The Ritual Grounds beneath Shadowclaw Castle pulsed with ancient magic — a chamber of stone and silence. No torches were lit on the walls. Only a faint glow of an ancient flame in a basin as old as the pack itself.
Nova stood at the edge of the circle, her fingers still entwined with Jax's.
Fin's jaw flexed. His wolf surged beneath his skin.
This shouldn't matter. She wasn't his.
He had Meredith in his bed chambers just a few nights ago. He'd nodded at the betrothal proposal for peace. He had obligations.
And yet — watching Nova's walk into this place, stunning with her silver blonde hair, made every instinct in him ignite.
"Alpha." Aeron's voice pulled him back. The mage stood at the altar, robes brushing the stone in a whisper.
Elder Kaelith stood beside him — her eyes unreadable, expression carved from something old.
Cael leaned against the wall, arms folded, looking amused. He didn't need to be here — but he knew something eventful would happen. He had heard enough about her to know there was going to be something entertaining. He grinned, unable to help himself.
Fin turned back to the center of the chamber as Nova stepped forward.
She wore a simple midnight blue cloak. Her hood pushed back. Silver-blonde hair glinting like moonlight.
She looked beautiful. Like she belonged here — and didn't — all at once. He couldn't look away until Aeron's words dragged him out of his thoughts.
"Ready?" Aeron asked softly.
Nova nodded.
"Left hand," he said.
Nova gave Fin her hand. Hovering above the stone altar. Immediately, as soon as her hand made contact with his, Fin felt intense sparks. So vivid it jolted him. But she seemed unaware.
Fin sliced a line across her palm. Blood spilled across the altar stone. He hated cutting her.
She didn't flinch. Didn't ask questions.
Her blood was silver. Just as he remembered.
Elder Kaelith gasped. Even Cael straightened.
Finric's heart pounded in his ears. The scent of her blood hit him like a drug. It was her scent, but much more potent. His wolf Xeon howled within his mind.
Xeon: Mine. Mate
He steadied his breath, forcing his wolf down who was fighting him for control. Every time he breathed, he had the most intense urge to mark her that wouldn't go away. His eyes traveled to her neck on instinct and saw her pulse.
Bad idea.
He moved his eyes back to his hand and he shook his head. The urge to mark her was so extreme it'd be a miracle if he didn't.
He held his breath and focused. Controlled his breathing and his wolf.
Jax was quiet a few feet behind her. But he looked rattled. His wolf wanted out, too. His eyes flashed gold for a second, but then returned to hazel as he forced it back. His wolf didn't like her blood exposed and his wolf wanted her marked. So did he. But this was not the time or place.
Nova didn't react on the outside. But inside, she felt a quiet despair. To her, it was a reminder of a fortune teller's words.
Her blood is her curse.
Fin felt her despair through their fated matebond which snapped him into focus. Her face seemed untroubled. No one would know. But he did.
She stepped back. Fin moved forward next, slicing his own palm. He squeezed his red blood over her silver blood on the altar stone.
The second their blood mixed. A bright gold glow erupted from the entire stone.
The ancestor symbols on the stone altar blazed brighter white.
Wind swept the sealed room. All the torches on the walls lit at once.
Nova felt her insides tighten, and fell forward catching herself on the stone and stifling a groan. She focused on her breathing.
Her green eyes flashed from green to silver.
Her hair lit up like the moon.
The altar pulsed as did the stone beneath her hands.
Her insides were now in pain. Like something was twisting her. She fell to her knees. Fin stepped to catch her just as Jax did.
"Don't touch her." Aeron said sharply. They both froze.
The torches extinguished all at once.
The ceremonial fire in the metal basin, set behind the stone altar, shifted without warning. The flame turned gold, then surged upward in a roaring column that slammed into the ceremony chamber's ceiling, sending a shockwave through the room. Everyone stumbled back, except Nova, who was already on her knees.
The fire held for a heartbeat, then collapsed in on itself, settling once more into a small, quiet flame.
Whispers filled the chamber — not of their language. A sound of something vast and ancient… waking.
