Chapter 3 - The mark beneath the skin
1942 Words
Elena did not sleep that night.
She lay on the thin mattress in the servants’ quarters, staring at the ceiling while the other girls slept around her. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Adrian standing beside the window in his study, holding her mother’s pendant between his fingers.
She heard his voice again.
You’re the reason three packs went to war six years ago.
Elena turned onto her side.
It couldn’t be true.
Her mother had been a healer. At least, that was what Elena had always believed.
She remembered her mother’s hands more clearly than her face. Warm hands. Gentle hands. Hands that smelled of herbs and lavender.
When Elena was little, her mother would sit beside her bed whenever storms frightened her. She would brush her fingers through Elena’s hair and whisper that wolves were not born to live in fear.
“One day, you’ll understand why I had to hide you.”
Elena had once asked who they were hiding from.
Her mother had only smiled sadly.
“People who are afraid of what you might become.”
At the time, Elena had thought it was nothing more than a strange story.
Now, she wasn’t so sure.
She lifted her wrist and stared at the leather restraint still fastened around it.
Why had Adrian ordered no one to touch her?
Why had he looked at the restraints with such anger?
And why had he recognized her mother’s pendant?
Elena sat up.
She couldn’t stay here wondering.
Carefully, she slipped from the bed and crossed the dark room. Mara was asleep, breathing softly. Elena pulled on her worn dress and quietly opened the door leading to the old storage corridor.
She knew this part of the castle better than most people realized.
Six years as a servant had taught her which corridors were watched and which were forgotten.
The library was on the second floor.
If Adrian truly had records about her family, that was where she would find them.
She moved silently through the castle.
Halfway there, voices stopped her.
Two guards stood around the corner.
“The Alpha hasn’t slept.”
“How do you know?”
“He sent for the council three times.”
“About the girl?”
A silence followed.
“Don’t say her name.”
“Why?”
“Because if the Alpha hears you, you’ll be cleaning the western kennels for a month.”
The other guard lowered his voice.
“She’s been here six years. Why suddenly does he care?”
“Maybe she matters.”
“She’s a servant.”
“That’s what everyone thinks.”
Elena’s heart pounded.
The guards eventually walked away.
She waited until their footsteps disappeared, then continued.
The library door groaned softly when she pushed it open.
Rows of ancient books disappeared into the darkness.
Elena moved toward the section containing pack histories and family records.
She searched through dusty volumes until she found one with a black leather cover.
Silver Blood.
Her fingers trembled as she pulled it free.
Something slipped from between the pages and landed on the floor.
A photograph.
Elena picked it up.
Her breath caught.
Her mother stood in the picture.
Young. Beautiful. Alive.
But she wasn’t alone.
Beside her stood Elena’s father.
Around his neck was the same crescent-and-three-claws symbol Elena had seen on the knife.
Three other figures stood behind them.
One wore the silver crown of the Northern Alpha.
An older woman stood beside him.
And the last person was Adrian.
He looked barely twenty.
Yet his eyes were unmistakable.
He knew her mother.
Elena turned the photograph over.
Words had been written across the back.
The night the Silver Blood returns, the Black Moon will fall.
“What are you doing here?”
Elena spun around.
A woman stood between the shelves.
She wore a dark servant’s dress, but Elena had never seen her before.
“Who are you?”
The woman smiled.
“Someone who knows what you are.”
Elena stepped backward.
“Did Adrian send you?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
The woman walked closer.
“Did the Alpha tell you about your mother?”
Elena tightened her grip around the photograph.
“Who are you?”
“Someone who was there the night she died.”
Elena froze.
“What?”
The woman’s smile disappeared.
“She wasn’t supposed to survive.”
Elena’s stomach twisted.
“What are you talking about?”
“You were supposed to die with her.”
The woman lunged.
Elena screamed as a hand covered her mouth.
She fought desperately, biting the woman’s palm.
The stranger cursed and released her.
Elena ran.
Books crashed from the shelves as she pushed through the narrow aisle.
“Stop!”
She didn’t look back.
A hand caught her dress.
The fabric tore.
Elena stumbled.
Then a deep growl shook the library.
The woman froze.
Elena turned.
Adrian stood at the entrance.
His eyes glowed gold.
His claws were extended.
His entire presence changed the room.
“Move away from her.”
The woman slowly raised her hands.
“Alpha.”
Adrian took one step forward.
“I won’t repeat myself.”
The woman glanced at Elena.
Then she smiled.
“You found her too late.”
Adrian’s expression became murderous.
“Who sent you?”
“The council.”
“Which council?”
“The old one.”
Something changed in Adrian’s face.
Fear.
Real fear.
The woman suddenly reached inside her dress.
Adrian moved instantly.
He slammed her against the wall.
A small blade fell to the floor.
“Who sent you?”
The woman laughed.
“You really don’t remember?”
“Remember what?”
“The night you killed her.”
Adrian went completely still.
Elena’s blood turned cold.
The woman looked at Elena.
“Ask him what happened to your mother.”
