Lucian was not so easily deceived, and his gaze froze as he sized up the figure who stood beforehim. He narrowed his eyes and glared at the one person he thought he would never seeagain. The woman standing before him had been apart of his childhood — his mother’s younger sister, who had vanished without a trace.

“Isolde,” Luciansaid, his voice low, tinged with disbelief. His head was reelingwith memories he had tried so long to bury as he took one slow step forward. “I didn’t think I’d eversee you again.”

Isolde looked backat him, a sad smile on her face, her eyes filled with despair. “I know,it’s been too long, Lucian.”

“I thought youwere dead,” Lucian said, his voice heavy with all those years lost in confusion and anguish.

“I needed to go away so that Serena would be safe,” Isolde said, her gaze skimming over to Serena’s sleeping bodyfor a moment. “That’s what the Elders mademe do.”

Lucian’sheart raced at the confusion and a sense of dread started to pool in his chest. “Why are you here?” he said, the words coming out sharperthan he meant.

“I have come to tell you the truth,” Isolde replied, her tonemeasured, but heavy with import. “The truth of Serena’sbirth.”

“What truth?” Hisvoice was where Lucian asked, firm, controlled. His watchful gazeupon Isolde as his instincts kicked into high gear. As if this encounter was a long-dreaded storm on thehorizon.

Isolde took a deep breath, knowing what shewas about to say was going to hurt her. “You already know how the Night Fang and theSilver Ridge Packs were once allies, joined together in a common goal for peace. They were two packs thatstood as one for a future. But all that changed when Serena camealong.”

Lucian’s brow knitted, and he folded his arms across his chest, in a momentof protection. “Are you refering to thesacrifice?” His voice descended to a growl, and he sensed the hot wash of suspicion coursethrough his body.

Isolde’s expression didn’t change; indeed, a trace of sadnesclt seemed to deepenthe lines of her face. “Yes, Lucian. It was the sacrifice. We had struck anancient pact to keep our bloodlines alive. But the price … the price wastoo steep.” She held for amoment, letting the weight of her words hit. “And so our packs were split as well, and we became sworn enemies: the bondcould never be restored.”

Lucian looked down at the floor, his mind racing and yet racing to process the enormity of what Isolde had justrevealed. He did notknow what to believe anymore, but the need to know everything he could about Serena’s involvement in all of this was overwhelming. “So where doesSerena fit into all this?” he asked, his voice thick under the weight of athousand questions.

There were unshed tearsglistening in Isolde’s eyes, and the sorrow in those eyes — and the regret — were palpable. “Serena holds the key to unlocking and healingour past, Lucian. Her birth …that was the outcome of that pact. But itcame at a tremendous cost.” She paused to find the right words to explainwhat happened. The ancient forces called for a sacrifice,” headded. “Theywanted a vessel… to carry the Onyx wolf.”

At the mentionof the Onyx wolf, Lucian’s head snapped up, his eyes blazing. “A vessel?” heshouted, his voice severing the tension like a knife.

Isolde dropped her voice toa whisper, as her next truth was barely heard “They preserved our line, but at the cost of unleashing an ancient Onyx wolf into my unformedchild—Serena.

Lucian’s thoughtswhirled as everything he believed he knew about Serena started tumbling apart. “So, what’s the story withthe curse supposedly put on Serena?” he said, his voice heavywith disbelief and rising suspicion.

Isolde gazed up at him withmournful eyes, the burden of the truth too heavy. “The curse, Lucian, it’s not a curse, it’sa lock. And alock holding her back from her true potential. Thispower … it could either save or destroy us all.” She exhaled, her voice cracking as shecontinued, “That’s why she’s been so different. That is the reason you’ve seenthe oddest — events, the episodes.” She is notjust any Onyx wolf, Lucian. She is thereincarnation of an ancient one.”

Lucian stood there, stunned, his heartpounding in his chest. His mind raced as hetried to reconcile this new reality. Serena was not merelyan Onyx wolf. Shewas something more powerful, more dangerous than he had ever known. The disturbing events and episodes she had experienced suddenlymade sense. She was not only grapplingwith the wolf inside her. She was a vessel for the ancient power, a power that had lain dormant for centuries, bidingits time before it sought out the right host.

“You know,” Isolde went on, her eyes never leavingSerena, “I have been lurking behind the trees and the grass keeping an eye on Serena.

