BLOODBOUND ALPHAS

CHAPTER TWO — The Royal Palace

The Royal Palace of Blood Moon Hollow was nothing like Luna had imagined.

She had seen it countless times from a distance.

Everyone in the city had.

The palace stood at the highest point of the royal district, surrounded by enormous black walls and guarded gates. Four towers rose into the night sky, their pointed roofs disappearing into the mist. Silver banners bearing the royal wolf emblem hung from the stone walls, moving gently in the cold wind.

But seeing it from outside was different from standing before it.

Luna sat inside the royal carriage, staring through the window.

Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap.

She had changed into the best dress her family owned—a simple dark-blue dress that Ophelia had altered several times over the years. It wasn't elegant enough for the palace, but it was the best they had.

Her mother had insisted on brushing her hair three times.

Her father had walked her to the carriage.

Neither had said what they were both thinking.

Be careful.

The carriage slowed.

Luna's stomach twisted.

They had arrived.

The door opened.

A royal guard stepped aside.

"Miss Asteria."

Luna took a breath.

Then stepped down.

Cold air immediately touched her face.

She looked up.

The palace was enormous.

Its black stone walls were decorated with silver carvings of wolves, moons, and ancient symbols she couldn't understand. Tall windows stretched across several floors, glowing with warm golden light.

Guards stood on either side of the entrance.

Their eyes followed her.

Luna lowered her gaze.

She hated that feeling.

The feeling of being judged before she'd even spoken.

She walked toward the entrance.

One of the guards opened the enormous doors.

Luna stepped inside.

Warmth surrounded her.

The palace smelled faintly of burning wood, old books, and something she couldn't identify.

The entrance hall was even larger than she'd expected.

A massive chandelier hung from the ceiling.

The floor was polished black marble.

Portraits covered the walls.

Kings.

Queens.

Alphas.

Ancient members of powerful families.

Luna slowed when she saw one enormous painting.

A man stood in the center wearing a crown.

Beside him stood a woman.

Behind them were several wolves.

At the bottom of the painting was a date.

Three hundred years ago.

Luna stared.

"Don't fall behind."

She looked toward the guard.

"Sorry."

She followed him through the corridor.

With every step, her anxiety increased.

Why had the King summoned her?

She wasn't important.

She wasn't powerful.

She wasn't from one of the great families.

She was an Omega from the Asteria family.

There was nothing remarkable about her.

At least, that was what she had always believed.

The guard finally stopped before two enormous doors.

"The council chamber."

Luna swallowed.

"Is the King inside?"

"Yes."

"Who else?"

The guard's expression didn't change.

"The royal council."

That didn't answer her question.

Before she could ask anything else, the doors opened.

Luna stepped inside.

The room became silent.

Dozens of eyes turned toward her.

Her heart nearly stopped.

She immediately recognized the royal family.

King Lycaon sat at the center of the raised platform.

He was older than Luna had expected, but there was nothing weak about him. His dark hair was streaked with silver, and his expression was severe.

Beside him sat Queen Ylva, elegant and composed.

To their side stood two younger members of the royal family.

Prince Conri.

And Princess Selene.

Luna had seen their pictures before.

Never this close.

Her attention moved across the room.

Four elders stood near the throne.

Elder Zeev.

Elder Velkan.

Elder Ashina.

Elder Adira.

Then Luna noticed the others.

Members of powerful families.

And two men standing slightly apart from everyone else.

The first was tall, dressed entirely in black.

His expression was unreadable.

There was something about him that made Luna instinctively straighten.

She knew that face.

Everyone in Blood Moon Hollow did.

Draven Moonveil.

The heir of the Moonveil family.

An Alpha.

Luna immediately looked away.

She had heard stories about him.

Everyone had.

Draven was known for his temper, his strength, and his refusal to tolerate disrespect.

She didn't want to attract his attention.

Then her eyes moved to the man beside him.

Kael Ashwood.

His expression was calmer.

Almost too calm.

He wasn't staring at her like the others.

He was studying her.

Luna felt uncomfortable.

She looked away again.

King Lycaon finally spoke.

"Luna Asteria."

She stepped forward.

"Your Majesty."

"Come closer."

Luna obeyed.

She stopped several feet before the throne.

King Lycaon studied her carefully.

"Do you know why you are here?"

"No, Your Majesty."

"Did anyone explain the summons?"

"No."

The King nodded slowly.

"What do you know about your family?"

Luna blinked.

"My family?"

"Yes."

"My parents are Silas and Ophelia Asteria."

"I know."

Luna frowned.

"We aren't important, Your Majesty."

A few people in the room exchanged glances.

Draven's expression remained unchanged.

Kael's eyebrow lifted slightly.

King Lycaon leaned back.

"Who told you that?"

Luna hesitated.

"Everyone."

The answer came out quieter than she intended.

The King studied her for several seconds.

"Do you know how old your family bloodline is?"

"No."

"Do you know where the Asterias originated?"

"No."

"Do you know anything about your ancestors?"

Luna shook her head.

"Only what my parents have told me."

"And what have they told you?"

"That we're ordinary."

The room became completely silent.

