Chapter 19: The Hunt for the Lunar Crown

Silence filled the Grand Assembly Hall.

Every Alpha stared at the Bloodlust guard.

"The map... is gone?" Ethan asked.

"Yes, Beta," the guard answered.

"The Royal Archives were locked from the inside."

"No windows were broken."

"No guards saw anyone enter or leave."

"Impossible," one Alpha muttered.

"Unless the thief had help from inside," another replied.

Jasper's expression darkened.

"Seal Crimson Keep immediately."

"No one enters."

"No one leaves."

"Search every room, every hallway, every servant."

"Yes, Alpha!"

The guards hurried away.

Jaxon quietly watched Jasper.

'He's either an excellent actor...'

'Or he truly didn't expect this,' Drax said.

'I'm not convinced yet.'

Sable stepped beside Jaxon.

"What are you thinking?"

"That whoever stole the map knew exactly where it was kept."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning this wasn't random."

"Someone planned this long before today's attack."

An elderly Alpha named Cedric cleared his throat.

"If the map is real..."

"Then the thief will head toward the Crescent Mountains."

"Why there?" Sable asked.

"Because every legend points there."

"The Lunar Crown was said to be hidden beneath the Temple of the First Wolf."

"A temple that disappeared centuries ago."

Ethan folded his arms.

"Legends don't usually come with directions."

"This one apparently does," Cedric replied.

Jasper slowly walked toward the center of the hall.

"Ladies and gentlemen..."

"Our summit has changed."

"Until this map is recovered, none of us can afford to return home."

Several Alphas exchanged uneasy glances.

"You're suggesting an alliance?"

"Temporarily," Jasper answered.

"If the wrong person reaches the Lunar Crown first..."

"Every pack here will suffer the consequences."

The room erupted into discussion.

Some agreed.

Others argued.

Jaxon remained silent.

Finally, Jasper turned toward him.

"Alpha Jaxon."

"Will Winter Moon stand with us?"

Every eye in the room shifted toward Jaxon.

He answered carefully.

"I'll stand with anyone trying to stop another war."

"Good."

"Then we begin searching immediately."

Hours later...

The palace remained under lockdown.

Every room was searched.

Every servant questioned.

Nothing.

The thief had vanished without leaving a trace.

Jaxon, Ethan, and Sable gathered inside their private chamber.

"Something doesn't fit," Ethan said.

"What?"

"The assassins."

"The stolen map."

"The summit."

"It all happened at exactly the right moment."

"Too perfect."

Sable nodded slowly.

"Almost like someone wanted all the Alphas gathered here before stealing the map."

"Exactly," Jaxon replied.

"If the theft happened weeks ago..."

"Jasper could've quietly searched for it himself."

"Instead... it happened today."

"In front of everyone."

"Meaning?" Ethan asked.

"Meaning someone wanted witnesses."

A soft knock interrupted them.

"Come in," Jaxon called.

The door opened.

Finn stepped inside.

"Finn?" Sable said in surprise.

"How did you get here?"

"I came with Ash Fang's delegation."

"I couldn't speak earlier."

"Too many people were watching."

He quickly closed the door.

"I remembered something."

"About what?"

"The masked man I saw leaving my Alpha's private meeting weeks ago."

"Go on," Jaxon said.

"He wasn't alone."

"Someone walked beside him."

"Who?"

"I only saw the cloak..."

"But underneath..."

"The man wore Bloodlust's royal colors."

"You're certain?"

"Yes."

"But that's not all."

Finn reached into his cloak.

He removed a folded piece of parchment.

"I found this hidden in our archives before leaving Ash Fang."

"It's a copy of an old map."

Jaxon carefully unfolded it.

Most of it had faded with age.

Only a few symbols remained visible.

One symbol immediately caught Sable's attention.

"I've seen this before."

"Where?" Ethan asked.

"During the battle."

"One of the masked soldiers had it tattooed on his wrist."

Jaxon looked closer.

A silver crescent moon.

Wrapped around the head of a wolf.

"That's not Bloodlust's symbol," Ethan murmured.

"No," Cedric's voice came from the doorway.

Everyone turned in surprise.

The elderly Alpha slowly entered the room.

"It's much older than Bloodlust."

"Then what is it?" Jaxon asked.

Cedric's expression became grave.

"It's the mark of the Order of the Eclipse."

"A secret brotherhood that supposedly disappeared over two hundred years ago."

"Supposedly?"

"They served only one purpose..."

"Protecting the Lunar Crown."

The room fell completely silent.

"If they're still alive..." Sable whispered.

"Then they've been manipulating the packs for generations," Jaxon finished.

Cedric slowly nodded.

"And if they've finally stepped into the open..."

"Then the war you've been fighting..."

"Was only the beginning."