The Rival Alpha's Chosen Luna

Silence

Elara stood motionless, her silver eyes fixed on Lucien.

The ancient wolves remained bowed around them.

Even the Lycan King waited.

Lucien looked away first.

That single movement hurt more than any answer.

"You knew," Elara whispered.

Lucien's jaw tightened.

"I suspected."

"That's not the same thing."

"No."

His voice was quiet.

"It's worse."

Elara folded her arms.

"Then tell me."

"Tell me why your mother is looking for me."

Lucien remained silent for several seconds.

When he finally spoke, his voice was heavy.

"My mother believed the seals should never exist."

Elara frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"The First Luna created the seals to imprison something."

"The Order believes that power should be free."

"The Order?"

Lucien nodded.

"My mother joined them."

"Why?"

"Because she thought the world would become stronger."

The Lycan King stepped forward.

"No."

Everyone turned toward him.

"That wasn't the reason."

Lucien looked at the King sharply.

"You know?"

The Lycan King's expression darkened.

"I know more than I wish I did."

He looked directly at Elara.

"Your ancestor, the First Luna, did not create the seals alone."

Elara's heart skipped.

"Who helped her?"

The King hesitated.

Then—

"A Lycan King."

Silence.

"A king fell in love with the First Luna."

"Together, they sealed away an ancient force."

Elara glanced at the paintings on the chamber walls.

The silver wolf.

The crowned woman.

The black wolf.

Suddenly, she understood.

"The black wolf..."

The King nodded.

"The first king."

Lucien frowned.

"What does that have to do with my mother?"

The Lycan King's face became grim.

"Everything."

He pointed toward the ancient mural.

"Look carefully."

Elara moved closer.

At the edge of the painting...

Behind the First Luna and the King...

Stood another figure.

A woman.

Her face had been scratched away.

But around her neck was a symbol.

A silver crescent surrounded by three black stars.

The same symbol from the letter.

Elara's pendant burned.

Lucien's face lost color.

"No..."

The King nodded slowly.

"That woman was the First Luna's sister."

"She betrayed them."

The chamber became deathly quiet.

"And every generation since..."

The King looked at Lucien.

"...her descendants have served the Order."

Elara slowly turned toward Lucien.

Understanding dawned in her eyes.

"Your mother..."

Lucien lowered his head.

"Yes."

A cold feeling spread through Elara's chest.

"So your family..."

"My father fought against them."

Lucien's voice hardened.

"My mother chose them."

"And me?"

He looked into her eyes.

"I chose you."

For a moment, no one spoke.

Then—

A sudden pain exploded through Elara's palm.

She cried out.

The crescent mark glowed brightly.

Silver light spread across the chamber walls.

Ancient writing appeared where there had only been stone.

The Lycan King's eyes widened.

"The second clue."

Words slowly formed on the wall:

**Six seals protect the world.**

**Six keys awaken the Heir.**

**When the final seal breaks...**

The writing stopped.

The last line remained incomplete.

Elara stepped closer.

"What happens when the final seal breaks?"

A deep voice answered from the darkness.

"You die."

Everyone turned.

A figure stood at the far end of the chamber.

A woman.

Tall.

Elegant.

Silver hair.

Cold eyes.

Lucien went completely still.

"No..."

The woman smiled.

It was not a warm smile.

It was the smile of someone who had waited many years.

"Hello, my son."