Chapter 18: The Alpha Who Came for Me

Faye’s POV

The moment Sebastian told me the Nightfall Alpha had crossed our borders, the warmth in the courtyard disappeared.

I looked toward the forest.

Nothing moved between the ancient trees.

But I could feel someone watching.

A presence pressed against my senses like a distant storm.

Leo moved closer to me.

“Mom?”

I placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Stay beside me.”

Sebastian stepped forward.

“Everyone inside.”

The guards immediately began clearing the courtyard.

Then a low voice echoed from the forest.

“Still giving orders as if this territory belongs to you, Sebastian?”

Every wolf froze.

A man stepped out from between the trees.

He was tall, dressed entirely in black, with dark hair and piercing gray eyes.

Unlike Sebastian’s overwhelming golden aura, his presence was quiet.

Too quiet.

The kind of silence that came before a storm.

Sebastian's expression hardened.

“Roman.”

The stranger smiled.

“It's been a long time.”

I knew immediately.

Roman Vale.

The Alpha of the Nightfall Pack.

In my previous life, I had heard his name only in whispers.

He had been one of the most dangerous Alpha rulers on the continent.

But I had never met him.

Until now.

Roman's gaze moved past Sebastian.

It landed on me.

The silver mark on my wrist began to glow.

His expression changed.

For the first time, genuine surprise appeared in his eyes.

“So it's true.”

Sebastian stepped in front of me.

“Don't look at her.”

Roman chuckled.

“Still possessive.”

“She's not yours.”

Sebastian's jaw tightened.

“She's my mate.”

Roman's eyes returned to me.

“No.”

His voice was calm.

“She is the Moonborn.”

The courtyard fell silent.

Roman took another step forward.

“And the Moonborn predates the Silver Moon bloodline.”

One of the elders stepped forward.

“Nightfall has no claim here.”

Roman barely glanced at him.

“I didn't come to claim your territory.”

His gaze remained fixed on me.

“I came to warn her.”

I frowned.

“Warn me about what?”

Roman's expression became serious.

“The Moonborn isn't simply a powerful bloodline.”

“It is the key to the ancient treaty between the five original packs.”

I felt a chill run down my spine.

“What treaty?”

“The treaty that prevents the ancient bloodlines from going to war.”

Sebastian stared at him.

“That treaty ended generations ago.”

Roman shook his head.

“No.”

“It was broken.”

He looked toward the elders.

“And they know why.”

Every elder went silent.

I noticed it immediately.

They were afraid.

Not of Roman.

Of what he was about to reveal.

I turned toward the council.

“What is he talking about?”

No one answered.

Roman continued.

“The Silver Moon elders betrayed the other bloodlines.”

“They tried to control the Moonborn.”

“When the last Moonborn refused, they erased her family from the records.”

My heart stopped.

“My family?”

Roman nodded.

“You are her descendant.”

I stared at him.

All my life, I had believed I was ordinary.

Human.

Weak.

A woman with diluted blood who could never shift.

And now I was standing in the middle of an ancient war I didn't even know existed.

Sebastian looked at the elders.

His voice was dangerously quiet.

“Is this true?”

The oldest elder lowered his head.

“Part of it.”

Sebastian's eyes turned gold.

“What part?”

The elder swallowed.

“The Moonborn bloodline was never supposed to return.”

“Why?” I asked.

He looked at me.

“Because the last Moonborn had the power to strip an Alpha of his bloodline.”

The courtyard erupted in whispers.

Roman nodded.

“She can choose who deserves power.”

My eyes widened.

“I don't want that.”

Roman's expression softened slightly.

“That is exactly why you are dangerous.”

“You don't crave power.”

“You can therefore be trusted with it.”

Sebastian looked at me.

I could see the question in his eyes.

Would I ever use that power against him?

I didn't answer.

Because I didn't know.

Then a howl echoed from beyond the forest.

Roman's expression changed instantly.

“They're here.”

Sebastian turned toward the guards.

“How many?”

A guard ran into the courtyard.

“Alpha, at least fifty wolves have crossed the eastern border.”

Sebastian's face hardened.

“Nightfall?”

The guard shook his head.

“No.”

He looked terrified.

“Rogue wolves.”

Roman cursed under his breath.

“They're not rogues.”

“They're the Ashen Blood.”

I had never heard the name.

Roman looked at me.

“The sixth bloodline.”

“The one that was erased from history.”

A distant roar shook the forest.

Leo grabbed my hand.

Sebastian moved toward us.

“We're leaving.”

I shook my head.

“No.”

He stopped.

“Faye.”

I looked at the forest.

For the first time, I could feel something answering the silver mark inside me.

A presence.

Ancient.

Awake.

I took a breath.

“They aren't here for the pack.”

Roman looked at me.

“You're right.”

I stared into the darkness.

“They're here for me.”

Another howl tore through the night.

And this time, the silver crescent on my wrist burned like fire.