It was afternoon when Eila arrived at Nina's cottage, a quaint structure nestled behind the old greenhouse, surrounded by herb beds, blooming starflowers, and ancient runes carved into every surface. The scent of dried herbs, ink, and old paper filled the air as she stepped inside.
Nina looked up from a leather-bound tome as the door creaked open. She set down her quill and gave a small smile—though her eyes held a weight of concern.
"You've come sooner than I expected," she said, rising. "Leonard told me the basics. But I want the whole story. All of it."
Eila nodded. She took a seat on the cushioned bench near the crystal window, the sun filtering through delicate stained glass and lighting her hair in golden strands. She recounted everything—from the message the twins had sent, to the Robbers' Hut, to her dream about Jeremy and his ghastly appearance and the unearthly scream that poured from her throat. She even told Nina about the flash of white light and how it drove the Varium away. Also, how she was screaming when she woke up.
Nina listened intently, barely blinking. When Eila was done, she turned and opened a drawer filled with small, gleaming stones.
"I was afraid of this," Nina murmured. "Do you know what that light was, Eila?"
Eila shook her head. "Only that it came from somewhere deep inside me. I didn't even try to summon it. It just… exploded."
Nina selected a polished moonstone and placed it on Eila's palm. "Because it wasn't magic. At least, not ordinary magic. It was your soul fire—an ancient power that only manifests in beings born under a specific convergence of fate. The old texts call it the Aethra Flame."
Eila blinked. "But I thought I was just a healer with premonition dreams."
"You are more than that," Nina said firmly. "You're the mate of the Triad. You carry the blood of Alpha, Beta, and Seer. The scream was a defense mechanism—part divine magic, part spiritual essence. It only happens when the Veil itself is threatened."
Nina pulled a scroll from a high shelf, unfurled it gently, and pointed to a line in faded script:
"When the Veil cracks and the dead creep near, the Triad's flame shall burn the unnatural clear."
"That scream… was the flame."
Eila stared at the scroll, her thoughts spinning. "So it can hurt Jeremy?"
"Yes," Nina said. "But not destroy him. Not yet. He is no longer wholly of this world. He's tied to the Veil now. Which means, in order to kill him, you'll need to fully awaken your connection to your mates… and the Veil."
Eila swallowed hard. "And if I don't?"
"Then next time… your scream might not be enough."
That EveningBack at the Pack House, preparations had begun to train Eila with greater intensity. A chamber in the lower wing had been cleared and transformed into a magical study space—half library, half training ring. Leonard personally oversaw the installation of protective wards around the walls. The twins brought in artifacts from their own private collections. Even Luna Priscilla contributed a ceremonial dagger forged in enchanted ice.
Zois paced nearby, his wolf Jace growling restlessly within. "He dared threaten our mate."
Lukas stood beside a rack of enchanted books, his wolf Joro clawing at his mind. "Let him come again. We'll tear the air from his lungs."
Eila entered quietly. They both turned to her, all tension leaving their bodies as their gazes softened. Without words, they approached and held her between them—one on each side. Their bond hummed between their skins like quiet thunder.