BLOODBOUND ALPHAS

CHAPTER THREE — The Asteria Secret

Luna didn't sleep.

She had been given one of the palace's guest rooms, but calling it a room felt almost insulting.

It was larger than her family's entire house.

A massive bed stood against one wall, covered with dark-blue blankets. Tall windows overlooked the city, and a small fireplace burned quietly in the corner. There was even a private bathroom, something Luna had only seen in expensive houses.

None of it made her comfortable.

She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the royal letter that had brought her here.

Her fingers traced the edge of the paper.

Luna Asteria.

That was all it said.

Yet somehow, those few words had turned her entire life upside down.

She looked toward the window.

Blood Moon Hollow stretched beneath the night sky.

From this height, the city looked beautiful.

Golden lights filled the streets. Cars moved along the roads like tiny glowing insects. Tall buildings stood beside old stone structures, creating a strange mixture of modern life and ancient tradition.

Beyond the city were the forests.

Dark.

Silent.

Endless.

Luna had always been warned not to go too far into them.

Every child in Blood Moon Hollow heard the same warnings.

Never enter the Forbidden Forest.

Never cross the old boundary stones.

Never follow a wolf you don't recognize.

And above all—

Never wander beyond your family's territory after dark.

Luna had never questioned those rules.

Tonight, however, she found herself wondering why.

A knock came at the door.

Luna immediately stood.

"Who is it?"

A woman's voice answered.

"Princess Selene."

Luna's eyes widened.

She opened the door.

Princess Selene stood outside with two guards behind her.

Unlike the intimidating presence of the elders, Selene looked calm.

She wore a simple silver dress and had dark hair falling over one shoulder.

"May I come in?"

Luna hesitated.

"Of course, Your Highness."

Selene entered.

The guards remained outside.

Luna closed the door.

"You don't have to call me Your Highness every five seconds," Selene said.

Luna blinked.

"I don't?"

Selene smiled.

"No. But don't tell my mother I said that."

For the first time since arriving at the palace, Luna almost laughed.

"I won't."

Selene sat in one of the chairs.

"You look frightened."

"I'm confused."

"That's understandable."

Selene looked toward the window.

"My father doesn't summon people without a reason."

"That's what everyone keeps saying."

"And you still don't know why?"

"No."

Selene was quiet for a moment.

Then she asked, "What do you know about your family?"

Luna sighed.

"Apparently less than I thought."

"Tell me anyway."

Luna sat across from her.

"My parents are Silas and Ophelia Asteria. We're not wealthy. We're not powerful. My father repairs equipment for several businesses in the lower district, and my mother makes clothes."

Selene listened carefully.

"And your wolf?"

Luna's expression changed.

"What about her?"

"Have you always been able to communicate with her?"

Luna looked down.

"Not very well."

Selene frowned.

"Why?"

"I don't know."

Luna had never liked talking about her wolf.

Most wolves felt their connection to their wolf clearly by their late teens.

Luna's had always been different.

She could sense her wolf.

Sometimes she heard faint thoughts.

Sometimes she felt emotions that didn't seem entirely hers.

But there was always something separating them.

Like a locked door.

"What's her name?" Selene asked.

Luna hesitated.

"Lyra."

Selene's expression became thoughtful.

"Does Lyra ever speak to you?"

"Sometimes."

"What does she say?"

"Usually things like 'run' or 'danger.'"

Selene looked at her carefully.

"Anything else?"

Luna shook her head.

"No."

A silence settled between them.

Then Selene stood.

"I should let you rest."

Luna looked up.

"Princess?"

Selene stopped.

"Yes?"

"Do you know what my family is hiding?"

Selene's smile disappeared.

"I know what the elders suspect."

"What?"

"They think the Asteria bloodline may not be what everyone believes."

Luna's heart sank.

"Then what is it?"

"We don't know."

"Everyone keeps saying that."

"Because it's true."

Selene walked toward the door.

"But there is something you should understand."

Luna waited.

"The powerful families are already asking questions."

"About me?"

"About your family."

Selene opened the door.

"And when powerful families become curious, someone usually gets hurt."

Then she left.

Luna remained still.

Her mother's face entered her mind.

Her father's worried expression.

She needed answers.

And she needed them now.

---

The next morning, Luna was awakened by sunlight pouring through the windows.

For a few seconds, she forgot where she was.

Then everything returned.

The palace.

The royal summons.

The ancient records.

The strange reaction between her and Draven.

Luna sat up.

A knock sounded.

A servant entered carrying breakfast.

"Good morning, Miss Asteria."

Luna stared at the enormous tray.

"I can't eat all that."

The servant smiled.

"You don't have to."

Luna looked at the food.

Fresh fruit.

Bread.

Eggs.

Pastries.

Tea.

There was more food on the tray than her family sometimes had in a week.

She suddenly felt guilty.

"Can you send some of this to my parents?"

The servant paused.

"I beg your pardon?"

"My parents. At home."

"I don't think—"

"Please."

The servant hesitated.

Then nodded.

"I'll see what I can do."

After she left, Luna dressed quickly.

She had barely finished when another knock came.

This time, Elder Zeev entered.

"Luna Asteria."

She immediately stood.

"Elder Zeev."

"Come with me."

"Where?"

"The library."

Luna followed him through the palace corridors.

The palace looked different in daylight.

She noticed details she hadn't seen the night before.

