The Rival Alpha's Chosen Luna

The Man Who killed Her Father

Elara couldn't breathe.

The man standing across the burning battlefield was the same face that had haunted her dreams for years.

Older now.

Harder.

But unmistakable.

The silver scar running from his temple to his jaw was exactly as she remembered.

She had seen it through the crack in her bedroom door the night her mother died.

She had been only a child.

Too young to understand what was happening.

Too frightened to scream.

But she remembered his voice.

She remembered those eyes.

And she remembered her mother's final words.

**Run, Elara. Don't look back.**

The man smiled.

"You remember me."

Elara's hands began trembling.

"You killed her."

He tilted his head.

"Your mother chose her fate."

"She died because she refused to give you to us."

Lucien stepped in front of Elara.

"You won't get near her."

The man's smile disappeared.

"Still playing the hero, Alpha Lucien?"

Lucien's eyes narrowed.

"You know my name."

"I know everyone's name."

The man slowly looked across the battlefield.

"Especially those who stand between us and the Moon Heir."

The Lycan King raised his sword.

"Malachi."

The man's eyes flickered.

"So the old King remembers me."

"How could I forget the man who betrayed the ancient order?"

Malachi laughed.

"Betrayed?"

"No."

"I simply realized the truth before you did."

The King tightened his grip on his sword.

"What truth?"

Malachi's gaze returned to Elara.

"That the Moon Heir was never meant to protect the world."

"She was meant to rule it."

Elara shook her head.

"I don't want to rule anything."

Malachi smiled.

"That is what they taught you to believe."

He took one step forward.

"Your mother spent years hiding you from us."

"She told you we were monsters."

"She was wrong."

Elara's voice shook with anger.

"You murdered her."

"Because she refused to listen."

"You killed an innocent woman."

Malachi's expression hardened.

"Your mother was not innocent."

Elara froze.

"What?"

"She knew exactly what you were."

"She knew what would happen when your eighteenth birthday arrived."

The words struck Elara like lightning.

Her eighteenth birthday.

The rejection.

The pendant.

The awakening.

Everything.

Malachi continued.

"She knew the first seal would begin to weaken."

"And she knew that when you awakened..."

"Azrath would hear you."

Elara turned toward the enormous creature.

Azrath remained motionless.

Watching.

Waiting.

"Why did she hide me?"

Malachi's smile returned.

"Because she loved you."

For the first time, his voice carried something almost resembling respect.

"She believed love could change what you were."

Elara's eyes filled with tears.

"What am I?"

Malachi opened his arms.

"The last bloodline of the Shadow Moon."

A gasp swept through the warriors.

Ryder stared at Elara.

The Lycan King closed his eyes.

Lucien remained completely still.

Elara looked at him.

"You knew."

It wasn't a question.

Lucien's jaw tightened.

"I knew there was something different about your blood."

"But you knew."

"I didn't know everything."

Her heart cracked.

"You lied to me."

"I protected you."

"By keeping me ignorant?"

Lucien stepped closer.

"Because if the Serpent Order discovered the truth before you were ready..."

"They would have killed you."

Malachi laughed.

"Listen to him."

"He still doesn't understand."

Lucien turned sharply.

"What don't I understand?"

Malachi's eyes gleamed.

"She doesn't need protection anymore."

He pointed toward Elara.

"She has awakened."

The black moon above them suddenly pulsed.

Elara's pendant shattered.

A wave of silver energy exploded outward.

Every warrior fell to the ground.

Even the Lycan King staggered.

Elara screamed.

A strange symbol appeared across her chest.

Half silver.

Half black.

Azrath lowered its enormous head.

**At last.**

Elara fell to her knees.

Her eyes glowed brighter than ever.

And then she heard another voice.

Not Azrath.

Not Malachi.

Not the Lycan King.

A woman's voice.

Soft.

Familiar.

**My daughter...**

Elara's heart stopped.

"Mother?"

The voice whispered again.

**Don't trust the King.**

Elara looked up at the Lycan King.

His face had gone completely pale.

He knew that voice.

And for the first time...

The ancient King looked afraid.