THE SCENTLESS LUNA:CRIMSON OATH

CHAPTER 2

The drive was silent. No music. No questions. Just the hum of the engine and the weight of his lie still burning in my chest.I almost thought he could tell.“I’ll keep you safe.”It wasn’t a big lie. But it was there and it was a lie. And my body remembered it. Like a spark in dry grass. I kept my eyes on the road. The trees were blurring and the moon was high. We weren’t going to a pack house. We were going to a fortress. Black stone. Iron gates. No lights, just shadows and movement. The wolves patrolled the walls. Not like guards but like soldiers. Kael didn’t say a word as we pulled in. Just got out, walked around and opened my door. I didn’t take his hand. But I stepped out. And the second I did? The air changed. It was thicker and heavier. Like the land itself was holding its breath.

“This is Crimson Fang,” he said. “My territory. My rules.”

I looked up. The house wasn’t a house. It was a temple. Tall. Sharp. Built like it was meant to survive war. “Why did you bring me here?” I asked. “Because you’re not safe anywhere else.” I almost laughed. “You just lied to me. How am I supposed to believe that?” He turned and looked at me. And for the first time, his pulse slowed. “No,” he said. “That one was true.” I stared. No lie.

No flinch. Just… honesty. And it wrecked me. Because I wasn’t used to truth. I was used to being told I was nothing. And here he was, saying I was dangerous. And meaning it. We walked inside. No servants. No noise. Just silence. He led me down a hall, stone walls, torches flickering. Stopped at a door. “This is yours,” he said. I stepped in and it was not a cell and not a cage it was a room.

Bed. Fire. Books. A window that looked out over the forest. But no handle on the inside. Of course. “You’re not a prisoner,” he said. “You’re a guest.” I turned. “Guests can leave.” He didn’t answer. Just handed me a black robe. “Wear this tomorrow. There’s a Council meeting.” “Why?” “Because I want them to see you.” I narrowed my eyes. “Why?” “Because I want to see what happens,” he said. “When a room full of liars stands near you.” And with that, he left. Door locked behind him. But not with a key. With a voice command. “Seal.”

I didn’t sleep. I couldn’t. Too much was happening. Too much felt wrong. I paced. Touched the walls. The bed. The robe. Then I saw it. On the nightstand. There was a photo. It was old and faded. A woman. My mother. She was young. Smiling. Standing next to… Kael. My breath stopped. No. No way. They knew each other? But she disappeared when I was six. Said she died in a pack war. But here she was. Alive. With him. And not just that. She was wearing the same black robe. The one he gave me. I picked up the photo. Turned it over. One word, written in her handwriting:

“Forgive.”

My hands shook. What the hell was going on? Was this all a setup? Was I part of some old deal between them? And if she’s alive…

Why didn’t she come for me? I dropped the photo. Sat on the bed. And that’s when I felt it. A pull. From deep in the house. Like something was calling to me. Not with sound but with blood. I followed it. Down the hall. Past locked doors. To a set of stairs. Stone and cold. Led underground. The air got heavier. Older. And at the bottom? There was a door. It was in iron and sealed. With a handprint. My handprint. I didn’t touch it. But the second I stepped close? It opened. Like it knew me. Inside? A chamber. Walls covered in red symbols. A circle on the floor. And in the center? A dagger. Black stone. Carved with wolves. And my name. Not “Elara.” “Oathborn.”

I picked it up. The second I did? I felt intense pain. Like fire in my veins. And then, I saw visions. My mother. In this room. Cutting her palm. Chanting. Blood dripping into the circle. And a voice, not hers. It was deeper and older.

“From truth, she rises. From blood, she binds. She will break the false kings. And wear their crowns in ash.”

Then, a face. It was Kael. On his knees. Blood on his lips. And me? Standing over him. Not with hate but with grief. And the voice again:

“The Oath demands a life. And love will not save him.”

I dropped the dagger. Stumbled back. The door slammed shut. And when I turned? Kael was there. Standing in the hall. Watching me. “I told you not to go down there,” he said. “How long have you known?” I whispered. “Since the beginning.” “Known what?” “That you’re not just a Truthseer.” He stepped closer. “That you’re a Blood Oath. Made from your mother’s sacrifice. Meant to destroy Alphas who lie.” I backed up. “Then why keep me? Why not kill me?” “Because I don’t want to destroy the system,” he said. “I want to fix it.” “And me?” “You’re the key.” “To what?” “To making it honest.” I laughed. “You don’t even know what that word means.” “I’m learning,” he said. And then, something I didn’t expect. He reached out. Not to grab but to touch. His fingers brushed my wrist. And for the first time? I didn’t feel the lie. I felt heat. Real. Raw.

And worse, I wanted it. But then, a sound. A howl. Not from outside. From inside the house. Kael’s wolf. Roaring. But not at me. At him. His hand jerked back. His eyes darkened. And for a second, I saw it. His wolf. Not fighting me. Fighting him. Like it knew. Like it was afraid. Afraid of what he was becoming. Afraid of me. He stepped back. “Go to your room,” he said. “Now.” I didn’t move. “Your wolf doesn’t like me,” I said. “No,” he said. “It doesn’t.” “Why?” “Because it knows,” he whispered. “That if I fall for you… it’ll be the last honest thing I ever do.” And then, the final twist. He turned. And on the back of his neck there was a mark a faint one. But there. A scar. In the shape of a hand print. My handprint.From the vision. The one where I stood over him. And the voice said: “The Oath demands a life.” And now? I knew. It wasn’t a prophecy. It was a memory. And one day… I would kill him. Unless I found a way to break the Oath. Before it was too late.