Bound by moonlight

Shadows of The past

Chapter Five

Shadows of the Past

Raven stared at Lena, her pulse a steady, deafening beat in her ears.

Killian’s brother?

No. It couldn’t be.

She wanted to call Lena a liar, wanted to throw her out and dismiss every word that had just left her mouth. But the sick feeling in her gut told her otherwise.

Lena had nothing left to gain from lying.

Raven took a slow, measured breath. “You need to start making sense, fast.”

Lena shifted, her bound hands trembling. “Killian’s brother isn’t dead. He’s the one behind the rogue attacks.”

Raven’s fingers dug into her arms. “How do you know that?”

Lena hesitated. “Because I’ve seen him.”

A wave of cold washed over her.

Killian’s brother, alive? The very thought sent alarm bells ringing in her head. Killian never spoke of him, but Raven had heard the rumors—about how he had been exiled, about the betrayal that had led to his downfall.

The last time she had seen Killian truly angry was when someone had dared to mention his brother’s name.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “When?”

“Two weeks ago,” Lena admitted. “He met me at the river border.”

Raven’s heart pounded. “And what did he want?”

Lena exhaled shakily. “To make sure the wedding happened.”

Raven blinked. “What?”

Lena lifted her gaze, fear written all over her face. “He wanted you and Killian to get married.”

Raven felt the world tilt slightly, confusion swirling in her mind. “Why would he want that?”

Lena licked her lips. “Because the moment you and Killian unite your packs, you become the biggest threat to him. He wanted the Elders to force your hand, make you focus on each other instead of him. He knew the mate bond would complicate things, that it would make you weak.”

Raven’s breath came faster. This wasn’t just a political move. It was a game, and she and Killian had been played from the start.

Her hands curled into fists. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me this earlier?”

Lena dropped her gaze. “Because I was scared.”

Raven clenched her jaw.

She wanted to scream, wanted to rage at the universe for throwing yet another betrayal at her feet. But she forced herself to stay calm.

Because if this was true, if Killian’s brother really was alive…

Then the war had only just begun.

Killian’s Reaction

The fire in Killian’s office crackled softly, the only sound filling the tense space.

He stood with his back to her, staring at the flames. “Say it again,” he said, voice like ice.

Raven crossed her arms. “Your brother is alive.”

Killian didn’t move.

She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but she knew him well enough to recognize the storm brewing beneath his cold exterior.

“You’re sure?” His voice was quiet, controlled—but she wasn’t fooled.

“Yes,” she said. “Lena met with him two weeks ago.”

Killian finally turned, his blue eyes burning with something unreadable. “And you believe her?”

Raven hesitated.

Did she?

She wanted to hate Lena, wanted to dismiss everything she had said, but something about it felt too real.

And the way Killian was reacting…

He wasn’t denying it.

Her breath hitched. “You already knew, didn’t you?”

Killian’s jaw tensed.

Silence.

That was all the confirmation she needed.

Raven took a slow step forward, anger curling in her chest. “How long?”

He exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair. “I wasn’t sure. There were whispers, rumors. But nothing concrete.”

Raven clenched her fists. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”

Killian met her gaze, his expression unreadable. “I didn’t think it mattered.”

Raven let out a bitter laugh. “Didn’t matter? Your brother is the one orchestrating the rogue attacks, and you didn’t think it mattered?”

His eyes darkened. “I thought he was dead.”

The quiet fury in his voice made her pause.

For the first time, she saw something raw beneath his carefully controlled mask.

Raven inhaled deeply, forcing herself to stay calm. “Then we deal with it.”

Killian tilted his head. “And what exactly do you propose?”

“We find him,” she said. “And we end this.”

A Dangerous Alliance

The council room was eerily quiet, the air thick with unspoken tension.

Raven stood at the head of the long oak table, Killian beside her. Across from them, their top warriors and advisors sat in silence, waiting.

“We need to strike first,” one of Killian’s men said, his voice hard. “If his brother is alive, we can’t afford to wait.”

Raven shook her head. “We don’t know where he is yet. And if we move too soon, we’ll be walking straight into a trap.”

Killian’s Beta, Lucas, folded his arms. “Then what do you suggest?”

Raven exhaled. “We send out scouts. We track the rogue movements and pinpoint their leader.”

Lucas frowned. “And what if he comes to us first?”

Killian’s voice was low, deadly. “Then we make sure we’re ready.”

A heavy silence fell over the room.

They all knew what was coming.

This wasn’t just a battle for survival anymore.

It was a war between blood.

And in war, there were no guarantees.

A Moment of Truce

Hours later, Raven found herself standing on the balcony of her chambers, the cool night air brushing against her skin.

She sensed him before he spoke.

Killian leaned against the railing beside her, his expression unreadable. “You don’t trust me.”

Raven let out a slow breath. “No, I don’t.”

He nodded, as if he had expected that. “But you’re willing to fight beside me?”

She turned to face him. “I don’t have a choice.”

Killian studied her for a long moment. Then, to her surprise, he let out a quiet chuckle. “Honest as ever.”

She arched a brow. “Is that a problem?”

His lips twitched, almost like he wanted to smile. “No.”

A comfortable silence settled between them.

For the first time since their wedding, they weren’t fighting.

They were just… existing.

Raven didn’t know what that meant.

And she wasn’t sure she wanted to.

Because the moment she let her guard down, the moment she stopped seeing Killian as the enemy…

That was when she would lose.

And she couldn’t afford to lose.

Not now.

Not ever.

The Beginning of the End

As Raven lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, her mind spun with possibilities.

Killian’s brother was alive.

Their marriage had been a setup from the start.

And the war that was coming?

It was bigger than both of them.

Her fingers tightened around the sheets.

No matter what happened next, she had to be ready.

Because this time, it wasn’t just about power or survival.

It was about something far more dangerous.

It was about trust.