LUNA'S RECKONING

THE BROTHER I NEVER KNEW

Sera's POV

"My name is Kieran Nightshade," he says softly. "And I'm your brother."

My mouth opens but no sound comes out. Brother? I don't have a brother. I'm the last Nightshade. The only one left. That's what I've believed for five years.

"You're lying," I say. But even as I say it, I see my father's ring hanging around his neck. The ring that was meant to be buried with him.

Kieran's golden eyes—eyes exactly like mine—fill with sadness. "I wish I was kidding, Sera. I wish our parents were still alive to explain everything. But they're gone, and I'm all you have left."

Around us, the destroyed wedding hall has gone totally silent. Even the fighting has stopped. Everyone is looking at Kieran like he's a ghost.

"Impossible," Enforcer Darius says, backing up a step. "Kieran Nightshade is supposed to be dead. The Council confirmed—"

"The Council lies," Kieran interrupts, his voice going cold as ice. "They've been lying for years. About my parents. About me. And about my sister."

He turns back to me, and his face softens again. "Sera, I know this is hard to believe. But I can show it. Ask me something only a Nightshade would know."

My mind runs. "What...what was our mother's favorite song?"

"She didn't have one," Kieran says instantly. "She said music was for peaceful dogs, and Nightshades are never at peace. But she hummed when she cooked, even though she pretended she didn't. " My knees feel weak. That's true. Mom always hummed while making dinner, then got embarrassed when Dad caught her.

"Our father's scar," I say, testing him again. "Where was it?"

"Left shoulder blade. Shaped like a half moon. He got it saving your life when you were three and wandered into rogue country." Kieran steps closer. "He told me to watch over you. But they sent me away before I could keep that promise."

Tears burn my eyes. "Sent you where?"

"To the Shadow Realms. For special training." His jaw tightens. "Father knew something bad was coming. He sent me away three months before they died. Told me if anything happened to them, I needed to get stronger. Strong enough to protect you."

"Why didn't you come back?" My voice breaks. "I was alone for five years! I had no one!"

"I tried!" Kieran's power bursts, making everyone in the room step back. "The Council put a magical barrier around you. Every time I got close, the magic pushed me away. It took me five years to break through their spell. Five years of looking while you suffered."

He reaches toward me, and I see his hands are shaking. "I'm so sorry, little sister. I failed you."

Something inside me cracks. All the loneliness, all the pain, all the years of lying and hiding—suddenly I'm not facing it alone anymore. I have family.

I grab Kieran's hand, and power bursts between us.

Golden light shoots from where we're touching, spreading through the entire hall. I gasp as I feel his strength flowing into me, and mine flowing into him. The dark magic Darius hit me with shatters completely. My wounds heal quickly.

"The bloodline bond," Kieran breathes. "It's activating."

"What's happening?" I ask as the light grows brighter.

"Nightshades are stronger together. When family joins, we share power." He grins, and it changes his scary face into something warm. "You just made me twice as strong. And I did the same for you."

The bright light finally fades. I feel amazing—like I could run for miles or fight an army. All my pain is gone.

Enforcer Darius looks scared now. "Two Nightshades. The Council will not allow—"

"The Council," a new voice says, "can go to hell."

I turn to see Ryker stepping forward, his silver wolf eyes locked on Kieran. Beside him, Damon and Zane move into position. All three strong Alphas are watching my brother like he's a threat.

"Who are you?" Ryker wants.

"Her family," Kieran says simply. "And you are?"

"Someone who's been protecting her longer than you have." Ryker's voice is pure Alpha order. "Where were you when she was being poisoned? Where were you when she was suffering?"

Kieran's eyes flash gold. "Breaking the spell that kept me away. Don't question my dedication to my sister, wolf."

"Then prove it," Damon says grimly, stepping from the shadows. "Because right now, your time is very convenient. You appear the moment she shows herself?"

"I appear because the spell finally broke!" Kieran snaps. "The moment she used her Alpha Dominance at full power, the barrier broke. I've been trying to reach her for five years!"

