Stone stood in the now silence of the kitchen with the weight of the morning’s revelations pressing heavily on his shoulders. As he watched Ella, her focus intently on Clementine and the papers spread across the table, he felt a surge of protectiveness.
It was partly the bond, he knew. But it was also partly because of the way he felt about her.
It would be the same whether she was his Alpha, his mate, or just the woman she was.
Marta’s unexpected arrival, just moments after Clementine had unfurled the ancient Luna Scrolls across his table, added a new layer of urgency to the already tense atmosphere.
Stone hoped the tension that had been building would ease, but somehow, after all they’d learned, he doubted it.
If these trials were already in motion, there would be no stopping them. They’d play out until they had overcome them—or succumbed to them.
The energy he sensed from Marta was fraught with worry—a clear indication that the news she brought was far from comforting. As pack Beta, he knew she’d been tasked with ensuring their territory was clear of Andres’ and his pack.
So, whatever she had to say, it was clear to Stone it wasn’t going to be good news.
Stone’s mind raced with strategies and contingencies, his role as Ella’s mate compelling him to shield her and their pack from the gathering shadows. Even if he didn’t know if he could.
Marta stepped forward, her eyes locking onto Ella. There was a seriousness in her demeanor and it drew the room’s attention—a shared sense of urgency thrumming in the air.
“Ella, we need to talk,” she began.
Ella straightened, her expression hardening into the mantle of the Alpha she was. “What’s happened?”
It was amazing, but somehow, she was still ready to face whatever new challenge was thrown her way.
Marta hesitated, a glance at Stone betraying her concern before she refocused on Ella. “While scouting the area, following Andres’ pack’s scent,” Marta began, her gaze shifting between Ella and the ancient scrolls that lay open on the table, “we stumbled upon something... unsettling.”
Stone’s chest tightened, the words ‘unsettling’ sending a ripple of apprehension through him. He moved closer to Ella and took her hand in his. She squeezed his hand in return.
“What is it?” Ella pressed before shooting Stone a concerned look.
“It looked like an abandoned… ritual,” Marta continued, her eyes dark with the memory. “The remnants of it anyway. There were symbols—ones I’ve never seen before—scorched into the earth, encircling what I can only describe as an altar. But it was unlike any alter I’ve seen before. It gave me the creeps.”
Ella’s brow furrowed, her focus razor-sharp. “Are we talking about witches?”
Marta nodded grimly. “Yes, I believe so. And not just any witches. These symbols... if I had to guess, they’re tied to dark magic—magic that I’ve only heard of in the oldest of our pack’s tales. Our verbal histories.”
A chill ran down Stone’s spine. The implications of what Marta was suggesting were not lost on him. This could very well be another layer tied to their current predicament. And who knows what else?
If witches were out there performing a ritual, was it possible they were trying to locate the Breath of Selene? Is this the disturbance Isolde had felt?
“Do you know if these were the same witches Andres employed to hide his pack from us?” Stone found himself asking, the idea knotting his stomach.
“Maybe?” Marta’s said with slight shrug. “But, I have to admit, my memories of the witches’ scents who held us captive are a bit fuzzy. My mind doesn’t want to fully process it. It’s strange.”
“I feel the same,” Stone said with a curt nod. “It must be whatever they used to drug us with.”
Marta nodded in silent agreement.
Stone noticed Ella lean back again, her face hardening as she processed Marta’s report. He could almost see the storm brewing behind her dark eyes—a testament to the weight of her leadership.
As he watched her, the urge to protect—to act—burned inside him. He wanted to go check this site out and see for himself what had occurred. It felt imperative.
Yet, he knew Ella’s next words—her next decision—would set the course for their immediate future.
“We need to find out what this ritual was for,” Ella finally said, her voice steady. “If Andres is looking to fortify his power with dark magic, we’re not just dealing with a rogue Alpha anymore. This is something far more dangerous.”
Stone breathed a sigh of relief.
“We’ll start by investigating the site of the ritual,” Ella decided, her gaze meeting Stone’s. “Marta, gather a team. I want you to move out within the hour. Gather as much intel as you possibly can and report back.”
Marta tipped her chin, her determination mirroring Ella’s.
“And if you find any connection to something called the Breath of Selene—or perhaps the Essence, let me know immediately,” Ella said, shooting a sideways glance at Stone.
Marta’s eyebrows tugged inward but she didn’t voice her question. Stone sensed that she trusted Ella’s judgment and felt no need to press it. As Beta, she likely knew she’d be looped in when Ella had more information.
He felt a surge of pride for their pack, for the strength and resolve they all shared. They were more than just a pack—they were a family, ready to face the darkness together.
As Marta turned to leave, Clementine, who had been silently contemplating the scrolls, finally spoke up. Her voice carried an unease that matched the tension in the room.
“I don’t like this,” she said, her eyes moving from Marta to Ella and then to Stone. “It feels like everything is tied together—the witches, the ritual, Andres, and now these trials from the Luna Scrolls. Shit’s about to hit the fan.”
Stone nodded his agreement. The interconnectedness of their challenges seemed too coincidental to be anything but deliberate.
“It’s as if we’re being maneuvered into position,” he added, his thoughts aligning with Clementine’s intuition.
It certainly played into the idea that they were simply pieces in a prophecy much bigger than any of them could fathom.
Ella’s lips set in a grim line. “We’ll keep our eyes open. And Marta,” she said, turning to her, “keep us posted on everything you find out there. No matter how small or seemingly insignificant. Something tells me this is going to get more complicated before things start to make sense.”
Marta gave a firm nod. “I will. We’ll be thorough.”
