The Substitute Luna Who Knew Too Much

The words refused to leave Elara's mind, The real bride was never the target, She stood frozen in the corridor while the guard's voice echoed over and over inside her head, Someone had planned the attack long before Iris disappeared, Someone had wanted her dead, Kael studied her carefully, For the first time since they'd met, the fear in her eyes didn't look like guilt, It looked like recognition, "Take me to the assassin," Kael ordered, The guard hesitated, "He won't survive much longer." "Then every second matters."

Deep beneath Blackthorne Manor, the scent of blood and damp stone filled the prison cells, The surviving assassin had been chained to a wall, His black mask had been removed, revealing a young man no older than twenty-five, His lips were stained dark from poison, He was dying, Kael dismissed everyone except Selene and Elara, The assassin laughed weakly when he saw Elara, "So..." "...they failed again." Kael stepped closer, "Who sent you?" The man smiled through blood, "You already know." "I asked who." The assassin ignored him, Instead, he looked at Elara, "They told us you were just a servant's daughter." "They lied." Elara frowned, "What do you mean?" His breathing grew ragged, "You should've died..." "...eighteen years ago." The room fell silent, Kael's expression hardened, "Eighteen years?" Elara's heart pounded, She was twenty-two, What had happened when she was four? Before anyone could ask another question, the assassin suddenly convulsed, His eyes widened in terror, Blood trickled from his nose, "No..." "They found me..." "What?" "They're listening..." With his last ounce of strength, he grabbed Elara's sleeve, "Don't trust..." His body went limp, Dead, Selene immediately searched him, "No hidden weapon." "No poison vial." Kael frowned, "Then how did he die?" Selene looked confused, "It was like... something inside him stopped his heart." Someone had silenced him, Without ever entering the room.

Later that morning... Elara sat alone in the manor's library, The events of the night replayed endlessly, Eighteen years ago, The number refused to leave her thoughts, She barely remembered her childhood, Only scattered moments, A lullaby, A burning house, Someone carrying her through smoke, Everything before the age of five felt wrapped in fog, The library door creaked open, Elder Mira entered slowly, "I thought I'd find you here." Elara stood respectfully, "You knew I'd come?" "The books did." Elara blinked, "The books?" Mira smiled faintly, "People hide in libraries when they're searching for answers." She reached into her robes and placed an ancient leather journal on the table, "This belonged to the last Moon Oracle." Elara carefully opened it, Most pages were blank, Except one, A single sentence had been written in faded silver ink, When memory is stolen, truth hides in blood, "What does that mean?" Mira sighed, "I wish I knew." "You don't?" "I know many things." The old priestess looked toward the window, "But someone has spent decades making sure no one knows everything."

Meanwhile... Kael stood in his private office with Selene and Rowan, His younger brother leaned casually against the wall, "So..." "Our bride attracts assassins." Kael shot him a warning look, "Not helping." Rowan shrugged, "I'm serious." "Someone attacked one of the most heavily guarded weddings in pack history." "They weren't afraid of dying." Selene nodded, "They were afraid of failing." Kael walked toward the large map hanging on the wall, Three locations had been marked, Ashcroft Manor, Blackthorne Manor, Moon Temple, Every attack connected to recent disappearances had occurred near one of them, He drew another line, "They're searching for something." Selene folded her arms, "Or someone." Kael didn't answer, His silence said enough.

That afternoon... Elara wandered through the manor gardens hoping fresh air would calm her thoughts, Instead... She found something strange, Near the oldest oak tree lay a white wolf cub, Its leg was caught beneath a fallen branch, The tiny creature whimpered but didn't struggle, Elara hurried over, "It's alright." She gently lifted the branch away, The cub didn't run, Instead, it licked her hand, The silver mark on her wrist glowed, The cub's amber eyes widened, It lowered its head, Almost... As if bowing, "What are you doing?" A familiar voice interrupted, Kael approached from the stone path, His gaze shifted between Elara and the cub, "That cub trusts no one." Elara looked surprised, "You know him?" "He belongs to no pack." Kael knelt beside the animal, "He appeared outside our gates three months ago." "He lets no warrior near him." Yet the cub leaned happily against Elara's leg, Kael stared, Fenrir stirred again, Everything recognizes her.

As sunset painted the sky crimson, a messenger hawk landed on the manor balcony, Selene removed the scroll tied to its leg, Her face immediately changed, "Alpha." Kael accepted it, The wax seal bore the symbol of the Werewolf Council, He broke it open, His eyes narrowed, "What is it?" Rowan asked, Kael read aloud, "By order of the High Council..." "...Elara Ashcroft is to appear before the Council within three days." "They're moving quickly," Selene muttered, Rowan frowned, "They've never summoned a newly bonded Luna before." Kael continued reading, His jaw clenched, "They're accusing her of possessing forbidden blood." Silence followed, Elara felt the ground shift beneath her feet, Forbidden blood? She had never harmed anyone, She barely understood her own gift, "On what evidence?" she whispered, Kael handed the letter to Selene, At the bottom was a single line, Evidence provided by House Ashcroft, Elara stopped breathing, Her own family... Had accused her.

That night... Unable to sleep, Elara unfolded the crescent pendant once more, Moonlight reflected across its polished surface, Then- Click, A hidden compartment inside the pendant sprang open, A tiny strip of folded parchment slid into her hand, Her pulse quickened, Someone had hidden a message inside, With trembling fingers, she opened it, Only five words were written, Your mother was never Ashcroft, Before she could process the message- A loud explosion shook the entire manor, The windows shattered, War horns echoed through the estate, Guards shouted from outside, "Enemies inside the walls!" Kael's furious voice thundered across the courtyard, "Protect the Luna!" Elara rushed toward the doorway- Only to find a hooded figure already standing there, He wore a black cloak, On his chest... A silver raven crest, The same symbol Iris had warned her about, The stranger slowly removed his hood, Elara's breath caught, She recognized his face, Impossible, She had seen him before, Not in real life, In her vision, He smiled as though greeting an old friend, "Hello, Princess."