Vengeance Reborn

Chapter 3.3 - First Rebirth, Pt. 3

Leona's POV

The memory releases me.

I'm back in Dad's office.

Seventeen again.

Reborn.

And staring at my parents like I've never seen them before.

“That wasn't just an argument,” I whisper.

Dad slowly shakes his head. “No.”

“The pictures were fake.”

“Yes.”

“Both sets?”

“Yes.”

My jaw tightens. “Rebecca?”

Mom's eyes turn cold. “Helped fabricate the photographs involving your father.”

“And Greg?”

“Was innocent.”

I blink. “Completely?”

“Yes.”

“What was the secret project?”

Mom sighs. “ A special artifact for your father and your eighteenth-birthday ceremony.”

My mouth falls open. “What?”

She gives me a sad smile. “Greg had expertise in ancient artifacts and ritual architecture. I was secretly restoring something your great great great great great grandfather passed down through the generations of Knights and I found the old Moon Temple hidden within our territory.”

I stare. “A Moon Temple? For me?”

“For you.”

"What about the artifact?"

They stare at each other. Dad leans back.

“Your mother couldn't tell me because the artifact was a surprise and the Goddess had ordered that the temple restoration remain secret from every male member of the Knight line until the chosen heir reached eighteen.”

I point between them.

“So whoever fabricated those pictures knew Mom couldn't explain herself.”

Dad's expression becomes dark. “Exactly.”

“And whoever manipulated Mom knew you'd been shopping alone and could arrange for Rebecca to conveniently appear.”

“Yes.”

I feel sick. “So someone tried the same thing twice.”

Mom nods. “Not exactly the same people.”

Dad's eyes harden. “But the same strategy.”

I stare. “Why?”

Dad and Mom exchange a glance. Here it comes. The thing beneath everything.

Dad stands. He walks toward the enormous bookcase behind his desk. Then stops. His fingers touch a small silver wolf carved into the wooden trim.

Click.

Something unlocks. My eyebrows rise.

The entire center section of the bookcase shifts backward. Then slides sideways.

A hidden compartment appears.

“Of course you have a secret room.”

Dad glances over his shoulder. “I'm an Alpha.”

“That doesn't explain anything.”

“It explains everything.”

Mom chuckles.

Dad reaches inside and removes several things wrapped in silver fabric. He carries them toward us. Not a book, scroll. No. Several scrolls tied together by a metallic blue cord and a bulky object.

The moment they enter the room, Tempest and Snow stir inside me.

Leona...

Tempest's voice whispers through my mind.

Power.

Snow rumbles.

Old.

I freeze.

I haven't heard either of them this clearly since waking.

Dad notices. “They recognize it.”

My eyes snap toward him. “How do you know?”

“Because mine did too.” He places the scrolls carefully on the table.

“What is that?”

“The original covenant between House Knight and Selene.”