Before Lucian could even shape the next question burning in his mind, a soft moansounded from behind them. He looked tosee Serena moving, her eyes fluttering open. Her voice announcing concern, Isolde rushed directly toher side. “Serena, how are you doing?”

Serena’s focus was wavering, but when her gaze fell on Isolde, the mist over her sightlifted. A look of confusion crossed her faceand she said softly, “Mum?”

Isolde’s heart swelled with relief, and she did what she could, putting a gentle hand on Serena’s head,brushing her hair back. “I’m here, dear. You’re safe here.”

Serena looked bewildered, staring at her mother and then at Dorianand then at Lucian. “I thought youwere dead,” she said, her voice cracking as though a lifetime of confusion and hurt had been released in an instant. Her eyes darted between them, franticallylooking for answers. All twenty-one years of her life, she had been raisedto believe her mother had perished in childbirth. But here, before her,was the woman whose fatal absence she had thought a permanent one.

“I know, my dear,”Isolde replied, a quivering voice. “But I didn’t have a choice. I hadto do that to protect you.”

Anger flared within Serena. Years of growing up without the comfort of a mother’s love felt like a betrayalat that moment. To her, all that was far too much for her to handle — the absence of her mother, the decades of hurt, and, now, the shocking possibility that her own mother was the one responsible for the curse that hadruined her life.

As Isolde held Serena’s hand, something odd startedoccurring. Linesof gold began to trace along Serena’s palm, pulsing with a soft, ethereal light. Isolde was staring atthe pulsing veins of gold, mouth agape.

“The lockis starting to break,” whispered Isolde, her voice reverent.

Lucian’s eyes returned instantly to Serena, who was studying the grooves on her palm with a combinationof bafflement and intrigue. The importance of the moment settled on him and he felthis heart racing in his chest.

“What’s going on, Lucian?” As Serena whispered, building suspense in their hearts,no one knew...

Lucian stilled, not knowing how to properly explain the madness that was beforethem. He knew the knowledge wouldn’t be easy for Serena to carry, but he couldn’t hide thetruth from her anymore. He inhaled with great depth, calling upon some strengthwithin him.

“You are not merely an Onyx wolf, Serena,” Lucian said;his tone was solid and gentle. “You have a power inside you. You’re also a reincarnate.”

Serena’s eyes went wide in disbelief, and her body went rigid as she took a moment to process the severityof what he was saying. “What power? A reincarnate of what?” she asked, her voiceshaking.

Lucian braced himself,for avoidance and half-truths had outlived their usefulness. “It’s the power of the primordialforces. You are the reincarnate of the firstOnyx wolf.”

Serena appeared to go quiet for a beat, her eyes glazing overas she attempted to come to terms with this new information. The heavy fog of his words weighed down onher like granite. But just like that, her eyes regained focus and she looked rightat Lucian. “What does this mean now? What about my life before?”

Isolde’s face fell, the resolveevident in her voice. “You havea new life now, Serena. One that willdictate the course of the werewolf world.”

And Serena let thosewords hang down heavy on her shoulders. “But I can’t control it,” she said asher voice trembled and tears filled her eyes. “I’ve tried, but I can’t.”

Isolde gently squeezedher hand, giving her a reassuring smile. “You have towork harder at this, Serena. Your destiny— and everyone’s — is in your hands.’”

Lucian nodded. “I will help you control it,”he said gently, his voice brimming with conviction. “We had an agreement,do you remember?”

Serena nodded, a solitary tear rolling downher cheek.

“I really have togo before the Elders come looking for me,” Isolde said, her voice filled with regret. Herwords were a farewell, but her actions were a different story. She hadn’t held her daughter in yearsand wasn’t about to stop.

“But... can’t you stay?” 'Serena,' she asked, her voice conveying emotion, longing for the embrace of a mother she had believedgone for good.

“No, I cannot,”Isolde said kindly, her eyes brimming with love and sorrow. “But I will always be there,Serena.” With that Isolde rose and faced the door, fadinginto the dark passage beyond.

With that, Lucian and Serena were left inthe room together, silence hanging heavily between them. Serena was still taking it all in, while Lucian had an insolent smile on hisface. And finally his plans were fallinginto place. In notime, the entire werewolf world would be at his feet.