ECHOES OF A BROKEN BOND

The Haunted Alpha

Jace's POV

The hallowed glade's fractured stones were illuminated by the moon. I felt unarmed as I stood among them, blade in hand. There were ruins of the circle. Our pack was torn by the magic that had previously bound it. There was a hollow pain in my heart that I couldn't identify.

I brought my blade down. As swiftly as it had appeared, the silver-hooded figure was gone. The dim glow of the runes at my feet was all that was left. I extended my hand and touched one with my fingertip. I felt a chill go up my arm as it pulsed under my touch.

I spun around as I heard footsteps behind me. Elena—no, Serin—was standing at the edge of the ridge. Her fresh green eyes widened in amazement and horror. In her palm, I spotted the ribbon. The old ribbon I had given her was now wet and discolored.

"Is it over?" she said in a tremulous murmur.

I nodded grudgingly. Words felt like stones stuck in my throat. I had no idea what had ended. The danger? The enigma? Or the tie I had severed?

Serin stepped forward. She knelt beside the runes and used her fingertip to draw a line. She whispered, "They are alive."

I took a step back and shook my head. "They ought not to be." My words sounded insincere. For millennia, the stones had shielded us. They bled magic now that I couldn't fix.

She stood up and looked at me. "This was done by the moon," she remarked. "We were summoned here."

I scowled. For generations, my pack had been led by the moon. It had strengthened and united us. Why had it broken through our hallowed earth now?

The birch leaves rustled in a sudden breeze. The moon's petals floated in the atmosphere. Serin's garments fluttered. She appeared as though she had been sculpted from the moonlight itself.

My heart was racing. Every breath was labored. I tightened my hold on my sword. Even though I had battled warbands and wolves, I was more afraid of this unidentified power.

The ribbon fell on the stones by Serin. The cloth dropped to my feet after uncurling. The ribbon snaked itself around my ankle as I took a step back.

I glanced down. I felt a chill creep up my back. Like the runes, the ribbon radiated a pale light. It uncoiled after pulsing once and twice.

The creature raised itself into the air. Like it was alive, the ribbon writhed. It sprang forward, encircling Serin's wrist and clamping her hand to the closest rock.

With a gasp, she attempted to break free. The ribbon was secure. Sword in hand, I ran to her side.

"Give her up!" I yelled.

The ribbon became taut. It became more radiant. From the stone came a low hum. I touched its surface with my palm. Like ice, power blazed through me.

Serin let out a cry. Pain flared in her emerald eyes. I used all of my effort to pry the ribbon off her wrist. It drifted away in a shower of light, breaking like paper.

Breathing heavily, she gripped her wrist. I crouched next to her and held her arm. "Are you in pain?" My voice trembled as I asked.

She gave a nod. "The moon seemed to reach through me." It was as though she was speaking from a great distance.

I assisted her in standing up. We were close enough for me to smell the subtle hint of jasmine in her hair and the pine on her cloak. I felt remorse and desire in my heart.

I said, "Come." "We have to report what transpired to the council."

As we made our way back through the trees, she rested against me. Every splintered stone and fallen branch brought back memories of my own struggles. However, none had left my soul as bruised as this evening.

Torches were burning at the council circle when we arrived at the camp. Wolves snuggled together in clumps and spoke softly. Under the main torch, Seraphine knelt beside Rowan. Her eyes were troubled as she gazed up at us.

Jace felt his heart twist. I tried to sound calm. I declared, "The sacred stones were awakened." "We heard from a being of moonlight. We were given a warning by it.

With his silver hair gleaming in the torchlight, Rowan stood. "A warning?" he said solemnly.

I looked him in the eye. The past and the future collide, it said. Serin was then restrained to one of the stones.

There was silence in the circle. The wind died. Even the fire's crackle seemed far away.

Seraphine's mouth clenched. She said, "Bind her once more and see if she speaks more." Her voice challenged me to say no.

I gave Serin a quick look. Despite being as pale as a ghost, she stood erect. After swallowing, I looked back at the stones.

As I got closer to the closest rune, the council stepped aside. I touched it while kneeling. Under my hand, power rippled. I muttered a pledge to defend my pack, but I could feel it slipping away from me.

I yelled Serin's name while standing. "Serin!"

She took a step forward. At her feet was the now-dull ribbon. I hesitated before reaching for her hand. Faint but alive, the runes sparkled in the torchlight.

I touched Serin's wrist with my palm. The runes became more pulsating. A silver moonlight ribbon arose from the earth and encircled her arm. It disappeared after spreading like a curtain to her shoulder.

She let out a gasp. Her breath caught. I went down on one knee next to her. Tears filled her emerald eyes and she put a hand to her heart.

"Have you heard it?" Quietly, I asked.

She gave a headshake. "I sense it. But I don't get it.

Rowan took a step ahead. He declared, "We have to take her to the Mooncrest Seer." "She is the only one who can read that magic."

I gave a nod. The council agreed in whispers. Seraphine extended her arm to Serin. The two women strolled side by side, glaring at one another.

With my sword by my side, I followed. Kian snuck in next to me. He gave me a concerned look. I returned the nod. He glanced at Serin's flaming arm.

I muttered to Kian, "No one else can see the glow."

He scowled. "The moon selected her," he whispered quietly. "Everything will change because of that mark."

I tightened my jaw. Like Serin, I was haunted. I was plagued by guilt over the pledge I had broken. However, I was afraid of what this tie would require of us.

The darkness was shattered by a howl. The wolves turned northward. I felt a coil of fear in my stomach as I looked up.

Seraphine stopped. Her voice was tense as she said, "What was that?"

Rowan held out his hand. "Northern wolves," he declared. "They seem afraid." He scowled. "They're heading south for some reason."

Kian and I looked at each other. "We ought to look into it," I said. My stomach grew constricted.

Seraphine squinted her eyes. She stated, "Not without council approval." Her voice was abrasive.

I moved in between Rowan and her. I said, "We can't wait." "We all fall if the north does."

On me, Rowan's amber eyes grew softer. He gave a nod. Excellent. To find out what motivates them, Jace and Serin will head a tiny band.

Seraphine did not protest, but I could feel her tense next to me.

I looked across at Serin. In the torchlight, her arm gave off a slight glimmer. Her eyes were a battle between resolution and fear as she gazed at me.

I said, "Are you ready?"

She gave a nod. "All set."

Under the chilly glare of the moon, we set out. Behind us, wolves lined up. Our torchlight was engulfed by the foliage. The soft dirt slid into my boots. It felt like every breath was painful.

I made an effort to ignore my guilt. Serin was standing near me, her arm grazing mine. After one pulse, the light faded.

The heavens rolled across with a clap of freezing thunder. From behind a cloud, the moon appeared. It had a bright, broad face. The trees were silvered by its light.

Then I caught a glimpse of the shadows darting through the trees. Not wolves. tall, slender figures with bright eyes. No pack I knew moved as quickly as they did.

I halted breathing. I brought my sword up.

Serin's arm blazed and flickered with light. She stumbled and gasped. She was about to fall, but I grabbed her.

There was silence in the jungle. Through the leaves, only the wind murmured.

At the path's edge, the shadows stopped. With ravenous brightness, they gazed at us.

My heart pounded.

A single figure emerged from the shadows. Its eyes were as bright as the moon. When it did speak, it muttered my name in a loving yet cautionary tone: "Jace. The darkness that lies ahead will determine Elena's fate.