The Engima's Luna

Chapter Ten : The Wolves Know First

The forest seemed endless beneath the morning sun.

Seraphina and Rhydian had long since stopped racing.

What had started as a challenge had turned into hours of running through the trees, climbing over fallen trunks, chasing each other

through open clearings, and occasionally stopping just to catch their breath.

Seraphina hadn't laughed this much in years.

Neither had Rhydian.

Eventually, they found a quiet patch of grass beneath a large oak tree.

Seraphina dropped onto her back.

"I'm exhausted."

Rhydian collapsed beside her.

"You challenged an Alpha."

"You lost."

"I let you win."

She turned her head toward him.

"You did not."

Rhydian laughed.

"Fine. Maybe I lost."

Seraphina smiled.

The forest was peaceful.

The wind moved through the leaves above them.

For a while, neither spoke.

Inside Seraphina, Luneth was unusually quiet.

Then she whispered,

That was fun.

It was.

He is fun.

Seraphina smiled.

Yes.

A warm feeling suddenly moved through the bond.

Not from Rhydian.

From their wolves.

Seraphina closed her eyes.

She could feel Luneth stretching comfortably inside her.

And then something strange happened.

Her wolf brushed against Rhydian's wolf through the bond.

A gentle nuzzle.

Rhydian's eyes opened.

He felt it too.

His wolf responded immediately.

Another soft nuzzle.

Seraphina's breath caught.

She could almost feel the affection passing between them.

Luneth was happy.

Not shy.

Not nervous.

Just... content.

Rhydian smiled.

"My wolf likes yours."

Seraphina turned toward him.

"Apparently."

We like him.

I know.

Very much.

Seraphina's cheeks warmed.

She closed her eyes again.

For a few peaceful minutes, the four of them simply rested.

No pack.

No politics.

No strange powers.

No questions about the future.

Just two people lying beneath the trees while their wolves quietly became acquainted.

Then Luneth suddenly lifted her head.

They're here.

Seraphina opened her eyes.

"Who?"

Luneth's excitement immediately returned.

Kaelen. Azael.

Seraphina sat up.

Rhydian looked toward the trees.

He could sense them too.

Two familiar scents approached.

A moment later, Kaelen stepped through the trees.

Azael followed behind him.

Seraphina's heart fluttered.

Luneth, however, was already moving.

Kaelen!

Before Seraphina could stop her, Luneth took control.

Seraphina mentally groaned.

Luneth, don't—

Too late.

She stood and immediately walked toward Kaelen.

His expression softened when he saw her.

"Seraphina."

Luneth smiled brightly.

"Kaelen!"

Kaelen blinked.

Something about her was different again.

More open.

More energetic.

Almost like an excited child who had just found someone familiar.

She reached him and looked up.

"Did you come looking for us?"

Kaelen glanced at Rhydian.

"He disappeared from the meeting."

Rhydian shrugged.

"I needed fresh air."

Kaelen looked back at Seraphina.

"And apparently found excellent company."

Luneth grinned.

"We ran for hours."

Kaelen's eyebrows lifted.

"Hours?"

She nodded enthusiastically.

"It was fun."

Kaelen smiled.

"I'm glad."

Seraphina could feel herself screaming internally.

Luneth! Give me back control.

No.

Why?

I'm talking to our mate.

You're embarrassing me.

You're welcome.

Seraphina mentally buried her face in her hands.

Then Luneth's attention shifted.

Azael.

She looked toward him.

Everything changed.

Her excitement didn't disappear.

It simply became quieter.

Curious.

Almost cautious.

Azael stood a short distance away, watching her.

Luneth tilted her head.

She took one step toward him.

Then another.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

Seraphina immediately became suspicious.

Luneth?

No answer.

Luneth continued walking.

Azael watched without moving.

She stopped several feet away.

Looked at him.

Waited.

Nothing.

She took another step.

Still nothing.

