Sera's POV
Brother? I whisper, staring at the tent entrance.
Kael's voice outside is ice cold. Marcus. How did you find us?
Did you really think you could hide from me? Marcus laughs, and the sound makes my skin crawl. I know you better than anyone, little brother.
My mind is reeling. Marcus and Kael are brothers?
I crawl to the tent opening and peek out. Marcus stands at the edge of our camp with ten Shadowpine warriors behind him. He looks exactly like Kael same height, same build, same sharp features. Except his eyes are cruel where Kael's are conflicted.
We're not brothers anymore, Kael says quietly. Not since you lied about Sera's parents.
Lied? Marcus grins. I gave you exactly what you needed someone to blame for our brother Ethan's death. You were falling apart, Kael. I saved you.
You manipulated me into murdering innocent people!
I did what was necessary. Marcus's smile fades. And now I'm here to finish what I started.
Darius steps up beside Kael, both Alphas forming a wall between Marcus and our camp. Thorne moves to guard the tent where I'm hiding.
You should leave, Darius growls. While you still can.
Oh, I don't think so. Marcus pulls out a scroll and tosses it at Kael's feet. That's a formal challenge for the Alpha position of Shadowpine Pack. The Council has approved it. Three days from now, you and I fight. Winner takes everything.
Kael picks up the scroll, his hands shaking with rage. You're challenging me? Now?
You're unfit to lead. You've bonded with an omega witch and a Bloodmoon savage. Half the pack already supports me. Marcus's eyes gleam with triumph. When I win, I'll execute the girl and restore Shadowpine's honour.
You'll have to kill me first, Kael snarls.
That's the plan.
The warriors behind Marcus spread out, hands on their weapons. This is about to become a bloodbath.
But Marcus raises his hand, stopping them. Not today. The challenge has been issued. If you refuse to show up, you forfeit your position and your life. He turns to leave, then looks back. Oh, and Kael? Elder Cassandra has declared all three of you rogue. Every pack in North America has permission to hunt and kill you on sight. You're already dead you just don't know it yet.
He disappears into the forest with his warriors.
The moment they're gone, Kael punches a tree so hard the trunk splits. He planned this from the beginning!
He used you, Darius says grimly. Manipulated you into killing Sera's parents so he could eventually use it against you.
I step out of the tent, my legs shaking. You never told me Marcus was your brother.
Kael turns to me, pain written all over his face. Half-brother. Same father, different mothers. I tried to forget that connection years ago.
Why would your own brother want to destroy you?
Because I was supposed to be the spare, not the heir. Kael's laugh is bitter. Our father was supposed to choose Marcus as Alpha. But he chose me instead because Marcus was too cruel, too power hungry. Marcus has hated me ever since.
Lyssa bursts into the camp, out of breath and terrified. Guys, we have bigger problems.
What now? I ask.
Vivian is at the pack house telling everyone that Sera cursed Kael with dark magic. She's saying the only way to break the spell is to kill Sera. Lyssa's voice shakes. And people are believing her. Half the pack wants you dead.
My stomach drops. Half?
The other half still supports Kael. But they're fighting. Shadowpine is tearing itself apart.
Darius swears under his breath. A pack divided won't survive. If Marcus wins the challenge
He won't, Kael interrupts. I'll kill him myself.
You're weakened from the incomplete bond, Dr. Winter's points out, and checking Kael's pulse. So is Sera. So is Darius. None of you are at full strength.
Then we make do with what we have.
Or, Darius says slowly, I bring Bloodmoon warriors to support you.
No. Kael's response is immediate. Bloodmoon fighters on Shadowpine territory during a challenge? The pack would riot. It would prove Marcus right that I've betrayed them.
So you'll just die? Darius's eyes flash gold. You'll let Marcus win and execute our mate?
Our mate who won't complete the bond, Kael shoots back. Our mate who's made it very clear she wants nothing to do with either of us.
They both look at me.
I wrap my arms around myself, feeling the weight of their stares. This isn't my fault.
Nobody said it was, Dr. Winters says gently. But you are part of this now, whether you want to be or not.
I didn't ask for any of this!
Neither did we, Kael says quietly. But here we are.
The truth of that statement hangs in the air.
That afternoon, Dr. Winters pulls me aside while the others plan strategy for the challenge fight.
Walk with me, she says.
We head into the forest, away from the camp. When we're alone, Dr. Winters stops and faces me.
You're dying, Sera.
The blunt statement makes me freeze. What?
The incomplete bonds. They're slowly killing all three of you. The pain you feel at night that's your body fighting against something that's meant to be. She takes my hands. And there's something else you need to know.
What?
Your True Luna power is locked. As long as you resist the bonds, you can't access your full strength. You got glimpses during emergencies, but you can't control it. You can't use it when you need it.
Why not?
Because your power flows through the mate bonds. True Lunas don't stand alone they draw strength from their Alphas, and give strength in return. It's a cycle, a connection. Without completing the bonds, you're cutting yourself off from the very thing that makes you powerful.
I pull my hands away. So I have to choose between my pride and my power?
No. Dr. Winters's voice is firm. You have to choose between dying powerless and broken, or living strong enough to change everything.
And if I complete the bonds? What then? I'm stuck with them forever?
The mate bond is forever whether you complete it or not. Fighting it just makes everyone suffer. She cups my face gently. Your parents died to protect you, Sera. They sacrificed everything so you could live long enough to claim your power. Don't waste their sacrifice by being too afraid to take what's yours.
Tears stream down my face. I don't know if I can forgive them.
Then don't. Not yet. But you can choose to survive. You can choose to be strong enough to destroy the Council that murdered your parents and hunted your kind to extinction. Her eyes burn with intensity. You can choose to become the True Luna the world tried to kill.
I stare at her, my heart pounding.
She's right. I've been so focused on my hurt, my anger, my fear that I forgot the bigger picture.
The Council killed my parents. Marcus manipulated Kael into signing the order. Vivian wants me dead. Elder Cassandra is hunting me.
And I've been sitting here feeling sorry for myself instead of fighting back.
What do I need to do? I whisper.
Dr. Winter's smiles. Make a choice. Accept the bonds, claim your power, and show them all what a True Luna can really do.
A twig snaps behind us.
We both spin around.
Marcus steps out from behind a tree, and he's not alone. Twenty warriors surround us, weapons drawn.
I was hoping you'd be alone, Marcus says, pulling out a silver knife. Killing you before the challenge will make things so much easier.
Dr. Winters steps in front of me. You'll have to go through me first.
Marcus laughs. That can be arranged.
The warriors move forward.
And I realize with horror that we're completely cut off from Kael and Darius.
No one is coming to save us.
I'm about to die before I ever make my choice.