Blood Ties Part 2
575 Words
The word hit like a blow.
Lara’s breath caught, her mind stalling as everything seemed to tilt.
Before she could respond, the sharp crunch of footsteps outside shattered the moment.
Elian stiffened instantly, his gaze snapping toward the door.
Riley appeared a second later, moving like a shadow slipping into place beside him. His expression was dark, jaw clenched tight.
“He’s going to use this,” Riley muttered, his voice low and edged with anger. “Flush out the Aetheri.”
Lara straightened, her decision forming even before she fully understood it.
“I need to see Kadir,” she said. “Where is he?”
Riley hesitated.
For a brief moment, his eyes flicked to Elian.
Then he exhaled. “The barn. Raven’s Peak.”
Elian grabbed her arm instantly. “Don’t. It’s a trap.”
Lara pulled free, her resolve hardening. “It doesn’t matter. I’m going.”
The journey to Raven’s Peak felt longer than it should have.
The forest pressed in around them, branches clawing at the sky. The moon finally broke through the clouds, casting a cold, silvery light over the land.
It felt like a spotlight.
Like something was watching.
By the time they reached the clearing, the barn stood in silence—dark, waiting.
Lara stopped just outside, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Elian, Riley, and Mara stood with her, their unease almost tangible.
“I’m going in,” Lara said.
“No,” Elian snapped, stepping forward. “You can’t trust him.”
“I have to try,” she replied, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. “If there’s a chance to break the curse…”
Mara reached for her hand, squeezing it tightly. “We’ll be right outside. If anything feels wrong—”
“We’ll hear it,” Riley added, his tone firm.
Lara nodded.
Then she turned and stepped inside.
Kadir was waiting.
Of course he was.
He stood in the center of the barn, perfectly still, his presence filling the space like something dangerous and inevitable.
His eyes locked onto hers the moment she entered.
“You came,” he said, his voice low, almost pleased.
Lara met his gaze without flinching. “I’ll do it. Use my blood. Break the curse.”
For a moment, Kadir simply studied her.
Then he shook his head slightly.
“It’s not that simple.”
A distant howl cut through the night.
Then another.
Closer.
The pack.
Kadir stepped nearer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You’re Aetheri, Lara. The last of them.”
The words seemed to echo inside her skull.
Aetheri.
“My blood…” she whispered.
“It’s yours to claim,” he said.
The world tilted.
The diary.
“Elara knew,” Lara murmured.
Kadir nodded slowly. “Elara Vance was Aetheri. She bound the curse… to protect you.”
“Protect me?” Lara’s voice cracked. “I’m not even full-blooded.”
“Elian—” she began, turning—
“Your mother was human,” Kadir interrupted smoothly. “But your father…”
He paused.
“…was the last pure Aetheri.”
Lara’s breath hitched.
“The blue-eyed one.”
Her vision blurred.
The barn seemed to sway.
Her father?
A werewolf?
Riley stepped closer, his voice softer now. “Lara… you’re one of us.”
Outside, shadows moved.
The pack was closing in, their glowing eyes visible through the cracks in the wood.
- Writer
