Chapter 11: Secrets in the Shadows
"We need to move faster!" Kael shouted, supporting Rowan's weight as they rushed through the dark forest. The howls behind them grew louder. Liana's heart pounded as she helped Jace clear twigs from their path. Rowan's breathing was shallow, the black lines now spreading across his face like cracks in porcelain. "There," Elder Mira pointed to an old oak tree with roots that twisted above ground. "The entrance is hidden beneath." Jace moved quickly, pulling aside moss and leaves to show a narrow opening between the massive roots. "Ladies first," he said, his normal playful tone gone. Liana slipped through the gap, sliding down a short tube into darkness. The others followed, Kael and Jace carefully moving Rowan's limp body through the tight space. Elder Mira came last, muttering words that made the roots close the opening above them. "How did you know about this place?" Liana asked, her eyes slowly adjusting to the dim blue light coming from strange glowing mushrooms that lined the walls of the underground cave. "The Sacred Grove holds many secrets," Elder Mira answered, moving to a stone shelf where crystals and herbs were neatly arranged. "This sanctuary has protected wolves in danger for centuries." They laid Rowan on a bed of soft grass. His skin burned with heat, the black veins pulsing with each labored breath. "Can you help him?" Kael asked, his voice cracking with worry. Elder Mira mixed plants in a small wooden bowl. "I can slow the evil, but not stop it. Not without understanding its source." Liana knelt beside Rowan, drawn to him by a force she couldn't explain. When she touched his face, the silver lines on her arm glowed faintly. Rowan's eyes fluttered open, finding hers. "You ease the pain," he whispered. "The triplet bond is both blessing and curse," Elder Mira said, applying her herbal paste to Rowan's chest. "It strengthens all of you, but also strengthens the dark magic attacking him." "Tell us everything," Jace demanded, pacing the small room. "No more secrets." Elder Mira sighed, suddenly looking much older in the blue light. "Very well. It's time you knew the truth." She sat on a stone bench, waving for them to gather around. "Liana, your mother wasn't just any dog. She was descended from the Moon Priestess bloodline—wolves who could direct others and heal with a touch. That silver necklace is an old symbol of your lineage." Liana touched the crescent moon charm. "But I was told I'm an omega—the lowest rank." "A disguise," Elder Mira explained. "Your mother hid your true nature to protect you from those who would use your power." "Like Darius," Kael growled. "Yes," Elder Mira nodded. "But there's more. The triplet link is rare—it happens once every thousand years. Three brothers, born together, each representing a different part of leadership: strength, passion, and wisdom." She looked at each brother in turn. "Kael, the strength. Jace, the fire. And Rowan, the wisdom." "But what does this have to do with Liana?" Jace asked. "The triplet bond needs a fourth—someone to unite the three parts. Someone of royal blood." The room fell silent as the information sank in. "Royal blood?" Liana whispered. "I'm nobody." "You are far from nobody," Elder Mira said gently. "Those metal marks prove it. Your blood is waking, calling to the brothers." A sudden commotion at the entrance stopped them. Everyone tensed until a familiar voice called out. "Elder Mira? Are you down there? It's Talia!" Jace quickly helped the young seer through the hole. Talia's face was streaked with dirt, her eyes wide with fear. "Thank the Moon Goddess I found you," she gasped. "Something terrible has happened!" "Catch your breath, child," Elder Mira gave her water. "Celeste is gone," Talia blurted. "She left after the council meeting. But that's not all—" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a scrap of cloth. "We found this near the border." The cloth held strange silver markings—identical to those on Liana's arm. "Impossible," Elder Mira whispered, her face pale. "These symbols haven't been seen in generations." "What do they mean?" Kael demanded. "They're ancient wolf runes," Elder Mira explained. "This one means 'blood,' this one 'moon,' and this... this one means 'sacrifice.'" A chill ran through the room. "Darius must have written them," Jace offered. Talia shook her head. "The smell wasn't his. It was... familiar, but I couldn't place it." Rowan suddenly coughed, dark liquid spilling from his mouth. The veins spread further, reaching his eyes. "He's getting worse," Liana cried, running to his side. "Keep touching him," Elder Mira commanded. "Your presence slows the curse." As Liana held Rowan's hand, she felt warmth spreading from her chest to her fingers. The silver lines on her arm glowed brighter, briefly pushing back the darkness in his veins. "I'll stay with him," she declared. "You all need to figure out what those markings mean." Jace and Talia huddled with Elder Mira around the cloth, discussing options. Kael stood apart, his face worried as he watched Liana with his brother. After a while, he approached her, his voice low. "Can we talk? Alone?" Liana paused, not wanting to leave Rowan. "Just over there," Kael pointed to a small nook. "He'll be okay for a moment." Reluctantly, she followed him. In the privacy of the alcove, Kael's stoic mask fell away, showing vulnerability she'd never seen before. "I need to confess something," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've been fighting this bond between us." Liana's heart skipped. "Why?" "Years ago, before my father became Alpha, the old Luna made a statement. She said the future Alpha's mate would bring destruction to the pack." His eyes met hers, filled with conflict. "When you arrived and I felt that pull toward you, I was terrified the prophecy meant you." "Do you still believe that?" Liana asked, hurt creeping into her voice. Kael reached for her hand, his touch sending sparks through her skin. "I don't know what to believe anymore. But I do know that fighting the tie hurts all of us—especially Rowan." Before Liana could reply, a pained howl echoed through the chamber. They rushed back to find Rowan convulsing, the black lines now covering most of his body. "Hold him down!" Elder Mira shouted. They all grabbed Rowan's limbs as he thrashed wildly. His eyes opened, but instead of their normal green, they glowed with an eerie purple light. "He's fighting for control," Elder Mira explained, hurriedly mixing another potion. "The curse is trying to take over his mind!" "What can we do?" Jace urged, struggling to hold his brother's arm. Elder Mira looked at Liana. "You must improve the bond. It's the only way." "How?" Liana cried. "The bond forms through blood and touch," Elder Mira said. "All four of you must connect." With shaking hands, Liana took a small knife from Elder Mira. She cut her palm, then moved to each brother, cutting theirs as well. When she reached Rowan, his eyes cleared briefly, recognition flashing across his face. "Save yourself," he whispered. "Run from all of us." "I'm not leaving you," Liana promised, slicing his palm. She touched her bleeding hand to each of theirs—Kael, then Jace, and finally Rowan. The moment all four bloods mixed, a shock wave of energy burst from them. The silver marks on Liana's arm spread, covering her entire body in glowing lines. Her eyes shone like moonlight. For a moment, the black veins withdrew from Rowan's body. Then, just as quickly, the light faded. Rowan's breathing steadied, but the curse stayed, hovering just below his skin like a predator waiting to strike. "It worked," Elder Mira said, relief in her voice. "But only temporarily." As they caught their breath, Talia gasped, her eyes going blank—a vision taking hold. "She comes with fire and shadow," Talia spoke in a voice not her own. "The one who was forgotten returns to take what was promised. Blood calls to blood, and the royal line will fall or rise by the choice of the silver-eyed one." Talia fell into Jace's arms as her vision ended. In the silence that followed, a small piece of paper fell from the roof, floating down like a feather. Kael caught it, his face darkening as he read the message written in what looked like blood: The stronger your bond gets, the faster he dies. Choose quickly, Luna. Beneath the note was a perfect picture of Liana's crescent moon necklace—with a dagger piercing through it.