"She doesn't need anything from you," Riven growled. "Doesn't she? Look at her, Riven. Really look. She's living in a tiny shack, hiding from the world. Is this the life a Luna Supreme deserves?" Riven's eyes flickered to Elara. She saw doubt there. Fear. "Don't listen to him, Elara. He's trying to trick you." "Am I?" Caden pulled out another thing from his bag. A silver chain with a moon-shaped pendant. "This belonged to your grandma. Touch it." Elara reached out before she could stop herself. The moment her fingers touched the ring, power rushed through her body like lightning. Her eyes flashed gold.
The baby's toys around the room started floating in the air. Riven gasped. Mira woke up and giggled, reaching for the floating items. "Incredible," Caden whispered. "Even stronger than I hoped." Elara dropped the chain. Everything crashed to the floor. Her hands shook. "What's happening to me?" "You're awakening," Caden said. "Your true self is fighting to break free." Riven moved closer to Elara.
"Whatever he's doing to you, fight it. This isn't real." "Isn't it?" Caden challenged. "Tell her, Riven. Tell her about the forecast. Tell her why you really sought her out." Riven went very still. "I don't know what you're talking about." "The legend that says the last Moonwhisper will choose a mate who will either save or destroy the werewolf world.
You knew who she was from the beginning, didn't you?" Elara looked at Riven. "Is that true?" Riven's silence was her answer. Her heart broke all over again. First Kael had used her. Now Riven? "Everyone lies to me," she whispered. "I won't," Caden said softly. "I'll tell you everything. All the secrets. All the truth about what you really are."
Elara looked at the necklace on the floor. Power still hummed from it, calling to something deep inside her. She looked at Riven, who couldn't meet her eyes. She looked at baby Mira, who deserved a mother strong enough to protect her from anyone. "Prove it," she said to Caden. "Prove everything you've told me is true." Caden smiled like a wolf who'd just caught his meal. "Tomorrow night. Meet me at the old oak tree by the river.
Come alone." "Elara, no," Riven begged. But she'd already made up her mind. She needed answers. She needed the truth. Even if it destroyed everything she thought she knew about herself. Caden vanished into the storm as quickly as he'd come. Elara stood holding her daughter, looking at the silver necklace that had changed everything. The power inside her was waking up. And she wasn't sure if that was the best thing that had ever happened to her. Or the most dangerous.