Chapter 10
The attack came from inside.
Three weeks after Dominic's retreat, Sera had settled into a rhythm at Blackmoor. Training every morning. Studying Lunaris history in Kael's library every afternoon. Growing stronger, sharper, more certain of who she was becoming.
She'd even started to believe she was safe.
She was wrong.
It was Ronan who discovered it—a faint, nearly undetectable magical signature woven into the palace wards. Someone had been siphoning information outward for weeks. Every security rotation, every patrol route, every conversation in the war room—leaked.
"We have a spy," Ronan said grimly, standing before Kael and Sera in the locked study. "Someone with high-level access. The leak started two days after Sera arrived."
Kael's fury was silent—the most dangerous kind. His silver eyes went flat, predatory. "Who has access to the war room?"
"Twelve people. All senior staff."
"Then we test them. Quietly. Feed different information to each and see which version surfaces."
The trap was set. Within two days, they had their answer.
Lady Elara—Kael's aunt. A respected elder of Blackmoor, trusted advisor, member of the inner council. She'd been feeding information to the Hale pack since the moment Sera arrived.
When confronted, Elara didn't deny it. She stood in the study with her chin raised, her eyes defiant.
"You've gone blind, nephew," she said coldly. "Bringing that girl here—harboring her—you've endangered the entire pack for what? A pretty face and a dead bloodline?"
"That dead bloodline," Kael said, his voice terrifyingly calm, "is the most powerful wolf heritage in existence."
"Exactly!" Elara's composure cracked. "And that makes her a target! Every power-hungry wolf on this continent will come for her. For us. You've painted a target on Blackmoor by keeping her here."
"So you sold us out to the Hale pack." Kael's words were ice. "You told them our defenses. Our weaknesses."
Elara's jaw tightened. "I did what I had to do to protect this family."
"You betrayed this family." Kael stood, and his power filled the room like a physical force. "You're exiled, Elara. Effective immediately. Leave Blackmoor territory before sundown, or face execution."
For the first time, fear flickered in Elara's eyes. She opened her mouth to argue, then thought better of it. With one final, venomous look at Sera, she turned and left.
But as the door closed, Sera felt no relief. Only dread.
"If she told them everything," Sera said slowly, "then Dominic knows exactly where I sleep. Where I train. When I'm alone."
Kael looked at her, his expression grim. "Yes."
"And Vanessa—she won't stop. She'll keep pushing until—"
"Sera." Kael crossed to her, his hands settling on her shoulders. "Listen to me. They can know every detail of this palace and it won't matter. Because you're not the weak woman they remember. You're not a victim anymore."
She met his eyes. Saw the absolute faith in them. It steadied her.
"But they're planning something bigger than assassination attempts," she said. "The artifact they claimed I stole—it doesn't exist. They invented that lie for the Council. But what if it's not just a cover story? What if there's a real artifact—something they're after?"
Kael went still. His hands dropped from her shoulders. "The Lunaris Crown," he said quietly.
"What?"
"An ancient relic. Hidden centuries ago when the last Lunaris queen fell. Legend says it amplifies Lunaris power a thousandfold. If activated by a true heir—"
"It would make the wielder unstoppable," Sera finished.
"And if taken by force—by someone not of the bloodline—it corrupts. Destroys. Creates devastation." Kael's jaw clenched. "If the Hale pack is searching for it—"
"Then they don't want me dead," Sera said, horror dawning. "They want me alive. They need Lunaris blood to activate it."
The room fell silent.
Finally, Kael spoke, his voice hard as steel. "Then we find it first."
Three weeks after Dominic's retreat, Sera had settled into a rhythm at Blackmoor. Training every morning. Studying Lunaris history in Kael's library every afternoon. Growing stronger, sharper, more certain of who she was becoming.
She'd even started to believe she was safe.
She was wrong.
It was Ronan who discovered it—a faint, nearly undetectable magical signature woven into the palace wards. Someone had been siphoning information outward for weeks. Every security rotation, every patrol route, every conversation in the war room—leaked.
"We have a spy," Ronan said grimly, standing before Kael and Sera in the locked study. "Someone with high-level access. The leak started two days after Sera arrived."
Kael's fury was silent—the most dangerous kind. His silver eyes went flat, predatory. "Who has access to the war room?"
"Twelve people. All senior staff."
"Then we test them. Quietly. Feed different information to each and see which version surfaces."
The trap was set. Within two days, they had their answer.
Lady Elara—Kael's aunt. A respected elder of Blackmoor, trusted advisor, member of the inner council. She'd been feeding information to the Hale pack since the moment Sera arrived.
When confronted, Elara didn't deny it. She stood in the study with her chin raised, her eyes defiant.
"You've gone blind, nephew," she said coldly. "Bringing that girl here—harboring her—you've endangered the entire pack for what? A pretty face and a dead bloodline?"
"That dead bloodline," Kael said, his voice terrifyingly calm, "is the most powerful wolf heritage in existence."
"Exactly!" Elara's composure cracked. "And that makes her a target! Every power-hungry wolf on this continent will come for her. For us. You've painted a target on Blackmoor by keeping her here."
"So you sold us out to the Hale pack." Kael's words were ice. "You told them our defenses. Our weaknesses."
Elara's jaw tightened. "I did what I had to do to protect this family."
"You betrayed this family." Kael stood, and his power filled the room like a physical force. "You're exiled, Elara. Effective immediately. Leave Blackmoor territory before sundown, or face execution."
For the first time, fear flickered in Elara's eyes. She opened her mouth to argue, then thought better of it. With one final, venomous look at Sera, she turned and left.
But as the door closed, Sera felt no relief. Only dread.
"If she told them everything," Sera said slowly, "then Dominic knows exactly where I sleep. Where I train. When I'm alone."
Kael looked at her, his expression grim. "Yes."
"And Vanessa—she won't stop. She'll keep pushing until—"
"Sera." Kael crossed to her, his hands settling on her shoulders. "Listen to me. They can know every detail of this palace and it won't matter. Because you're not the weak woman they remember. You're not a victim anymore."
She met his eyes. Saw the absolute faith in them. It steadied her.
"But they're planning something bigger than assassination attempts," she said. "The artifact they claimed I stole—it doesn't exist. They invented that lie for the Council. But what if it's not just a cover story? What if there's a real artifact—something they're after?"
Kael went still. His hands dropped from her shoulders. "The Lunaris Crown," he said quietly.
"What?"
"An ancient relic. Hidden centuries ago when the last Lunaris queen fell. Legend says it amplifies Lunaris power a thousandfold. If activated by a true heir—"
"It would make the wielder unstoppable," Sera finished.
"And if taken by force—by someone not of the bloodline—it corrupts. Destroys. Creates devastation." Kael's jaw clenched. "If the Hale pack is searching for it—"
"Then they don't want me dead," Sera said, horror dawning. "They want me alive. They need Lunaris blood to activate it."
The room fell silent.
Finally, Kael spoke, his voice hard as steel. "Then we find it first."