Blood dripped onto the wooden floor. Elara gasped as she entered the pack's recovery room and saw Riven sitting on the edge of a table, a deep gash running across his chest.
"What happened?" she asked, running to his side.
Riven looked up, surprise flashing across his face. "Elara. I didn't expect to see you here."
"I work here sometimes," she said, taking clean cloths and herbs from a nearby shelf. "I'm good at fixing. Now tell me what happened."
"The hunt continued after I left you," Riven explained, wincing as she started cleaning his wound. "I ran into more North Pack wolves."
Elara's hands trembled slightly. He had been hurt because of her—because he saved her.
"This is my fault," she whispered.
Riven caught her wrist softly. "No. This is the price of protecting family."
Their eyes met, and that warm feeling flooded through her again—like sunshine spreading through her blood.
"You really believe I'm your niece?" Elara asked, returning to cleaning his wound.
"I don't just believe it. I know it." Riven's blue eyes never left her face. "You have her eyes—your mother's eyes. And her gift."
Elara paused. "What gift?"
"Healing," Riven said softly. "Your mother could heal with just her touch. It made her special among our pack. Just like you."
Elara had never known why she was so good at healing. The pack doctor had noticed her ability when she was young and trained her, but no one had ever connected it to her birth family.
"I thought I was just good with herbs," she said, making a paste of healing plants.
Riven smiled. "It's more than that. Watch."
He took her hand and put it directly on his wound. "Close your eyes. Feel the fire inside you. Imagine it running through your fingers."
Elara did as he said, expecting nothing to happen. But then she felt it—a warm glow starting in her chest and moving down her arm. Her palm tingled where it touched Riven's skin.
When she opened her eyes, the cut had stopped bleeding. The edges were already knitting together.
"How did I...?" she whispered, looking at her hand in wonder.
"It's your birthright," Riven said. "One of many gifts you haven't discovered yet."
Elara's mind raced. If she could heal with just her touch, what else could she do? What other lies about herself didn't she know?
"Tell me about my mother," she said, continuing to dress his wound even though it seemed to be healing on its own now.
Riven's eyes softened with memories. "Aria was strong, kind, and fierce. She became Alpha when our father died, even though many thought the post should go to me."
"Why didn't it?"
"Because she was stronger. Better." Pride filled his voice. "And because she was a Moon Wolf—what some call a Luna Wolf. Like you."
Elara's hands stilled. "What does that really mean? Kael told me Luna Wolves can bond with any Alpha, but..."
"But you don't trust what Kael says anymore," Riven finished for her. "Smart girl."
He shifted on the table, leaning closer. "Luna Wolves are rare—born only once every few generations. They have special gifts: healing, sensing feelings, calming angry wolves. But most importantly, they can unite packs through their ties."
"That's why Kael wants me," Elara said, the pieces falling into place. "To strengthen his pack."
"And why Luna Lyra's father wants the match," Riven added. "With you under their control and Luna as Kael's mate, they'd have unstoppable power."
Anger flashed through Elara. "I'm not some tool to be used!"
"No," Riven agreed. "You're much more. You're the true heir to the White Rock Pack. My pack."
Elara finished wrapping a bandage around his chest, though the cut was already mostly healed. Her mind spun with everything she was learning.
"If I'm so important, why did you wait so long to find me?" she asked, the question that had been bugging her.
Pain crossed Riven's face. "I've been looking for you since the night Kael took you. He hid you well, changing your name, keeping you separated in his pack. It was only when reports spread of a special omega in his pack that I dared hope I'd found you."
"But why come now? Why not years ago?"
Riven's eyes darkened. "Because now Kael plans to use you. The marriage to Luna Lyra, the alliance with her father's pack—it's all part of a bigger plan. One that puts you in danger."
"What plan?" Elara pressed.
Riven opened his mouth to answer, but the door suddenly burst open. Kael stood there, his golden eyes taking in the scene—Elara standing close to Riven, her hands still on his wounded chest.
"What is this?" Kael growled, anger radiating from him in waves.
Elara stepped back quickly. "I was just treating his wounds."
"You should have called for the pack doctor," Kael said, his eyes never leaving Riven.
"She is better than any doctor," Riven answered calmly, standing up. "As you well know."
The stress between the two Alphas crackled like lightning. Elara could almost see their dogs just beneath the surface, ready to fight.
"Elara, leave us," Kael demanded, his voice hard.
"No," she said, surprising herself with her bravery. "I'm not done treating him."
Kael's eyes snapped to her, shock obvious on his face. No one challenged the Alpha—especially not an omega.
"You dare disobey me?" he asked quietly.
"I dare question you," Elara answered, her heart pounding but her voice steady. "About a lot of things. Like why you never told me about Luna Lyra. Or about my real family."
Kael's anger seemed to deflate, replaced by something like sorrow. "Elara, there are things you don't understand—"
"Then explain them to me!" she cried. "Stop keeping secrets!"
"Yes, Kael," Riven said, his voice falsely soft. "Explain to her why you stole a baby from her dying mother's arms. Explain why you've kept her true nature from her all these years."
Kael's eyes flashed dangerously. "You know nothing about what happened that night."
"I was there," Riven replied. "I saw everything."
Elara looked between them, confused by their hate for each other. What had really happened the night she was born?
"Both of you, stop it," she said strongly. "I'm not a prize to be fought over. I deserve the truth—all of it."
To her surprise, both Alphas fell silent at her order. Was this another power she didn't know she had?
"You're right," Kael said finally. "You deserve the truth." He shot a warning look at Riven. "But not from him. His version is... incomplete."
"And yours isn't?" Riven tested.
"Mine doesn't leave out the fact that you were working with the North Pack that night," Kael said coldly. "The same North Pack that tried to kill Elara yesterday."
Elara gasped, looking at Riven with new mistrust. "Is that true?"
Riven's face hardened. "It was a different time. A different alliance."
"He betrayed your mother," Kael pushed. "Led the North Pack right to her while she was in labor with you."
"That's not what happened!" Riven growled.
"Then what did happen?" Elara commanded, confused and hurt.
Before either could answer, a commotion broke outside. Shouting voices, running feet. Something was wrong.
A young beta burst into the room, breathing hard. "Alpha! North Pack dogs at the border! They've taken Luna Lyra!"
Kael cursed, already moving toward the door. "Gather the men. Now!"
He stopped, looking back at Elara. "Stay here. Stay safe." His eyes shifted to Riven, cold and frightening. "And stay away from him."
As soon as Kael left, Riven turned to Elara. "This is our chance."
"Chance for what?"
"To escape. While everyone's distracted." He held out his hand. "Come with me now. Back to your real pack. Where you belong."
Elara stared at his raised hand. Part of her wanted to take it—to learn more about her mother, her powers, her heritage.
But could she trust him? Was Kael telling the truth about Riven's betrayal?
"I can't just leave," she said. "Not without knowing the whole truth."
Riven's eyes darkened. "The truth is, you're in more danger every minute you stay here. Especially now."
"What do you mean?"
"With Luna Lyra captured, Kael needs you more than ever." Riven's voice dropped to a whisper. "He'll use you to save her. Your power, your life force."
Elara's blood ran cold. "That's not possible."
"It is for a Luna Wolf," Riven affirmed. "Your energy can be channeled, passed to others. It's how your mother died—giving all her power to save you during your birth."
The room seemed to spin around Elara. Could Kael really be planning to use her that way?
Just then, she heard Kael calling her name from outside. Coming back for her.
"Decide now," Riven pushed. "Him or me. Stay or go."
Elara's heart pounded as she faced the most important choice of her life.