The Engima's Luna

Chapter Eleven : The First Sign

The laughter slowly faded beneath the oak tree.

Seraphina lowered her hands from her face.

She was still embarrassed.

Very embarrassed.

Especially because Rhydian hadn't stopped smiling.

“You're enjoying this far too much.”

Rhydian leaned against the tree.

“Absolutely.”

“You're horrible.”

“I've been called worse.”

Kaelen shook his head.

“You're both impossible.”

Seraphina looked at him.

“Thank you.”

“That wasn't a compliment.”

“I'll take it anyway.”

Kaelen laughed softly.

For a moment, everything felt normal.

Almost.

Then Azael's expression changed.

The amusement disappeared from his face.

His head turned toward the forest.

Rhydian noticed immediately.

“What?”

Azael didn't answer.

Kaelen straightened.

“What did you sense?”

Azael's eyes narrowed.

“Nothing.”

Rhydian frowned.

“That doesn't look like nothing.”

Seraphina watched him carefully.

Something about Azael's silence made her uneasy.

“Azael?”

His gaze moved to her.

For one second, something strange flashed through his eyes.

Recognition.

Fear.

Then it disappeared.

“Stay close.”

Seraphina blinked.

“Why?”

“Just do.”

Rhydian immediately stood.

Kaelen moved closer to Seraphina.

She looked between them.

“What's happening?”

“Nothing yet,” Kaelen said.

Yet.

That single word made her stomach tighten.

Luneth stirred inside her.

Something is wrong.

Seraphina swallowed.

What?

I don't know.

That frightened her more than anything.

Luneth was usually confident.

Playful.

Curious.

But now—

she was alert.

Seraphina looked toward the trees.

Nothing moved.

The forest was quiet.

Too quiet.

Then a sharp pain suddenly shot through her chest.

She gasped.

Azael was beside her instantly.

“Seraphina.”

She grabbed his arm.

“I…”

Another wave hit.

This time, all three men reacted.

Kaelen's face tightened.

Rhydian grabbed his chest.

“What the hell was that?”

Seraphina looked at them.

“You felt it?”

Kaelen nodded.

“Yes.”

Azael's expression became unreadable.

He looked down at Seraphina's hand.

A faint silver glow was spreading beneath her skin.

Her eyes widened.

“What is that?”

Nobody answered.

The mark continued to spread across her wrist.

A thin silver line curled around her skin.

Then—

it stopped.

A symbol appeared in the center of her palm.

Seraphina stared at it.

“I've never seen that before.”

Azael stepped closer.

The moment he saw the symbol, his entire body went rigid.

Kaelen noticed.

“You know it.”

Azael didn't respond.

Rhydian's voice became serious.

“Azael.”

Still nothing.

Seraphina looked up at him.

“You know what this is.”

It wasn't a question.

Azael's jaw tightened.

“I've seen it before.”

“Where?”

His eyes met hers.

“Not in my lifetime.”

Seraphina frowned.

“What does that mean?”

Azael looked toward the Moon still visible through the branches.

“It means that symbol shouldn't exist anymore.”

The forest suddenly felt colder.

Seraphina stared at her palm.

“What is it?”

Azael finally looked at her again.

“I don't know.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“You're lying.”

His expression didn't change.

“I don't lie to you.”

“Then tell me the truth.”

A long silence followed.

Kaelen glanced between them.

Rhydian's wolf was becoming restless.

Finally, Azael spoke.

“I know what it means.”

Seraphina's heart stopped.

“Then tell me.”

Azael stepped closer.

His voice dropped.

“It means someone has found you.”

The warmth disappeared from Seraphina's body.

“What?”

“Someone who has been searching for a very long time.”

Kaelen's expression hardened.

“Who?”

Azael looked toward the forest.

“I don't know.”

Rhydian scoffed.

“You keep saying that.”

“Because it's the truth.”

Azael's gaze returned to Seraphina.

“But I know what they want.”

Seraphina's throat tightened.

“What?”

Azael looked at the silver symbol on her palm.

“They want her.”

The three men fell silent.

Seraphina stared at them.

For the first time since the Moon Ceremony, she wasn't thinking about the impossible bond.

She wasn't thinking about being an Omega.

She wasn't thinking about having three mates.

She was thinking about one thing.

Someone was looking for her.

And apparently—

they had been looking for her long before she ever knew they existed.

A branch snapped behind them.

All four wolves turned at once.

Rhydian shifted his stance.

Kaelen's eyes flashed.

Azael moved directly in front of Seraphina.

“Stay behind me.”

Seraphina frowned.

“No.”

Azael glanced back.

“What?”

“I said no.”

She stepped beside him.

“I don't know what's happening, but I'm not hiding behind anyone.”

Rhydian's lips slowly curved.

Kaelen looked at her with something dangerously close to pride.

Azael simply stared.

Then, unexpectedly, the corner of his mouth lifted.

“Good.”

Seraphina blinked.

“What?”

“Good.”

His eyes returned to the darkness.

“Because you're going to need that courage.”

A low growl rolled through the forest.

Not from any of them.

Seraphina's heart slammed against her ribs.

Luneth rose inside her.

They're here.

Who?

For once, Luneth didn't sound excited.

She sounded afraid.

The ones who were watching us.

Seraphina's blood ran cold.

The three men shifted closer.

And somewhere beyond the trees—

a pair of eyes opened.

Watching.

Waiting.

Knowing exactly who she was.