"He's telling the truth," I say, shocking myself. But somehow, deep down, I know he is. "I can feel it. The family bond doesn't lie."

Maya pushes through the crowd, looking at Kieran with narrow eyes. "Okay, so you're her brother. Great. But we still have about thirty Council Guards here who want her dead. Can we deal with the family gathering after we survive?"

She's right. The guards are gathering. Darius is calling for help on a radio. We need to leave.

"I have a safe place," Kieran says to me. "Our family home. It's shielded by magic older than the Council itself. They can't touch you there."

"How do we know you're not leading her into a trap?" Zane asks, his scarred face suspicious.

"You don't," Kieran admits. "But Sera does. She can feel the truth through our bond."

Everyone looks at me. Ryker, Damon, Zane—all three Alphas who fought for me tonight. Maya, my best friend. And Kieran, the brother I never knew I had.

The Council Guards are getting closer. I hear more cars outside. If we stay, we fight. If we run, we live.

"I'll go with Kieran," I decide. "But not alone. Maya comes with me."

"Sera—" Ryker starts.

"Follow if you want," I tell the three Alphas. "But don't try to stop me. I need answers about my family. About who killed my parents. And Kieran has them."

Kieran nods and takes my hand again. "Stay close. The travel spell is rough for first-timers."

"Transport spell?" I barely get the words out before the world spins.

Golden light wraps around us. The wedding hall disappears. I feel like I'm being pulled through a tiny tunnel at great speed. My stomach flips.

Then we crash onto solid ground.

I'm gasping, trying not to throw up, when I realize we're standing in front of a huge stone house. It looks ancient, with glowing symbols carved into every surface.

"Welcome home," Kieran says.

Maya appears next to us, also looking sick. "I hate magic," she groans.

The house is exactly how I remember from childhood. The garden where I played. The window to my old bedroom. Everything frozen in time.

"How is this possible?" I whisper. "The Council burned our house after Mom and Dad died."

"They burned a house," Kieran corrects. "Not this one. Our parents protected this place with blood magic. Only Nightshades can find it."

He leads us to the front door. It opens on its own, recognizing our bloodline.

Inside, everything is covered in dust but perfectly kept. Family pictures on the walls. My mother's favorite chair. My father's weapon collection.

I walk through like I'm in a dream, touching things I thought I'd never see again.

Then I see it.

On the dining room table sits a letter with my name on it. In my mother's handwriting.

"What is that?" I ask, my voice shaking.

Kieran's face goes pale. "That...that wasn't there before. I've been here a hundred times. That letter was never there."

Maya picks it up carefully. "It's addressed to Sera. It says 'Open when you come home with your brother.'"

My hands shake as I take the letter. How did Mom know I'd come here with Kieran? How did she know any of this would happen?

I break the seal and start reading.

With each word, my blood runs colder.

My dearest Sera,

If you're reading this, then I'm dead, your brother has found you, and you've discovered your Alpha Dominance. I'm so sorry for the lies. So sorry for the pain. But there was no other way.

Everything that's happened to you was planned. Not by your enemies—by me.

I planned your marriage to Kade. I asked Victoria to watch over you. I even picked which pack you'd hide in. Every step of your life for the past five years was part of my plan.

You needed to suffer to become strong. You needed to hide to live. And you needed to break before you could become who you're meant to be.

I know you hate me right now. But you'll understand soon.

The Council isn't your real enemy. They're robots. Someone much more dangerous is pulling their strings. Someone who's been waiting for a Nightshade to rise again.

Don't trust anyone. Not the Council. Not the Alphas following you. Not even—

The letter stops there. Torn off mid-sentence.

"Not even who?" Maya wants. "Sera, who aren't you supposed to trust?"

I turn the paper over with shaking hands.

Written on the back in different handwriting—darker, angrier—are four words that make my heart stop:

NOT EVEN YOUR BROTHER.