With that promise, she turned and left, her steps quick and purposeful.
The moment Marta exited, the tension in the room seemed to momentarily lift, only to be replaced by a new source of worry as the sound of footsteps descended the stairs.
Stone turned to see Asher and Avery entering the kitchen, their expressions groggy but quickly turning to concern at the sight of their mother’s troubled face.
“What’s going on?” Asher’s voice was thick with sleep but underscored with a protective edge that made Stone proud.
Asher’s instinct to protect his family was strong and it was a testament to his growing maturity. If he became a wolf, Stone was beginning to appreciate the pack member he might be.
Ella exchanged a quick glance with Stone before responding.
“We have a new situation,” she started, her tone carefully neutral and Stone knew it was to avoid alarming her kids. “Marta found something... concerning while following after Andres and his pack. We’re looking into it.”
“Can I help? I want to do something,” Asher said, stepping beyond his sister and into the center of the room.
Ella gave him a soft, yet firm look, one that spoke volumes of her love and concern. “When we know more, we’ll discuss how you can help. Right now, we need to gather more information. We don’t know enough.”
“There’s so much—” Avery bit her lip and shook her head. “What about school? It’s starting soon.”
The room quieted at her question. Stone could feel the weight of their responsibilities pressing down. The balance between protecting their pack and maintaining a semblance of normal life for the kids was a delicate one.
Stone noticed his sister suddenly sit up straighter as she removed her phone from her pocket, her thumbs moving across the screen frantically.
Ella took a deep breath. “Avery, your safety, and making sure you both can lead as normal lives as possible, is—and has always been—my top priority. We don’t know what’s going to come from any of this—maybe nothing.”
Asher nodded, seemingly reassured by his mother’s words, but Avery still looked uncertain. Stone understood her worry—the unpredictability of their situation was daunting, even for them as adults. He couldn’t imagine what it must be like for them.
“We have another reason to ensure our investigations are thorough and swift,” Clementine said, setting her phone down and drawing everyone’s attention. “The Supermoon. If I’m reading the scrolls right, it’s not just a celestial event coming up—it’s a hard deadline for us.”
Ella’s eyes narrowed, a clear sign of her confusion and growing concern. “The Supermoon? I’m not sure I follow. What is that?”
Clementine leaned forward, the seriousness of her demeanor grounding the room. “Any time there’s a Supermoon, it amplifies magical energies to a significant degree. Any spells, rituals, or powers exercised during a Supermoon could have their effects magnified—sometimes beyond the caster’s control. If Andres and his witches are planning something for that night, it could be disastrous.”
“What makes this Supermoon so important for us? I mean, beyond the concern that Andres might be using it to work against us?” Stone pressed.
His sister huffed a laugh. “You’re not gonna believe this, but it’s a Super Wolf Moon.”
“That’s a thing?” Asher commented, scratching his head.
Ella nodded, her expression showing clearly that was a question she wanted to ask as well.
“Oh, yeah,” Clementine said with concerning conviction.
Stone watched as Ella absorbed the information, her mind visibly racing through the implications. “So, you’re saying we have until the Supermoon to stop whatever Andres is planning? That is if he’s planning anything.”
“Exactly,” Clementine confirmed. “It’s a deadline for us to intervene and prevent whatever they’re plotting. But it also ties back to the prophecy. The Luna Scrolls speak of a time when the celestial bodies align in such a way that the veil between worlds thins—not just physically but metaphysically.”
“I’m not sure I’m following, Clem,” Ella pressed.
Clementine sighed. “Basically, the Supermoon is a harbinger of this alignment, amplifying the natural energies of our world and beyond. I think it’s going to impact wolves—and specifically, any Moon Wolves. It’s a time of heightened power, but also of great vulnerability if caught in the crosshairs.”
Stone’s jaw clenched involuntarily.
The thought of Andres and his cohorts exploiting such a significant celestial event was unsettling, to say the least. However, the realization that they were running against a celestial clock—with the Supermoon as their deadline, lent a frantic pace to their already desperate efforts.
“We need to anticipate Andres’ moves—understand what he’s planning. If the Supermoon is his target, we have to find a way to counteract whatever ritual or spell he’s hoping to cast,” Stone interjected.
“I hate to say it Ella,” Clementine began, then shifted her gaze to the two kids, “there’s a good chance this is going to take us out of our territory. We need to locate the Essence.”
“But what about school?” Avery gasped. Clearly, this was her fear made manifest.
Ella’s gaze shifted to her daughter. “Avery, school’s not for two weeks and the Supermoon is…” She turned to face Clementine for an answer.
“Two weeks away,” Clem offered sheepishly.
“Shit.” Ella’s fingertips flew to her forehead as she tried to press out the lines. “You have to be kidding me,” she mumbled.
“The moon is at its peak the evening of the twenty-ninth, specifically,” Clementine said.
“That’s my birthday,” Asher blurted, his eyes wide.
“Of course, that’s when it is,” Ella said, shaking her head in disbelief. “Okay, listen up. I will do whatever it takes to ensure our family—and our pack is safe. If that means having to hunt down this Essence thing in record time and kick Andres’ ass into the next freakin’ universe, so be it.” She inhaled a deep breath through her nose. “But so help me, I will not miss my son’s birthday or the start of school. Is that clear?”
“Ella, I don’t know if that’s a promise you can—” Stone clamped his mouth shut at the look of determination on Ella’s face.
“Good.” A hint of a smirk graced her beautiful lips. “Now that we’re on the same page, Clem and Stone—can you make sure these two get something to eat? I have someone I need to go talk to.”