“Enough.”
Adrian struck the woman, knocking her unconscious.
Silence filled the library.
The photograph slipped from Elena’s fingers.
Adrian picked it up.
His face went pale.
“Where did you find this?”
“In the book.”
He looked toward the shelf.
“What book?”
Elena pointed.
Adrian pulled the volume free and stared at its cover.
“You shouldn’t have found this.”
“Why?”
“Because now they know you know.”
“Who?”
“The people who killed your mother.”
Elena’s voice shook.
“You said my mother died.”
“She did.”
“But that woman said you killed her.”
Adrian looked away.
“Did you?”
“No.”
The answer came instantly.
Elena studied his face.
“Then why did she say you did?”
“Because she wants you to hate me.”
“Why?”
“Because if you hate me, you’ll leave.”
“Leave where?”
“Anywhere.”
He stepped closer.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain.”
“I can’t.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because every answer puts you in greater danger.”
Elena shook her head.
“Everything about you is a secret.”
“So is everything about you.”
“I don’t know anything about myself.”
Adrian stopped.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he reached toward her.
Elena flinched.
His hand stopped.
“I won’t hurt you.”
“Then why am I afraid of you?”
The question seemed to wound him.
Adrian slowly lowered his hand.
“Because I have spent years making sure everyone is afraid of me.”
“Why?”
“Because fear keeps people alive.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“It’s the only one I can give you tonight.”
Before Elena could respond, a howl echoed through the castle.
Adrian’s head snapped toward the window.
Another howl followed.
Then another.
His entire body became tense.
“What is happening?” Elena whispered.
“An attack.”
“On the castle?”
“The eastern border.”
Adrian moved toward the door.
Elena followed.
“Wait.”
He turned.
She hesitated before speaking.
“I don’t want to stay alone.”
Something softened in his expression.
For one brief moment, the feared Alpha disappeared.
He looked almost vulnerable.
Then he stepped closer.
“Stay behind me.”
They rushed from the library.
The castle had transformed into chaos.
Guards ran through the corridors while servants screamed and bells echoed from the courtyard.
When they reached the main hall, a guard rushed toward Adrian.
“Alpha!”
“What happened?”
“The eastern gates have been breached.”
“How many?”
“We don’t know.”
“Get everyone into the lower chambers.”
The guard nodded, then looked at Elena.
His eyes widened.
“She shouldn’t be here.”
Adrian stepped between them.
“Go.”
The guard immediately obeyed.
Elena stared at Adrian.
“Why did he say that?”
Before he could answer, a massive explosion shook the castle.
Elena screamed.
Stone dust fell from the ceiling.
Then came the howls.
Hundreds of wolves.
Adrian grabbed Elena’s hand.
“Stay close.”
They ran toward the courtyard.
Smoke covered the night sky.
The eastern wall had been breached.
Black Moon wolves fought silver-clad warriors beneath the moonlight.
Elena recognized their symbol.
The crescent.
Three claws.
“Those are the people from the knife,” she whispered.
Adrian looked at her.
“Yes.”
A silver wolf broke through the fighting.
It charged toward them before transforming.
A man landed on the stone ground.
His eyes locked immediately onto Elena.
He smiled.
“Found you.”
Adrian stepped forward, claws extending.
“Who are you?”
The man ignored him.
“You can stop hiding her now, Alpha.”
“What do you want?”
The stranger finally looked at Adrian.
“Not what.”
His gaze returned to Elena.
“Who.”
He pointed at her.
“We came for the last daughter of the Silver Blood.”
Adrian’s face became expressionless.
“She belongs to us.”
“No.”
The man smiled.
“Then we’ll take her from you.”
He raised one hand.
Dozens of silver wolves emerged from the smoke.
Elena felt something stir inside her.
Her wolf.
For six years, it had been silent.
Afraid.
Now it awakened.
And it was furious.
Heat spread through Elena’s veins.
She gasped and grabbed her wrist.
The leather restraint suddenly snapped.
It fell to the ground.
Beneath it, a symbol burned brightly against her skin.
A silver crescent surrounded by three black claws.
The fighting stopped.
Every wolf in the courtyard stared at her.
Then, one by one, they lowered their heads.
The stranger slowly dropped to one knee.
“She has awakened.”
Elena could barely breathe.
Adrian stared at the mark.
His face had gone completely pale.
The stranger bowed his head.
“Your Highness.”
Elena’s eyes widened.
“No.”
Adrian looked at her.
His voice was barely a whisper.
“She’s not just Silver Blood.”
He stepped closer.
For the first time since Elena had known him, the mighty Alpha looked afraid of something he could not control.
“She’s the heir.”
Elena stared at the mark glowing beneath her skin.
Then she looked at Adrian.
“If I’m the heir…”
Her voice trembled.
“Who am I supposed to inherit?”
Adrian said nothing.
The stranger answered for him.
“The throne of the wolves.”
And somewhere beyond the castle walls, another howl rose into the night.
This time, hundreds answered.
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