The wolfless Luna

Chapter 9 Secrets in the Cellar

The rogue army surrounded Shadow Fang Castle like a living nightmare.

Hundreds of wolves prowled beneath the blood-red moon outside the iron gates while thunder cracked across the mountains overhead.

At the front of the army stood the silver-eyed woman.

Still.

Smiling.

Watching Lyra Nightbane.

Fear rooted Lyra in place.

Her breath became shallow.

Because the woman looked exactly like the figure from her visions.

Long black hair flowing in the storm.

Silver eyes glowing unnaturally beneath the moonlight.

Beautiful.

Deadly.

Familiar.

And somehow…

Sad.

Behind Lyra, Alpha Kael Draven’s wolf snarled violently beneath his skin.

Danger.

Every instinct inside him screamed the same thing.

Protect her.

Kill anyone who threatens her.

But for the first time in years…

Kael felt uncertain.

Because the woman outside carried ancient power.

He could feel it from here.

Dark.

Royal.

Terrifying.

Damon stepped away from the window quickly.

“We need to prepare the castle defenses.”

Kael’s expression hardened instantly.

“Seal every entrance.”

Damon nodded sharply before rushing from the archive.

The heavy doors slammed shut behind him.

Silence settled between Kael and Lyra again.

But the silence felt heavier now.

Dangerous.

The woman outside continued staring directly toward the archive tower.

Toward Lyra.

Then slowly—

She lifted one pale hand.

And pointed directly at the castle.

At Lyra.

The crescent moon mark beneath Lyra’s collarbone suddenly burned violently.

She gasped sharply.

The silver glow spread across her skin again.

Kael immediately turned toward her.

“Lyra.”

Pain twisted through her body.

Then suddenly—

The woman’s voice whispered inside her mind.

Come home.

Lyra froze.

Her eyes widened in horror.

Kael noticed immediately.

“What did she say?”

Lyra looked terrified.

“She’s inside my head.”

Kael’s jaw tightened sharply.

The bloodline connection.

Ancient magic.

Dangerous.

Lyra stepped backward while clutching her chest.

“I don’t understand any of this.”

Kael moved toward her slowly.

“You’re not alone.”

But she barely heard him now.

Because the voice kept whispering.

They lied to you.

Fear crawled down her spine.

“Stop…”

The truth waits below.

The archive suddenly felt colder.

Then the whisper changed.

Find the cellar.

Lyra’s breathing became uneven.

Kael grabbed her shoulders carefully.

“Look at me.”

His silver eyes locked onto hers instantly.

The mate bond pulsed deeply.

Warm.

Grounding.

The whispers faded slightly.

Kael noticed the immediate calming effect.

Interesting.

Her power weakened around him.

Or perhaps the bond itself protected her.

Lyra looked up shakily.

“She keeps talking to me.”

Kael’s expression darkened.

“What is she saying?”

Lyra hesitated.

“She told me to find the cellar.”

The moment the words left her lips—

Kael froze.

Because Shadow Fang Castle had an ancient underground cellar sealed for generations.

A place nobody entered.

A place even Kael avoided.

Slowly, Kael’s expression changed.

Realization.

Then concern.

“No.”

Lyra frowned slightly.

“What?”

“You’re not going down there.”

“Why?”

Kael looked toward the archive doors.

Silent for several moments.

Then finally answered.

“Because that cellar existed before this castle.”

A chill crawled across Lyra’s skin.

“And?”

Kael’s silver eyes darkened.

“It was built by the Moonborn.”

Silence filled the room instantly.

The mark beneath Lyra’s skin pulsed harder.

Like it recognized the truth.

Kael cursed quietly beneath his breath.

Because if the woman outside truly was connected to Lyra…

Then whatever waited beneath the castle might answer questions neither of them were ready for.

Another explosion shook the fortress violently.

War had begun outside.

But Lyra barely noticed now.

Her attention remained fixed on the strange pull deep beneath the castle.

Calling her.

Begging her to come.

Find the truth.

Kael noticed her expression immediately.

“You’re hearing it again.”

Lyra slowly nodded.

“It wants me to go there.”

Kael stepped closer sharply.

“You will stay away from that cellar.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so.”

Anger flickered across Lyra’s face instantly.

For once.

“I’m tired of people hiding things from me!”

The sudden emotion startled both of them.

Kael stared at her carefully.

Lyra’s breathing quickened.

“My entire life people lied to me.”

Tears filled her eyes again.