Luna suddenly felt like she had said something wrong.

Elder Zeev stepped forward.

"That is precisely the problem."

Luna looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

The elder exchanged a glance with the King.

"Your family was never supposed to be ordinary."

Luna's heart began beating faster.

"What does that mean?"

King Lycaon rose from his throne.

"There are records dating back several centuries. Records concerning the founding families of Blood Moon Hollow."

He walked slowly down the steps.

"Those records contain information about bloodlines, abilities, alliances, and certain supernatural events."

Luna listened carefully.

"One record was discovered three nights ago."

Her eyebrows drew together.

"What record?"

Elder Ashina answered.

"An Asteria record."

Luna stared at her.

"What does it say?"

The elder didn't answer immediately.

King Lycaon looked toward Elder Zeev.

Zeev nodded.

"The document mentions a bloodline that disappeared generations ago."

Luna's breathing slowed.

"What bloodline?"

"The record doesn't name it."

"Then how do you know it's connected to me?"

"We don't."

Luna stared.

"Then why am I here?"

The question echoed through the chamber.

Nobody answered.

Finally, Kael spoke.

"Because the record contains a symbol."

Luna turned toward him.

It was the first time he had spoken directly to her.

"What symbol?"

Kael glanced toward the elders.

"A crescent moon surrounded by three lines."

Luna's face went blank.

She knew that symbol.

Her mother had one.

A tiny pendant she always wore around her neck.

Luna had seen it since childhood.

She had never thought much about it.

"I know that symbol."

Every head in the room turned toward her.

Draven's eyes sharpened.

Kael straightened.

King Lycaon's expression changed.

"You do?"

Luna nodded.

"My mother has a pendant with it."

"Where is it?"

"At home."

Elder Velkan stepped forward.

"Did your mother ever tell you where it came from?"

"No."

"Did she tell you what it means?"

"No."

The elder's expression became grim.

King Lycaon turned toward the guards.

"Send someone to retrieve it."

Luna's eyes widened.

"Wait."

The King looked at her.

"That pendant belongs to my mother."

"I understand."

"No."

Luna took a breath.

"You can't just take something from my family."

The room went silent again.

Draven looked at her.

For the first time, something almost resembling interest appeared in his eyes.

An Omega had just challenged the King.

Kael noticed it too.

King Lycaon stared at Luna for several seconds.

Then, unexpectedly, he smiled faintly.

"You have more courage than I expected."

Luna didn't know whether that was a compliment.

"I only want to know what's happening."

"And you will."

The King turned toward the elders.

"Bring the records."

Elder Adira moved toward a table covered with old documents.

Luna watched as several ancient books were opened.

Pages turned.

Dust rose into the air.

Then Elder Adira stopped.

"I found it."

Everyone gathered around the table.

Luna remained where she was.

She couldn't see the page.

Then Draven moved closer.

Kael followed.

Luna hesitated before approaching.

On the open page was an old drawing.

A crescent moon.

Three lines.

And beneath it, words written in an ancient language.

Luna couldn't read them.

"What does it say?" she asked.

Elder Adira translated.

"'When the forgotten blood returns, the balance will break.'"

A chill ran through Luna.

"What does that mean?"

No one answered.

Draven looked at the page.

"This is ridiculous."

Elder Zeev looked at him.

"You think so?"

"I think we're frightening an Omega over an old piece of paper."

Luna glanced at Draven.

Their eyes met.

His were darker than she'd expected.

For some reason, she didn't look away.

Draven's gaze remained fixed on her.

Then something strange happened.

A sharp pressure struck his chest.

His wolf stirred.

Draven immediately stepped back.

His expression hardened.

Luna felt something too.

A strange warmth moved through her body.

She placed a hand against her chest.

"What was that?"

Kael noticed.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

Luna quickly lowered her hand.

Draven said nothing.

But he continued watching her.

King Lycaon broke the silence.

"Luna Asteria, until we understand the meaning of these records, you will remain under royal protection."

Luna stared at him.

"What?"

"You will stay at the palace."

"No."

The answer escaped before she could stop it.

Several people looked shocked.

Luna swallowed.

"I mean..."

She looked toward the King.

"My parents will worry."

"They have already been informed."

"But I don't understand why I have to stay here."

"Because someone else may be searching for the same thing we are."

Luna's blood ran cold.

"Who?"

King Lycaon's expression became serious.

"We don't know."

Draven looked toward the doors.

Kael's gaze hardened.

The elders exchanged worried glances.

Luna suddenly understood something.

This wasn't merely about an old family record.

Something was happening.

Something dangerous.

And somehow, her family was connected to it.

King Lycaon turned toward the guards.

"Prepare a room for Luna Asteria."

The guards bowed.

Luna remained frozen.

She wanted to go home.

She wanted her mother.

She wanted her father.

Most of all, she wanted someone to explain what was happening.

Instead, she found herself standing inside the most powerful place in Blood Moon Hollow.

And she had no idea that the moment she stepped through those palace doors, her ordinary life had already ended.

Outside, the moon climbed higher over the city.

And somewhere beyond the palace walls, something ancient was beginning to awaken.