Chapter 22: I Will Bring My Son Home

Faye’s POV

The moment Leo's voice disappeared from my mind, something inside me went completely still.

I could no longer hear him.

No fear.

No crying.

Nothing.

“Leo?”

I reached for the bond again.

Nothing answered.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

Sebastian caught my shoulders.

“Faye, look at me.”

I pushed his hands away.

“Find him.”

“I will.”

“No.”

I stared into his eyes.

“Not tomorrow. Not after the council meets. Not after you gather the entire pack.”

My voice shook with anger.

“Now.”

Sebastian's expression hardened.

“I'm going after him.”

Roman stepped forward.

“Then you're going to need me.”

Sebastian glared at him.

“Why would I trust you?”

Roman's gaze moved to me.

“Because I know where they are taking him.”

Everyone went silent.

I turned toward him.

“Where?”

“The Hollow Moon Sanctuary.”

Mira's face changed.

“That's impossible.”

Roman shook his head.

“It's real.”

“And if the Crimson Council has Leo, that's where they'll take him.”

Sebastian clenched his fists.

“What is that place?”

Roman answered quietly.

“A fortress built beneath the old mountains.”

“No pack controls it.”

“No Alpha can enter without permission.”

I looked at him.

“Then how do we get inside?”

Roman met my eyes.

“The Moonborn can open the gate.”

I understood.

They had taken Leo because they needed me.

Not because they wanted him.

Because he was the bait.

I looked at Sebastian.

“We're going.”

He nodded.

“Yes.”

Mira stepped forward.

“I'm coming too.”

Roman shook his head.

“No.”

“The Crimson Council knows your scent.”

“They'll be expecting you.”

Mira looked at me.

“Then Faye shouldn't go either.”

I shook my head.

“They already know I'm coming.”

“That's exactly why I'm going.”

Sebastian stared at me.

“You don't have to do this alone.”

I looked at him.

“I know.”

Then I took his hand.

“But this time, I'm choosing who walks beside me.”

Something softened in his expression.

“Then I'm beside you.”

…

We left before midnight.

Only six wolves accompanied us.

Too many would attract attention.

The road into the mountains was dark and covered in snow.

For hours, none of us spoke.

Then I felt it.

A faint tug inside my chest.

I closed my eyes.

“Leo.”

Sebastian immediately looked at me.

“You can feel him?”

I nodded.

“He's awake.”

I concentrated harder.

A faint whisper reached me.

“Mom…”

My eyes opened.

“He's afraid.”

Sebastian's wolf surged beneath his skin.

“We're close.”

Roman pointed toward the mountain.

“There.”

A narrow crack appeared between two cliffs.

It looked like an ordinary rock formation.

But when I approached it, the silver mark on my wrist began to glow.

Ancient symbols appeared across the stone.

Mira had told me the Moonborn could open the ancient gates.

Now I understood what she meant.

I placed my palm against the stone.

The mountain trembled.

A deep voice echoed through the darkness.

“Blood of the Moon.”

“Name yourself.”

I swallowed.

“Faye.”

The voice answered.

“Last daughter?”

I looked at Roman.

Then at Sebastian.

“No.”

I placed my other hand over the first.

“Not the last.”

“The first of a new beginning.”

The stone doors opened.

A freezing wind rushed toward us.

Beyond the gate was a vast underground fortress lit by pale blue flames.

Sebastian drew his claws.

Roman shifted.

I stepped forward.

Then I heard something.

A child's voice.

“Mom!”

Leo.

My heart nearly broke.

“I'm here!”

I ran into the fortress.

Sebastian followed.

We crossed several chambers before reaching a massive hall.

At the far end stood a throne made of black stone.

A woman sat upon it.

Leo stood beside her.

His hands were tied, but he was unharmed.

“Mom!”

I took a step forward.

The woman smiled.

“Welcome, Moonborn.”

Sebastian's voice became a growl.

“Let my son go.”

She ignored him.

Her eyes remained on me.

“You came exactly as predicted.”

I looked at Leo.

“Are you hurt?”

He shook his head.

“I'm okay.”

I exhaled in relief.

Then I looked at the woman.

“What do you want?”

She slowly stood.

“Your blood.”

My expression hardened.

“You can't have it.”

She smiled.

“I don't need all of it.”

Her gaze shifted to Leo.

“I only need enough to awaken his true inheritance.”

Sebastian stepped forward.

“You won't touch him.”

The woman raised one hand.

Dozens of guards appeared from the shadows.

Roman whispered,

“It's a trap.”

I looked at Leo.

Then at the woman.

For the first time, I wasn't afraid.

Because I finally understood the truth.

They thought they had captured my son to control me.

They had made one mistake.

They had given me a reason to stop holding back.

The silver crescent on my wrist began to shine.

The entire fortress trembled.

I stepped forward.

“Then let's see what the Moonborn can really do.”