CHAPTER 3 The Hidden Mark
1270 Words
The howl echoed through the storm like a warning from hell itself.
Then came the screams.
Chaos erupted inside the Blackwood estate as guests rushed through the grand hall in panic. Glass shattered somewhere upstairs while servants cried and scrambled for safety.
“Lock the doors!” “Protect the women!” “Rogues are inside the territory!”
Lightning flashed through the towering windows, illuminating terrified faces for a split second before darkness swallowed the room again.
At the center of the chaos stood Lyra Nightbane.
Frozen.
Heart racing.
Another howl ripped through the night.
Closer this time.
Too close.
Fear spread through her chest as memories resurfaced.
Blood.
Screaming.
Claws.
The night her father died.
Her breathing became uneven.
Then suddenly—
A massive hand wrapped around her wrist.
Lyra gasped softly.
Alpha Kael Draven pulled her behind him instantly as another crash echoed outside.
“Stay behind me.”
The command was cold.
Protective.
Absolute.
Lyra stared at his broad back in shock.
Nobody had ever protected her before.
Not once.
Another warrior burst through the front doors covered in blood.
“Alpha!” he shouted desperately. “There are too many!”
Kael’s silver eyes sharpened instantly.
“How many crossed the border?”
“At least twenty rogues.”
The room erupted in panic again.
“Twenty?!” “That’s impossible!” “They’ll slaughter everyone!”
Kael remained calm.
Terrifyingly calm.
“Damon.”
His Beta immediately stepped forward.
“Protect the estate.”
Damon frowned slightly.
“And you?”
Kael’s expression darkened.
“I’ll handle the rogues.”
Several guests looked horrified.
Alone?
Even for Alpha Kael, fighting twenty rogues alone bordered on insanity.
But Kael looked almost eager.
His wolf craved violence.
Especially tonight.
Especially with Lyra nearby.
The mate bond had turned every protective instinct savage.
Kael glanced back toward Lyra briefly.
“Do not leave this room.”
Then he walked toward the doors.
The crowd parted instantly for him.
Like prey moving away from a predator.
Lightning illuminated his face as he stepped into the storm.
Then—
He disappeared into the darkness.
A terrifying roar echoed outside moments later.
Not human.
Wolf.
Massive.
Monstrous.
The sound alone shook the walls.
Lyra felt chills crawl across her skin.
That was his wolf.
And somehow…
She wanted to see it.
The realization scared her.
Outside, screams suddenly exploded through the rain.
Bones cracked.
Rogues howled in agony.
The battle had begun.
Inside the hall, everyone waited anxiously while thunder rattled the estate.
Selene paced furiously near the fireplace.
Her face twisted with jealousy and rage.
She noticed the way Kael looked at Lyra.
The way he protected her.
It should have been her.
She was beautiful.
Powerful.
Desired.
Not Lyra.
Never Lyra.
Vivian grabbed Selene’s arm tightly.
“Stop staring at her.”
Selene lowered her voice angrily.
“He wants her.”
“No,” Vivian snapped quickly. “He’s curious. Nothing more.”
But even Vivian didn’t sound convinced.
Because she saw it too.
And it terrified her.
If Kael discovered the truth…
Everything would collapse.
Suddenly—
The estate shook violently again.
A servant screamed upstairs.
Then silence followed.
There was too much silence.
Damon immediately turned toward the staircase.
“Stay here.”
Several warriors followed him upstairs cautiously.
Lyra hugged herself tightly.
Something felt wrong.
The air felt strange now.
Heavy.
Like pressure building before an explosion.
Then—
Pain suddenly ripped through her chest.
Lyra gasped sharply.
Her knees nearly buckled.
A burning sensation spread beneath her skin.
Hot.
Violent.
“What’s wrong with you?” Selene snapped.
Lyra pressed a trembling hand against her chest.
“I… I don’t know.”
The burning intensified.