Azael simply raised one eyebrow.

Luneth's ears seemed to flatten in Seraphina's mind.

He isn't reacting.

Maybe leave him alone.

No.

She took another small step.

Azael's gaze remained fixed on her.

Luneth looked almost offended.

So she tried something else.

She tilted her head.

Then deliberately moved a little closer.

She wanted a reaction.

Anything.

A smile.

A word.

A touch.

Perhaps even a pat on the head.

Something inside Seraphina screamed.

LUNETH, STOP.

Luneth ignored her.

She was now standing directly in front of Azael.

She looked up at him.

He looked down at her.

Neither moved.

Finally, Azael spoke.

"Are you trying to tell me something?"

Luneth nodded.

"Yes."

"What?"

She hesitated.

Then quietly said,

"Pat."

Azael stared at her.

Kaelen looked away, clearly hiding a smile.

Rhydian wasn't even trying.

He burst out laughing.

Seraphina internally screamed.

I AM NEVER COMING OUT AGAIN.

Azael's expression remained unreadable.

For a moment, Seraphina thought he would refuse.

Instead, his hand slowly lifted.

He placed it gently on her head.

Luneth immediately leaned into the touch.

Her eyes practically closed with happiness.

Seraphina went completely still.

Azael's fingers moved once through her hair.

"Happy?"

Luneth nodded.

"Very."

Rhydian stared.

"I can't believe that worked."

Kaelen chuckled.

"Neither can I."

Azael looked at them.

"Neither can I."

Seraphina finally managed to regain control.

She immediately covered her face.

"I'm so sorry."

Azael looked at her.

"Why?"

She peeked through her fingers.

"My wolf."

"I know."

"I'm going to kill her."

Inside her mind, Luneth sounded delighted.

He patted us.

I know.

*He liked us.

I know.

*He definitely likes us.

Seraphina sighed.

There was no arguing with her.

Meanwhile, in the Ravencroft family study, the atmosphere was considerably less playful.

Alaric sat at the head of the table.

Evelina beside him.

Cassian, Elara, Lucian, Mirelle, Kael, Dorian, and Lyra were gathered around them.

The subject was obvious.

Seraphina.

And the three Vael brothers.

Cassian folded his arms.

"An Omega with three mates."

Lucian leaned back.

"I've never heard of it."

"Neither have I," Mirelle admitted.

Lyra had several ancient records spread across the table.

"There are stories."

Alaric looked at her.

"Stories aren't proof."

"I know."

She pointed to one passage.

"But there are references to multiple bonds."

Dorian frowned.

"Three?"

"Not specifically."

Kael looked worried.

"Could it be dangerous?"

Elara was silent for a moment.

"We don't know."

Cassian looked toward Alaric.

"What do you think?"

The old commander didn't answer immediately.

He stared at the ancient document.

"Something happened last night that none of us understand."

Evelina nodded.

"And we shouldn't force an explanation before we have one."

Kael lowered his gaze.

"But she's our sister."

"We know."

"We can't simply watch three powerful men take her away from us."

Elara's expression softened.

"They aren't taking her anywhere."

Dorian sighed.

"I know."

He rubbed his face.

"That's the problem."

Everyone looked at him.

He continued quietly.

"I know we'll have to accept them."

His voice became softer.

"But accepting that doesn't mean I'm ready to watch my little cousin become someone else's Luna."

Lyra reached across the table and squeezed his hand.

"No one said you had to be ready today."

Alaric finally spoke.

"We don't know what Seraphina will become."

His eyes moved toward the ancient records.

"But one thing is certain."

Everyone waited.

"The Moon didn't give her three mates without reason."

And somewhere beyond the house, beneath the trees, Seraphina laughed again.

Three powerful wolves had found their mate.

But the Ravencroft family was beginning to realize something far more frightening—

Seraphina's three mates might not be the greatest mystery.

Seraphina herself might be.