The Hidden Crown

Ch15

Aurora stretched, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as the sun climbed higher over the lake. Rowan sat beside her, yawning, still half in wolf form before shifting back to human. The forest smelled of wet earth and fresh pine, but their minds were elsewhere—haunted by the vision from the glowing pond.

“I can’t believe what we saw,” Aurora murmured, her voice low. “Electra… Fenrir… Selena… it’s all real.”

Rowan’s eyes softened, the gold-silver flecks in his iris catching the sunlight. “I know. And now we know what we have to do. We have to find them—the mentors.”

Aurora shivered, a mix of excitement and fear running through her. “But we don’t even know where to start.”

“We start with the book,” Rowan said simply, standing and brushing off leaves. “Chloe knows ancient magic. She’ll know what to look for.”

⸻

By mid-morning, Aurora and Rowan returned to the safe house, still buzzing with adrenaline. Emma and Chloe were waiting, concern etched into their faces.

Aurora wasted no time. “We need to talk. Selena… she came to us. She showed us… everything. About Electra, Fenrir, and the mentors we need to find. Two of them. One witch, one wolf.”

Chloe, Emma’s mother, stepped forward. “You mean… you saw a vision?”

“Yes,” Aurora said. “We need guidance. Training. And they’re out there somewhere. We have to find them.”

Emma glanced at Rowan. “So… all four of us? We stick together?”

Rowan nodded. “Exactly. We’re the ones who have to do this. We need to be ready—for whatever comes next.”

Chloe smiled faintly. “Then you’ll need the right information first.” She went to a tall shelf, dusting off a thick, ancient tome. Its leather cover was cracked and faded, symbols embossed in gold faintly glowing as if recognizing the urgency.

Opening it, she flipped through pages filled with magical records, prophecies, and notes spanning centuries. “These names… these abilities… I think I know who you’re looking for,” she murmured.

Aurora leaned over, scanning the page. “Who?”

Chloe pointed. “Here—the witch. She is listed as Isolde Veyra. And the wolf… Kaelen Thorne. These are their true, ancient names, the ones they lived under centuries ago. Their current identities are unknown to us, but this is where your search begins.”

Rowan frowned. “But if we don’t know what they go by now… how will we find them?”

“That’s the challenge,” Chloe said. “You’ll have to track them, observe, and recognize them when the moment comes. They’ve been hiding for centuries, and they’ll only reveal themselves to the right ones—you four. The book gives hints about their powers, their presence, their connection to the world. That’s enough to start.”

Aurora’s pulse quickened. “So… Paris?”

Chloe nodded. “The traces point there. The witch is currently somewhere in the city. But it’s just the first step. The wolf may be elsewhere, and you’ll have to find him afterward. Use your instincts, your powers, and your teamwork. You’ll know when you’re close.”

Rowan placed a hand on her shoulder. “Then we leave as soon as possible. We can’t waste time.”

Aurora nodded, excitement and fear colliding inside her chest. “Plane tickets?” she asked.

Chloe was already on her phone, booking flights for the four of them to travel together. “Morning departure. You’ll have to be cautious in the city. Someone could be following you, or watching. But you’re not alone.”

Later that evening, after packing, they said their brief goodbyes. Margaret, Aurora’s mother, hugged her tightly. “Be careful. Trust your instincts. And remember… Electra knows, Fenrir knows. You have the power within you.”

Raven and his mate stood nearby. “We’ll hold things down here,” Raven said firmly. “You four focus on the search and your training.”

Aurora and Rowan shared a long glance, their hands brushing. Lucian and Emma exchanged determined looks, ready for the journey ahead. The weight of destiny settled over them, but the bond between the four of them felt stronger than ever. They had survived awakening, discovered their ancient wolves, and now faced the first step toward mastering what they were born to be.

The flight details were set. Paris awaited. And somewhere in that sprawling city, the witch would recognize the girl with Electra, and eventually, the wolf would sense Fenrir stirring.

Aurora swallowed a deep breath. “It’s starting,” she said.

Rowan nodded. “And we’re ready.”

With that, the four of them — Aurora, Rowan, Emma, and Lucian — stepped forward into the unknown, leaving behind the safety of their home, their family, and the familiar, and stepping fully into the destiny Selena had shown them.