It felt like fire beneath her skin.
She stumbled backward desperately.
Then suddenly—
A silver glow flickered beneath the collar of her dress.
Vivian’s face drained instantly.
“No…”
Lyra looked down confused.
The glow became brighter.
Stronger.
Pulsing.
Everyone nearby stared in shock.
“What is that?” someone whispered.
The burning became unbearable.
Lyra rushed toward the nearest hallway, trying to escape the staring eyes.
“Lyra!” Vivian shouted sharply.
But Lyra kept running.
Her breathing became ragged as she stumbled through the dark halls of the estate.
The pain spread across her chest like wildfire.
She finally reached an empty bathroom and slammed the door shut behind her.
Then, she quickly pulled down the shoulder of her dress.
And froze.
A glowing crescent moon mark shimmered against her skin.
Silver.
Beautiful.
Alive.
Lyra stared at it in horror.
“What…?”
The mark pulsed softly beneath her fingertips.
As if responding to her touch.
Fear gripped her instantly.
This wasn’t normal.
Nothing about this was normal.
Suddenly—
A memory flashed inside her mind.
A woman with silver eyes.
Soft hands brushing through Lyra’s hair.
A voice whispering gently—
“When the moon awakens… they will come for you.”
Lyra stumbled backward, breathing hard.
The vision disappeared instantly.
“What was that?”
A knock slammed against the door.
“Open it,” Vivian hissed from outside.
Lyra quickly covered the mark.
The burning faded slightly.
Slowly, she opened the door.
Vivian shoved inside immediately before locking the door behind her.
The moment she saw Lyra’s face…
Her expression changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
“You saw it,” Vivian whispered.
Lyra backed away slowly.
“What is happening to me?”
Vivian grabbed her shoulders roughly.
“Listen carefully.”
Her voice trembled for the first time ever.
“You can not let Alpha Kael see that mark.”
Lyra stared at her in confusion.
“Why?”
Vivian’s face darkened.
“Because your mother had the same mark.”
Silence.
Lyra’s heart stopped.
“My…" mother?”
Vivian immediately released her.
As if she said too much.
“You know something,” Lyra whispered.
Vivian looked away sharply.
“She was dangerous.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“She ruined everything!”
The sudden anger shocked Lyra.
Vivian stepped closer.
“If Kael discovers who you really are, you will destroy us all.”
Before Lyra could respond—
Another roar shook the estate.
Closer.
Far closer.
Then suddenly, the bathroom window exploded inward.
Glass shattered everywhere.
Lyra screamed.
A rogue wolf lunged through the broken window, snarling viciously.
Massive.
Blood-covered.
Wild yellow eyes locked onto Lyra instantly.
Vivian shrieked in terror.
The rogue growled deeply before shifting partially into human form.
Scars covered his body.
His eyes widened the second he saw Lyra.
Then—
He dropped to one knee.
Shock filled his face.
“The mark…”
Lyra froze.
The rogue stared at her like he had seen a ghost.
“It’s true,” he whispered. “The Hybrid Queen’s daughter lives.”
Vivian’s face turned deathly pale.
“No…”
The rogue slowly smiled.
And suddenly, fear filled the room.
Not fear of him.
Fear of what he knew.
Then—
A massive black wolf crashed through the doorway.
Pure violence exploded into the room.
The rogue barely had time to scream before Alpha Kael’s wolf tore into him with terrifying force.
Blood splattered across the walls.
The bathroom shook from the impact.
Lyra stumbled backward in horror.
Kael’s wolf was enormous.
Black as midnight.
Silver eyes glow with murderous rage.
The rogue tried to escape—
SNAP.
Kael crushed his throat instantly.
Silence followed.
Heavy breathing filled the room.
Then, the giant wolf slowly turned toward Lyra.
And froze.
Because beneath the torn fabric near her shoulder…
The crescent moon mark glowed brightly.
- Writer
