THE HEIRESS BENEATH FIVE MOONS

CHAPTER THREE:THE CALL OF THE WOLF

Goldiana didn't sleep. She remained beside the window long after her mother had left, staring at the two golden eyes beyond the trees. They didn't move.

They simply watched her. Her mother's warning echoed inside her head. Don't go outside. For once, Goldiana wanted to obey. She pulled the curtains shut and stepped away from the window.

The golden eyes disappeared. She stood there for several seconds, waiting for her heartbeat to slow. Then came three soft scratches against the glass. Goldiana froze. Slowly, she turned around.

Nothing stood outside her window. She approached cautiously and pulled the curtain aside. The eyes were gone. In their place was a small silver feather resting on the windowsill. Goldiana stared at it. She had never seen a feather like it. It shimmered faintly beneath the moonlight, almost as though it had been dipped in silver. She reached for it.

The instant her fingers touched it, a strange warmth traveled through her hand. A whisper brushed against her mind. Run. Goldiana dropped the feather. She stumbled backward, breathing heavily. “Who's there?” Nothing answered. She picked up the feather again, this time wrapping it in a piece of cloth. She didn't know why she kept it.

Maybe because some part of her believed it was connected to everything that had happened. Or maybe because she had finally begun to realize that ignoring the strange things around her would not make them disappear.

The following morning, Goldiana woke before sunrise. Her parents were already awake. She could hear their voices downstairs, but they were speaking too quietly for her to understand. She dressed quickly and crept toward the stairs. “We can't keep hiding this,” her father said. Goldiana stopped. Her mother answered in a trembling voice. “She's not ready.” “She'll never be ready if we continue lying.” “You promised.” “I promised to protect her.” “Then protect her by keeping her ignorant.” Goldiana's heart pounded.

She leaned closer to the wall. “The mark has awakened,” her father whispered. Silence followed. “How long?” her mother asked. “I don't know.” “Then we have to leave.” Goldiana's breath caught.

The floorboard beneath her foot creaked. The voices immediately stopped. She hurried back to her room before either parent could see her. Moments later, her father entered. “You're awake.” Goldiana pretended to be fixing her hair. “Yes.” He studied her. “Did you sleep well?” “Not really.” “Why?” Goldiana looked directly at him. “I heard something last night.” His expression tightened. “What?” “A wolf.” Her father's face changed so quickly that she almost missed it. “There are no wolves near the village.” “There was one.” “Goldiana—” “Why are you afraid of them?” He went silent. “I'm not.” “You are.” Her father looked away. “You should trust me.” Goldiana swallowed. “I want to. But you keep telling me things that aren't true.” He stared at her for a long moment. “Sometimes a lie is the only thing standing between someone and danger.” “Am I in danger?” He didn't answer. That was answer enough.

By afternoon, the village had become strangely quiet. Several horses stood near the meeting hall, their riders dressed in dark clothing. Goldiana watched from the edge of the market as one of the men spoke with the village elder. She couldn't hear everything, but one word reached her clearly. “Forest.” Her stomach tightened. Mara appeared beside her. “You've been staring at those men for ten minutes.” Goldiana jumped. “You scared me.” “Sorry.” Mara looked toward the riders. “They're from the northern territory.” “How do you know?” “My brother told me.

Apparently, they're searching for something.” Goldiana remembered the stranger from the previous morning. “What are they looking for?” Mara shrugged. “Nobody knows.” One of the riders suddenly turned his head. His eyes met Goldiana's. She felt an uncomfortable chill. The man began walking toward them.

Mara grabbed her arm. “Come on.” They slipped into the crowded market. Goldiana looked over her shoulder. The rider followed. “Why is he following us?” she whispered. “I don't know.” They turned down a narrow street and hurried between two buildings. When they reached the end, Mara stopped. “He's gone.” Goldiana exhaled. “Good.” Then a voice came from behind them. “Not quite.” They turned. The rider stood at the entrance of the alley.

His hand rested on the hilt of a sword. “You,” he said, pointing at Goldiana. “Come here.” Mara stepped in front of her. “She hasn't done anything.” The man ignored her. “I said come here.” Goldiana's pulse raced. She didn't know why he wanted her, but every instinct told her to run. She stepped backward. “Why?” The man's eyes narrowed. “I need to see your leg.” Goldiana's blood turned cold. Before she could react, a growl echoed through the alley.