Ancient carvings covered the walls.

Some depicted wolves.

Others showed people kneeling before crowned rulers.

One carving caught Luna's attention.

It showed a woman standing between three wolves.

She stopped.

"What is that?"

Elder Zeev turned.

"An old legend."

"What kind?"

"The kind people should stop believing."

Luna looked at him.

"Then why keep it?"

The elder didn't answer.

They continued walking.

Eventually they reached the library.

Luna stopped in amazement.

The room was enormous.

Books filled shelves from floor to ceiling.

Some shelves were protected by glass.

Others were surrounded by silver chains.

Elder Zeev walked toward a large wooden table.

Kael Ashwood was already there.

He looked up.

"You brought her."

"Of course."

Kael looked at Luna.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

Luna sat down.

Elder Zeev placed an ancient book on the table.

"This belonged to the royal archives."

Luna stared at it.

"What does it have to do with me?"

"We're not certain."

"Then why show it to me?"

"Because you may recognize something."

He opened the book.

Page after page contained drawings of ancient families.

The Moonveils.

The Ashwoods.

The Nightshades.

The Astras.

The Danicas.

Then another name appeared.

Asteria.

Luna leaned closer.

The family symbol beneath the name was a crescent moon.

But there was something else.

Three lines surrounded it.

The same symbol from her mother's pendant.

Luna's breath caught.

"That's it."

Kael leaned forward.

"You've seen it before?"

"My mother's pendant."

Elder Zeev nodded.

"We suspected as much."

Luna looked at him.

"What is this?"

"A family crest."

"Why have I never seen it anywhere?"

"Because the Asteria name disappeared from official records."

Luna frowned.

"But we're still here."

"Your family is."

"What's the difference?"

Elder Zeev closed the book.

"That's what we're trying to determine."

A voice came from behind them.

"You're wasting your time."

Luna turned.

Draven stood in the doorway.

Kael's expression tightened.

"Eavesdropping again?"

"I wasn't eavesdropping."

"You walked in during the conversation."

Draven ignored him.

His attention moved to Luna.

She immediately felt uncomfortable.

"Why are you here?" she asked.

"The elders asked me to attend."

"Why?"

"Because the Moonveil family has records concerning old bloodlines."

Luna glanced between them.

"Are you saying your family knows something about mine?"

Draven's jaw tightened.

"No."

His answer was immediate.

Then he paused.

"We may have records."

Kael gave him a look.

"That's not what you said yesterday."

Draven ignored him.

Luna looked at the two Alphas.

"Why does everyone seem to know more about my family than I do?"

Nobody answered.

Luna pushed her chair back.

"I'm going home."

Elder Zeev frowned.

"You can't."

"Why not?"

"Because the King ordered you to remain here."

"I don't care."

Draven's eyes narrowed.

"You should."

Luna looked at him.

"And why should I?"

"Because someone could be watching your family."

Her anger disappeared.

"What?"

Draven stepped closer.

"The moment the royal council began looking into the Asteria records, your family became interesting."

Luna's face went pale.

"My parents."

Kael stood.

"Draven is right."

Luna looked at him.

"We should send guards."

"No."

Both men looked at her.

"I don't want guards surrounding my parents."

"Then what do you suggest?" Kael asked.

"I want to see them."

Elder Zeev shook his head.

"Not yet."

Luna's frustration returned.

"Why?"

"Because we don't know who is watching."

The library fell silent.

Then something crashed somewhere outside.

Everyone turned.

A guard's voice echoed down the corridor.

"Your Majesty!"

Another voice followed.

"Seal the western gate!"

Draven immediately moved toward the door.

Kael followed.

Luna stood.

"What happened?"

No one answered.

The sound of running footsteps grew louder.

Then the doors of the library burst open.

A royal guard rushed inside.

"There's been an attack."

Luna's blood ran cold.

"Where?"

The guard looked toward Elder Zeev.

"The lower district."

Luna froze.

"My home?"

The guard didn't answer quickly enough.

Luna pushed past him.

She ran.

"Luna!"

She didn't stop.

Her footsteps echoed through the palace.

She didn't care about royal orders.

She didn't care about the elders.

She didn't care about the ancient records.

Her parents were in the lower district.

And something had happened.

Draven caught up to her before she reached the main entrance.

He grabbed her arm.

"Stop."

"My parents are there!"

"We don't know what happened."

"Let me go!"

"You're not going alone."

Luna stared at him.

For a moment, neither moved.

Then Kael arrived.

"The King has sent guards."

"How long?" Luna demanded.

Kael's expression was grim.

"Too late to wait."

Draven released her.

"We're going."

Luna looked between them.

"You two?"

Draven nodded.

"We're going to find out what happened."

Kael glanced toward the palace gates.

"And we're going now."

Luna's heart pounded.

She didn't know what waited for them in the lower district.

She didn't know who had attacked.

She didn't know why her family had suddenly become important.

But one thing had become painfully clear.

The mystery surrounding the Asterias was no longer confined to old books.

Someone else knew about it.

And they were willing to hurt people to uncover the truth.

Luna ran toward the waiting carriage.

Behind her, Draven and Kael followed.

Neither Alpha noticed the faint glow that had appeared beneath the old Asteria symbol in the royal archives.

The ancient mark pulsed once.

Then disappeared.

As if something buried for generations had just opened its eyes.