The wind stopped. Nova blinked, dazed, breath shallow.
A bead of sweat formed between her brows, even though it was frigidly cold in the room. She swallowed.
No one spoke for a minute.
Elder Kaelith looked shaken. "That wasn't just a pack initiation ceremony. That was a bloodbinding."
Jax's brow furrowed. "What does that mean?"
Aeron hesitated, then looked to Kaelith. "Have you ever seen this before?"
The elder's gaze was distant. "Not in my lifetime… or my ancestors. My gran used to speak of something similar. But we thought it was a tale."
She paused. "I'd be curious to see if her sister responds the same way."
Fin's eyes narrowed. "They aren't blood related."
How many times would they need to tell the elders that for it to sink in? Gods.
"When is Meredith to undergo the joining?" Kaelith asked.
No one answered. Kaelith smiled faintly. "No need to answer. I know it will be soon and I'd like to be at that ceremony as well."
No one spoke for another minute.
"What does the legend say?" Fin asked, his voice low and even.
The elder's eyes glimmered in the rune-light. "There are several. Each twisted by time — but they all point to the same truth."
Jax shifted. "What truth?"
Kaelith looked directly at Nova. Her voice dropped like frost.
"Her death."
Nova didn't look at anyone, still on her knees. She took a breath, feeling defeat.
Fin felt it from her through their bond and his heart sank. Jax felt it too.
Silence blanketed the chamber.
A flash of tension passed between Nova and Aeron — too fast to name, but not missed by Finric. Or by Jax.
Jax stepped forward, his hand lightly brushing Nova's arm and helped her stand. She was trembling.
"Oh come now, Kaelith," Aeron said smoothly. "Let's not be dramatic. Prophecies are riddles, not death sentences."
He turned to Nova. "Come. There's something I need to show you."
Nova swallowed and followed not looking at anyone.
Jax hesitated — torn between staying for answers and protecting the girl whose scent haunted his every breath.
But when Nova disappeared down the corridor, he made his choice. He didn't want her out of his sight. He exchanged a worried look with Fin, who seemed calm, and quickly followed after her.
Cael's amused whistle echoed in the chamber. "Dramatic exits, mysterious prophecies… gods, I love Tuesdays."
He pushed off the wall and vanished into the corridor.
Fin and Kaelith remained.
The flames danced across her lined face as she stepped forward again, hand drifting above the altar stone where blood still shimmered faintly.
"What do the legends say?" Fin asked, low and unreadable.
Kaelith's fingers hovered over the glowing runes, her expression darkening as if something ancient stirred beneath her skin.
"The old stories aren't about victory, Alpha," she said softly.
"They're about sacrifice."
Fin didn't move.
Kaelith traced a trembling line of light across the table.
"One version says the woman blessed by the Moon Goddess will spill her blood to prevent the fall of her pack. Her blood is the key. The key is the gate. And the gate is the key. The prophecy is hidden somewhere in the ruins beyond."
Finric's brow furrowed. "And the others?"
Kaelith took a slow, brittle breath, as though the next words cost her something.
"Another version," she murmured, "is rarely spoken aloud. It says that when silver blood spills during the binding, the one who bleeds will bring salvation through her death. The goddess only gives light by casting shadow. Her mark gives great power to her mate. Her chosen one will save the pack — but her blood will begin the greatest war. Her death is the spark."
Finric's eyes narrowed. "Power? What do you mean by power?"
"Her mark awards power stronger than her own. It allows him to protect and carry the burden with her. A gift…"
A pause.
"…and a curse."
Finric's chest tightened.
He knew what that implied.
He didn't like it.
She added, "But the goddess does not move her pieces… unless darkness is already on the move."
"Thank you, Elder." Finric said, voice still tight. "I trust we can keep this between us for now?"
Kaelith paused. Her expression unreadable. She turned to leave.
"For now. For her sister's sake." She responded.
She bowed, and left Finric standing alone in the chamber — the altar still glowing faintly beneath his hand.
He didn't bother correcting that they weren't sisters.
A single silver streak burned in the stone. A mark of power. A promise.
And a warning.