The rider froze. Goldiana looked toward the rooftops. Nothing. Then the growl came again, deeper this time. The man's hand moved toward his sword. “What was that?” Goldiana didn't answer.

A shadow moved across the roof. The rider looked up. Something leaped from the building. He barely managed to step aside before the creature landed between them. Goldiana recognized the silver-black fur immediately. The wolf. It stood between her and the rider, teeth bared. The rider's face went pale. “You.” The wolf growled. The man pulled his sword. “Impossible.” Mara grabbed Goldiana's hand. “We need to go.” Goldiana couldn't move. She was staring at the wolf. It looked at her. For a moment, everything else disappeared.

The noise of the village faded. The rider, Mara, the buildings—all of it seemed distant. The wolf's golden eyes held hers. Goldiana felt the warmth beneath her skin again. Her birthmark was reacting to it. She whispered, “It's you.” The wolf lowered its head. Then the rider attacked. The wolf moved with terrifying speed, knocking the sword from his hand.

The man stumbled backward. “What are you?” he shouted. The wolf lunged. Before it could reach him, another figure appeared at the end of the alley. “Enough.” Goldiana's heart stopped. Orion stood there.

He looked different from the night before. His clothes were cleaner, but his expression was harder. He walked toward the wolf without fear. “Go.” The wolf didn't move. Orion looked at Goldiana. “You need to leave.” “You followed me.” “I was making sure you were safe.” Goldiana's eyes narrowed. “You knew they were coming.” Orion didn't deny it. “Who are they?” “People you shouldn't be near.” “Why?” “Because they are asking questions about you.” Goldiana stared at him. “How do they know me?” Orion looked at the rider, who was now unconscious against the wall. “Someone told them.” “Who?” “I don't know.” She stepped closer. “You're lying again.” Orion sighed. “I don't have all the answers.” “But you have some.” “Yes.” “Then tell me.” He looked toward the wolf. “Not here.” Goldiana followed his gaze.

The wolf had stepped closer to her. She reached out slowly. Its head lowered beneath her palm. The moment she touched its fur, a sharp image flashed through her mind. A vast stone palace. Five moons above a black mountain. A woman holding a baby. Then darkness. Goldiana jerked her hand away. She stumbled backward. “What did you see?” Orion asked. “Nothing.” “Goldiana.” She looked at him. He had seen the fear in her eyes. “I said nothing.” Orion didn't press her. Instead, he glanced toward the village entrance. More riders were arriving.

“Take her and go,” the wolf seemed to say without words. Goldiana stared at it, confused by the thought that had suddenly appeared in her mind. Orion reached for her hand. “We have to leave.” This time, she didn't pull away. They ran through the narrow streets while Mara followed close behind. “Where are we going?” Goldiana asked. “Somewhere they won't find you.” “And where is that?” “The old mill.” “That's abandoned.” “Exactly.” They disappeared through the trees as the riders entered the village. Goldiana glanced back once.

Her home was still visible in the distance. She suddenly wondered if she would ever see it the same way again. When they reached the old mill, Orion stopped. “We can stay here until nightfall.” Goldiana turned toward him. “I want answers.” “I know.” “No more half-truths.” Orion looked at her. “I can't promise that.” “Then I can't trust you.” He was silent. Goldiana looked down at her hands. “Who was that woman I saw?” Orion's expression changed. “What woman?” “When I touched the wolf.” He stared at her. “You saw something?” Goldiana nodded. “A woman.

She was holding a baby.” Orion's face became unreadable. “What did the woman look like?” Goldiana closed her eyes, trying to remember. “I don't know. I couldn't see her face.” Orion exhaled slowly. “Then maybe that's a good thing.” Goldiana opened her eyes. “Why?” Before he could answer, the wolf suddenly growled toward the forest. Orion reached for his weapon. “What is it?” Goldiana whispered. The wolf stared into the darkness. Something moved between the trees. Not one figure. Several.

Then a voice echoed through the forest. “We know you're here.”

Goldiana's blood ran cold. Orion stepped in front of her. The wolf's fur rose along its back. Somewhere in the darkness, another voice laughed softly.

And this time, Goldiana knew the hunters hadn't come looking for a wolf.

They had come looking for her.