Fated To You

CHAPTER 5 – Bound in Secrets

Elara made her way through the entrance of the Nightshade pack as if she were the dead.

No one was brave enough to approach her, but all the eyes were on her. There were vibrations of gossip in the air just like smoke.

”She is the one with the curse…”

”What was the reason for the Alpha to have her back?”

”Was she the one to cast a spell on him?”

Elara maintained her countenance straight ahead. Kael was accompanying her, his existence a mute threat to the pack. Nobody disputed with them. Nevertheless, the atmosphere was so tense that it could be said to be suffocating.

The packhouse seemed to rise in front of them—known, yet far off. It had been a shelter once. Presently, it was a trap sealed with the past and treachery.

After Kael opened the door, he motioned her to come in. “You will be in the old Alpha section. It would be the most troublesome place to find you.”

Elara took the room. “I am not so sure.”

Kael did not oppose her.

Their movement was noiseless up to the door of the chamber. He unlocked it, and Elara stood still at the door.

It was new, not used. The same chamber where her parents had lived before their strange disappearance. Wood had a smell of cedar.

Kael was indecisive. “I understand the significance of this room to you. But it is the safest place in the packhouse.”

“I will get by,” she responded, her tone far off.

He remained a second longer. “I will be close by if—”

“You do not need to keep an eye on me, Kael.”

The muscles around his mouth tightened, but he agreed and departed.

After being left alone, Elara secured the door and slid down to the ground.

As soon as her hand came in contact with the wood, the insignia on her arm throbbed.

A soft sound entered her brain.

*“The seal is getting weaker…”*

She shot up, panting. The room was dizzy. Then her sight became hazy—

—and altered.

All of a sudden, she found herself in a moonlit clearing, alien yet stunningly familiar. Ghostly trees were trying to touch the sky, and there was in the middle a stone altar marked with ancient signs.

The witch came forth again.

But on this occasion, she seemed closer to childhood.

“Elara,” she uttered, “the time is flying faster than we feared. You have to locate the other part of the seal.”

Elara advanced. “What other part?”

“The Moon’s gift was divided into halves. A power to eliminate and a power to renew. You can’t have one without the other; otherwise, you’ll be torn apart.”

“Where is it?”

The witch’s voice became quieter and quieter. “Concealed… in murder and treachery…”

“Please—”

But the vision broke into pieces like a mirror.

Elara gasped and fainted back into the room, her heart thumping.

It was a bigger thing than she thought.

Something that Kael was not aware of.

In the evening of the same day, Kael was in the training yard, sweating and bloodied, going through hard workouts with intense concentration. His hands were bleeding. He was breathing heavily. The pain was necessary for him. It prevented him from falling into thoughts about her.

Ryker was watching from the fence. “You’re going to end up getting your body damaged.”

“I already did.”

Ryker didn’t inquire. He was aware.

After a lengthy silence, he broke the quiet. “The council is not pleased you enabled her return.”

“I am indifferent to that.”

“They presuppose she is a danger.”

“Indeed, she is,” Kael acknowledged. “But she will not be a danger to us. Not if we give her our protection.”

Ryker went on crossing his arms. “You are still in the emotional linkage.”

Kael didn’t argue but instead said, “Every breath I take is reminder of it.”

“Then why not let her know? Do the right thing.”

“She is distrustful of me.”

Ryker lifted a brow. “Is she not justified in her position?”

Kael averted his gaze. “No.”

It was past midnight when Elara roamed the deserted corridors, unable to sleep. The mark on her body was once again throbbing, leading her to the western part of the castle. The library.

The door made a creaking sound as it opened. Dust particles caught in the moonlight were floating around.

She took a lantern, lit it, and checked the shelves, going for an area labeled *LUNAR BLOODLINES.*

A book slid out of her hand—one that was leather covered and very delicate. She came across pictures of wolves having silver eyes and symbols on their bodies that looked like they were tattooed.

Moonborn.

A specific page took her breath away. A girl who had her mark.

”The Moonborn bloodline was closed after the Eclipse War.

Power too unstable. Dangerous if awakened without balance.”

A word was written with red ink below:

Twins.

Elara pronounced it softly. “What does that signify?”

Without any warning, the door creaked open behind her.

She turned around and saw Kael standing in the doorway with his eyes in the shadows.

“You shouldn’t be in this place,” he spoke.

“I was in need of answers,” she responded and gripped the book more tightly.

He entered, soft as a shadow. “What have you discovered?”

“A caution.” She turned the page towards him.

Kael’s face betrayed his thoughts. “Twins?”

“I suspect the seal has a counterpart. Someone else possesses the other half.”

“Who?”

“I have no idea,” she said in a whisper. “But I want to locate them. Before it gets too late.”

Kael’s tone went down in volume. “Do you think you are running out of time?”

“I am sure I am.”

They kept quiet, and the weight of their discussion hung between them like a heavy curtain.

Eventually, Elara spoke, “I met her again. The witch. She told me the seal has thinned—and that the other half is betrayed.”

Kael gritted his teeth. “A pack member?”

“Possibly.”

Suddenly, a howl echoed from the northern wall.

Kael’s eyes turned to the direction of the sound. “It’s coming from the scout post.”

They ran to the courtyard.

When they got there, two wolves were lying dead, and a third one was limping towards them.

“They didn’t come to kill,” the scout came out saying with a gasp. “They wanted *her.*”

Elara felt her blood freeze.

Kael turned his head to her side. “They have resorted to hunting you now.”

“But they are not after my life,” she answered in a low voice. “They just want to capture me.”

They made the walls stronger. Guard posts were increased. Elara was ordered to remain within the premises of the Alpha wing.

Yet she disobeyed.

The tattoo on her arm was burning like fire that night. Quietly, she got out of her room and went after the pulse in the woods beyond the training grounds, which was leading her to the source.

The atmosphere was heavy. The moon was at its zenith.

A person was standing at the stone border.

Not the witch.

A boy. Around her age. Tall. Pale eyes. Known to her.

Elara halted. “ who doubtful , he said: “I expected you would be the one to come for me.”

Elara’s mark lit up and at the same time, the boy pulled his sleeve up to show that he bore the *same lighted mark* on his body.

She nearly choked on her breath.

Doubles.