“Vivian lied.” “Selene lied.” “Everyone keeps acting like I’m dangerous while refusing to tell me why!”

Kael’s wolf softened slightly at her pain.

Mine.

Protect.

Kael lowered his voice.

“I’m trying to keep you alive.”

“But you don’t trust me either.”

That hit harder than expected.

Because part of it was true.

Kael didn’t fully trust what she could become.

And Lyra saw the hesitation in his eyes instantly.

Pain crossed her face.

“There it is.”

Kael frowned.

“What?”

“The fear.”

Silence.

Lyra stepped backward slowly.

“You’re scared of me too.”

“No.”

“Yes you are.”

Kael’s jaw tightened.

Because fear wasn’t the right word.

What he felt was worse.

If Lyra truly became what the prophecies warned about…

Then one day he might be forced to choose between his kingdom and his mate.

And Kael already knew which choice his wolf would make.

That terrified him.

Before either could speak again—

The archive doors burst open.

A wounded warrior stumbled inside covered in blood.

“Alpha!”

Kael immediately turned.

“What happened?”

“The rogues breached the eastern wall.”

Kael’s expression darkened instantly.

Damn it.

“We’re losing ground.”

Kael moved toward the doorway immediately.

But before leaving—

He looked back at Lyra.

“Stay here.”

Then he disappeared into the hallway.

The doors slammed shut behind him.

Silence returned instantly.

Lyra stood alone inside the archive trembling softly.

The whispers returned immediately.

Stronger now.

Below.

Her eyes slowly lowered toward the stone floor.

Toward the darkness beneath the castle.

The pull became unbearable.

Like invisible hands dragging her downward.

Lyra swallowed hard.

Then quietly left the archive.

The castle corridors had become chaos.

Warriors rushed toward battle positions while alarms echoed through the fortress.

Nobody noticed her slipping away.

Or perhaps nobody expected the wolfless girl to disappear into darkness willingly.

The deeper she traveled beneath the castle…

The colder the air became.

Dust covered the ancient stone staircases twisting downward beneath Shadow Fang Castle.

The walls changed too.

Old symbols appeared carved into the stone.

Crescent moons.

Ancient wolves.

Silver crowns.

The deeper she descended…

The stronger her mark glowed.

Until finally—

She reached a massive iron door.

Ancient.

Covered in silver symbols.

The moment Lyra touched it—

The door slowly creaked open by itself.

Darkness waited beyond.

And the smell of old paper and dust filled the air.

Lyra stepped inside carefully.

Candles suddenly ignited along the walls automatically.

The cellar revealed itself slowly.

Ancient shelves lined the room filled with old books, scrolls, and locked chests.

Moonborn symbols covered everything.

This wasn’t a cellar.

It was a hidden archive.

A secret one.

At the center of the room stood a single black chest.

Waiting.

The silver mark beneath Lyra’s skin pulsed violently.

She approached slowly.

Fear mixed with curiosity inside her chest.

Then carefully opened the chest.

Inside rested dozens of letters tied together with faded silver ribbon.

And sitting on top—

Was a photograph.

Lyra froze instantly.

The woman in the photograph smiled softly while holding a baby wrapped in silver blankets.

Her mother.

And the baby…

Was Lyra.

Tears filled her eyes immediately.

Hands trembling, she picked up the letters.

The first page read:

To my daughter, if you are reading this… then I failed to protect you.

Lyra’s heart nearly stopped.

She quickly unfolded the letter.

And began reading.

My name is Selene Vaelaris.

I am your mother.

And if Vivian Blackwood still lives… then she betrayed us all.

Fear spread through Lyra instantly.

The next lines shattered her world completely.

Vivian murdered your father to steal the Blackwood estate.

And she planned to kill you the night I disappeared.

Lyra staggered backward.

“No…”

Tears blurred the page.

Your bloodline frightened them.

The Alpha Kings ordered the Moonborn exterminated generations ago.

But you survived.

Her breathing became uneven.

The room spun around her.

Another letter slipped from the chest onto the floor.

Lyra picked it up shakily.

And found another horrifying truth.

Alpha Kael’s bloodline helped destroy the Moonborn.

Silence consumed the cellar.

Lyra stared at the words in horror.

Kael’s family helped slaughter hers.

Suddenly—

A floorboard creaked behind her.

Lyra turned sharply.

And froze.

Because standing in the shadows behind her…

Was Selene Blackwood smiling coldly.

Holding a silver dagger.