I wasn't sure how many days passed since my wolf almost broke through.
I only knew one thing—something inside me had changed.
Damian noticed it too. The way he looked at me during training—his eyes always stayed on me a little too long. And the way he talked to me... it wasn't like I was dangerous. It felt more like I was something different.
But whatever it was between us—it wasn't safe yet.
Not in a place like this.
Not with a bounty on my head.
Not with my sister still out there.
And speak of the devil...
She arrived at dusk.
---
"Someone's coming," Kellan growled, storming into the training clearing. "And she's dressed like royalty."
I frowned, lowering my staff. "What?"
"Crescent patrol at the border," he added. "But just one crossed it. Alone."
Damian was already moving. "Who?"
"She says she's your sister," Kellan said, looking like he wanted to spit. "Claims she wants to talk."
My blood went cold.
"Celeste."
---
We found her waiting at the ridge just beyond the mist-covered pine trees, right where the Outlands twisted into Hollowland territory.
Celeste stood with her hands folded over a cream cloak, pale hair spilling down her shoulders in soft, calculated waves. Her expression was sweet—too sweet.
"Lyra!" she called, rushing forward like we were little girls again.
I didn't move. "What are you doing here? "
She stopped a few feet away, panting like she'd run. "I had to come. I had to—Lyra, please. You don't understand what they're saying back home."
"I don't care."
She looked past me, eyes flicking briefly to Damian.
Then she softened her voice. "Jaxon's lying to everyone. He says you went rogue on purpose. That you attacked someone."
I blinked. "Attacked who?"
She bit her lip. "Me."
My fists clenched. "what? That's not true."
She shook her head. "I told them it wasn't true. But… Lyra, people believe him. And the bounty—he doesn't want you dead. He just wants you home. Safe. Before this gets worse."
I barked a laugh. "He rejected me, Celeste. In front of the entire pack. He marked you. There is no 'home' anymore."
She stepped closer. "Please. Just come with me. We can talk to the council. Explain everything. You'll be cleared. You'll be—"
"No," I snapped. "Save your lies. You don't care about me. You never did."
Her face twitched—just a flicker. The real Celeste underneath.
Then she smiled again. "Okay. Then just let me offer peace. One last time."
She reached into her cloak.
Damian tensed beside me.
Celeste pulled out a silver flask, polished and elegant. "Lavender tea. Mom's recipe. I brought it in case… you missed the taste of home."
I hesitated.
It did smell like lavender.
Warm. Familiar. Like childhood mornings before everything went dark.
She unscrewed the cap and held it out. "One sip. That's all I'm asking."
I reached for it.
Damian's hand shot out, grabbing my wrist.
"Don't" he said.
Celeste blinked. "Excuse me?"
He stepped between us. Took the flask.
Sniffed it.
His eyes narrowed. "You said this was tea?"
"Yes," she said, too quickly.
Damian opened the lid, dipped his finger, and tasted a drop on his tongue.
Then he spat.
"Wolfsbane," he growled.
Everything exploded at once.
Celeste's face changed instantly—sweet mask gone. "Dammit," she hissed, backing away.
I staggered in shock. "You tried to—"
Damian lunged, but Celeste was already moving, cloak whipping around her like silk. She shifted mid-run—sleek blonde wolf with glowing blue eyes—and darted into the woods.
He chased her for a few paces, but she vanished.
Gone.
Again.
I opened my mouth to speak—but my vision blurred.
My legs buckled.
Pain seared through my chest.
"No," I gasped. "I didn't drink it—just smelled—"
But the flask had been close.
Too close.
Wolfsbane in vapor form was just as dangerous to a weakened wolf.
Darkness swirled at the edge of my vision.
I collapsed.
---
When I woke, the world felt soft.
Too soft.
Blankets. Gentle warmth. The crackle of fire.
My eyes fluttered open to stone walls and torchlight.
The healing room.
Again.
I let out a groan and tried to sit up but Damian was next to me in a flash gently pushing me back down.
"Take it easy"
"What happened—?"
"You were poisoned. Just the fumes. But your system's still fragile."
I blinked hard. "Celeste… she tried to kill me."
His jaw tightened. "Yeah. And she's probably halfway back to Crescent territory by now."
I swallowed hard. "Why?"
"Maybe you're more of a threat than she wants to admit."
I shook my head. "I'm of no possible threat to her. I'm nothing"
"No," he said, staring down at me. "You're not."
I looked up at him, really looked.
There was something in his eyes I had never seen before.
Fear.
For me.
"You stayed," I whispered.
"Of course I stayed."
"I could've died."
"You didn't," he said, voice low. "Because you're not done yet. You've got a lot more to do"
I felt tears fighting to roll down my eyes. I hated them. Hated that even now, with everything—betrayal, rejection, exile—I still cried.
And then—
I heard it.
A voice.
Deep. Feminine. Older than time.
Inside my head.
"Mate."
I froze.
"Did you hear that?" I whispered.
Damian frowned. "What?"
But I wasn't looking at him anymore. My eyes had glazed over.
The voice repeated—stronger.
"He is ours."
My lips trembled. "She spoke."
His eyes widened. "Your wolf?"
I nodded slowly, heart pounding.
"Damian… she called you… mate."
---
Silence.
You could hear the fire crackling and my heartbeat thudding in my chest.
He didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Just stared at me like I'd dropped a live grenade in his lap.
"Say something," I whispered.
He blinked. Looked away. "That's… impossible."
I sat up straighter. "Is it?"
"She's been dormant for years. Why now? Why me?"
"I don't know," I said honestly. "But she's never spoken. Not once. Until tonight."
He stood and paced to the corner of the room, jaw clenched, fists tight.
"I'm not the mate you want," he said finally.
I frowned. "What?"
"I'm not the one fate promised you. You were meant for Jaxon. You're—"
"He rejected me," I cut in. "That bond is gone. It shattered the moment he chose Celeste."
Damian turned toward me. "Even so. I'm not… good."
My eyes softened. "Neither am I."
We stared at each other for a long time.
My wolf purred inside me, closer than ever now.
Not scratching at the edges.
Not silent.
Present.
Watching.
Waiting.
"He is ours."
She wasn't backing down.
And suddenly, I didn't want her to.
---
I don't know what this meant.
What came next.
But one thing was clear.
Celeste wanted me dead.
Jaxon had put a price on my head.
My wolf had returned.
And she'd chosen a rogue as her mate.
Everything I thought I knew about fate, power, and who I was supposed to be…
Was wrong.
I wasn't a Luna anymore.
I wasn't a victim.
I was becoming something else.
Something wilder.
Stronger.
Dangerous.
And they were going to regret ever underestimating me.